Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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- is ain. q d to met in e untry and in every as been found to be the wisdom. look ing both to the mental and moral up lifting and the material advancement of the people, to prohibit the labor in mills of children of tender age. Eng land, France, Germany, and all the principal manufacturing countries of Europe, and all the manufacturing States in the North in our own coun try, after thorough investigation and long experience, have decided in this manner. The question is a new one in the South only because the South has within very recent years developed Into a manufacturing section. The manufacturing industries of the South in the near future will be com pelled to meet strong competition from the people of other sections of the globe, particularly from the far East. In order to meet this compe tition they must have skilled and in telligent labor, and this can only be secured in the operatives of the fu ture by the education and the pre paration of the children of the pres ent. And the children of the present cannot be educated and prepared for th,eir duties and for good citizenship if they are required to labor in the mills during their tender years. The question is demanding solu tion, and the part of wisdom is to solve it now. For the longer it is left alone the more difficult of solution it becomes. This question was discuss ed by you at your last session and In one branch of your body defeated by a large majority. Final action, how ever, was postponed by a continu ance of a bill in the other branch. After careful and thoughtful con-, sideration it is my opinion that it is a duty which you owe to humanity and the citizenship of your State to , protect these children by prohibiting their labor in our manufactories. If the parent does not feel sufficient In terest in his own offspring to lok after Its best interests and to prepare It for the high duties of good citizenship. then it is the duty of the State to step In and assert its authority by taking care of :he life and the health and the hapriness of these helpless little ones. I realize that it is a perplexing question where the authority of the parent ends and the duty of the State begins, but in a question of such vital Importance to the State fine spun theories should not be indulged, but the best interests of the Common wealth and its citizenship should be the paramount issue. No child under twelve years of age should be per mitted to labor in the manufactories; of this State. unless it be necessary for the support of a widowed mother. Ef you should adopt such- a measure, however. at least one year should be given before it becomes of force in order that all parties may adjust themselves to the new conditions. EDUCATION. It Is a principle now well recog nized, that the safety of the govern ment itself requires that it give its citizens the opportunity to fit them selves for an intelligent discharge of their duties to the State. Our form of ernmn in ch .eve -an awful state for nearly three years with a complication1 of femal6 troubles which ti'-c physicinns called by dif ferent names, bnt the -pains were al the same. I dreaded the time of my u d s en on the efforts cted prin t and per of common Sto the comn great majority - monthlook for their f ld not interfere of dahigher education. ly of the State is to d majority of its citi elligent use of the tizenshin. The ideal e pjroperlv articulated mmon school to the high college and the university. ittle ere for a republic to her insti'utions cf learning nig men of wisdlom and power it has also a system of gen nay. of universal, education pro ng popular respect for wisdom d power. The university at the ummilt, reaching as hieh as human intelligence cen go. the commn school at the -ase. spreading as wie as human nature iteelf. and betwecn them the best attainable system of grammar schoo!s and hizh school andl academrires. andI sureading cout from them an e'-cdevelopin- or-gani zation of tec-bnj-al and professional institutionis--*he~e are the defense of the repuie." But it is of little or no use to hae S an adenate s--stemn of free educa tion unless it 1-e taken adv;anare cf by the children of the State. The a - tendance uren our common schoot !s not as lrre as it should be. No, child shon1d TM~ allowerl to grow r a to meet the high duties and respon cibilities of citieonshin without at least having aconired the rudiments of a goodl education. Anl vet many of the children of this State are per-* mitted to comec to the vears of ma turity without heing able to rea-I or write, eithnr heranrse ib-e child cannot see for its"'N N' ativantares, or the father is wilfully negligent of the welfare of his ofsprinr. or himself Ignorant cf tM' necessity of an edo cation. There i'n po greater enemv to the we~fero --f sae:- an-d to RipuN' can institn'ons fu irnoranIc. a-'l the duty ef thP Cet(to is to r(oQuireth child to te'm advantage of the eduhc tion, provided1. The question cf compulsory edu eation has agitated the minds of edu cators throughout the State for th'e past few: ye-a -s. Various public ad dresses on tis sublject have been made and at neriv everv teahers' association in the State the question Mpbeen discussed. It would seem that the majority of our best educa tors advocate th.e system of com pulsory education. The objector to compulsory educa tion will urge that every parent