The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-03-21

" DC tut III piO lio1 w tiIS IAN III
the price of cotton since the salary or
fee was established by law.
The favorite argument was along
this line: "The farmers get less price
for their products than ever, but the
salaries and fees Of the State and
county officers are at the same figure as
when cotton brought ten and twelve
cents. There Ough, to be a scaling
down of salaries and fees Just in pro
portion to the reduction IN the prices
of farm products. The Superinten-
dent Of the PenIcntiary and President
of the University get $4,000 a year
Cotton has gone down one half
Their salaries ought to be cut just half
IN two This ought to be carried out
IN every institution and department OF
government. 1t is nothing but fair
that the office holders should feel the
pinch of hard times as we'll as the far
mers"
This was the argument, and the
pledge Of retrenChment and reform
was made on every stump and in every
"Refawm" paper IN the State. The
people were suffering from low prices
Of crops, and as the Democrats did
not promise to cut down everybody
and everything, the people, in thsir
depression, voted with the party that
promised to slash right and left.
The Legislature has adjourned and
the people will Look to see whether
the promises made were fulfilled.
They were promised lower taxes. In
stead of decreasing the taxes, this
Legislature increased rate from 4I15
cents. levied by the "eXtravagant
Democrats" to 4513 cents on every
sIoo dollars worth of property. This
is the increase in the tax on real and
personal property, but the Legislature
did not stop with this increase, but
hunted up new ways to raise revenue
| IN order to meet the new eXpendl-
lures created. They have even gone
| to the widows, who take bOarderS TO
support their children, and taxed them
50 cents on every bed. The country
| doctors who practice largely among
the poor and neither get nor expect
reward, are compelled TO pay ten dol
lars a year for the privilege. They
are required 10 pay the same that is
demanded of the richest city doctors
These are some of the ways the pledges
to decrease taxation were fulfilled.
How did they carry out their prom
ises to cut down appropriations, sala
ries and fees to the basis of four Cen>
COttOno
1. BY establishing two new Crlml
nal circuits, which are not needed an(
were not wanted except by office seek
ers. The cost of these new circuit
cannot be ascertained in advance
Smith, of Gates, estimated that they
would cost SIo4,ooo.
| 2 By electing three new magis
trates in every township in the State
not one OF whom is needed or desre'
by the people. There are I,I9
townships in the State. 1t will COS
$40, at low calculation, to furnis
each new magistrate the Code, Law:
docket books, &c. This will Civ
z.5o1 new magistrates. At SIS
each, the expense to the State will b
S26,oS2.5o. This is an utterly use
less expense and was made purely fC
partisan ends.
:. Fusion candidates for the Leg
islature were encouraged, immediate
" after the election, TO contest II
seats of the members elected, and as
| result of this advice there were mo-
contests this year than ever befor
The Legislature this year appropriate
SS.c62.S7 for this unnecessary expens
In addition to this expenditure, III
necessary and unusual expense W
Incurred to investigate alleged ele
ton frauds in Eastern counties.
:. 4. \ committee of three W
4 authorized to sit during recess and e
i anime into the case of Mrs. Pattie
B. Arlington, who alleges that t
lawyers and the Judges have injur
and detrauded her. There is no lin
in the bill to the expense this col
mittee may incur They are authC
ised to employ necessary clerical hel
send for persons and papers, requ
! attendance of witnesses, etc. This
!. wholly indetenslble expenditure.
the Legislature should employ t
method of determining the rights
ld lltigants, it would involve an ekper
Is of a hundred million dollars a ye
ii' 1t is bad precedent and could 1
'S' have passed any Legislature that h
:, an ounce of wisdom If Mrs. Arrlr
III ton has been wronged, the courts
,,e open to her. If the Judges are c
ae rupt they should be impeached.
'n to authorize a committee Of incom
u tent Fusionists, with no limit on
iS' expense, to investigate and report
u the Supreme Court, is piece OF fo
never equalled, and is, besides be
"A expensive, an unjust reflection u
o. the bar and bench of the State.
hy :. The legislators brought II
sons, nephews, relatives, and other
pendents to Raleigh and quartz
. them on the Treasury to such an
AN y tent that the expense of this Legl