Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-09-22
DON'T WE NEED REFORM.
All tho Indications Are That q Strong
Dose ls Needed,

All tho Indications Are That Strong
Dose 10 Needed.
w. w. Ball, writing in the Laurens
Advertiser, says: Reform! Three cheers
for reform!
After cruel, grinding, weary years Of
stubbing out toes against the roots and
rocks Of the road that the minority
travels, the Advertiser has perched on
the reform band wagon and is now the
leading reform organ in South Caro-
lima
Mr.. Jesse T. CAN'T, thoroughbred
reformer, and incidentally secretary Of
state (also a mighty nice young MANI,
points out that the state Of South Car
olina ended the year 1901 "a year be-
fore the present administration took
office) $145,000 in debt. He also de-
clares in his clear and able article pre-
pared for the press that the state is
getting deeper in debt each year about
100000
The time was when We thought South
Carolina had been reformed q plenty,
but-we need another dose.
When we reflect that in the bloom
ing days Of reform ever since 1898 the
state has been getting in debt each
year we are pained. When we remem-
ber that in all these years, during which
some Of US have been continually re-
formed till 1t hurt we are dazed.
Can 1t be possible that anybody has
been bambauched and deboozeled?
Perish the thought!
1t Is true that taxes are paid on
many millions more Of property than
in the days when the state was ruled
by "the oligarchy" and "incipient cor
ruption" was discovered-those days,
by the way, when the state lived within
its income.
1t is horribly true.
What are we going to do about It?
Plainly. we need reform, and need It
quick. In the MONDAY splendor Of
reform the Octopus" alias the hateful
Coosaw phosphate monopoly" was
slaughtered. Since then the phosphate
royalties have about disappeared.
Give US reform. Verify we weep for
it.
What are we going to do? We might
smash the state colleges. but MI. CAN'T
tells us that the saving thereby would
not amount to a great deal.
Really, we do not think South Car
olina should live beyond her "lien."
The proper remedy is to reduce sala-
ries.
To begin with, the salaries of the
members of the state whisky board Of
control should be reduced from $400 a
year to 81 month. This would save
about s1,164 year.
The salaries of the three railroad
commissioners should be reduced to 81
month, and the members Of the leg
islature should be allowed to ride on
their free passes Thus the mileage"
Of all the legislators would be saved.
The salary of the governor should be
abolished entirely. A governor should
be able to live in Columbia on the gar
den truck raised in the penitentiary.
The governors mansion should be
iCLSCo. - 40 Aot wv AliSC q iAoaSC Aok q
governor. Some Of the bottle factories
or distilleries now fiourishing in Co
lumbia might pay $50 month for it.
From what we have heard, 1t would
not do to reduce the salaries of any Of
the other state officers. Since the erec-
tion Of the "Sky-scraper" in Columbia,
the expenses of living in that town are
said to have gone up thirteen stories.
Some think these officers could dwell
over in Lexington county-it's only q
mile-but that Is out Of the question.
There's a toll bridge across the river.
It's no use to talk about reducing sala-
ries Of state officers. We've got to re-
duce the state officers. The trouble Is
that they are tonier set than this
down. -trodden state can afford.
Mr.. Can't favors raising additional
revenue by franchise tax" So do
we, but our franchise tax" Is Of diff
ferent kind. Let the constitution be
amended so as to allow every man not
now entitled to vote to do so on pay
ment Of SO each election year. Roose-
welt, Hanna, Lodge and other plutocra-
tic Republicans in the north would be
glad to pay this tax out Of the Repub-
lican campaign fund, for $1,000 Ne
groes. We could afford to let that
number be counted, at $40 each.
Here is another good scheme. We
are told that 1000 men applied for
positions as state constables and were
rejected. Let the governor reconsider
and appoint all, charging each fee Of
$40, to go into the state treasury. This
would raise $4,000. The 1,60O new
constables could be stationed in Co
lumbia and Charleston, where they
could easily seize enough blind tiger
beer and whisky to pay for their SER
vices.
In conclusion, we wish to remark
that among all the firms in the United
States engaged in the whisky business,
the proud state of South Carolina Is
probably the largest single dealer, and
when such a firm Is getting behind
every year there must be need Of more
reform.