The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-24
SLASHING AT SALARIES.

THE HOUSE CUTS THEM RIGHT AND
LEFT WITHOUT MERCY.
The Pay Of Clerks Reduced-The South
Carolina College Appropriation Cut
Detailed Account OF the Proceedings
and Reductions.
COLUMBIA. Feb. 19 In the House
on last Monday the appropriation oil
was taken up and toned down. MIR.
Reynolds moved to amend 50 as to re.
duce the pension clerks hire from $500
to 5000. Mr.. Ilderton moved to fur
ther amend so as to reduce 1t to $4OO.
Mr. Reynolds thought good man
at $1OO a month could do this work IN
six months. The house by vote OF
81 to 25 agreed to Mr.. lldertons
amendment.
MIR. Winkler asked why the com.
mittee had provided for an additional
expert clerk at a salary of 81, 500. MIR.
Crum explained why this man
was necessary. Mr.. Gasque want.
ed to reduce the salary OF
this additional clerk, who would in
spect all county Offices, from 81 ,5Oo TO
$500. =,
MIR. Pollock moved to amend the
amendment so as to strike out the en-
tire provision for the inspector. .
Mr.. Reynolds earnestly advocated
the establishment of the office. he
said the comptroller general was a
badly overworked man and his re-
sponsibility was very great. 49,,
Mr.. Toole said the comptroller did
not need any such extra officer: =,
Mr.. Simkins thought the additional
clerk shonld be given the comptroller;
The amount was only. to be expended
if it was necessary; but if it was neces'
sary, it should be spent.
Mr.. Kinard of Abbeville said If 1t
was necessary to create an officer to
examine the books of auditors and
treasurers it was necessary to require
him to examine every other office. He
didn't think the condition OF the
States finances warranted The lorna
ton of new Offices.
Mr.. Stevenson didn't think it fair to
make the whole State pay for the In
competence or dereliction of county
officers. Let counties select compe-
tent officers, and if they do wrong, let
the county pay for it.
Mr.. j. P. Thomas, Jr., held that
this measure was in the line OF econo-
my; it would save the State money.
The idea did not originate in the comp.
troller's ofics, but was suggestion OF
the committee.
Mr.. Ilderton said the Office of comp
troller general had been increasing IN
cost every year, and he believed 1t
was time to call O halt.
MIR. Crum explained that the extra
expenses were on account of pensions,
and then argued that this was meas
ure of economy.
MIR. Pollock's motion to strike out
the whole clause was adopted by a
large vote. -,
Mr.. Winkler moved to do away with
one of the bookkeepers of the State
treasurer.
Mr.. Reynolds explained that this
was not acting fair with the treasurer.
Mr.. Thomas said that the treasurer
had always had two bookkeepers. The
past year these two bookkeepers had
to handle the dispensary funds: The
committee thought they should be al
lowed $3.50 extra for this work.
MIR. Kinard suggested an amendment
to the amendment to strike out the
provision for $3.50 extra to each OF the
bookkeepers.
Mr.. Thomas explained that the leg
islation had imposed this extra work
without providing for extra pay. AT
certain seasons of the year these two
bookkeepers worked from ga. m. to II
or 1 o'clock at night.
Mr.. Kinard thought that the State
should be entitled to every moment OF
the time of these officers. They had
to reduce the expenses OF the State.
Mr.. Winkler withdrew his amend
ment, and Mr.. Kinard's amendment
came before the house.
Mr.. Williams thought that this sum
should not be paid as the State got no
dispepsary money.
Mr.. Mehrtens, as one of the COM
mittee that investigated the matter as
to where the $500 appropriated last
year went, said that they had found
that it went to the treasurer, while the
bookkeepers did the work. Mr.. Ki'
| uard's amendment was then adopted.
Mr.. Pollock moved to CIT the sala'
ries of the bookkeepers from S1,35O
each to $1,250.
Mr.. Thomas remarked that the sala.
ry reduction act of 1898 had placed
these salaries at 81, $50; that was why
the committee had put that amount in.
Mr.. Pollock thought that they could
get good men for the salaries named.
Mr.. Pollock's amendment was agreed
to.
Mr.. Pollock then moved to reduce
the chief clerks salary from 81, 500 to
1850. ThisIwas agreed to in short or
der.
Then Mr.. Toole moved to cut down
the salary of the chief clerk of the
comptroller from 81, 400 to 81, 300 and
that of the bookkeeper of the comp
troller from 800 to 81, 400.
Mr.. Pollock suggested to MIR. Toole
that he make the salaries of the comp
troller's clerks 81, $50 each. Mr.. Toole
accepted this, and the house agreed to
the amendment.
Mr.. Pollock then went for the sala-
ries of the clerk Of the secretary of
state and the governors private secre-