The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-07-30
Economical Legislative Changes.

Economical Legislative Changes.
EDITOR MANNING TrMEs:-Will you
allow me space through the columns
of your estimable paper to give ex-
preston to some of my ideas in re-
gard to economy and reform? And I
do not think I am alone in these
ideas. The first matter that l propose
to consider is economy in our county.
Why carnot the treasnrer's and audit
or's Office be consolidated? This
would save the county somewhere be-
tween five and seven hundred dollars.
And why could not the school COM
missioner's pay be + uced? I'll of
this would hep, and more especially
if it could be turned over to the free
school fund.
Now this is a matter that I propose
having something to say about, end
that is the fee school business. l
consider the present mode of manage
ment almost perfect humbug. There
is entirely too title time given in by
the teachers for the amount of money
paid out. The idea of only teaching
rom 4 1-2 to 5 hours each day is
perfectly absurd and ridiculous When
parents go to the trouble of dressing
up their children and lose their time
also, they expect them to be learnt
something, but I Will tell you there is
precious little they leern. l have
heard the parents complain very
much; I have herd the teachers say
myself that they have had to start
the same children this year where they
were started the year before. 1t is
the money worked for, and not the
education of the children considered.
I only wish had the power to make
one or two laws. I would make it
obligatory Oh every man to educate
his children, for education is power,
and it is the only salvation for the
Ang 10 Saxon race.
Now III ssy a little about State
mattels. Now there is the railroad
com. What good is it doing the
people? Not a particle that we can
see. There is the com. of agriculture.
What good is that doing? If it has
been the means of improving the
standard of guano or has done any
other good it is more than we can
perceive. These are some of the ex-
penses that I think can very we'll be
trimmed down without doing the peo-
pie or State the slightest damage.
Now to q matter of far more impor-
tance in the way of economy than
any other matter, and that is the con-
vening of the legislature every year.
Now is there any necessity for this ?
I think not. The laws are all made
and what more is necessary? The
men we send to the legislature do but
very little for there is but little for
them to do, or it amounts to very lit
tie after all. Some fellow will get up
and offer resolution to amend an
act to entitle an act and the conse-
quence is that it is only an act on his
part any way though costing the State
a good dea1
I think good idea, and I am not
! alone in these ideas, that the legisla-
ture should not be required to con-
vene every year. Every other year
would be as I think sufficient. just
think of what could be saved by this,
something like $4,000 or sl5O,OOO
Just think OF this. This can all be
done, and why not? Now suppose
this was done and this money revert,
ed back to the people in the way of a
school fund, what help it would be-
The convening of the Legislature
could be left in the hands of the gov,
ernor in case of an emergency. All
this can be done if we send the right
kind of men to the legislature, and
this is matter that we should not
lose sight OF, to send the right men
there, for it is as Capt. Tillman says
he can do but little without help.
/ think this is another matter Of
great Importance, and that is to change
the matter of having elections every
two years. Why not have oil elections
the same year that the President is
elected? This would give us little
peace and quietness for while.
Think of these things, friends, ano
let US have change. I am sure il
will do no harm.
J. H. T. CoULLGETTE.
Dono1o Ju1v %