ha. the right to determine what educatioli shall be given his own child and thal t:'e State has no right to interfere in the affairs of the family. When z contagious disease invades the Stat no question of this kind is raised, bul the State takes measures to stam: out the disease and asks not for per mission to establish a quarantine against the spread of the malady. Thc two cases are similar. Ignorance i3 the worst of diseases and the Statc has the right to require that- the children shall be brought up in such a way as to make the best possible citizens. It is also urged that the cost will be too great. The State is now spending more than a million dollars on the education of its chil dren and the proper pocition is that every child of school age should reap its share. But the greatest objection which is urged to compulsory educa tion in the South is the ever-present negro, and the fear that if he is edu cated he cannot be controlled. The fallacy of this argument is patent to every thoughtful man. It is a fact known and recognized that in this State at present, in proportion to the population of each, there are a great many more negro children than whites receiving the education pro vided. The negro Is here to stay, and to educate him rightly will but teach him his position and be of benefit to him and to us. To leave him without an education is but to make him a tool in the hands of the designing and a curse to society. It Is but sui cidal not to require the white children of the State to attend the common schools for fear the negro children will receive the same advantages This argument means that we should h the white children grow up in ignorance in order that the negro may not learn. In this age there are many prob lems which confront us and must be solved. Education is the solution. We must educate. not one here and there, but every child in the State. A compulsory law at the beginning would probably have to encounter difficulties In Its enforcement, but the time is ripe for something to be don, as every one must admit when, he considers the percentage of efirol ment to the children of school age, especially in the rural districts' All the principal countried of Eu rope, in fact all the princiAl civilized countries throughout th world, and two-thirds of the State- and Terri tories of our own ountry, have adopted some syste of compulsory edrcation. In many the other States it is being agitated and urged. According to the Census of 1890-the percentage of Whites in South Caro lina over twepy-one years of age who could neither read nor write was 15.65; of negroes 65.23. In 1200 the Census fi ures show the percentage of whites 2.6, and of negroes 54.7. These gures need no compient. The perc ge of illiteracy among the wh has decreased in ten t., the negroes fol es tat e Duo- . "laws and be summer- as been obtained The' S s of various States 'ollowing and from letters from 'E overnors and superin Daug ducation: pas Compulsory Attendance. tio weeks, 12 consecu 1.......... ........7 to 14 a-two thirds term, 12 s consecutive .......8 to 14 do-12 weeks, 8 consecu e.... .... ........8to 14 ncticut-full term.. .. ..7 to 16 aho-1 2 weeks, S consecu tive.. .. .. .. .......... 8o 14 Indiana-12 consecutive wee'ks S to 14 Kentucky-S consecutive weekis 7 to 14 Maine-iG consecutive v~ceks 7 to 14 Marsachustts-30 consecutive w..k.. ...... .........7 to 14 Michigan--16 consecutive weeks 8 to 15 Ohic-G to 20, consecutive weeks.. .... .... .. ....8 to 14 Montana-12 weeks, 6 consocu tive.. .... ........ ..8. to 14 Nevada-16 weeks, 8 con:,ecu tive.. .. .... .........S to 14 New Hampshire-full term 8 to 14 Nev: Je':sey-20 weeks. S conseen tive.. '.. .. ..- .- .- . .. 7 to 12 New Mexico-12 weeks...... to 16 New York-full term..-..-..S to 16 North Dlakota-12 weeks, 6 con secutive..-..-..-.-..-..-.. to 14 Oregon-12 weeks, 8 consecu tive..-..-..-..-....-..-.. to 14! Per. .-ivania-full term.. .. 8 to 1(0 Wyoming..-..-..-.-..-..-..7 to 1G Arirona-12 weeks, 6 consecu tive..- ..-..-....- ..- ..-.. to 14 South Dakota-12 weeks, S con secutive..-..-..-..-..-..S to 1i Washincioni-12 weeks..-..-..S to l'3 West Virginia-16 weeks.. .. 8 to 14 Wisconsin-12 weeks..-..-..7 t~o 18~ Verm ont-29 weeks-.-.--.-.--.-. to 1 5 Ncraska-two-thirds term ..7 to 14t Minnesota-full term..-..-.. 8 to 16 Kansar-12 weeks, 6 consecu tive..- ..-..-..-.-..-..-.. to 14 Rh'le TskTnd-12 weeks, C con secuttre..-..-..-.-..-..-..7 to 15 Utah-10 weeks. 10 consecu tive..-..-....-..-..-....8 to 1l I woull surmest in our Shto thot the~ ages te fived] betw~en cI'Tht an] thirteen, an'] attenlance rerlniied for at least twelve weeks of the school tern. The status of the puhlic schools is about the same as it wsn at the time of r-our last session. The averase school term for the nast year for the white schools, according to the State Sunerintondent's report. was twent one week-s. exactly the same as the one for the year previous: for the nerro schools the term was fouirteen weeks. olie week less than for the nrevious r-ear. Tt way he remarkerd that the Site Siner-intendent renorts that in a few of the coun'ies there are so maen" inaccuracies in the re nort submitteA to him as to the aver aoe number of week-s as well es the other avernees and tofts. that the reno-ts in his renort cannot be aiso lutel- relied unon. Tdecr to- renent be-e what T snM heck te~ 'bnormn'ufe- of ne' +s- em aniufa nnte': en the townr omevery Point ossible for the me too me the