The Anderson intelligencer. (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, April 08, 1880, Supplement, Image 5
BY E. B. M?KRA7T & CO.
ANDERSON, S. C., THURSDAY MORNING, M?B?lT?ir?ii?
- " ? _^----^____- _ /
VOLtJME XV.-NO: 3T"
JL'O? 'Xiit? JfJBOPLB OF AHIiEBSOS
CfcHTSTv:
Ia October, 1872, at a timo of
great excitement, anxiety and fear
in political affairs,' you descaed it
Sroper to elect me a member of the
[ouse of Representatives cf thia
Stale; and when roy term expired
in 187??.- you still further promoted
ine by electing rae bo the Renate for
a term of four years. : i?uring ray
canvasses I mad? cr,-tain pledges
looking to a reform tn the aurainis
tratioa of our Slate., government;
and I now propose as briefly es poa*
siblo to render an account of ray
stewardship, that you may determine
how TAT and in what manner 1
carried out and redeemed those
pledges. . I feel it due* myself and
ray family, and the voters of both
parties, who supported me, and es
pecially those who voted for rae
notwithstanding they differed from
me politically, to make this exposi
tion.
Tho delay in issuing, this ad
dress can be readily and satisfactorily
explained. Up *>j Mic expiration of
my term ?s ?enat?r I waa constantly
and actively engaged in performing
duties assigned mo as Chairman of
the Committee to Investigate Frauds
against the State. I felt some deli
cacy in addressing you immediately
preceding the election in 1878, as
it might baye been charged that I
desired re-election to the Senate or
some further prcmction. After that
election and before I could have
prepared this paper a resolution was
introduced in the Senate by one of
h o Republican Senators^and adopted
bv that body, nnnnintlnc- a Commit
tee to investigate the note and con
duct of tho previous Investigating
Committee, of which ? I had .Seen
Chairman. To have published an v
communication personal to myself
in advance of their investigations
and conclusions would have been
premature and indelicate. This
Committee, after continuing in ex
istence for more than twelve months,
m?de their report some three months
since, vindicating my acts and con
duct in tho fullest and most satisfac
tory mannen and the time has now
arrived when I can properly ?prend
before the people in the most public
rao?ner ray acts and efforts to secure
an honest and economical adminis
tration of nfftdrsin South Carolina.
At the outset, permit me to declare
that ray object is not political, or for
the purpoeo of soliciting votes;' as I
am not, at:d wi" not be ?s-ie? ?sf cir
cumstances, a candidate for your
suffrages at the coming election.
To explain ray public actj for the
term of six years, even as brieny os
possible, will necessarily occupy
much space, and must seeds have
reference to the general legislation
before and during that period, and
tho effests ?Ed results thereoi
upon the political arid financial
condition o? tho State. That I maj
be fully and fairly understood, J
shall refer to tho Acts and Journale
of tho General Assarably, giving
dates and pages, and with some
confidence trust that the Dein
ocratio clubs of this County-^wht
in 1876 censured rae without a hear
ing, and condemned toe unjustly bj
refusing to investigate ray acU
through their own representat!vet
when demanded by rae-will, al
their leisure, compare my state
'silents and pledges made whilst t
candidate with tbs Acts and Jour
nab herein referred to, ?nd decid?
KSS^fuI ?Q ino trusts imposed and prom
.1 take great pleasure in a ck no wi
edging that efficient assistance wa
rendered me by men of both politi
cal parties; and, ere I close, 1 sha!
. endeavor to give full credit to ?>\
who aided me, for J. feel deep!
grateful to them for Their counsel
votes and assistance,. which on
couraged mo to persist in tiSorts a
times when it seemed ' impossible t
succeed.
My first and great object waa th
restoration of the State from a cot
ditipii of anarchy, confusion au
dtotress, arising from bad, rocklee
tfnd corrupt ?sglslal?oivto ono ?
corresponding peace, economy an
prosperity. I confesa th A? ?. hoi
estly desired to aceoriplish th
through the bctrurnentaiity of th
Republican party. This waa b(
natural,,arid will bc understood an
apprecifttod, I faust, before the dei
V; ol thia address.
.. A bf??f reference will be made I
Sl$/?Mtne of tho evils and corruptiot
Sf?;v/^bi?h ?? ted in the State goven
illcDw- trevina iu.r
JgpF.rcredti, -?? resources, and endnote
i?g the. supremacy of tho Ropub!
caa party in this State.
gf|?' , I think, it proper afc this place
*VP refer to tho pledges and platfor
:iiioounoevl by rae when & candidat
Thai I woola itaad - br STOTT print?j
aot of thereat Na?onsf BnifiWc
par*/, and, in order that;ail mit?t wdew&i
I niMHt) m'yikir to wars for. and Totsftr t
' perpetuity ?Vtho trtX*. principles laid down
.tnoi>l3ironuof'.h?aation?lliepabllcri!iMr
i nat tho legl?lnilT6 Utaobsat fuouU
iodated to tho ?laallMt iranibor necoawry
. > thtprcpsreosduetof business. . . .
