Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-03
RETRENCHMENT AND REFORM.

Inc COlumDla heglSter OF Ouuudy CoH-
tains report of a conference of members OF
both Houses of the Legislature, held in the
hall of the House on Saturday night, those
composing the conference being advocates
of retrenchment in the expenses of the State
government. There were present at the
meeting the following members of the two
Houses: Senators-Sligh, Moody; J. b.
Moore, Black, Jere Smith; Representa-
tives-Scudday, Rucker, Rutland, Seigler,
Guignard, Woodward, Brice, Pettigrew,
Reedy, Jones, Baker, Wilkes, Blake, Mas
sey, Fox, Browning, Hill, Padgett, Clink-
scales, Kearse, Davies, Watson, Hender-
son, McIver, McKissick, Riddle, Gibson,
Wharton, Spencer, Afford, Lay and Kin
ney.
The assemblage represented all the pro-
fessions and callings in both Houses, al
though the farming class largely predomi-
mated. Senator Sigh was called to the
chair, and Mr.. Scudday was requested to
act as secretary.
Mr.. S. Pope, of Newberry, took the floor
and explained the object of the conference
to be in the interest of economy and reform
in the administration of the government.
He favored a reduction of the salary Of the
Clerk of the House and the Senate to $500
each, the Assistant Clerk to s. per day a
reduction of the salary Of the Superintend-
ent of the Asylum to 50, 100; a small appro-
priation to the canal 4 repeal of the law
of last winter with regard to the hiring of
convicts, and a law passed to enable the
Directors of the Penitentiary to take con-
tracts; reduction of the contingent fund
of the Executive, and any other reduction
in governmental expense necessary.
Senator Moore suggested that committees
should be appointed to consider the matters
indicated, and such others as might be
thought proper subjects for investigation,
such as the Penitentiary and canal, and the
Lunatic Asylum. He had never been able
to understand the management of the phos-
phate royalty by the Agricultural Depart
ment, and he believed that the great body
of the farmers in and out of the Legislature
would like to be enlightened on that mat
ter, and on the military bill. The work
would be more than one committee could
attend to, and should be assigned to several
committees.
Mr.. Rutland spoke in favor of an investi
cation, and advocated reduction of fees.
Mr.. Reedy thought that the proposition
to appoint committees to investigate would
justly subject the caucus to severe criticism,
as the committees would have no authority
which would be recognized by the officers
Of the institutions proposed to be investi-
gated. He thought, however, that the
members there present should agree upon
the measures they were to insist on and
which they deemed needful.
Senator Black could not understand how
the friends of retrenchment in the confer
ence were tosecure the appointment of these
committees by the Speaker as suggested by
Mr.. Reedy, and thought that the conference
had better appoint the committees.
After further discussion by other men,
bers of the conference, Senator Black Sub
mitted a motion to appoint the following
committees, which was adopted:
l. Penitentiary and Canal.
=. Department OF Agriculture, phosphate royal
ty and privilege tax.
3. Salaries of State officers, Judiciary and con-
tngent, and other expenses of the Executive
Department.
t. Appropriations for educational institutions
and for military.
). Salaries of the officers of the Senate and
House and other expenses.
6. Salary of Superintendent and expenses of
Asylum.
I. Salary and management of office Of Railroad
Commissioners.
\ committee Of five, consisting of Messrs.
Pope, Rucker, Wharton, Moody and Moore,
were appointed to assist the chair in forming the
committees and the following was the result:
1st Messrs. Massey, Moore and Gibson.
I'd. Pope, McIver and Fox.
Sd. Rucker, Blake and Blue.
4th. Scudday, Moody and Pettigrcw.
9Th. McKissick, Clnkscales and Smith.
9Th. Black, Reedy and Davie.
7tll. Sigh, Rutland and Wharton.