The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-04
IrRoN stSsr rAonl.


- eannot too sesasstby urge epoa yoa the ne
,cessty OF reducing The expenses ef S1ery depart
rmeai OF the goseyoweat to the lBos& &seeoao nical
sesls consissesssssish the digoay asd security Of
the State Ioa ~iit insSmaay Offices which are
not only expressive but sseless, /. and >sbers,
which, neeess rys caa be welk filed for eompen-
safioa much less han is now paid. Ii is am
sure. snly necessary to iSvfle your attsaiioiSso
this subject to secure Your wise and cordial CO.
operation iaS;ghteping the burtheps which have
10 grcaie opPrssssssthe energy ant tindustry OF
Our people. But after the most rigid reduction,
the expenses OF government, funds for the com
mon schools, and to meet the interest ON the
public debt. must 6e provided, and this can only
bc done by tax on the real aud personal prop
crty of the citizens. IL is one ot our graycst
difficulties that We have come into control of the
government ancr the period at which taxes can
most easily be paid. Ours is essentially an ag.
rculiural community; our products are harveS-
ted in the latter part OF the year and sold in the
earlier: and the rule which has always obtained
for calling for the taxes in January and Fcbru-
ary had its origin not in the arbitrary will uf the
Legislature, but was the natural outgruwth OF an
industrial system. The late political struggle
has been protrsctcd until the proceeds Of the
past year. crop have been exhausted, and the
Prcsent crop is not sufficiently advanced to en-
able 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 u tax payable
at an early day would seriously embarrass not
only the agricultural but every other interest OF
the State. The money is not in the country it
could only DC raised from loans TO the farmers
by bankers or merchants apd il is questionable
If 1t could be raised even in this way. IT, is
therefore, incumbent on you, while reducing the
tax to its minimum to arrange for its collection
mt such times and in such manner rs will tighten
the burthcns ofrhc people as much as possible
portion of the tax absolutely necessary could
he called for in June, and the residue, which
should DC the larger portion, in October, when
the proceeds of part at least OF the crop will
be available for the payment Of taxes.
by the resolutions of the House of Reprcscn-
tativcs, adopted at the last session, was author
lied to call for n contribution not exceeding
twenty. five per cent of the amount of taxes lev
led last year. Under this authority n call for
voluntary contribution of onc-tcnth of the
amount of the last tax issued, and was re-
spondcd to with an alacrity and u patriotic zeal
most honorable to our people.
As an evidence Of their confidence in my all
ministraion, this response was rs gratifying rs
1t was unprecedented.
with view to the proper care and dishursc-
mcnt of this fund.- directed that all amounts
collected should be placed in the hands of Gen.
johnson llagood, requesting him to serve MS
Acting mptroilcr-Gcucral and Treasurer; and
no appropriation has been made except upon his
to this work. his activity and his great financial
ability, have proved of incalculable assistance
10 me.
The net receipts from this contribution and
from Office fees amounted to S135, $50 49, and
the disbursements, MS will appear by the books
of Gen. llagoods office, account of the eiu-
cational, penal and charitable institutions of the
State, and for the legislative, executive and jul
dicial departments of the government, amount
to SI6,GGl .Ol-leaving cash balance on hand
Of 500 1889.
by the report Of the late Treasurer date cd Oc-
tobcr 3ls., 1876, there were in the treasury at
that time S25S ,O2O.31: but what portion of this
amount is now OH hand am not aware. The
use Of these funds has been cnioincd by the
courts, and the officials in whose CHARGE they are
will doubtless account to the Legislature for
them.
In addition to the funds cd, the phosphate
royalty should yield from thirty to forty thous
aaant at The som%snI o e s sSe
hcient, hope, to meet the demands of the
State until II portion of the taxes is collected
While on the subject of the finances beg tc
call your notice To tic bills of the Bank of the
state, for this question presents II difficult prob
lem. There Is u widespread belief tat II con-
siderable amount Of these hills will he found
missing from the treasury, having been rc-issucd
i'll place Of being cancelled or destroyed. Ii is
well, therefore, ut this juncturc to considc,
whether or not these bills should be receivable
in payment of taxes Before receiving them for
the taxes, the most rigid investigation should be
had, with Il view of aSccrtainng the amount for
which tho State is clearly liable. and what por-
ton is tainted with fraud, in order hat suitable
provision may be made at tho next session of
the Legislature for the redemption of the for
mer and for the protection Of the State against
the latter.
The penal, charitable and educational nstitu-
tions of the State demand and doubtless will
receive, your careful consideration and your fos-
tcring care Every dictate of enlightened hui.
maniiy, every prccept CT sound policy, REQUIRE
that these institutions should be well regulated
rr"re.ty ""rr"''v' "mh amy managed; but this
should be done with Il strict regard to economy.
They should be made self-Supporiing MS far as
possible; and trust that some system NAV be
devised by the Legislature which, while placing
the public institutions Of the State on n secure
hasis, VIII relieve the people of Il large portion
OF the heavy expense their maintenance now de.
mandS With proper legislation the labor of
the convicts in the penitcntiary could bc made
profitable, and ask your attention to this sub
Jcct. The management of this institution uu-
der the present Superintendent, seems to me To
be judicious; and he can, without doubt. give
such valuable information as would tend 10 work
out much.mcclcd reforms.
The charitable institutions will likewise. |
aoPc, receive Mt your hands the attention To
which they are entitled Reforms looking TO a
reduction Of the expenses of supporting these
charities can bc made without impairng their
usefulness, and without forgetting the claims
that Tie unfortunate inmates of these institutions
have upon the charity of the State
In reference 10 the lunatic asylum, recon-
mend the election or appointment Of "A board of
regents, composed OF citizens of this county the
members of which are not TO receive any com.
pensation for their services. Motives of human.
ity will prompt worthy aud competent men to
undertake this praisew0rlhy duty, anu they will
hnd an ample reward in its discharge The cx-
penScs of lhis MsItMiinn. IS OF lLr n.niinnii.r-