Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1922-03-08
j. !. :. i. j. !. i. !. !. i. !. i T. !
.f SOUTH CAROLINA BIG !
j. GEST DEBT. !
y. J. !. J. J. j. J. i. .3e i !. i. !
(Greenville 'Piedmont.)


South Carolina owes the Federal
government $4,668,238, which rep
resents a principal Of $1,051, APP and
interest of $3,616.816. This Is the
largest single debt this State owes.
1t will have to be paid back II bill
introduced in Congress by Represen-
tative Andrews, of Nebraska. should
be passed, for he proposes that the
State of South Carolina and other
States shall return to Uncle Sam
$28,101,6 ,644.91 lent them In 1886,
along with interest at four per cent
for SO years. If all the States were
to pay up, the total amount due from
them would be $124,000,000, which,
Representative Andrews proposes,
shall be used to pay part Of the huge
sum needed for the soldiers bonus.
How did South Carolina come to
owe the Federal government 80
much money?
1t is all due to the fact that In
1886 the Federal government had
more money than 1t knew what to do
with. After every need had been
met there was balance of almost
$30,000.0O0. and SO Congress, not
knowing how otherwise to use 1t,
deposited it In the various State
traasuries. No part OF it has ever
been repaid. In his annual message
to the Congress that splendid South
Carolinian. President Andrew jack
son, pointed out that this disburse-
ment was not gift, but deposit OF
the surplus moneys Of the United
safe-heeping until they might be
wanted for the service Of the general
government. He added:
'"The States have no more au-
thority to receive and use these
deposits without intending to re-
turn them than any deposit bank
or any individual temporarily
charged with the safe-keeping or
application OF the public money
would have for converting the
same to their private use without
the consent and against the will
OF the government"
When Jackson wrote that he esti-
mated that month later there would
be balance in the national treasury
OF about $41.723.959, over all gov
ornamental expenditures.
What contrast with the receipts
and disbursements Of the Federal
government in 1921! The Federal
governments receipts last year we're
$14,489,s31,283 as against $47,691,-
898 In Jackson's last year in the
Presidency. The Federal govern
ments expenditures last year totaled
$14,297,954,860 as against 032, ,000,-
900 In 1896.
Four years after Jackson wrote,
the public debt Of the United States
was only $48.565.406. Now it Is
$23,427,772,447. Then the share OF
the public debt Of each person in the
United Stat, was $3.77. Now 1t is
$216.75.
When the Federal government in
1886 divided Its surplus among the
States, President Jackson said that
consideration Of that action had
caused him "the most anxious renec-
tion." Well 1t did, for it will never
be paid back. Nor Is there any like
lihood, in view Of the stupendous ex-
penditures Of the Federal govern
ment nowadays, that there will again
occur in tho financial history Of this
country situation wherein Uncle
Sam will have so much surplus
money that he will consider lending
1t to the States. That economy OF
expenditure which characterized the
Federal government In its early days
will never be repeated.
Tho Bird Season Is Over.
March 1st was the last day for the
hunting Of partridges or Bob Whites
and wild turkeys in South Carolina,
The open season, according to the
law in this State, closes "after the