Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-01-06
State and County Expenses.

0oeSe0 stAo OOuuCy Expenses.
Editors Courier: In tho great hue and
ory about reform and curtailing expenses
very littlo is said about reform in State
expenses, while great doal is being said
about County expenses.
NoW'l am as much in favor of reform
aud reducing unnecessary expenditures Of
any body, but am in favor of cutting
clear through the cloth. The great aim Of
our legislators seems to be to reduce OK
pepses by outing down the pay of county
officers, but to let tho salaries of high State
ofiiolals remain intact. When an effort was
made fow days ago in the Legislature tc
reduoo the salary of one State official wha,
was the result? The whole thing was
kicked out in hurry. But the county
officers being Immediately among the people,
whore they know something about the
salaries and pay of aaid officers, are made
the scapegoats of all the sins Of extravagant
expenditures, and especially tho Trial JUS
tices and Constablcs (by the way, it is a
good olectioncering boom). If this thing
of cternally pokiug Trial Justices in the
ribs is to be kept up, there will soon not be
found man who has any self respect or
manhood in his composition who will con :
descend to accept or hold the office of Trial
Justice or Constable. In fact, it seems
that it ~oa!d be better to wipe out the said
Offices altogether, as they are nothing but a
useless, s,eypcnsc.
"Vcrner," in his communication of the
9th of December to the COURIER, says: "It
is said that while the State expenses have
been cut down one fourth, county expenses
are as great as under Radical rule This is
in great measure true. The expenses of
carrying on the county governments are too
high and should and will DO curtsiled
Tho expenses of courts of Trial Justices
and others arc high and under our present
system ure burdensome, aud the system
ought to be remodclcd."
Now think "Vcrner" has gotten things
wrong end foremost when he SAYS, cit is
said that while tho State expenses have
been cur Gown one-fourth," 60. 1 would
osk for Information wherein "the State cx-
pcnscs have been cut down" ono fourth?
(Be it remembered that the stealaec of
'' radical rule" is not to be taken into con-
US mn item of Legitimate cx-
peuscs
werner says that "county expenses are
as great os under Radical rule" Well, let
us see how that is by few practical illus
trations. Formerly the County Treasurer
(spcnkng of Oconce Cvunty) received
about 81, 300 per anuum; now he receives
about $3.50. Tho Auditor received and
expended about from $1,000 to $500;
nov about $3.50 cover the expenses of that
Office. The School Commissioner received
u salary of 81 900; now the most he can
get is $500. Trial Justices in criminal
cases (the county pays for no othcrs) under
Radical ruc" got for issuing warrant so
cents, for recosnizancc SO cents, prelimi-
nary examination $3.50, trial IS, commit
mcnt and release each SO cents, sending up
a case on appeal So; now he gets for q war
rant 40 cents, rccogniznncc 10 cents, pre-
liminary examination so cents, triul 81,
commitment and release each 20 cents,
sending up case on appeal 60 cents,
,n1king difference of $500 iu ono case,
The pay of constaClcs remains about the
same. II differs but little if any from
what it was before the war. I think have
stated facts which are controvcrtibIe. 1t
is aid that figures do not lie.
If the Legislature will stop creating new
Offices, just for the purpose of giving some
body place, aud reduce expenses in high
places, then wo will have reform in fuct.
Most all thc county expenses, except for
bridges, pay of Jurors and few other items
OF expense, grow out Of the bad conduct of
her citizens. | dop't mean to say thut all
the citizens of OcouGc County are bad peo.
pie by any mcaus but while it must be
admitted that Oconee County can
boast of us many good people as uny other
county, according to population, that it
contains quite number Of bad citizens,
soule of whom arc almost daily before somo
of the courts for their bad conduct. Sun.
press crime and most of tho expenses will
TIC cut oil; but until that is done expenses
must continue or eviIdoers must 90 un-
punished. just think Of last sprirg court.
1t was one OF The most expensive courts
that had been held for long time, and vet
who was to blame for il? Until crime is
suppressed expenses must of ncccssite con
tnuc. VINDEX.