irregu t the country ossible to have or systematic of the super in the country quence of the d the County must give a ir time to other supervising the ould be made tc t boards of c oards of edu b office in the of two years. Most co ing sure of their emp are unable to year more than on': affal nate system of school no continuous out so to year with County e of tenure. the peop be elected by change e way as not to I boards o e time; and the on a som ould be elected The S ar plan. tention to tendent calls at school ho securing better the most c should be given cause the b sideration, b children canno in* t . and uncomforta a The total expoe-ear for whites was De groes $211,287.5 113.00. The total expe st yeir for whites was . for ne grees $203.033.4 96,841.05. WINTH EGE. The present romises to be the most succ the history of Winthrop Col There are 297 pupils enroll he Normal De partment-an 120 n two years and' of pre vious. Ev county n tM is represen ed in the rolment, mich is much -greater th ever before in the hitory of the ool. The health of the student body Is reported as good. /The much-needed new dormitory building was completed in time for 'the openiLg of the !snx last Octo ber and the new rage system provided for by the eral Assembly has been successful nstalled within the appropriation m de for it. The college has/es excellent ex hibit at the Charlestpn Exposition. The Board of Trustees have care fully considered the needs of the col lege for another yea:r and an item ized statement of the amounts which will be necessary.h-be submitted to you. Winthrop College is the ozly institution supported by the State for the higher education of its women. and it is, as it should. be, the pride of South Carolina. It should receive your support and encouragement and the support and encouragement of ev ery citizen of the State. SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE. T institution has just entered e second hund years of its a record be d it of which tution might ell be proud . brigh p the fn creases arly, goin. years ago to 227 du m~ 162 four sion. Its affairs are the past ses aged. Economy and reetly man in making its means re exercised sible in providing for far as pos comfort and instruc e health and dents. A clear statem of Its stu estimate of all item and detailed is presented to' you b f expenditure so that you can s .he authorities, needed and how inuc both what is The college is doin it will cost. and drserves the li excellent work, the State. and shou'. ral support of and strengthened in - e. sustainedi forts to exalt the id its earnest e f ards of education an als and stand INSTITUTION FOR culture. TION OF THE D THE EDUTCA BLIN .F AND THE The fifty-third ann South Carolina In al report of the: Education of the D itution for the shows an average at and the Blind year of 163 pupil or the thirty-four counties. enting have been kept with! -litures tion made for +he su pria stitution. The cost of m the school. year beg for it900. and ending Ju 1 $2l.227.92. This mak was ~ost of $130.23-for ea apita The building - for colored pupils h department pleted and is now oce s been comn partment. The new pied by that dec ing" for which the "school build appropriated $20,000 ast legislature cess of erection and sis nov: in pro occupancy by the b ill be ready for nett school term. ginning of the The superintendent propriation of $23.00 asks for an ap The increase in num for support. attendance and the er of pupils in iving expenses 4 eater cost .or for the increasg! in ns necessity support over at cf iprop.'ation for nronriations .y ounti! last y ar. AP dleemedl necesjsary fo g to $.C59 are nluhibns. electric vsteam *,heating. ishing the nf'ew scho ring. ad furn for necessary repair 1 huildi -g. and ing main building a and reflirnish of furniture. etc. d for insprance. The affai-s of the b'een conducted in iJ nstitutiodi have ncss-lik-e manner. a~ practica(. busi-~ csked for maintenane d the amount tive estimna'e and sh is a consdrva C~LEMSON C uld be grantged. Itemized statement~ LLEGE. ditures of this institul of the expen mitted to you. A largiion will be sub expenditure is for g* amount of the1 such as farmers' ins~ neral purposes. tomological work, a~ tutes, State en tilizer inzpection. As~ the State fer other colleges of the; compared with character the cost of isame .size and insti'ution is below ,maintaining this new dormitory has beithe average. A to make room for n built in or~ler number of applicant the increasing adimission to this clamoring fo should be a matter ~institution. It to the people of the9f coagratulaio have an institution of State that they Toing the work that such high grade. Which our young me lemsonl does gt in those tranches w can he taurnt t hem to take a lea. ich will cnable prac-tical affairs of I ng part in the' terial advencement c fe andJ them ,-ountrv. Ths institu their State ai it will receive, the ion deservecs, as and encouragement hearty supporti tatives of the peopl f the represen SOUTH CAROLINA MILITARY ACA-T DEMY. At your last session you increased the annual appropriation of this institution to $25,000, with a view of reducing the. charges to the cadets from $30 to $20 L per annum. This reduction was mad by the Board of Visitors at their ma Ing last June, and the board hopes i action will tend materially to incr. tho number in attendance. The h e of the students has been good a affai*s of the institution have be managed. An appropriation 