The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-11-08
aSImpoRraST SESSION.

| We may be permitted, however, to
speak in a general way Of some of the
things to demand the attention of the
lawmakers. The treatment Of some
of these matters, and in fact we might
say, all of them, affects all the people Of
the State, whether they are Reformers
or not.
The people were told at the begin
ming of the campaign in 1890, and be-
fore, that there had been extravaganza
in the handling of the peoples money
and that there was demand and room
for retrenchment and reform. There
was to be the strictest economy Ir all
departments. Expenses were to be
cut down and salaries were to be re-
duced. On this basis and with these
promises and pledges change was
made and the Reformers captured the
fort and routed the enemies, horse,
foot and dragoor. With the expira-
ton of the next session they will have
held undisputed sway for two full
terms.
It is about time that we can, with
propriety and with no appearance OF
undue haste, begin to enquire for the
results and see with what faithfulness
these promises and pledges have been
kept.
The mailed hand was laid upon the
Coosaw Mining Company and by the
nape of its neck it was thrown, so to
speak, over the battlements OF the
battery into the depths of the sell.
The State won that case and other
companies were admitted to mine rock
/ in the waters Of the Coosaw. None OF
these companies have prospered and
the Coosaw Company is not at work.
and in fact at present very little
mining is being done. It is proper to
say, however, that the present status
OF affairs is partly due to the disastrous
storm that visited that section some
time ago. But if we remember cor
rectly it was as far. back as the last
session of the Legislature that the
Phosphate Commission stated in its
annual report, that the royalty could
| not be raised and would possibly have
| to be lowered. At this time it looks as
if the revenue from this source was
going to be very small.
Then we were told that salaries were
entirely too high and should be re-
duced. Such bill, looking to the re-
duction of salaries, has been on the
calendars of every session for the last
three, at least, and still salaries remain
at the old ring figures.
There were numerous and number
less useless offices that should be cut
J off and money saved in that way.
Will some one tell US what offices have
been abolished? We do not just now
recall the sparticular ones that have
been cut off, but we might mention
some that have been added if We had
time and space.
Taxes were to be reduced. Has that
been done? You can better answer
that when you 60 to pay, as you must.
| The State levy this year is one mill
more than last year and the assess
ments of property are higher. That
being the case more money must be
spent somewhere than formerly.
Clemson College has gotten to work
and we hope will prove lasting ben
eft to the people of the State, though
at the time it was first agitated The
Herald and News did not see the wis
dom of it's building. But from the
time it was decided to establish it The
Herald and News has earnestly hoped
it would succeed. But that was de-
cided upon before the reform move
ment took the reins Of government.
The preliminariesf for the establishment
Of a Woman's Industrial School were
taken during the present administra-
ton. That is a movement we have
felt much interest in from the begin
ming and we sincerely trust it will be
pushed to grand success.
It should be borne in mind, also,
that the present administration had on
hand in the refunding Of the State
debt, which has been done and the
credit of the State maintained. This
took considerable money. There are
those who claim that this might have
been accomplished at less expense to
the State. That is matter Of opinion.
The administration deserves credit
for placing the bonds at reduced rate
of interest and we would not take from
it any credit that is justly due.
One of the most beautiful blossoms OF
reform, and the one to which the ad-
ministration seems to be devoting all
itsenergies tpresent, is the Dispensary
law, by which lovely scheme the State
of South Carolina becomes a vendor
of liquors, as source of revenue. 1t
has been in the courts from the begin
| ming and is still there. In fact we be-
leive it got there before it got into op-
Grafton. This law, it is said, will have
to. be, patched up and amended by the
approaching session of the Legislature.
So you see from this brief and imper-
feet survey Of the field that this ses-
sion is to be an important one. Another
campaign will soon be on hand and
something will have to be done to-
wards carrying out the promises and
pledges made in the campaign three
years ago.
Then there are some half dozen
Judges to be elected at this session.
This is in fact the mostimportant mat