A<WtU4 Dis? oU leeialstiro ?xpta
- should kn paid oaly apo? APpropriaUOBf. ?
forth the amount, io whom to bo paid, o
i6t what purp?*?. , . ,
Th-t l?rto appropriations ?hoold riot
?a?o for contln*ofit ea pens** of is? Bsa
aaA-Hotee; ft?a that ?ll ?se? Booonntoshoi
hs ort rited ?uni laid on. .tho d?*?ts of tb s fc?ai
{ort ??4 membirtf feefoto bein* acasldsr?
iS^OTa?l? 0fC?t^wo?into'o
w'ttoavTOT practical, as? thas m*j ehouia
11? allowed, to eoutrsot io excess of amount*
levied and s.pp?oprwtcd.
That tho publlo; prlnUug rhould ?e? given
to th* lowert responsible bidder, and both
hou*c? should Uko Sm wed.atc alena to ??cur?
tbU. aad m looter alla? two mea to contract
with themselves for any amount they chose
sad autllt aad approve tholr own account?.
! A radical ab?se?Ha th? manner vi levying
ta? tax??, statins that if the then mode wa?
persisted in oar people would be driven from
their homet to another ooantry. , .
, I favored fte? schools and tba ?uncaUoo of
th? mc?c?, and advocated th* i-*Jvb!nmu\?nt
of a tho.-cugh aad efficient system of publie
instruction that would enable ?very child In
tao SUte to attend school. . . ?,
? . I opposed tho payment of th? ioUrestou tn*
State dobt In gold.
, I took the position that th? Acts increasing
th? State debt had been - psssed by fraud and
forxrsudultmt purr, wes, and favored the debt
being scaled to th? amount r?cognix?d by tho
Taxpayers' Convention, but, if thocoisUcgoney
shonld ari??, vronld vote for tho total re?adl .
Atjoa of th? fraud <-!'at debt
Fr.rorodmtaonor representation.
I favored the r-vbllcnlion of tho xccelpU ?nd
disburvenients o> the Stat? Treasurer as often
as accessary for th? proper information of tho
people.
?odvocated the uUlleali.'.a of tho convict la
?bi ' <yD publia enterprises, convicts to bp care
fully gn ard od by ?ooh necessary laws and ttrin
- tent rule? and reaalations M would be condo
elvo to their reformation, good health aaa
humano treatment.
Opnosad tb? orsaaUatian ?nd arming of thc
militia, for the reason that it bad proved to bo
OBS of tua prime caarcs of troubla in toe up
per Counties.
That although I was interested in BlueRldgo
scrip, I was willing to abide th? . decision
of tho Courts. Hut should it com? before the
L?gislature, I rrould l>e found represonting the
interests of thu people agaton iupaynnnt.
Tho law shonld forbid any ofBoor from de
positing school,. County or Court funds ontside
Sha County to which moy belong, unless thara
ie no bank of good standing In such County,
chouid ahm require tb? Stat? Treasurer to de
posit all tax money to the specific, account for
which it waslovicd and collected, tb? same to
bo drawn upon only in payment of specific
appropriations. Should provide that na Stat?,
officer should servo on any Board, Committee
o;- Commission. County Commisioners ?hoold
bo required to apportion the tax levied aad
collected for County purposes before tba tam?
ii o*tl?ied. whloh shell oon?tUuto a speciflo
fund for various County ana Court purposes.
Thatall State and County officers should be
ejected by tho people. That Commissioners of
Election should be elected by tho General As
Fcmbly. Should rcqu ire State ofiiccrs to mnko
their reports withia tln>? days after tho Gen
eral Assembly shall hava met, on pain of in
stant' removal from office. Pr?vido that no
Governor, Statu officer or Judgo shall bu ab
sent from his post, excom In var* tar* ?nd ??3
ctai casos, or by leave o' tho Legislature.
I aleo favored tho following amend
ments being riade to the Constitu
tion:
.'CojsatUution should doflno more clearly tho
ps * and duties oi Lieutenant Governor.
"Obtaining one office for thepnrposo of com
manding tho approach to thc other Phould bo
discouraged- It should bc provided that nu
pentou holding office shall be cliylblo for any
other nfllco Unrinir tho lorm forwhioh he was
elected. .
"Pr?vido that tho Governor may voro certain
Sections of ?ny Bill for tho expenditure of
money or tho creation of a dobt whllo approv
ing the rest.
Prevent tho General Assembly it?m pass
ing any local or special Uw that cnn be
provided for by a gonoral law or where tho
Courts arc competent to grant tho relief ashed
for.
