The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-05-23
From Columbia.
Nav 10. 1877,

COLUMBIA, May 10, 1877.
Editor Press and Banner:
SIR:-During the past week several i'm
portant bills have passed a second read
ing, among them a bill to raise supplies
for the fiscal year commencing Nov. Is,
1876, and a bill to make appropriations.
The later was discussed for three days,
particularly the 5th Sec, appropriating
$Z7O, 900 to pay the interest on the public
debt. Abbevtlle was divided or the sub
ject, Mr.. Hood making decidedly the best
speech that was made in support of the
appropriation Mr.. Hemphill against it
with much earneStness and force, while /
brought up the rear with the best 1 could,
after the debate was restricted to Is min
utes. Reports of the discussion have been
Published in the daily papers, and it will
be found that
THE MAIN DIFFERENCE
between tho parties Is as to the time
when the levy should be made, whether
now or after the debt shall have been ex-
amined and passed upon by the commits
sion to be raised. The tax bill levies II
mills for State purposes which is not quite
half what was levied last, and not exceed
ing 3 mills for county purposes. l trust
our county commissioners will not reach
the limit, if they can possibly get along
with less. No levy was asked to pay
PAST INDEBTEDNESS OF ABBEv1LLE
in view Of the stringency Of the times.
Reasonable provisions are made rs to the
PAYMENT OF THE TAXES.
It is divided into two payments one
half from lst June to lst of July, and
the other half from 1st October to lst
November but any one not paying the
first installment, will, be allowed to pay
it when the second installment falls due,
with interest at II per cent. per month.
The taxes for tho next fiscal year will
follow close upon the heels Of this, and
thus make the taxes Of tho two years
come out Of
THE PRESENT CROP.
This, no doubt, our people will bear pa
ticntly and cheerfully rather than post
pone, and pile up, and thus make the ap-
pearance of as high taxes as heretofore.
Certainly there has been great retrench-
ment and hundreds Of thousands of dol
lars have been saved to our over burden
tax payers. All persons between the
ages OF II and 60 are now required to pay
\ POLL TAX
and in default are to be fined $500 or i'm
prisonment in Jail 80 days. This will in
crease our educational fund, and make
those who derive most benefit contribute
to it. These bills however go to the
Senate, and may be amended
" DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS
of the House from Fairfield were sworn
in this week and q Senator from Chester.
Whittem&re, it is thought, will not re-
turn as he has no fancy for striped suits,
and I trust we will soon control the
Senate when it will be plain sailing. We
will probably not adjourn before some
time next week, but our people
MUST NOT BE IMPATIENT.
at delay, IS some matters can not be hMr-
ried which it would be %imprudcnt to dis
close at the present time. Most of the
members are farmers, and they are quite
anxious enough to 30 home, as their
farms, no doubt, demand their attention.
OUR LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN uN-
DEBATED.
because there is a deficiency Of orators
but men who talk most are often least
practical. There is not the ability that
marked Legislatures before the war, be-
cause our ablest men then sought the po-
sition, and this time they held back for
fear Of defeat. But they are solid, earn
est, practical men and will be pretty apt
to
81. VOTE RIGHT,
when they understand the proposition.
B They are thoroughly in earnest on the
subject of retrenchmont and are inclined
to overdo it, Us for instance in the reduc-
ton of salaries Of county offices. If we
can't pay d man at the head of the cduca-
tional interest of the county more than
$500 we had