The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-07-30

DEMOCRATIC RULE IN SOUTH CARROLL
NA.-The NeWs and Courier of the 18th
instant contains a long and able article, prc.
sentiug some interesting facts and figures,
under the heading, ."The Rractical Benefits
of Democratic Rule in South Carolina :"
from which we copy the following para
graphs:
"Ten and a quarter n,iNion dollars were
wrung from the people in eight years of
Radical rule. an average Of 81 ,28O, ,22S-
During the three years of Democratic rule
the amount of State taxes actually collec.
ted is 81 ,546,716, an average of S515,572.
The direct saving in State taxes alone is,
therefore, 1854, ,656, which is equal to g..
293 1868 in three years More than two and
quarter million dollars have been saved
by the reduction of expenses consequent
upon the election of the Democratic candi-
dates in 1876. And the money which has
been collected for taxes has been honestly
spent. The people have had their money
worth. While the Radicals were in power,
on the contrary, the greater part of the rev.
enue was wasted or stolen, aud each yeur
left huge legacy of dsbt to. its. successor.
"The people Of the State have every rea.
son to be satisfied with what has been done.
There is an average reduction of "a per
cent. in the asscssed value of property for
taxing purposes, and the average State tax
has been reduced from an average of 9 mills
to an average of mills. The amount Of
State taxes collected in each year is reduced,
on an average, $764, 1856, making 50, goa, :
96S in three years and the amount collec-
ted on account of tho State tax for each
year is reduced, on an average, S798, ,67l,
making, in three years, 81, ,396,O13. There
is also reduction in the county tax, out.
side Of the special taxes, which taxes, as
before mentioned, arc to meet expenditures
incurred by the people of the counties them.
selves, or to liquidate debts contracted prior
to 1877, the larger part Of which debts, VIC
presume, was due to the people of the re-.
spective counties themselves. Judged.
therefore, by the combined efficiency auI
economy ofthe State Government, the Dem.
cratic party have fulfilled every pledge
they mado before the election. The PC ople
as whole arc more than compensated, even
as matter of morey, for the labors and
sacrifices of the political canvass in 1876.
Changes in the organic law will no doubt
allow the governmental expenses to be re.
duced still further, but, Notwithstanding the
costly complexity of the governmental sys-
tenn, established by the Constitution of 1868.
no political party, in any State, can better
afford to be known by It's works Than the
dominant party in South Carolina. Final.
ly, the take, in the State would ,e insignif.
icaot, if tho people were less liberal in pro.
vidlng for free education, or were less pune.
tilious in carrying out the decision of the
Supreme Court establishing the amount of
the valid and binding State debt The State
tax for the year 1879-SO is expected to
produce about 1915, 900 ,and the. Phosphate
royalty about S97, 600. For the interest on
the public debt the appropriation is S5O4,.
600, apd the public schools receive the pro.
ceeds Of school tax Of two mills included
in the State tax, 100000. The entire
revenue from current taxation and the
Phosphate royalty being S772,OOO, no less
than 100000 Of this amount 90 to the
public ereditors.and the public schools"
Mn Rppnu nN nro NJ.