The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-08

page 4ZUl WHICH placeu lne eIillre
matter in charge of a Committee of
which [ was member. We made
4 report in favor of levying such a
tax, and presented two Bills in con-
nection Herewith, both of which
were sacrificed on the altar Of politi-
cal expediency.
PAY OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
At session of 1875, [Senate Jour
nal, page 67,1 I introduced GA Bill
to reduce the pay of County Com.
and their clerks" 1t re.
ceived a majority vote in both houses
and was signed by Governor Hamp-
ton, May 81, 1877. This Act re.
duced the pay Of County Commis-
sioners and their clerks from three
dollars per day to two dollars. and
at the same time reduced the number
of days for which they should be
paid from 100 to 70, and thus saving
to the taxpayers of the State thou
sands of dollars annually.
DIETING PRISONERS.
At the time Of the introduction
of the "Bill to reduce and fix the
price of dieting prisoners" Sheriffs
received forty cents per day, which
in my estimation was entirely too
much. The Bill as [ presented it
fixed the price at twenty cents per
day. 1t was amended on its passage
by substituting thirty cents, and be-
came law, being signed by Gov
ernor Hampton, June 8, 1877. My
action in reference to the above will
be found, Senate Journal 1877, page
149. This measure looked to the
reduction of County expenses, and
in a considerable degree accom-
plished that result.
PUBLIC EXECUTIONS.
During my term Of service in the
House and Senate, feeling the de-
moralizing influences and effects re:
sulting from public executions, ]
addressed communication to each
Circuit Judge in the State in regard
to this subject. Their replies &C.
corded fully with my views; and
thus supported, l introduced at va
rious times three several Bills pro.
viding that all executions should be
private, in Jail yards, to be con.
Quoted in a building erected for such
purpose. [See Senate Journal, ses
sions 1S74-75, 1S75-76, pages 4l
IS and 239. The first two Bills
failed to pass in the Senate. The
third Bill, however, received the
necessary three readings in thai
body, but was ultimately defeated
in the House. Since 1875 a similar
law has been enacted, and now the
country is saved from such revolving
and demoralizing exhibitions.
FEES AND COSTS OF OFFICERS AMI
ATTORNEYS.
By reference to Senate Journals
sessions 1S75-76 and 1876, pages
555, 149 and 81, it will be seen that
I introduced Bills to reduce the fees
and costs of certain officers and at.
torneys. These Bills in the main
reduced the fees and costs, where
practicable, to the fee Bill Of 1889
which was just and equitable in all
its bearings. 1 found it impossible
to obtain either a favorable or un.
favorable report from the Senate
Judiciary Committee, therefore they
were lost.
BANK DEPOSITS.
The policy Of creating banks OF
deposit was certainly intended to
provide a safe and convenient place
where public and private funds
should be kept to be paid out to de-
positors on call. The experience in
this State (and tits by no meansa an ex-
ception) has been that some of these
institutions have been the medium
of great loss to the people at large.
In some instances charters have un-
doubtedly been obtained by cunning
sharpers with the intent to steal and
defraud from the commencement.
In more than one case the officers,
knowing the insolvency of the in
stitution, have continued to receive
deposits, knowing such deposits
would be lost by those who made
them. The State has not escaped
from the rapacity of such bank Off
GERS. To aid in preventing such
impositions and frauds and at least
to hold the terrors of the law over
the officers of such institutions, the
regular session 1876 I submitted "a
Bill to render officers of corporations
personally responsible in certain
cases." [Senate Journal, page g.
1t was acted upon favorably, ratified,
and approved by Governor Hamp-
ton, May 31st, 1877.
" BILL TO REDUCE THE PAY OF COM
MIssIoNERs AND MANAGERS OF
ELECTION AND OF THEIR CLERKS" J"
By reference to Senate Journal &C
1876, page l02, it will be seen that
I offered a Bill bearing the above
named title, which provided for
reduction of the pay of Commission