"Bcqnire that taxes shall bo uniform upon
tho samo cla?s of property or Bubje.-.t, but al
low tho Legislature to zu.thorizo a tax by li
cense on peddlers, auctioneers, broker*, mer
chants, professions, ohomuen, liquor dealers,
toll bridrccs nnd ferries, insurance companies,
tejc.p-nph ucd cxproes offices, railroad interest
or business, traveling agents or. venders, and
all persons or corporaUons owning or using
franchises, otc. ,
"Tho ri&ht of suffrage should oe adequately
protected. Pi-ovldo that each County ehall bo
represented ia proportion io tho ra'io of votes
eatnally rw.ll.yt ot ?ts a?EiUf.???; but is Si case
ahould'ruprcscntation b? allowed for any num
ber of votas In excess of that ?nowa by tts cen
sos to bo qualified to vote. Then if, from in
timidation or othor cause, thc peoplo shall fall
lo ox?rcieo their duty or right to vote, thc
County -will lose raprescoUUnn- ?S?! sr^ns?
representation will be impossible.
Restrict tha Court to two terms for ead:
County annually, rosorvlng to .tho Judges tht
right to call special terms tor Sessions burner;
o??ly. ;
. "Make the legislativo sessions biennial, anc
chango the day of meeting to tho second Tues
day in January,"
To raak? myself intelligible, ]
?.ball be obliged to tnke up the$<
various subjects seriatim and to re
fer to the measures I introducei
Kind the legislation on each.
I had scarcely been sworn in 'as t
member of tho Houv? of Represent
IBtives when I was impelled by f
?jpehse of duty to commence a line o
opposition to tho extravagant ant
reckless expepditure of tho pub'd
money. On tho first day of in;
first term a resolution was iutrc
Vduced fixing the number of ai
lachees beyond what I deemed et
sential for the business of the Hons?
H;I "offered an amendment reduc?a:
the number to fifteen. TSeo Houi
?u?f?ni ?572-/?, page 8.] Aftc
discussion tho subject was pos
poned. A majority of the Reput
jinan members held a caucus, bi
could not agree. When the. sui
j??t was recurred to, a substitu?
?'Witt offered for tho orig?D&l resolt
tion, which was tabled. "?Ir. Thom]
ton moved to amend by striking ot
the4 word 'fifteen' and insertin
'twenty-four.' This amendment wi
accepted by Mr. Cochran and thc
adopted."
It soon became - manifest that
ample resolution would not effect tl
retrenchment so much needed ar
called for in the interesta of the pe
pie. Tho Senate eon tinned .through i
officers, to ?5C?6 pay certificates to
large number of employees, and i
like mannor joint certificates we
issued to persons who performed i
service. Tho House of Represent
tives, by tho close vote of 49 to 4
increased-the-number of these et
ployeea, but had up to that time di
ingtheeesBion refused t?atv^?tAt
demanda of the 6ergeant-at-Arn
jvh? was continually calling for i
increase of force. Much.time w
f w?tsuitKn? au wU?j Kriy??ty?v:iiV^ivw.i^7?i
au?ih demanda, annoying to nd cc
ficicutioua members sod to the gri
v?nense and : detriment of the ti
- *yero. Todtithe subject part
jdstioe,>I give a sp^c?m?n o? t
refto?utioBO :.?roduced providing ;
an increase of the nufnbei of c
ployees of iho House, which, to
casual observes", seemed cm ita fi
to bs innocent and harmless,.!
was in reality full of danger and
viting corruption ;
' "J?tfolvtd. That th? Speaker bf-thU He
ie hotibv eathoriiod and repaired to lt
pay cerUCettts tn amsanuj of 5103 each to
parsons who performed la tar tn the lloasc
This resolution was paeeed on
day of Adjournment, amidst
haste and confusion incident tbe?
tJndeif th's rceolutton, certifies
wore issued in tba names of m
than one hundred persona. " My
first effort in this direction waa not
entirely successful.
The General Assembly wan con
vened in extra session October 21st,
1873. 8000 after ?unetnbling I pre
sented "A Bill to regulate thb num
ber of subordinate officers, attach?es,
ftc." [Seo House Journal, pag*i 71.]
This Bill was defeated by the oppo
nents of honest government and
true reform. Not V discouraged
thereby,. when tho Legislate *?*> con
vened in regular,session immedi
ately following the extra steeicn. I
introduced a second "Bill to regu
lato the number and pay of officers,,
attach?es, clerks r. nd laborers of the
General Assembly, and to provide
the manner of electing, appointing
and paying the sams." > [Bed House
Journal 1873-^74, page 233.3 To
facilitate the consideration and pas
sage cf this Bill I managed to have
it referred to a Committee of which
I was a member; and in a few days
it was reported on favorably, and
finally passed both houses, and was
approved by Govern or Moses, March
17tb,1874. The beneficial results
of this Act will appear forcibly by
reference to its provisions* Tho
number of officers, clerks, attach?es,
&c, wi1 fixed ; their duties and pay
prescribed ; that such number should
never be increased except by Act or
Joint Resolution; that a list of all
such persons should be furnished the
State Treasurer, that their names
and the amount due each should
appear in the appropriation bills;
and that no pay certificate should
be paid by tho State Treasurer ex
cept ?B3UCU in conformity with the
provisions of this Act. This Act
was continued in force until a sub
s?quent Act was passed in 1877,
and was never to any manner evaded
or violated by the legislative officers
during the administration of Gover
nor Chamberlain, which succeeded
its passage. To show the practical
benefits effected by this measure I
submit thefallowing facts and
figures. For four years previous to
its passage the seasons averaged
about ono hundred days each.
