The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-27
Model Economists-The Frce-pass
Vote.

During the Legislative session now hap
pily at an end the members of our Cen
cral Assembly have had several opportu-
mites Of airing their opinions on financial
questions and carrying into practice their
theories Of political economy. They
went to Columbia as the pledged advo-
Gates of retrcnchment and reform. The
country was so impoverished, tho bur-
den of taxation pressed so g~rievously
upon the shoulders of the poor tan
paver." radicalism had left the State so
goodlv q heritage of abuses, that almost
every Senator and Representative felt
himself bound to make his mark Us an
economist. He seemed to consider 1t his
duty to put in his pruning-knife some
where in the political vineyard, other
wise, he would be unable to smile at his
constituencies rage or face u frowning
world. Sclf-constituted champions ofthe
"poor taxpayer" appeared by dozens and
they tried to effect some legis-
lation, with partial success. If poor mon
can be made rich by legislation, those
champions did their utmost to prove 1t.
They passed the Usury law; economy
was the cry. They tried to defeat the
University bill; economy again. They
tried to make South Carolina repudiate
her debt; economy again. Resolutions
were offered to reduce the salaries of Cir
cult Judges, to lessen the fees and perqui-
sites of Clerks of Courts, Probate Judg-
cs, Sheritls, and other offices; economy
again for the dear ''poor t~ax-payer's' AXE
They pushed their economy to the verge
of parsimony and stinginess. Politically
speaking they were misers bent ON say
ing every tarthing, and on putting the
State on very low diet indeed. Poor
| Richard himself ncve said moro in be-
half of economy.
Such a legislature was just tho one to
cut down its own expenses by reducing
! the pay per diem and making the session
as short as possible. Some Of its men,
bers, misled by the prevailing rage for
economy, moved to reduce the daily pay
! of members. Strange to say the resolu-
tons were laid OH the table with many n
joke and jest. This vas not the sort OF
economy they wanted. Economy with
them must not begin at home. This was
making their own chickens come home
to roost in a very disagreeablc MANNER
and it was not to be tolerated. And as
for shortening the session;-it was pro-
longcd until the legislators themselves,
influenced by a sort of sad safety, were
glad to leave the capital.
Their strangest piece Of economical le-
! gislation, however, was their refusal to
enact 4 law %forbidding themselves ant
some others to accept from railroad COM
panies free passes OH their roads. 30 it
known unto all poor taxpayers" that
each member of the General Assemblies
paid i'll addition to his daily pay "thc
further sum of twenty cents for every
mile of the ordinary route of travel in
going to or returning from" Columbia.
Be it also known to all "poor Taxpayers
ehot " N'",t ihhJoiitS VI ~ SSlolbtolS It,
ceivc with thanks free uses on the rail
roads and thus are enabled to travel to and
fro, not only not at their W expense but
at a profit, for they pocket their mileage
too. Behold how good and how protita-
BILE it is to be economical! BY a vote of 81
to 46 the motion to postpone the bill in
definitely was carried: and our economic
al Legislators or a majority of them are
thus enabled to return to their constitu-
encies without even spending the money
provided for their homeward journey.
Was there aver economy SO beautiful, so
sclf-sacrificing?
We publish the famous vote this morn
ing. Let all poor taxpayers" read it.
Let it be remembered. The poorest man
must feel the blush Of shame sutfuse his
cheek while he thinks of the disgraceful
spectacle our House of Representatives
afforded to the world last Wednes-
day.