The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-04-04
"au1LrY OR NOT GUILTY.

"GUILTY OR MOT GUILTY"
Mr.. EDITOR: To criticise the actions of
public men may seem very improper for
countryman farmer to undertake; but when
wesee men in "high places" placed there
by the vote of their constituents, wasting
their time in doing nothing, or worse than
nothing, to the tune of fve dollars per day,
as some of our honored Representatives
have done, seems to "cry aloud" for con-
demnation from their constituents, who put
them there expecting them to do their
whole duty, and nothing more.
If we mistake not, during the campaign
of 1876, the nominees for The various Offices
pledged themselves to the Democratic party
to the people throughout the country-to
make the most strenuous efforts to bring
about reform and economy in State and
County government. We believed them.
And now at the close of the first regular
session of the Legislature wo ask, how does
their legislative record compare with the
pledges given during that eventful CAM
paign?
Their first act of economy (if We renem-
Der aright) was to reduce the salaries OF
various county officials to what We consider
| approximating economy. But, alas just
here their love of economy and sympathy
! for poor, tax-ridden people succumbed to
love of self, as much as to say that it is "our
bounden duty to curtail county expenses
by this reduction, but We as Legislators
cannot work that cheap. County officers
can stay at home and attend to their rseveral
Offices, but We, the law.makers, must leave
home for the Capitol. We are expected to
'clothe ourselves in purple and fare sump-
tuously every day." therefore must have
FIVE dollars per day.
Now, want to ask somebody, and mono
but the guilty need answer: Is there any
genuine Democracy in such doings7 Does
it take five dollars per day to pay the actual
expenses of a modern Legislator in South
Carolina2 Why cannot it be as il was in
the good old ante-war times, when men
sought office for the honors of the Office,
and from desire to benefit their country,
ard not to speculate off her. If it does re-
quire FIVE dollars per day to pay men,
ber's expenses, with good board at Sl.50 per
day, somebody makes money, if not, some
body else makes money, at whose expense
I'll leave my readers to guess.
Now, there is another thing that some of
US country people can't understand, and
want "more light" on the subject. If we
are in error, we are ready to ask pardon. I
We are told that our legislators receive
mileage ten cents per mile, while the rail-
road companies charge only five cents. 80 |
we see there is five cents clear cash made |
every mile travelled. But suppose they have |
free passes over the roads, which learn is |
true i'll nearly every casef It may be none
of our business as to them accepting FREQ |
passes over the roads, yet We can't see how
a true Representative can conscientiously |
accept free pass from railroad company, |
and also accept ten cents mileage out of the |
States funds for the same ride. We do not |
ask what the railroad companies receive or
expect to receive for and in consideration of |
such favors granted. We do not accuse any |
one of buying or selling, only we just can't |
see through it. When we country people |
hire person to labor, or hire ourselves to
labor for some one else, We endeavor to give |
value received. If We acted otherwise the |
employer or employee would be loser. If |
we engage ourselves to some one at one |
dollar or FIVE dollars per day, ne would not |
we could not, as honest men-charge for |
twenty or twenty.fv days more than we !
actually labored. We do not accuse any |
one of doing such thing, only we thought |
some person might try it. We think any
body that would act thus, ought TO be ad-
vised to 60 North for his health, or stay at |
home and 'nind the base"
You see, Mr.. Editor, that there are great |
many things done at the Capital that we |
country people can't see into or understand.
But perhaps we need to whet our under
standing against the pride Of the State-the |
South Carolina University.
OF the passage OF the University bill, and |
thosa.who supported it, we will say nothing.
Perhaps it is.right for the laboring class of
white people to pay taxes to support an in
stitution which cannot possibly ever be of
any benefit To US. OF one4hing we are GER
tain: if it had been left to the peoples vote
to reopen it, methinks Gabriels trump
would blow first. Thanks to two Of our
Representatives who SO ably and firmly op-
posed the bill. /
We are considerably puzzled and anxious
to know how and why our Senate and House
did not shut down on those fraudulent bonds
themselves instead of shifting the response
biiity off on "Court of Claims" composed
OF three Judges. If we mistake not an ap-
preparation was made during the extra ses-
sion last year to pay the interest on these
doubtful bonds, before anything positive
was known about them. How does that
lcok2
The Senate and House created the "In-
vestigating Committee" empowering them
to send for persons and papers," as was
necessary during that investigation, making
it the duty Of said Committee to report their
findings to the next regular session of tho
Legislature, which was done, and after
prolonged discussion on the matter it was
finally left to three fallible men to decide.
There is great deal at stake. Who will be
the winner, is what puzzles
A FARMER.
WILLIAMSON, S. c., April 1, 1878.
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