The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-03-01

| Pl,GIO,UUU. InlS, IL Will be seen, was
$4,000 appropriated in excess Of the
probable. income, but it was estimat-
ed that at least $4,000 Of the amount
in the appropriation bill would not be
used and would be recovered into the
treasury.
In the appropriation bill, as it left
the house, was not included the $780,
600 for high schools and the $15,000,-
FOR state house grounds, nor the $3,-
500 for the entertainment Of the Con-
federate veterans at their annual re-
union. These three items make a to-
tai of $68,500, and with the $1,000
which was put back to the immigra-
tion department, make total Of $780,
500. Then there is an item of $13,-
600 i'll the appropriation bill for the
completion of the state house, none
of which will be used this year, as it
is a loan from the sinking fund and
the first payment Of $4,000 is to be
made out of the taxes of 1908.
l. 1t was known at least to some of us
that the appropriation bill was con-
siderably in excess Of the probable
income, and for one, I felt that prob
ably it would be we'll for this legis-
latur, with it's extravaganza ideas, to
be confronted at the next session with
a shortage, and I suggested to men,
ber of the free conference committee
on the supply bill that levy of 4 1-2
mills as fixed by the house, be left at
that figure.
My purpose in writing this card,
however, is to say that so far as in
forma ton from the comptroller gen
erals Office is concerned, General
Jones need have no fear that it was
wanting, and it was given to the
members of the ways and means COM
mittee and the house and to the free
conference committee on the appro-
priation bill and the appropriations
were fixed and the levy was fixed with
full knowledge Of the income and Of
the amount of appropriations. It
does seem to me, however, that there
was tendency among the members
of this Legislature to extravaganza,
and that appropriations were voted
regardless of an increase, which will
be necessary in the tax levy.
have never been regarded, and
do not feel, that | am niggardly
economist, but [ did endeavor as far
as could as member of the ways
and means committee and of the
house and of the free conference
committee on the appropriation bill
to hold down the appropriations.
The free conference committee on
the appropriation bill reduced the
amounts as put in by the senate some
twenty-five or thirty thousand dol
lars. I do not think, however, that
the shortage will be as much as stated
by General Jones, for it is not proba-
BILE that the whole amount of $5O,000
will be used for high schools this
year, and it was stated by members
of the committee on state house
grounds that it was not probable that
all of the $15 700 for that purpose
would be used this year, but it is
probable that the deficit at the end
of this year will be from 100000 to
$125,000.
1t is true there was no appropria-
ton this year for the Hampton monu-
ment and the jamestown exposition
and only small amount for general
elections yet at this session it was
necessary to appropriate $1,000 on
purchase Of police station in Char
lesion as. provided by last legislature;
an increase was necessary for the mi
litia on account of the Dick law; an
increase of $4,000 was given to pen
sions; ten thousand dollars was given
to build professors homes at the Un-
iversity besides an increae in salaries
and necessary repairs and insurance.;
fifty thousand for high schools; fif-
teen thousand for state house
grounds; ten thousand for Calhoun
statue. These are all new items.
/ want to say in conclusion that I
consider Comptroller General Jones
one of the best Informed men in the
state as to the finances of the state
and one Of the most efficient officers
that the state has everhad, and that he
gave intelligent and accurate infor-
49,