The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1877-06-05
AFFAIRS IN FLORIDA.
IYlEINEVITABLE RESULTS OFDElI0-
CRATIC RULE.

stopping Leaks and Saving Money!
Liberal Appropriations to Educate
the People, Reforming the Blacks--No
New Party in Florida.
Mr.. Smalley, the staff correspond.
ent of the New York Irid,tne,
while in Tallahassee recently, had q
long interview with Governor Drew.
Tho governor said "We are fast
| STRENGTHENING out tho snarls and
stopping the leaks Close economy
is being introduced in all branches
Of tho government. We shall save
this year thirty thousand dollars in
our court expenses, twenty five
thousand dollars in the cost of run
ming the penitcntiary, and very
large gross sum i'll county expenses.
Our Legislature last winter cost
one~fourth less than the year before,
and the next session will cost still
less. Tho bonded debt is about
$1,1OO,0OO. 1t was Increased at the
ratio OF 100000 yoar by the Radi-
calls to meet ordinary running ex.,
penses. Tho immense fraudulent
railroad debt which was put upon
lis was decided by our Supreme
Court, you remember, to DO illegal
and void. We can easily carry our
valid debt, and provide n sinking
fund to redeem it at the expiration
Of thirty years, when the bonds fall
IL 20
ally for the sinking fund will wipo
out the entire debt in eighteen years,
and it was decided by the Lesisla-
turc last winter to suspend it's col
lection for five years, but owing to a
disagreement between the two
houses about other matters concern
ing taxation this provision fell
through. We levy total State tux
Of seven mills on the dollar, of
which two mills aro for interest on
the debt for the sinking fund, and
one for common schools.
Corrcspondent-What is tho con-
dition of your public schools s? Are
they rs well maintained rs under
the Republican administration
The governor-Bcttcr, [ think.
The counties arc allowed to lcvy not
to exceed five mills on the dollar for
school purposes. In addition to the
proceeds Of the ono mill tax,
the interest Oh fund
derived from the sale of the six,
teenth section Of land in every
township is distributed by the State
to the counties The laws relating to
the schools are the same as when
the Republicans were in power, but
they Ie enforced with more ETH
cheney. and the money is more faith
fully applied. In some Of the coun..
tics the Ra heal county superintend-
entS were incompetent and dishon>
est, The former superintendent of
this county is under indictment for
stealing Inc school fund. He has
cleared out, and destroyed or car.
ried of all the books ana accounts
OF his Ctt,e. hear that he is hold
ing a treasury clerkship in Washing
ton. There Is still some opposition
to the public schools, and especially
to negro schools, on the part Of the
unprogresSivo class of whites. but it
is Diminishing all the time and is
not strong enough to influence the
action of the Legislature. Our
most Intelligent people are convinced
that the education Of the blacks is
essential to the welfare of the State.
and [ look II Sna Onr schools cDn.
Stantly improve. The funds for
educational purposes Will be applied
With cr;lre impartialitv for the
benefit Of the two races
Correspondent-How DO the ne
gvoes take the order Of things
Tie govoynor-At first they
seemed TO think that something
dreadful was going to happen to
them because the Democrats had
got in power. Now that they see
their rights are not interfered with
think they are disposed to be
more Industrious than before. and
quit pilfering. The curse OF this
section is the thieving propensity of
the blacks. This used to be a good
stock country, but now You can
travel for miles without seeing
many cattle or hogs. Planters
con.d not keep stock, because the
negroes killed them in the woods.
Now I learn that there is less of
this done than before, the negroes
fearing that the laws will be more