The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1888-05-03
In 1879 Georgia's assess
ment WAS in round num-

Gain in wealth in nine
years .......... LOG, ZOO, 900
South Carolina on the contrary has
gained nothing, but lost. But Judging
by the way money is paid in salaries,
etc., we are by long odds the richest and
most prosperous of the three States.
Does anybody claim that we have more
| efficient or abler officials than Georgia
and North Carolina? It is urged that a
reduction of pay would bring in set of
'cheap" men who would inefficient.
But, Judging by the scramble over o
vacant Judgship or Solicitors place, VIC
think our taxpayers can safely rely on
getting just as good as they now do for
the same money paid by North Carolina
or Georgia.
Without going into figures, we take it
for granted that our Lunatic Asylum and
Penitentialy are managed in Just as ex-
travagant manner as the other depat-
ments-the one proving great burden
to the taxpayers and the other yielding
no income, though it might be made to
pay at least $40, 900 year to defray the
expenses Of the government.
We have shown that $45, 900 can be
saved if the same basis of expenditure as
in North Carolina be adopted:
HOW TO MAINTAIN THE COLLEGE.
The privilege tax on fertilizers
amounts to over $4,000 yearly. The
work done by it can and ought to be
done by the agricultural college. Here.
then, is s75, 200 to build and equip the
college, without either touching Mr..
Clemson's money Or resorting to new
, taxation. if, then, we leave the Uni
versity the $34, 500 now appropriated, and
the tuition fees, and relieve it of the ex-
pense of attempting to educate farmers
and mechanics In an uncongenial atmos-
phere, 1t can accomplish its needed work
| In more efficient manner and be the
better for getting rid of these bones of
contention; while after the Clemson
College is built, it would have the follow
ing income without looking to the tax
payers at all, it and the experimental
! stations:
Landscrip Fund. d...........$ $3.50
Hatch Fund. $4,000
Privilege Tax-say. ............ sc, 900
Total. $50, ,75O
With this sum we can keep up an ex-
cellent agricultural school ut Fort Hill,
worthy of South Carolina, worthy of
Calhoun, and last, but not least, worthy
of MIR. Clemson. But there are also
other reforms and economies impera.
lively demanded before we can lift tho
burden of taxation to any marked
degree. We have too much and too
hasty legislation, and we believe it would
be economy and wisdom to have our
Legislature meet biennially instead of
annually, as at present, and to change
the date of it's session. That the bur
| dens of taxation are not equally borne is
too evident, and those taxpayers who
| are honest in their returns are grievous-
| ly imposed on. Governor Hagood long
since pointed out that our county gov
ernments are both inefficient and OK
traVagant, nearly as much being spent
on them now as in Radical days. We
are handicapped and cut off from any
Improvement along that line by our
Radical Constitution, while our very ex-
lstence as free people is jeopardized by
the Ignorant horde of voters Watching
and praying for split in our ranks. We
earnestly urge the importance aid neces-
sity Of constitutional convention to
| secure needed economy in county affairs,
the abolition of useless offices, and to
throw stronger safeguards around the
citadel of white supremacy before the
seeds Of discord shall sprout and grow.
10 accomplish all this our people must
arouse themselves from thoir lethargy
and take moro intelligent and active
interest in political affairs. And here we
would warn them to see TO it that set
OF greedy politicians and office seekers
shall not again, as in past years, nomi-
nate State ticket ont-of-hand, without
having a canvass, or even an expression
OF sentiment, on these and other i'm
portant issues. Public discussion is not
only the best means of educating the
mass J, but is also tho chief safeguard of
our liberties and the only guarantee OF
our rights. In behalf, then, of the
farmers, whom we represent, and as one
of the best means of bringing
about these reforms, We insist on
a canvass by those whose ambition
it is to control the State government
during the next two years, before they
nre nominated, 80 we can know Just how
they stand. Recognizing the ability oi
the presents incumbents, and in no wise
intending to cast any reflections upon
them, we yet feel that if they seek re,
nomination, they coull spend some oi
their leisure during THO summer most
profitably in discussing before their con
stituents these and any Other questions
of public interest, Thusthey can show