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

--"0n the vote ofthanks to the Speaker Of tht
House of Representatives we voted no. or
account Of the extra pay contained IN the reso
luton. We favor the remainder OF the reso
luton. and join with the House in thanklnf
the Speaker for. the courteous manner II
which he has discharged tho arduous duties o.
isignod) JOHN r. COCHRAN,
HENRY ..H q E;9oA q. : MEETzE,
".{NSSSS:: q: & %TSSS%IPfhERooL, %SSI SlS :! R 9
On a resolution to pay Rev. David
Harris gratuity of $500 as Chap.
lain Of the Senate, session 1874-75,
[Senate Journal, page 1881 I Imoved
to strike out the resolving clause,
and called for the yeas and nays,
and succeeded in defeating the reso.
luton.
Although under the specific levy
incidental legislative expenses had
been reduced to a small sum in com.
parison with amounts so expended
in previous years, nevertheless I in.
sisted on having that amount hon.
estly applied and accounted for; and
for that purpose [Senate Journal,
Session 1S74-75, page 1871 l offered
the following amendment to the ap-
preparation Bill, which was adopted,
the accounts referred to in amend.
ment being Senate and House con-
tingent expenses:
"Mr. COCHRAN moved that Section be fur
ther amended, in line So. printed Bill. BY in;
accounts, after being so audited, shall be item
lied. printed and laid on the desks of the
members Of the Senate for inspection and ap-
prevail
DISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
There is no principle in the man
agement of public affairs more vital
and important than that there should
be a proper and just levy of taxes,
and certainly an honest and faithful
disbursement of the same under the
laws. The gross departure from
these principles perhaps occasioned
as much discomfort, alarm and pro-
test on the part Of the taxpayers Of
the State as any other of the many
abuses 'perpetrated. The utter care
lessness and recklessness of State
officers contracting in many ways
obligations in excess of appropria.
tions, County Commissioners incur
ring expenses and debts beyond the
amounts levied and collected for
County purposes, became evils call
ing loudly for redress. BY these
means the floating debts Of the State
and of many of the Counties were
largely increased, and the good name
and credit oftheState much impaired
and bid fair to become totally ruined.
For instance, the General Assembly
in one year incurred a liability Of
nearly one quarter Of a million Of
dollars for incidental expenses in ex-
cess of current appropriations for
such purpose. Many Of the Coun.
ties became involved far beyond
their ability to pay. Just and legal
claims against the State and Coun-
ties were hawked about and sold
shamefully below their face value, to
the great detriment Of public credit
and entailing serious loss upon many
officers who were endeavoring to do
their duty faithfully. Agents of
State and County officials were in
the market purchasing the most
doubtful and worthless of these
claims, because they could buy them
at the lowest prices and have them
Immediately paid at their face value
by State and County Treasurers in
terested in the spoils, leaving unpaid
lawful and meritorious claims which
the taxes had been levied and col
lected for the purpose of paying, in
order to buy them at ruinous dis
counts in the future. Special taxes
were being levied in large number
of Counties and absorbed in
like manner. To suppress and
remedy these glaring Irregularities,
frauds and acts of injustice, [ sub.
mitted ga Bill [See House Journal
1894, page 240,] to regulate the
manner in which public funds shall
be disbursed by public officers"
This Bill became an Act and was
approved by Governor Moses, March
II, 1874. 1t provides that it shall
be unlawful for any public officer,
State or County, authorized by law
SO to contract, to enter into or con-
tract for any purpose whatsoever in
a sum in excess of the tax levied or
the amount appropriated for the &C:
complishment of such purpose; p
also "that it shall be unlawful for
any public officer, State or County,
to divert or appropriate the funds
arising from any tax levied and col
lected for any one fiscal year to the
payment of any Indebtedness con.
two otod foronv nrauioua fiscal ve1r."