Arer?fo expenso incurred each sei -
eton for attach?e?..-..4170JDOO 00
Avornge amount inoarred oash ses
sion under now Act..........>.29,200 W
Amountsaved annually to tbeSUto.tH0.600 03
To further illustrate :
For four terras previous to tho ap
proval of this Act tho oxpcneea
incurred per day for attach?es 1
overused thocnormausaniountof. tl,700 00 i
Under new Act per day....." 292 00 .,
Amount saved to the State nor dav- S1.4".a'G0 -'.
The records prove that for several '
years preveis to tho enactment of !
th-s law, certificates were issued on
an average in tho name of six hud* '
dred and twenty-five persons as at' >
(Achees of ibo' General Assembly; ;
linde? this Act, and whilst the Rc
publicans had control after its pas
sage, tho number ,was reduced to
fifty-seven persono, showing a de
crease in number and consequent
expense of five hundred nnd sixty
nine persons per sessioi.
Governor Chamberlain in his first
inaugural address, December 1st j
1874, refers to this Act at follows :
"The second measure of retrenebmont in
legislative ey.pcnses which I nrse ia a roano- j
tion of tho number of subordinate offlcotfl and
attach?e* of the General.Assembly. Upon
this point I am happy to ?peak in commenda
tion of an Act passed by' the last uoscral As
sembly. By that Act the total number of
subordinate officers ami attached In both
branobos of the General Assombly in limited
to fifty-?ovon. I treat your, attention will be
ciTvi to this subject, and that If, upon exami
nation, tho number therein provided for is
found to be the lowest number consistent with
the proper transaction of bowness, tho law
will remain undisturbed."
After my election to the Senate,
T folf iiAr?M**vn^l tliC CXjpCZsvw?
incurred for attach?es wore still too
large and should je reduced. As
shown by Senate Journal, session
1876, pago 46,1 introduced ??A Bill
to/ further reduce tho number of
attach?es",-Ac.',.of* the General As
sembly?' Thia Bill not having
Jbeen reported upon, I offered still
another, entitled "A Bill to further
reduce the number and regulate the
{' tay of officers, attach?es, clerks and
snorers of the General Assembly,
and to T.rovido the manner of elect
ing* rppointrag and paying the
emu ti ' [See Senate Journal extra
session 1877, pago 13.] This Bill
was referred to tho Committee on
Reform ?nd Retrenchments, of
which I waa.Chairman. It was re
ported back favorably, received
three readings in each" house, and
was approved by Governor Hamp
ton, June 9th, 1877. This Act re
duccd the number from fifty-seven
to thirty-seven, ft also reduced the
daily expenses for attach?es from
$202 to *cw tnan $?2o, thus saving
more than 8150 per day during tho
time the General Assembly was in
session. To further illustrate :
187? WT* ..."...V20.OT og
.Oort pe? '.?salon ender Act of 18T7,- 7,185 00
Amount saved per session...;f22.015 00
I do not claim that the Act alone
brought about the fbll reduction of
,$22,610; the Democracy ?ince their
ad veut into power aided materially
in this reform by adhering to short
sessions--although at the session-of
1879 it *T53 found ncccuwtry on thia
account to increase tho number of
attaches five.
iKQlSLATIVB EXPENSES.
As following appropriately the
legislation in regard to the pay of
attach?es,-finployees and clerks, &c.,
t will briely allude to ray act>oa ia
regaid to bsheiexpcnsfss of tho Gen
eral Assembly. I snail only refer to
a few instances where, in the dis
charge of my duty, I opposed ex
travagant legislation, deeming' it
unnecessary to cito all such ; acta ;
and shall quote from tho Journals :
first, (House Journal, page 179, ses
sion 1873,) which shows in what
estimation I held the then prevalent
Srsteru of granting a grr tuity to the
peaker:
"On th? voto of thank ? to Ibo Sre.Jtor of tho
HOU?? of Representatives wo voted 'no,' on
account oftBO extra pay contained in ther**?
lotion. Wo favor the remainder of the reso
lution, and Join with tito Konto in thankln?
the Breaker for toe ocart#oui manner in
which he hu discharf ed th? arduous dattes of
hui offlcj. ?
"3. w. LOWM?:
On a resolution to pay Rev. David
Harris a gratuity of $500 aa Chap
lain of the Senate, session 1874-75,
[Senate Jorros!, page 709,] I moved
to Btrike out the resolving clause,
and'called for the yeas'dad May?,
and succeeded in defeating the reso
lution.
