The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-04-19
A Model Government.

l
of tho New York Tribune, writes to that
paper from Columbia, under date of the
30th ultimo, as follows:
l. This morning took look OF what is
left of the rival State governments. now
that their chiefs are absent in Washing.
| ton. First to the State House. At the
extremity Of the long hall, which runs
from the end of the building, saw what
has been for nearly three months the only
obstacle to an immediate settlement OF
the South Carolina question--a few stacka
of arms and blue-coated soldier walking
to and fro. This sentinel pacing his beat
before the door Of the Governors room,
Stete5 government exerted 10 protect
Chamberlain and his associates against
being elected from their offices by legal
process of the State courts. From their
Offices, did l say9 From their Office
rooms would be the correct statement,
for not one of them exercises any official
functions. All executive powers have
passed into the hands of the Hampton
government by the force of the popular
will and of judicial decisions.
Leaving the State House and strolling
down the broad, sunny, lonesome main
of small two-story brick building, for
the Offices of the Hampton government.
On the lower floor was bank. Mount
ing narrow wooden staircase, came to
q landing on which two doors fronted.
A printed sign of white cardboard
nailed on the panels of one read, "Lieu-
tenant Governor, Comptroller General,
Attorney General and on the other o
like inexpensive tablet had this inscrip-
ton, at once instructive and hospitable
to all who might be seeking the head of
the State, "Govornor--Walk in." This
door led into sort of ante.room, furn-
ished with few fifty cent chairs and a
rude table on which stood bucket of
water and tin dipper. Beyond was a
smaller room with table at which o
clerk was writing, O store counter sup
porting case OF pigeon holes, and o
dilapidated plush-lined sofa, suggestive
of q boarding-house auction. Still farth-
er on was smaller room, scarce six by
nine in size, where the Governor works.
An unpainted pine table, desk made by
penitentiary conyicts, and four or five
chairs were it's outfit. Walls and iloors
in all these rooms were bare, and tEoy
looked like the quarters of some poor
country lawyer waiting for practice.
The whole stock of furniture would not
fetch $25 at auction.
In the adjoining Office, occupied jointly
by the three officials whose titles were on
the sign, o like Spartan simplicity reigned.
TO save money until he should be fully
established, Gov, Hampton has only com
missioncd such of the officials as he can
not get along without, and he is running
the government with the utmost economy.
Inc Comptroller General, Mr.. Hagood,
told me that the whole State government
only employs one clerk, who served the
different officers by turn. "When we get
behind with our books we go out and
recruit some volunteers TO help u.s." he
added. A gentleman who was writing at
a table on tho other side of the room said
that he had been drafted into service to
fix up the returns of the insurance COM
panies. "Here," said Mr.. Iiagood, point
ing to the pigeon-holes of the cheap desk
at which he sat, "is the whole Comptroller
Generals Office" To show that the bus
ineas of the Office was actually carried on
by him, AID not by his rival in the three
luxuriously furnished rooms in the State
House, he showed his accounts of money
received and paid out, including the re-
ceipts of the superintendent of the State
charitable and penal institutions.
The Hampton Legislature, not having
q quorum in tho Senate, passed no tax
bill, but adopted resolution requesting
The people to pay such person rs the
Governor might appoint, 3 sum equal to
one-fourth of their last years taxes, and
promising that such payments should be
credited when the regular tax levy was
made. Gov. Hampton thought he would
not need so much money, and asked, by
proclamation, for only ten per cent. of
Inst years tax. The people responded
pay, but they were few in number, and
their refusal to comply was compensated
for by Others paying more than their
quota, SO that Hampton got in all rather
more than one-tenth of the total tax of
obtained, from these voluntary payments,
Sl20,141. He mas now balance on
hand of nearly $4,000, after paying ali
and the school fund. His Legislature
cost only $4,000. Republican Legisla-
lures have cost about 5000, 900 ANNUALLY.
All the Judges of the State courts, except
three, have drawn their salaries from
him. The Chamberlain Government has
not collected dollar of taxes. It's Leg
islature passed tax bill, but injunctions
from the courts stopped its enforcement.
The officials are, to quote the words of
one of them, Giving on faith" Cham.
berlain's legislators did not have to 20
away entirely empty handed, however,
for Corbin paid them 5000 o piece when
they elected him to the Senate. He
cashed some sort of warrants 10 that
amount for all the men who voted for
him. 1t is alleged he used money for
this purpose which belonged to the State
as royalty due from phosphate mining
company of which he is president