Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03
your judgment shall be equitable to the State
and its creditors.
THE REDUCTION OF EXPENSES.

your judgment shall be equitable to the State
and its creditors.
THE REDUCTION OF EXPENSES. "a
I cannot too earnestly urge upon you the
necessity of reducing the expenses of every
department of the government to the most
economical state consistent with the dignity
and security of the State. You will find
many offices which are not only expensive but
useless; and others, which, while necessary,
can be we'll filled for compensation much less
than is now paid. 1t is, I am sure, only ne
cessary to invite your attention to this subject
to secure your wise and cordial cooperation
in tightening The burdens which have 80 great
ly oppressed the energy and industry of our
people. But after the most rigid reduction,
the expenses of government, funds for the
common schools, and to meet the interest on
the public debt, must be provided and this
can only be done by tax on the real and
personal property of the citizens. 1t is one
of our gravest difficulties that we have come
into control of the government after the Pc.
riod at which taxes can most easily be paid.
Ours is essentially an agricultural community.
Our products are harvested in the latter part
of the year and sold in the earlier, and the
rule which has always obtained of calling for
taxes in January and February had its origin,
not in the arbitrary will of the Legislature,
but was the natural outgrowth of an agricul-
tural system. .......... !
THE COLLECTION OF TAXES. ,.I....
The late political struggle has been pro-
tracted until the proceeds of the past years
crop have been exhausted, and the present
crop is not sufficiently advanced to enable the
farmer to realize anything upon it. Every
available dollar of cash, or of credit, in the
control of the farmer, is already applied to
the growing crop, and the levy of tax pay.
able at an early day, would seriously embar.
rass not only the agricultural, but every other
interest of the State. The money is not in
the country. 1t could only be raised from
loans to the farmer by bankers or merchants,
and it is questionable if it could be raised
even in this way. 1t is, therefore, incumbent
upon you. while reducing the tax to its mini
mum, to arrange for collection at such times
and in such manner, as will tighten the bur:
dens of the people as much as possible. A
portion of the tax, absolutely necessary, could
be called for in June, and the residue, which
should be the larger portion, in October, when
the proceeds of part, at least, of the crop
will be available for the payment Of taxes.
THE TEN PER CENT. CONTRIBUTION. III
By the resolutions of the House of Repre-
sentatives, adopted at the last session, l was
authorized to call for contribution not ex-
ceeding twenty-five per cent. of the amount
of taxes levied last year. Under this author
ity call for voluntary contribution of one
tenth of the amount Of the last tax was issued,
and was responded to with an alacrity and q
patriotic zeal most honorable to our people.
As an evidence of their confidence in my ad-
ministration, the response was as gratifying
as it was unprecedented. With view to the
proper care and disbursement Of this fund, l
directed that all amounts collected should be
placed in the hands of General johnson Ha.
good. requesting him to serve as acting g-comp-
troller.general and treasurer, and no appro-
priation has been made except upon his check
countersgned by myself His devotion to this
work, his activity and his great financial abil-
ity have proved of incalculable assistance to
me. The net receipts from contribution and
from Office fees amounted to $l35 ,859.4S, and
the disbursements, as will appear by the books
of Gen. Hagood's Office, on account Of the ed
ucational, penal and charitable institutions of
the State, and for the legislative, executive
and judicial departments of the government,
amount to $76,771 09, leaving cash balance
on hand of $59, 1889. By the report of the
late treasurer, dated October 81, 1875, there
were in the treasury at that time S25S, S,O2O.37,
but what portion Of this amount is now on
hand am not aware The use of these funds
has been enjoined by the courts, and the off,
cials in whose charge they are will, doubtless,
account to the Legislature for them. In ad-
dition to the funds named, the phosphate roy
atty should yield from thirty to forty thousand
dollars, and there will then be quite large
amount at the command of the Legislature,
sufficient, hope, to meet the demands Of the
State until portion of the taxes is collected.
While on the subject ofthe finances, l beg to
call your notice to ... .
THE BILLS OF THE BANK OF THE STATE,
for this question presents difficult problem.
There is widespread belief that considers.
BILE amount Of these bills will be found miss
ing from the treasury, having been reissued
in place of being cancelled OF, destroyed. It
is we'll, therefore. at this juncture, to consider
whether, or not, these bills should be receiva-
bic in payment of taxes Before receiving
them for the taxes, the most rigid investiga:
ton should be had, with the view Of ascer-
tanning the amount for which the State is
clearly liable and what portion is tainted with
fraud, in order that suitable provision may be
made, at the next session Of the Legislature,
for the redemption of the former, and for the
protection of the State against the latter.
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. -..I-...-!
The penal, charitable and educational in
stitutions of the State demand, and doubtless
will receive, your careful consideration and
your fostering care. Every dictate Of enlight.
ened humanity, every precept Of sound poll.
cy, require that these institutions should be
we'll regulated, properly supported and ably
managed. But this should be done with a
strict regard to economy. They should be
made self-supporting, as far as possible, and
I trust that some system may be devised by
the Legislature by which, while placing the
public institutions of the State on a secure
basis, will relieve the people of large por-
ton of the heavy expenses their maintenance
now demands. With proper legislation, the
labor of the convicts in the Penitentiary could
be made profitable, and ask your attention
to this subject. The management of this in
stitution, under the present superintendent,
seems to me to be judicious, and he can, with
out doubt, give such valuable information as
would tend to work out much needed reforms.
The charitable institutions will likewise,
hope, receive at your hands the attention to
which they are entitled. Reforms looking to
reduction of the expenses of supporting