The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-04-01
In our article last week upon tht

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enumerated some of the troubles which,
we think, grow cut of our Constitution,
aud which can probably only be remedied
by Constitutional Convention. This
week we propose briefly to discuss some
measures which we think might afford
relief to all of the people Of the State,
and which it will, therefore, in our judg-
ment, be advisable for the farmers at
their approaching Convention in Colum-
bia to consider.
The first and most important measure
which promises an early relief income
measure from the present high rate of
taxation is refunding of the State debt
at lower rate of interest. The State
now pays six per cent. interest or debt
which requires in round numbers s4OO,-
600 per year. By proper management
this debt can be refunded at four per
cent, which will save to the people of
the State at least one mill per annum of
taxes; to secure this, however, it will be
necessary for the State to maintain a
steady policy to keep up its credit. In
our judgment, g vascillating policy will
render the refunding impossible.
The abolition of the South Carolina
University and of the Department of
Agriculture would, We think, be mistakes,
and could only save at best about one
third Of one mill of the present taxes.
The University ought to be forced to
charge tuition from those able to pay,
and its standard ought to be raised as
rapidly as possible to an equality with
the leading Universities of America. To
this extent the present management
should be changed, and the Agricultural
features of the institution should be
advanced by making the department of
chemistry complete, with thorough
course OF analytical chemistry applied to
agriculture. The Department of Agri-
culture, so far, has been almost worthless,
Nbut tits now engaging in experimental
york which will, We believe, prove ad-
to the State. 1t ought not to
. Be an independent department., but should
be required to pay its moneys into the
State treasury, and the Legislature
should appropriate specific sums for each
of its purposes. 1t should be required to
do some practical work in securing i'm
migration of the proper kind, and we
believe that very efficient scheme can
be devised, of which we will speak here's
after. Properly managed it can be made
worth many times its cost to the people
of the State.
Perhaps the most important theme to
which our people can direct their atten-
tioa is the necessity Of developing the
material resources of the State. We
now have property which requires tax
of five mills to defray the expenses OF
the State government. If the value of
the property of the State were doubled
it would not materially increase the ex-
penses of the government, and at the
same time it would decrease the rate of
taxation, so that from two and a half to
three mills would be able to defray the
expenses. F.r this reason we favor the
restoration of the legislation calculated
10 induce manufacturing development.
We would also favor using the convict
labor in building railroads and other
public works, and take payment therefor.
after making the prison self.sustaining,
n the stock of such public enterprises.
1t would give an empetus to the material
dsvopment of the State which would
greatly promote our prosperity.
Akin to the Importance of the material
Development of the State is the impor-
tance of securing an intelligent, indus
trious and thrifty white immigration into
the State. We now have something over
one million inhabitants, and they have to
defray the expenses of the government
If we had two million or double the
present population the share of each man
in the burden of taxation would be pro-
portionately reduced. Past immigra ton
schemes have failed because they were
inadequate to reach the class of persons
we want to secure. A practical scheme
can be devised, and the farm ers conven.
tion would be a good place 10 consider
and suggest it.
Another evil which has been resting
on our people as an agricultural people
is an uncertainty in performance of
agricultural! contracts. 1t is of supreme
Importance 70 successful agriculture that
all employment contracts shall be faith,
fully performed. Therefore we think
the Farmers Convention ought to confer
together aud recommend such changes
in our laws as may in their judgment be
necessary to secure the faithful perfor-
nance on both sides Of agricultural con-
tracts.
Our readers will perceive that we think
relief for the people of South Carolina
must come from progressive legislation,
and that while. doubtless some saving
may be effected in the expenses of our
State government, the real benefits must
come from development which will
give to The people much more substantial
benefits than the mere looping off of
some Of the items Of present expenses of
government. If the Farmers Conven-
tion shall take broad view of the polit.
ical condition of our State, and recon-
mend such legislation as will tend to
give us a permanent growth and prosper
ity, its meeting will be blessing to the
State. Ifitallows designing demagogues
to blaze the way to office by protesting
to be the farmers friend, it will be a
failure, aud injure instead of promote
the prosperity of the State. There is
need OF caution and mature deliberation
in such q meeting.