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

than one hundred persons. M
first effort in this direction was no
entirely successful.
The General Assembly was con
vened in extra session October 2lst
1873. Soon after assembling I pre-
sented ga Bill to regulate the mum
ber of subordinate officers, attaches
de-" [See House Journal. page II.
This Bill was defeated by the oppo
nents of honest government and
true reform. Not discouraged
thereby, when the Legislature con
vened in regular session immedi
ately following the extra session,
introduced a second "Bill to regu'
late the number and pay Of officers
attaches, clerks and laborers of the
General Assembly, and to provide
the manner of electing, appointing
and paying the same" [See House
Journal 1874, page 1881 To
facilitate the consideration and pas.
sage of this Bill I managed to have
it referred to a Committee of which
I was a member; and in a few days
it was reported on favorably, and
finally passed both houses, and was
approved by Governor Moses, March
17th, 1874. The beneficial results
of this Act will appear forcibly by
reference to its provisions. The
number of officers, clerks, attaches,
&C., was fixed their duties and pay
prescribed; that such number should
never be increased except by Act or
Joint Resolution; that a list of all
such persons should be furnished the
State Treasurer, that their names
and the amount due each should
appear in the appropriation bills (;
and that no pay certificate should
be paid by the State Treasurer ex-
cept issued in conformity with the
provisions of this Act. This Act
was continued in force until a sub.
sequent Act was passed in 1877,
and was never in any manner evaded
or violated by the legislative officers
during the administration Of Cover
nor Chamberlain, which succeeded
its passage. To show the practical
benefits effected by this measure I
submit the following facts AID
figures. For four years previous to
its passage the sessions averaged
about one hundred days each.
Average expense incurred each ses-
sion for attachees....:.......;... W
Average amount incurred each ses-
sion under new Act..................... 29,2OO VI
annually to the State.sl4O 800 90
To further illustrate:
For four terms previous to the ap-
proval of this Act the expenses
incurred per day for attaches
averaged the enormous amount of. N,70O 90
Under new Act per day............... w w
Amount saved to the State per day. s1.40S 90
The records prove that for several
years previous to the enactment of
this law, certificates we're issued on
an average in the name of six hun.
dred and twenty-five persons as at
tachees of the General Assembly;
under this Act, and whilst the Re.
publicans had control after its pas
sage, the number was reduced to
persons, showing a de-
crease in number and consequent
expense of five hundred and sixty
nine persons per session.
Governor Chamberlain in his first
inaugural address, December 1st,
1874, refers to this Act as follows:
1.-THE second measure Of retrenchment in
legislative expenses which urge is o reduc..
tion Of the number Of subordinate officers and
attaches of the General Assembly. Upon
this point am happy to speak in eommenda-
ton Of an Act passed by the last General as
sembly. By that Act the total number q q
subordinate officers and attaches in both
branches of the General Assembly. is limited
to afty.seven. trust your attention will be
given to this subject, and that if upon exami
nation. the number therein provided for is
found to be the lowest number consistent with
the proper transaction of business. the Law
will remain undisturbed."
After my election to the Senate,
I felt convinced that the expenses
incurred for attaches we're still toe
large and should be reduced. As
shown by Senate Journal, session
1876, page 46, I introduced "a Bill
to further reduce the number o1
attaches, Sc, of the General AS
sembly." This Bill not having
been reported upon, l offered still
another, entitled ga Bill to further
reduce the number and regulate the
pay Of officers, attaches, clerks and
laborers of the General Assembly
and TO provide the manner of elect
ing, appointing and paying the
same" [See Senate Journal extra
session 1877, page 13.] This Bill
was referred to the Committee on
Reform and Retrenchments, o1
which I was Chairman. 1t was re:
ported back favorably, received
three readings in each house, and
was approved by Governor Hamp'
ton, June 9th. 1877. This Act re-
duced the number from ffty-seven
to thirty-seven. It also reduced the
daily expenses for attaches from
1892 to less than 1925, thus saving
more than $3.50 per day during the
time the General Assembly was ii
session. To further illustrate:
The cost per session under the Act of -. -. !.