The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-12-19
For the Tftncs.
Fro u the Tax Payers Stand PoiRt.

For the Tftncs.
Fro the Tax Payers Stand Poiat.
aa have real good many very wise suggestions
on the part the Press as to what the present
body Of SoOns, yclepel the Legislature, should
do. "a child can lead horse to water but ten
men can't make him drink" 1t is very easy for
bystander- o make observations, doubtless the
members ,uld say. Itis little singular, how
ever, that so few see, or are willing to acknowl-
edge, that at 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 perquisites for the times. We have
not beer able to come down 10 the conviction
that the State is poor and unable TO keep up q
costly establishment.
The Radical party, assuming the right to raise
money by taxation and not caring how much it
distressed the citizen, created NJ many Offices as
possible, and fixed good salafies or perquisites,
70 provide places for their pets and to popular
ize the Radical regime. Offices were made for
Sambo, for Scalawag and for Carpctbagger, and
the people taxed to support them. Swarms of
2ihceholders were manufactured out of all sorts
Of materials pro bono puJlco.
When the Hampton Government went into
power was it not the distinct understanding that
economy and reform should be carried out to
the letter? 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
| cFoT'?' Or do they think the Radical tao
tics necessary to keep them in power {? The
lpeope arc poorer than they were before the
]Aar, yet it requires more than twice the num-
Der of officers to manage the State.
We have Treasurers, Assessors, Auditors,
| School Commissioners, Jury Commissioners,
County Commissioners, Trial Justices, Phos-
| phnte Inspectors, and so on. Is there any doubt
but some of these could be dispensed with .
When the country was prosperous man col
lected the taxes, ut 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 must have fine Offices fitted up
ut County expense, books and stationery, Clerks
and Assistants, and receive thousands for thsi,
services. Is this fair TO those who pay the taxes!
| If the Office is necessary there are plenty com.
pctent men who would be glad to perform the
| duties for less money than is now given.
One of the sorest Affections which our peopl,
have been subjected to- is the Trial Justice
system. In 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 wors.
than the frogs and locusts of Egypt and th,
whole system should be abolished. or this
however, there is very little hopc-the lawyer.
have full possession Of the Legislature and i
is hardly probable that any changes will /,
made which will go towards restoring peace ant
harmony and arresting litigation. And VIII,
can blame them-every man to his trade, ant
they would not be true to their interests if the,
did not work for the craft. The remedy is, 70,
the people to take up tho matter seriously dis
cuss it fairly and fully, and demand such reforms
as they may think necessary. We have too man,
oficcs--too many place e-huntcrs for the public
| good--too many consumers-we want more worl
and less politics. 1t is high time for lolitica
liegira and n return to the corn and cottor
| field. Let us have It-thcrc is no other way on
Of tho wilderness TAX PAYER.