J Although under the specific levy
incidental legislativo expenses had
been reduced to a sm-^1 sum in com
piriso? with amount so expended
m previous years, ueverthOcsa I in
sisted on having that amount hon
estly applied and accounted for; nud
for that purpose [Senate Journal,
8essi?n 1874-75, pago 107,] I offered
the following amendment to the ap
propriation Bill, which was adopted,
the accounts referred to in amend
ment being Senate and- House con
tingent expenses:
," Mr. COCHRAN mored that Seettonl be fur
ther amonded. in lino SS, printed Bill, by In
iertlnct after tho word body,' tho words "all
accounts, arter boin? to audited, shall bo item
ised, printed and laid on ibo desks of the
members of tho Senate for inspection and ap
proval.'"
DISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC FUNDS.
There is no principle, in the man*
agement of public affairs more vital
and important than that there should
be U proper and just levy bf taxes,
and certainly an honest and faithful
disbursement of the same under the
laws. The gr JCS departure from
these principles perhaps occasioned
as much discontent, alarm and pro
test on tho part of the taxpayers of
the State es any other of the many
abases'perpetrated. The utter care
lessness and recklessness of State
officers contracting iu many ways
obligations in excess of appropria
tiona, County Commissioner?: incur
ring expenses and debts beyond the
amounts levied and collected for
County purposes, became evils cell
ing loudly for redress. By theso
___lui_a_A?_. j_t,?_c iL . D,.i.
uv?ii? tuu uusiiiug ucuio w mc oiaw
and of many of the Counties were
largely increased, and the good name
and credit of the State much impaired
and bid fair to become totally ruined.
For instance, the General Assembly
in ono year incurred a liability of
uearly ono quarter of a million of
dollars for incidental expenses in ex
cess of current appropriation? for
Buch purpose* Many of the Coun
ties became involved far beyond
their ability to joayv Just and legal
claims against ?'ha Stat* nnd Coun
ties were hawked about and sold j
shamefully below their face value, to
the great detriment of pnblio credit
and entailing serionuloss upon many
officers who were endeavoring to" do
their duty faithfully. Agents of
State ??ad County officials wera in
the market purchasing tho most
doubtful and worthless of these
claims, because they could *.uy them
at the lowest prices and have them
immediately paid at their face value
by State and County Treasurers in
terested in tho spoils, leaving unpaid
lawful and meritorious claims which
the taxes hod been levied and col
lected for the purpose Of paving, in
order to buy them at ruinous dis
counts in the future. 8pecial taxes
were being levied in a largo number
of Counties and absorbed in
like manne?. To suppress and
remedy these glaring irregularities,
frauds and acts of injustice, I sub
mitted "A Bill [See House Journal
1873-74, page 240,] to reg?ate tho
manner in which public funds shall
bc disbursed by pub?.b officers."
This Bill became'an Act and was
approved by Governor Moses, March
17, 1874.. lt provides "that it shall
be unlawful for say public officer,
State or County j authorized by law
nu to contract, to enter into or con
tract for any purpose whatsoever in
a sum in excess of the tax levied or
tho amount appropriated for the ac
complishment of such purpose;"
also "that it shall be unlawful for
ajSY .tmhlifl ofTl^?r fitnta Qr fiannlw.
to divert cr appropriate tho funds
arising from any tax levied and col
lected for any one fiscal year to tho
payment, of'any indebtedness con
tMmiYul fnr tLxxv asAvioua fiscal YG&V."
The violation *of any of tho pro-1
visions of this Act was H??tdo a felony,
punishable by heavy fine and im
prisonment in tho Penitentiary. Tho
adoption of this Act effectually
checked tho substitution of old claims
in place of those incurred for the
legitimate expense of the fiscal year
in which the tax was collected, pre
vented generally the Counties from
being further involved in linc?eos
bary debt, and to a ?'rest estent sup
pressed and stopped the speculation
in State and County claims by of
ficials and their miserable ?gents and
underlings, and. very materially, in
oouaection with other Acts suggested
and introduced by me, aided m com
ing back to an hoseot administration
of our publie financial affaira. One
comparison relativo to this legisla
tion will suffice. For four yours
previous to tho paarige of this Act
tho General A?ssmb'iy appropriated,
as near ss can be ascertained, (after
deducUng tho amounts due members
and attach?es from the amount ap
propriated) two hundred thousand
dollars for incidental expenses,
whilst tho expenses incurred by the
officer? of the two lupuses, and for
which State ; paper wa* issued,
amounted to cine hundred thousand
dollar?, or seven hundred thousand
dollnu in excess or* tho amount ap
propriated, a .'.'urge proportion of
which was paid. After tho passage
of this Act appropriations for inci
dental expenses^ mido by the Repub
lican administration wnich followed,
for two years amounted in the aggre
gate to about twenty-five thousand
dollars. Now, I challenge any one
to produce any paper issued or con
tracts made in excess of the amount
BO appropriated.'? It is true County
Commissioners in some Counties
overlooked or disregarded the plain
provisions of the law, but they were
promptly ?ried, convicted and sent
to the Penitentiary.
