The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-06-01
The Per Diem and Interest Questions.

The Legislature is still occupied mpan -thA-A n
L.nrnnriation And Tax Bills. The last cannot-be
completed until the first is passed. There nrc
two difficulties in the way, viz the per diem OF
the members Of the Legislature and the matter
of appropriating S270,O0o to pay the interest
on the bonds of the State.
Upon the per diem there seems to be a tran-
gular fight One party thinks that So day is
quite sufficient. another thinks that $500 as
little rs should be allowed for their services DUR
ing the winter and present or extra sessions,
while an:ther wants $500. For our part we
think the members would do good thing for
the State, the democratic party and themselves,
individually, if they would settle down to the
S5 day, and come home.
AS to paying the interest upon the bonds, We
think under the circumstances, that may be very
conscientously postponed until tho next levy.
The bondholders are better able to wait for the
interest upon the bonds,--particularly if the
Legislature will give assurance that it shall be
paid next ye9r-:than the people are to pay it
nop. There is much doubt as to the validity of
large number Of those bonds, and the Leg
islature has appointed a committee to investi-
gate them and settle which are good and which
arc fraudulent, it will be no breach of integrity
to await the result Of that investigation before
calling upon the people to put up money to pay
the interest. We agree fully with Mr.. Wither-
spoon of York, who, in opposing that feature of
the bill said:
lie looked with disfavor upon any act that
savorcd of reputation but while we guard the
integrity of the State, we must not crush out
those whom represent. We must give them
time to recover from the depressed condition
that the misgovcrnment Of the past years had
placed them in--give them breathing time. He
asked for the people Of the State just what any
honest but embarrassed man might ask from q
reasonable creditor. Let us preserve our home
credit and not talk so much about our foreign
credit. The fifth section provides S27O,O0O for
the interest on the bonds of the State. This was
an especially Objectionable feature.
Under the present state of our affairs is it
reasonable or possible that the people in this
State can sustain this burden and live They
cannot. and he, for one, did not propose to i'm
pose obligations which he knew it would be i'm,
possible to meet If this bill passed in its pres
| ent form, York County would be called upon to
pay 26 mills next winter, out Of one crop. This
| would put one-thrd one-fourih Of the people
of the State out Of their homes. Besides this,
the people have other obligations to pay besides
these taxes and it is unfair in the State to ask all
q mans substance. Who knows whether these
bonds are valid not. An investigation is de-
manded, and if there is to be an investigation why
be in hurry to provide this money before we
know what we have to pay. 1t is true thatinterest
will accumulate, but he did not ask the bond
holder to forgive us the interest; he was con-
vinced that this interest could be funded and
the burden thus distributed over period Of three
four years and rendered lighter tc the tax
payers Why ignore all the rest of the debt Of
the State. and make an exception in favor Of
these bonds He closed brilliant address,
with the assertion That he had higher regard
for the welfare Of the people than for party, and
was prepared to take the responsibility Of vot-
ing against the interest clause.