The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-12-11
NUW.
P1OKENsSS SSp212*; sszS:''55 5Aaol'NA LEGISLATURE
AS SEEN IN MID-SESSION

sion.
COLUMBIA, $. c., Dec. 6.-Special:
Observers of the work of the present
General Assembly have been greatly
impressed with one fact-the very
small quantity of business thus far aC-
tually accomplished. The session may
be considered half gone, and rs yet
there is no measure passed either House,
which looks to solution Of any Of the
questions that have agitated, or at least
interested, the people for many months
past. Ono reason given for this condi-
tion Of the Legislative business is that
tho body has been awaiting the sug-
gestions of Governor Tillman. These
having been formally made in the in
augural address of his Excellency, it
may now be expected that the lawma.
kers' attention will be given to someIoi
the matters affecting the peoples in,
condition of their pockets.
The all-important subject Of re.
trenchment has been but gently touch
ed. If all the measures thus far sug-
gested as tending to reduce the public
expenditures should be passed, the cf-
feet upon the tax levies would be bare
ly, II ut all, perceptible. This is not
saying that the authors Of the proposed
reforms are untrue to their pledges OF
economy in every department Of our
public service The few efforts made
ut retrcnchment should serve only to
illustrate the fact that while Il rcduc-
tion Of appropriations Is surely desira-
bic, it is not always easy to say 1T
what place reform should begin.
Among the bills looking to retrcnch-
ment are the following:
A bill to abolish the Office Of Jury
commissioner and devolve his duties
on the county auditor. The average
annual pay of the jury commissioner
Is about $500, The fate Of the meas
ure Is doubtful
A bill to abolish tho Office OF super
visor OF registration and devolvc his
duties on the county auditor. The
House committee has reported this un-
favorably, and it will doubtless bc kill
ed.
In connection with these two pro-
positions may be noted that to abolish
the office Of county auditor and devolvc
his duties on the county treasurer.
Every effort TO make such change has
thus far failed. No bill, looking to
this reform" is yet on the calendar of
either house. In view of the make up
Of the present Assembly, such change
would seem likely to command large
support. But it's fate would for many
reasons, be extremely doubtful.
A bill to abolish the pay Of election
managers and their clerks. 1t is csti-
mated that this would save between
seven and eight thousand dollars in
every election year-it being assumed
that there may be found, in sufficient
numbers, citizens competent for the
work and willing to perform it for
nothlng. Present indications point to
the passage OF the bill.
Bills to reduce the pay Of members
one f1ing the per diem at SO and an.
other at "a. If precedents be followed
there will be no reduction.
Mr. Hardin, Of Chester has introduced
bill to fix different salaries as follows:
Governor $1,000, now S3,5OO.
Secretary Of State 500; State Treasur-
er, 1900; Comptroller General. 800; Su-
Perlntendent of Education, $500; Com
missioner OF Agriculture; $500 Adiu-
tant and Inspector General. 1000: A.
tornay General, 1,SOO, now 2,lUU.
Assistant Attorney Genera! LOGO,
now 1900.
State Librarian, $500, now G25.
superintendent Penitentiary, $l,5CO,
now 2,lOO.
$500. '''"
now 1900. ',0''
Governors Messenger. $3.50 now 400.
now 500. ''>''' '~"''
Chief Clerk Secretary Of State thrco
clerks State Treasurer, Chief CIcrk
Comptroller General each, 81 200, now
1900 each.
Bookkeeper Of Comptroller General
Clerk Superintendent of Education
CLERK Commissioner OF Agriculture
each, al 600 now 800 each, except the
Clerk Of the Superintendent of Educa-
tlon whose salary Is $1,000.
Clerk Of Adjutant and Inspector Gen
eral $3.50, now 1900.
In connection with these bills It ma,
Oe noted that the House has elected =;
chaplain. whose compensation is in tn
discresion Of the body, whilo there i
now pending a bill to provide a chap
lain for the Honse and one for the Sor
ate-each to receive the pay Of a men
ner. The fate or the measure is doubt
3al.
The present chaplain Of the IIous
Is the Rev. 0. a. Darby, well known a
WV ioAAhoA VI Vic CllldlO 70.
leGe.
SOME PROPOSED CHANGES.
Some idea of proposed changes II
certain directions may bc gatherc,
from the following reports Of IIous
committees:
Unfavorable report from tho iudici
ary committee on bill to abolish cost
for attorneys in the settlement OF inter
state estates. Bill rejected.
Unfavorable report from same com
mittee on the bill to require a licens,
for the sale Of pistols and cartridges
dar.
Favorable report from samo com.
mittee on the bill to abolish the costs
or attorneys. Laid over for future
consideration.
Unfavorable report from sa ne COM
mittee on bill to abolish the Office of
Master In Laurens County. Laid over.
Unfavorable report on the bill to re-
dAce the legal rate OF interest to S per
cent. Laid over.
Unfavorable report on tho bill to
make the Office Of railroad commission
or elective by the people. Bill reject