Before this Bill was considered by
the Senate, and being apprehensive
that it might not pass, I introduced
tho following amendments to the
Appropriation and Supply Bills.
[House Journal 1878-74, pages 824
and 425.] Henee, if the Bul had
failed to pass, these amendments' to
the Appropriation and Supply Bille,
as adopted, would have, in some
measure, alleviated .and remedied
the evils complained of.
AMENDMENT TO APPEOPBIATlOIi
BILE.
" On motion of Mr. Cochran, tho Bill was
intended by addles; the foUowiae aa Sec
tions: . '''??-.'O'
. V 'SacTiOM 8. Tb? money appropriated ln8eo
iiou'Jof thu Act ?hall not be paid ont except
Ibv fizpeora ?BUUJ?H? ??rln* tba fiscal y par
sota monolon November 1st, 1873, and ending
October 31, mi-, uud lt ts hereby mads a felony
Quo and imprisonment, ?.t tba dian rction of tho
Court, not to exceed ave thou*tad dollars'
dna, nor exceed tn o years' Imprlsi ument/ "
AMENDMENT TO SUPPLY BILE.
" Mr. Cochran moved to amend Section 8 by
?triking out tho word 'thereof,' and inserting
'and lt is hereby mad? tho duty of thoCouuty
Treasurers ts keep tho funds raised by tho
levy mad? in this Sealion separate aad apart
from all cr?or fund*, ntd they aro heroby fot
biddea to pay out say porUon vt the carno ex
cept for County exposs** Incurred during tho
Bacal year for which it is levied and collected,
or for some subsequent fiscal year, and th*
County Comml?slonor* wehcrcby forbidden to
druw any warrant contrary to tho provisions
herein provided for or contract in exoesa of
tho levy heroin made.' Adopted."
Governor Chamberlain referred to
A?- - 1_.-Jk _S'il_il_/~1_
MJ"3 l u JJ ru vc w cuuuitiuu ut wcvnmu
Uef yatfer t?e cps-etSea cf thia Act
ss follows:
"I am glad to express the belief that tho
financial condition ot many of thi Counties of
the State has been greatly improved danna*
the past year. Ia general, ? think the fenner
habit* of extravfigaaco and fraud lu County
affair* have boen corrected."
PUBLIC PB?KT?NO.
As Chairman of the. Joint Com
mittee for the Investigation of
Frauds, &o.,I have in the most par
ticular and emphatic manner ex
posed and held up for condemnation
the wicked and nefarious frauds
committed under the head of pub*;
lie printing; but as that report may
not have been seen and read by a
largo portion of the people of the
County, I propose here to advert to
Borne few of the leading and salient
features of this outrageous fraud,
styled the Republican Printing Com
pany ,nnd to recapitulate some of the
means and bold artifices by. which
the people of thies State were for
years systematically robbed and
plundered, and the efforts! m?is in
the General Assembly to correct j
and forever prevent a rcpetitic-s cf
such abuses. I think I can truth*
fillip affirm that in every manner
possible within my capacity, as a
member of tho General Assembly, I
did oppose, and at last succeeded,
with the aid of others, in breaking
down and destroying this unscrupu
lous, though powerful, combination.
By referring to House Journal, sear
sion of 1872-73, pago 117, when it
was proposed by joint resolution, at
one fell swoop, to appropriate 0250,
000 for publie printing, my vote,
with the votes of twenty-four others,
will be found recorded against such
appropriation. But, an subsequently
proven, the sum of $41,269 was
paid to various members for their
votes. All opposition Was futile and
the appropri > non wes made. Again,
during the speqial session of 1878,
this printing ring presented another
Bili appropriating $231,000 for pub
lic printing, which I also opposed;
?<2d by exasiseiies sf tbs House
Journal from pages 142 to 144 ray
vote will be fouud in tho negative
ia every stage of its paattg?. Those
of ua who voted against ita passage
felt some ca;fidanca in defiuittno;
it, but upon a- call of the yeas
and nays tho vote stood 48 in favor
io 40 in the negative, After this
first vote tho ?opponents of the Bill
lost -ground steadily, and it was
finally passed, 68# to 26, notwith
standing the efforts made by Messrs.
Meetzo, Crittenden and others, who
united in the endawc- to defeat
this monstrous appropriation. By
proof it ha? been shown since that
the au m of 336,500 was used on
that occasion to eecure its pass
age through the Houne, and
proved more potent! si in favor of
the fraud than all our efforts against
it. Going back to regular ' session
of 1872-73, [ees House Journal,
page 360 J it will be seen that when
the Appropriation Bill ww under |t
consideration and a Section provid-11
log that $30,000 should bo applied
for printing Auditors' bianka, sta
tionery, &?., ?Sw., was being voted
on, I offered the following amend*
ment: "To amend Section 4 by
striking out '-330,000 ' and inserting
'$10,000. ' to be drawn on tie warraut
of tho Comptroller General,.-coun
tersigned by the Governor and
Treasurer," which amendment was
adopted. During the sp?cial ses
sion bf 1878 I mcde another effort
" to regulate the public printing in
this Stated by introducing a Bill
for the purpose. [See House Jour
aul, page 62/) This Sill provided
for tho printing to bo giveu to the
lowest responsible bidder, au? re
pealed all laws providing for the
Sublication of the Ao'a of the
ionerai Assembly in newspapers.
