The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-12-05
UNION MOT g H 3

than to too little--to the yenactment vi too
many, laws rather than to tooa:few. The
gf f,eral Assembly of this State has not
a exempt from this tendencyin the past,
our voluminous statute books Will show,
and YOU will pardon me in warning you
against its too great indulgence at this ses.
sion. In ad lition to this, what Is desired
bv all is an increase of wealth, because as
a people grow more wealthy within proper
bounds they grow more powerful and pros
porous aud arc the better enabled to sur.
round themselves with all the comforts and
improvements of a higher civilization. ,,uu
Now. national wealth is but the>cyeS' :
|1of siSIuplsz-which at last the
Ewould Seem then, again, that the Best atti
safest, and consequently the ~isest, govern.
| ment'is that which is content rather 10
protect than to attempt to create prosperity,
since the former always promotes and the
latter never fails to impede the efforts OF
that individuality which makes men indus
trious and cntcrprisiug and which produces
the wealth of country.
Having these views, aud looking at the
State from my standpoint, | am Impressed
with the belief that but nt.lo auuu.y.I
Legislation is now demanded by the wants
OF our people, and consequently shall have
but few recommendations to make. What
they want is not So much more laws as
more political rest and quiet opportunity,
through their own individual enterprise
activity and industry, of building up and
recuperating their lost fortunes.
FINANCES. -
AS to our financial. System, the present.
scHeme'i III operation for the support aud
maintenance Of the government stands upon
as jus: principle and upon az oconomieal
basis as can well be devised. 1t rests
upon the broad principle that every citizen
sh )uld bear that proportion of the necessary
burdens of government which his ability
and property shall demand. This makes
it bear equally upon all, and all arc salts.
fed
am not aware of any improvement that
can be made in either the collecting or dis.
bursting of that portion of the public money
which is administered BY the State Trcasu.
ry. AS now conducted the present scheme
seems to afford absolute security both for
the prompt gathering and the prompt and
honest disbursement Of this part Of the pub
lie funds. But while this security exists
as to that portion of public moneys admin
istercd by the State Treasury, vet it seems
to have been forgotten that large portion
Of the taxes collected is collected for County
purposes and is administer ID by the County
Commissioners Of the several Counties with
out amy sufficient check being provided for
the correct disbursement thereof 1t is true
that the County Commissioners are required
Il make reports to the General Assembly,
but it would be almost impossible for the
General Assembly to look fully into all the
acts and doings, contracts and vouchers of
the County Commissioners Of the thirty.two
Counties 50 rs to affor that check which
the magnitude of this part Of our financial
scheme demands.
1t would be better that these reports
should be made to some local authority,
where the facts could be more fully exam
ined aud the vouchers more easily tested;
and for this better security | recommend
that these reports be required to be made
to the Circuit Court in the several Coun-
ties, to be examined by the grand juries un-
der its supervision, after being published in
the County papers just previous to the sit.
ting of the Court to which they shall be
made.
Nor 10 see at this time any opening for
greater economy or rctrcnchmcnt in current
expenses. Salaries have been reduced rs
low rs it i wise to reduce thc.i, aal all the
expenses of the government have been cut
down as far as it is perhaps practicable to
DO so. This will be seen more certainly by
comparing the expenses Of the different de-
partmcntS OF the government before the war
and since. | refer to those expenses which
are paid from the State Treasury. In 1859
the aggregate of salaries Of the executive
department amounted to nineteen thousand
eight hundred and fifty dollars. During
this year the sum required is thirteen thou
sand nine hundred, notwithstanding an al-
ditional Office, that of Superintendent of
E1ucation, with salary of twenty one hun
dred dollars, has been created since 1859.
Before the war most of the executive Off
GERS could live at their respective homes and
discharge 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
1t is true these increased duties have called
for an increase of clerical force, both in
number and qualifications, which has also
increased the expenses of this department,
which, when added to the sum above men
toned. will bring thcs, expenses to about
what they were formerly. Yet, when the
additional work imposed upon this depart
mcnt, in consequence of our changed condi.
ton, is considered, it will be seen that the
stTictest and closest economy has been OBJ
served