The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-06-05

ers Association has a great deal to say
about the necessity for economy, re-
trenchment and reform in the admin
istration of our State government.
The demand for economy and retrench-
ment presupposes the existence of cor
ruption, or at least mismanagement.
AS the latter charge seems to have been
abandoned, as that count in
the indictment" of the executive COM
mittee of the Farmers Association
seems to have been mol pressed, let US
consider the former.
ABSOLUTE ECONOMY.
Some weeks ago wrote an article
for the News and Courier in which an
effort was made to show that this
State has, relatively to the other States
of the ,Unicn, an economical govern
ment. Let US see, if it is not positively
economical, if it is possible to reduce
taxation so that the reduction will be
felt appreciably. The school tax is fixed
by the Constitution at not less than
two mills. The experience of fourteen
years has shown that in Abbeville
County (Which is taken for conve-
nience) an annual levy of at least three
mills is required for ordinary county
purposes. In some counties higher
rate is necessary. Very few have a
lower.
The State levy for this year is five
and one-fourth mills. About two and
three-fourths mills of this levy are re-
qui-ed to pay the interest on the State
debt, requiring Gn this county, levy
of about seven and three-fourths mills,
may be called fixed charges, in which
no reduction is possible unless the
State debt can be refunded at lower
rate of interest. All the other expenses
of the State government are paid out of
the remaining two and one-half mills
levy and the phosphate royalty, and if
any reduction can be made it must be
made here. What are those expenses?
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT,
about 100000, about S3S, 900 for salaries,
and the balance for printing and other
purposes. We do not suppose any
well-informed man thinks the salaries
here too high. Those who have been
members of the Legislature know that
it involves a sacrifice of money as well
as of time.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
about $1,000 for salaries and the bal
anee for other purposes. The bill
which passed the House at the last ses-
sion proposed to reduce the Governors
salary $500, and the salaries Of some Of
the State officers and their clerks $500
each. I have not the bill before me,
but according to my recollection of it,
it would have effected a reduction in
this departmental only $4,000 to $4,000.
The most ardent economists did not
want to go farther.
THE JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT,
under existing law, requires about
S65, 200 per annum. A bill passed the
House at the last session reducing the
salaries of Judges $500 each, or $500
in all. Many think this reduction
ought to have been made. 1 confess I
am not one of the number. Before the
war twelve or thirteen Judges, with
aggregate salaries of $4,000 or S39, 900,
attended to the business of a litigation
population of 275,C00. Now eleven
Judges, with aggregate salaries of
$4,000, attend to the business of liti-
eating population of over a million.
They have nearly twice as much work
to do and their expenses are heavier.
PENAL AND CHARITABLE ISsTITU-
TIoNs.
The next item is penal and charita-
BILE institutions, including the Peni-
tertiary, the Lunatic Asylum and the
Asylum for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind,
to which may be added for convenience
the Catawba Indians. These require
for this year an appropriation of fSl33,-
325. The Penitentiary supports its own
officers, ard no reduction in the Others
is possible, so far as anyone has shown.
The next is the health department.
Some contend that this department is
useless. That is a question of policy.
The appropriation, sl3,6O0, is certainly
not excessive.
The next is the tax department. The
appropriation for this is S25, 400, So, =
900 for salaries Of auditors, and $500
for printing for auditors and treasurers.
The salaries of the auditors are low
enough, and the printing is absolutely
necessary.
COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
The next is the appropriation for
educational institutions, including the
South Carolina College $4,000, the
Citadel $50, 400, Claf1in College $1,000,
the Winthrop Training School $5,4o0,
and the Clemson College $4,000, total
Sl15,S0O. Some persons are opposed to
any appropriations for higher educa-
ton. 1t may be taken to be the settled
policy Of the State, however, that these
institutions shall be maintained. If
they are to be maintained it is hard to
see how it can be done on less money,
unless it be in the case Of the South
Carolina College.
The next appropriation is under the
general head of miscellaneous. The
appropriations under this aggregate for
tl;s yearS SIT Q56 % Two items. the