During the some session I sub
mitted the plan of levying taxes for
specific purposes, known cow as the
specific tax levy. This Act being,
in its beneficent results, most impor
tant in correcting manifest abuses, I
will again refer to it uuder its par
ticular and appropriate head. It
was nv, honest belief then that if
the representatives of tho people
could be made responsible by the
levy of a direct tax for printing,
they would be awakened to a .proper
oense of their danger, and would
surely pause and reflect before allow
ing suoh an iniquitous burden tb bo
placed on their constituents. I sub
mit, and tho record? will make good
the assertion, that the specific tax
levy, introduced by myself, was the
first effectual blow the printing ring
received. Aller tho adoption of this
system hundreds and thousands of
dollars could no longer bo used to
secure the passage of large appro
priation bills, as tho levy would not
admit of such expenditure and leave
the ring with any money on baud;
and as the money raised for other
purposes could not be applied to
printing, as had. been the custom
before, they were deprived of tho
enormous sums of money with which
to purchase votes; hence their influ
ence and power rapidly shrunk
away, and tho very men who had
heretofore voted for and advocated
these dishonest measures, when faced
by the dangers before them, turned
their backs upon their former friends
and associates and became their
moBtncisy t?nd zealous opponents ow
ali occasions.
The first opeeifio lovy Act was
approved December 22, 1878; this
was before the Act regulating the
publie printing was introduced, and
threo manilla bef ore (he Act tcaepanted.
This Act levied a tax for the fiscal
year commencing November 1st,
1878, and Sectiou 5 provided that a
tax of one roil? should be levied for
printing. This was enormous, but
it was te pay in part certain defici
encies claimed to be due tho Repub
lican Printing Company and for p
appropriations thereiu made. A 1;
comparison, however, of the three o
years previous to tho adoption of t(
this system of sp?cifie levy, in regard QI
to the cost of public printing, will
speak "moro forcibly than the strong- tl
cst language from me. The avers ?o a
oust o? public printing for those n
three years was more than 8300,000 \
per annum? Under the first sp?cifie 8
levy it could not exceed $150,000, 6
which included appropriations for
deficiencies then existing, and, with ! ?
this amount included, was a clear j el
gain to the State of &1CO.O0? .perU1
?OTiuni. 'il
The great and manifest results nf
this ?vstem of levy did not cud here, ?
es I shall endeavor to show. Before
the Bill to regulate the public print
ing became a law a second levy,
specifically, for printing expenses,
was made for the fiscal year com
mencing November let, 1874, which
was approved by Governor Moses,
March 14th, 1874. This levy was
only for one-third of ono mill, esti
mated to produce fifty thousand
dollars, or 9250,000 less per annum
than it had cost the State previous
to the adoption of this system. By
this time members were ripe on the
subject of reducing the estimates and
taxes for the public printing, brought
about by this system of specific levy.
The following table will show the
Intuit in dollars and cents :
For throo years previous to UiU Act
tho avertie*, cost of printing per rn
nura ?as.?.$300,000
UnderspocJoo le?y,iorUsroa ycars,tb?
xciaio wsi per Bir?um WM....... oi.uu?
Annual redaction....4210,0(0
Although this much had been
accomplished I did not relinquish
my efiorts to reduce expenditures to
proper limits. Os House J?wH???
1873-74, paga S85, it will'appear
that I introduced a Joint Resolution
to amend the State Constitution,
Article IX, Section 3, which amend
ment provided that tho free school
tax should not be less than two mills
on the dollar of taxablo property,
and that the levy for priuting fchoiifd
never exceed one-half of one mill for
any o?o fiscal year. My idew was
that by joining the free school t\x
and priuting together tho solid
yoto of the colored members would
be seemed in support of both propo
sitions. But in this ? was mistaken,
as a ^o-thirds vote was not obtained.
A majority of the Democratic mem
bers, representing mainly the tax-]
I payers did support it-among othor i
ir
n
B)
rt
rx
bi
a
B
m
C
tl
fe
rf
J
w
tl
bl
ct
cc
ct
Ol
B
h
SI
ol
fe
rt
P?
ec
ci
rc
dj
C
U
S
tc
?asoaa tba* property holders might
a She future have a deg?*eo of pro*
oct ion from the rapacity of the
^publican Printing (?otupapy.
iVhen one leeka baok und comparco
he past with the present it stems'
Inmost mored.-b'e that the natural
ypresentativea pf the taxpayers
hould have tolerated or agreed to
he levy Of sach a tax for printing.
rTet it forcibly and lamentably
emotifstratcs the ead condition of
he ?>. ?te of South Carolina at that
?me, nud tho apprehension on the . |M
art of the Democrat? of the return
f tho power and control cf this
'rioting Osripany.
