Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-12-04
published in the county papers just previous
to the sitting of the Court to which they shall

DE mace.
Nor do see at this time any opening fol
greater economy or retrenchment IN current
expenses. Salaries have been reduced as low
as it is wise to reduce them, and all the ex
penses of the government have been cut down
as far as it is practicable to do so. This will
be seen more certainly by comparing the ex
penses of the different departments Of the
government before the war and since. | re-
fer to those expenses which are paid from the
State Treasury. In 1859 the aggregate o1
salaries of sthesexeoutiye department .,dou:as
ted to nineteen thousand eight hundred auo
fifty dollars. During this year the sum re
quired is thirteen thousand nine hundred
Notwithstanding an additional Office, that O.
Superintendent of Education, with salary o.
twenty-one hundred dollars, has been created
since 1859. Before the war most of the ex
ecutive officers lived at their respective homes
and discharged their duties by periodic visits
to the capitol. Now their duties are largely
increased and they are required to live in
Columbia and attend daily at their Offices
It is true these increased duties have called
for an increase of clerical force, both in NUM-
Der and qualifications, which has also in
creased the expenses of this department
which, when added to thesum above mention
ed, will bring these expenses to about what
they were formerly. Yet, when the additional
work imposed upon this department. in con-
sequence of our changed condition is consid
cred, it will be seen that the strictest and
closest economy has been observed.
In the judiciary department, the amount re-
quired in 1859 was S39, 200; during this year
this department has required S56,800-a diff
ference of $4,000. This difference, however
has not resulted from an increase in the sala'
ries of the officers in this department., so much
as on account of the fact that an entirely new
system has been adopted since 1859. In 1859
the Supreme Court was not in existence, and
the Solicitors were then paid principally from
fees and costs derived from the cases prose
cuted. Now, the salaries Of the Judges on
the Supreme bench amount to S11 900, and
the Solicitors are paid $4,000 directly from
the Treasury.
In the legislative department in 1859 the
entire expense, including pay of members,
solicitors, clerks, attaches, printing, &C.,
amounted to $46,550. Now the sum required
is S46,145. All these expenses aggregated
during the year 1859, amounted to SlO5,6OO
now to $l24,895-a difference of $18, 1895,
chiefly on account of the change in the ju.
dicial department, which was important and
essential, and which absolutely necessitated
this additional expense.
When we reflect upon the great change
which has taken place in our condition, So
cial, political and otherwise, and when we re-
member that our citizenship has been more
than doubled by the emancipation of those
of our people who were formerly our slaves,
and the ruin which had been brought upon
the country by the fragrant misrule and ex-
travagance of those in power previous to
1875, all requiring new legislation, the appli-
cation of new principles and almost an entire
rebuilding of our political structure, it is not
only gratifying but surprising fact that
our expenses have so soon been brought down
to the level of that peaceful and quiet state
of things which existed in 1859, and it will
ever stand as a monument to the patriotism
and practical wisdom of those who have con.
Quoted public affairs for the last three years,
within which time this result has been accom-.
plished.
This is still more striking when the expen-
ses Of 1879 are compared with those OF the
fiscal year commencing November, 1875.
The expenses of 1879 in the legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial departments, as will be
seen above, amounted to $124, 1895, while for
the fiscal year 1875, the sum required was
three hundred and ffty-one thousand dol
lars-a difference of S225,205. This COM
parison has only extended to the appropra.
tions made for the legislative, executive and
judicial departments for the years mentioned.
If carried out with the other appropriations,
the contrast will be found still more striking,
and will afford abundant evidence Of the Wig
liant economy of the General Assemblies of
the last three years.
The road, then, which leads to the Tighten
ing of the peoples burdens by reduction of
taxes. either now or ultimately, is not through
an unwise withdrawal of proper support to
the different departments of government un.
der the guise of economy, but by that in.
crease of wealth and population which will
certainly come from stability, effectiveness
and vigor in these departments, impaired by
fair, just and liberal support, and by the
awakening of our sleeping resources through
the increasing industry and enterprise Of our
people, fostered and protected by just and
stable government.
The building of the Spartanburg and
.Asheville Railroad and other similar enter
prises; the successful operation Of the Pied
mont and Camperdown and other factories in
the State; the discovery of the ash element
by DR.. Ravenel the reclamation of thou.
sands of acres of most valuable land in the
lower portions of the State from the grasp Of
present ruin by the introduction Of some new
mode Of culture; the deepening Of our rivers
and the drainage of our swamps; the exten.
sion Of education the fair. just and impartial
administration of the laws-these are the
agencies which will add to-and increase the
value of the property from which our reve-
nue. is to be derived. And inasmuch as the
rate of taxation will decrease as property in
creases, the surest road to permanent and
substantial reduction Of taxes is protection
and encouragement to enterprises and indus
tries like these, and to these ends, therefore,
legislation should be directed.
| invite your attention to the following con-
densed statement of our financial condition,
gathered from the clear and able reports of
the Comptroller and Treasurer, which is
herein incorporated so as to be in convenient
form for reference:
Consol bonds and stocks funded to November,
1S79 ,624 $40 80
Fund Commission, ,:................... ~ w $4,000 90
$5,5Ss,94s SO
At to be consolidated, 81 ,l6l 1929 %
Equal to.............. 5sO,9l4 81
Cestiticates of Claims
Commission already
funded for deficiency
bonds and stocks, less
$2672.26 of bonds re-