The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-12-19
-f For the TftEcs
From the Tax Payers Stand Point.

From the Tax fayers otsnu Iofh'
have rea La good many very wise suggestions
on the part f the Press as to what the present
body of Solons, yclcpel the Legislature, should
do. "a child can lead q horse to water but ten
men can't make him drink" 1t is very easy for
bystauder- make observations, doubtless the
members " ,uld say. It's alittle singular how
ever, that so few see. or are willing to acknowl-
edge that ut the root Of oil our troubles stands
the want of economy in administering the State
government. We have too many holes in the
hog trough--too many offices, md too high
SALARIES or perqu,sites for the times. We have
not been able to come down TO the conviction
that the State is poor and unable to keep up
costly establishment.
The Radical party, assuming the right to raise
money by taxation and not caring how much it
dist ressed the citizen, created az many offices
possible and fixed good salsfies or perquistes,
20 provide places for their pets and to popular
ilc he Radical regime. Offices were made for
Sambo, for Scalawag and for Carpetbagger, and
tic people taxed to support them. Swarms of
Jitceholdcrs were manufactured out Of all sorts
o. Materials pro bono puJ!jco.
" hen the Hampton Government went into
powCr was it not the distinct understanding that
economy and reform should be carried out to
the lctter? Has it been done? Has any scri-
Gus fort been made to do it? Are the mem
bers of the Legislature afraid to make the
cfo.;? Or do they think the Radical tao.
tics necessary to keep them in power? The
people arc poorer than they were before the
WAR, yet it requires more than twice the mum.
Der Of officers 10 manage The State.
We have Treasurers, Assessors, Auditors,
School Commissioners, Jury Commissioners,
County Commissioners, Trial Justices, Phos-
phate Inspectors, and so on. Is there any doubt
but some of these could be dispensed with p
When the country was prosperous one man col
lccted the taxes, at q cost to the County of few
hundred dollars, and hundreds were ready to
do it, now it takes an Assessor, an Auditor and
Treasurer. They mus, have fine Offices fitted up
at County expense, books and stationery, Clerks
and Assistants, and receive thousands for their
services. Is this fair TO those who pay the taxes?
If the office is necessary, there are plenty COM
pctcnt men who would be glad to perform the
duties for less money than is now given.
One of the Sorest Affections which our people
have been subjected to, is the Trial Justice
system. In u great many cases incompetcn,
persons have been appointed, whose only bust
ness seemed to be to encourage litigation and
tax the County with cost. They have been worse
than the frogs and locusts of Egypt and the
whole system should be abolished or this,
however, there is very little hope-the lawyers
have full possession of the Legislature and il
is hardly probable TINT any changes will Il
made which will so towards restoring peace and
harmony and arrcstinS litigation. And who
can blame them-cvery man to his trade, and
they would not be true to their interests if they
did not work for the craft. The remedy is. for
the people to take up the matter seriously; dis.
cuss it fairly and fully, and demand such reforms
as they may think necessary. We have too many
ottccs--too many placc-huntcrs for the public
good-too many conSumcrs-we want more work
and less politics. 1t is high time for political
llegira and . return to the corn anl cotton
field. Let us have lt--thcrc is no other way on,
OF tho wilderness. TAX PAYER.