By reference to House Journal,
?sion 1873-74, page 21?, you will
ie that I still continued in tho
ne of my previous policy. I of
?red two Billa to regulate tho
ublic printing. I again felt con
dent of sucoess, as many other
?embers were diligently w?g???
oleutleas war upon this Printing
iompany. Both Bills had the samo
bjccts and designs, viz.,a reduction
f the expenses for printing. Mr.
leetJse, Mr. Bowen, Mr. Crittenden ?:?
od others assaulted tho ring at
icry weak point. Among other
lings they cherged that tho Re
ubiican Printing Company would
ot employ colored compositors. A ,
ommittee was appointed to investi
ste the several charges. In their
sport, among other things, they
?commended the passage ot "A Bill
roviding that the contract for print
ig bo awardocl to the lowest bidder,
ot to exceed fill-? thousand dollars
er annum, and th\t such contractor
tould employ com rsisitors without
?gard to race or col .r.;' Tho Com
dttee on Printing failing to report
lok any of the Bills referred to
lem, and also failing ' v report a
ill in accordance with . ?Q r?enm- ?
cndatinn of said Committee, Mr.
rittenden moved that the report of
io Committee referred to hereto*
re, and all Bills now pending, bo
ferred to the Comwttteo on tho
ad iola ry, with instructions to report
ithin five days "a Bill for letting
ie public printing to the. lowest ''-^^^
idder at an annual cost not to ex
ied fifty thousand dollars, and such .
mtrnctor to be bound to employ
impostors without regard to ?ac?
r colpr." This motton prevailed,
y this time the ring was complete
rs demoralised. By reason of tho
leoifin levy their supplies were cut
f, it being in that. Act .tunde a
3o??y *c ?i5??c?s sty of; ihk
iieod for other purposes to that of
fluting,, their frionas daily desert- .
i them, and filially they euc*
imbed to the inevitable facts and
?g?ito befove them, On the 11th
if of Febiuary, 1874, Mr. Meetzc,
hairman nf the Judiciary Commit
?, reportetV- t,A Bill regulating tho
ublio printing,1' embracing most of
i0yrov?8?ri'.V*t set foVth by Mr. Crit-i
mden in hu? resolution. Thia Bill
assed and was ratified March 17,
B74, tho ring preferring it to cither
f those introduced by mo, aa mine
>ok the entire control of tho matter
ut of their banda.
After ray election to thc Senate,
l? House of Representatives passed
second printing Bill as recom
lended by Governor Chamberlain.
Vhon under consideration in. tho "
onoto Tsee Senate Journal,' page
413:
.''.On motion of Mr. COCHRA?.'. ??JJ?:? s
a* ?mondea ny tho addttica of tho ??ii
t?^wf'. .'-?"?5i? ?>u Bvuirtvn oe a wara c d to
rosed the sum of forty thod8.-t.nd dollars for
1 tho jprintinjr end bindlnit of tho Utatr^i
sports tho s?wi??Tcr depanmento or tho
'ato 8ovcrnm?nt.' "
This amendment fixed the aggre
at? cost of printing at ten thousand
ol lars less per annum / an under J
lie Act then in fore* Although
tie Bill passed in this ibape, it
ever became a law, the {aerates of
conorny and th?' frien?s' of the
rioting company having managed
j prevent its reaching the Governor
>r approval.
Again, at the regular session of
8TCI introduced "A Bill to pro
(de for and regulato the public
rioting." [See Senate Jburnal
87?, pago 102.] Th! j Bill passed
be Senato at the special session of
877. By tbs Kouw it was arriended
i eover?i particulars, many of tho
estrictiouE 4h/o|?n around tho raan
geraent of the printing being
trscken out as ' ?lot necessary
rider tho changed .administra
[ottV This Act was approved by
?-?2LJ_" ?ri_T__ a.L ,i>n? .
iu>crin/r uaujnuu, unira uni, i ul .-.
Jnder this Act, the printing by
entreat with the State Filatera,
less rs. Calvo & Patton, has cost an
ujlly the small amount of .811.800: ;'
er annum, or C3S.104 i er..- than
?past undor the Chamberlain ad
iinistration. Tho .-mount paid
felvo & Patton includes th? prhit
ig of 0,000 copies of the report of
tte.; Committee on Public Frauds,
sprinting tho Aots of 1873-4 and ; t
juting- the index to the XVth
Hufcute*-en euormoua quantity of
xtra work not entering' into tho
?tinting accounts of any previous
cara. The average cost of printing,
?ot Including extra work, has been
istween six and seven thousand do!
nra per ann?tm. And whilst it might
>s elaiEsed that th? abort sessions
ended to thus lessen the expense, I
.rn satisfied that they havo per
brnaed aa saudi work as waa for
aerly don? fit a cost of ?00,000,