The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-29
FIGURES AND REFORM.

It is an old saying that "hgures
never lie," yet at times they are very
deceptive things. A great many figures
are now being used by newspaper cores
pondents in comparing the expenses OF
the State Government one year with
another, the purpose being to show
that our State Government costs more
now than it did in certain years some
years back. We published last week
statement in figures made up by the
COMPTROLLER General, showing the ap-
propriations for 1889, giving the estl-
mated expenses for the present fiscal
year, which show that something over
one million dollars are appropriated for
this fiscal year.
Now it seems to US that the question
that the taxpayer ought to want 10
know, is not whether this appropriation
i, more than in some previous year, or
whether it is less, but the thing to be
investigated is, whether there are any
useless or extravagant appropriations OF
the public fund. Every good and true
citizen and taxpayer, whether he be
small or large taxpayer, is interested
in having an economical government,
provided it be efficiently administered,
and what we want is for those who are
charging extravaganza in the admins
tration of affairs, to point out these eX-
travagant appropriations and show
wherein the reform can be brought
about, and how the taxes can thus be
reduced. It is not enough simply TO
compare one year with another. A
man in his private business may spend
more money one year than be does an
other, because it may be necessary to
the efficient management ofhis business
50 to DO. And so it may be in the man
agement of the State Government.
We are just as much interested in an
economical government as any other
citizen, and we want taxation just as
low as it can be, but we do not feel like
charging extravaganza unless we could
point out where there was such en-
travagance.
\ friend of ours has furnished us the
following figures comparing the appro-
priations of 1880 with those OF ISS9:
Appropriations for State
Government in 1889 .....Sl ,04O, 27S 02
Appropriations for State
Government in 1850. 1S3,66l II
Difference in favor of Sos 256,6l6 IS
But in 1889 the following special ap-
propriations were made that We're not
part of the expenses Of government in
1880:
Confederate pensions. 81, 200 90
Work on State House......... $4,000 w
University, including Glenn
son College, Citadel and oo, -,
Claflin NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. ll5,S00 w
Building Colored Insane
Asylum. m.......................... 3,OoC w
Court Stenographers.........- 1920 w
Total. S241 POO 90
In 1880 the following special appro-
priations were made which should be
taken into account:
Building Lunatlc Asylunl.....$37, l64 81
Difference in interest on State
debt. ....................-.......... lo,''oo W.
Georgetown and Cowpens'
Centennial. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1,WU OO
Artificial legs and arms........ 10000 on
Lieut.. Governors salary l,O0 OO
Total. $50, ,5l4 "a
TO summarize we have:
Appropriations lSS9..........Sl ,04O,2 21S "
Special appropriations 1889
not included in lSo0..... 24l 700 w
SS09,O7s o.
Appropriations
1850. ,661 II
Special appro-
priations 1880
not included
in 1SS9........ S0,5l4 81