25,O is asked for. of the The recent annual reuni ttended by! students was very largely he country, graduates fr-om all -ove gem was most and the spirit shown b -ell fcc the fu gratifying and argu Academy. ture prosperity of .OLLEGE. COLORE of the president of From the re is learned that the to this institutioD ts for the year ending: tal disburse 1, were $32,350. An ap June 30th, from the Legislature of propriati be asked. This institution $3,32 good work for the colced i1 doi f the State and should have peop ncouragement. In addition toi you. ove an appropriation of $700 for th ing, preparing, and installing an ibit at the Charleston Exposition ill be asked. A SOLDIER'S ROME. Within the past few years the neces sitics of many of the old Confederate soldiers whose names are enrolled in the ranks 'of those who volunteered from ths State have been forcibly brought to the attention of oi:te peo ple. In some cases those who have no means of support and no one on whom to depend in their declining years are enduring want and hardship and pri vation. Some of them even now are in the county poor houses. These are the men who In the time of their youth and strength, in answer to the call of their State in the dark est hour of her history, szcorificed their all, and went forth to serve her and to defend her rights on the field of bat-: tie. The record of the part they playedI in that conflict is familiar to you and to the whole world and needs not to be repeated here. Suffice it to say, they did their duty and their whole duty, and more than most men would have, considered their whole duty, in defense. of their State. Nearly a half centuryI has passed since then and most of them have answered their last roll call and gone to join their comrades on the other shore. But few of them are left among us, and it should be the provi loge and the pride of South Carolina to see that not one of these who served her s-o well In the hour of her need, is in want, in this the evening of his 1:fe. It will be only a few short years at best when there will be no necessity for you to consider this qucstion. for there will be no one to occupy a Confederate Soi dier's Home. If you ever expect to do anything for the 6ld soldier along this line, now Is the time. It is action that is needed and not talk. In this connection I beg to submit an extract from the report of the Board of Regents for the Hospital for the In sane: the "In view of the considcratron by the ~ ral Assembly of the advisability to present to your Excellency the prac ticability of using the tract of land em bracing about fifty acres upon the Wal lace purchase known as the Bellevue Place. * * * * Upon this tract could now be begun a series of permanent buildings adapted to all the uses of the Veterans, and in time they could re vcert to the Regents for the purposes of this Hcspital. By this method the Veterans would be given such buildings as they deserve, since in View of the future use of these buildings the E I te culd well afford to expend a laer sum upon their construction than could be done for merely temporary build inigs." This plan strikes me as entirely prac ticable antd I commend it es a happy solu:ion of the question. At the present rate of increas? among the occupaints of the HeIspit.al fc.: the Irsine the build ing will be needed by tev IHospital by the time therc is uno longer nced for it as a Confederate Home and the State cil nly be building for the futuxe- Ly adopting this plan and utilizing this prperty for the purpose indicated. Of course it shoufl be uacerstcod that the nianagement of the Home should in no way be connec-ted with the man agemnent of the Hospital but a separate and distinct institution. THE DISPENSARY. This question has been so much d.o cussed, both on the stump and in the halls of legislation, and so bitterly fought by its enemies and so strongly defended by its friends, that every phase of it is familiar to you and t the pecople. It is now more s'congly entrcnche'd in this State than ever be fore and it may be cons:dcred as the~ fued policy of the State for dealini with the liquor problem. Its beneft nd advantages are patent to every fair min~ded and unprejudiiced critic. That there is violation of the law i certain sections is no argument against the system. Even in Charleston and~ Columbia. the sections of the State where there have teen mccc violations of the law thlan in any other, the runi cial autbo:-itics have conie to real: the fact that the dispensary syse'em1 the fixed policy of the State for dealirs with the ligt:cr problem and have adopted ordinances provid'ng for the punishment of violatcas. If the May ors and Counclis of all cities and towns would exert themscelves vigorously in enforcing the law and bringing to jus tice those wh violate it there wouild be no necessity ice- maintaining a large~ constabulary force. As pu.blic senti ment grows more and mnore in favor of the law this will be done. That pub-! lie sentiment is growing in favor ofi the system must be admitted by every careful observer. The management of the d'spensary for the past year has been business like and satisfactory. The State Board of. Directors and the State Comi *mo~ner have worce:l in harmony end cvzy-1 thing has mcred smioothly, these ofii-t crs having be n faith ul to the trust! imposed. The report of the directors. which will be suibmi'ted to you, shows gross sales of $2.. s. 1 21 with a not profit to the S~t of 012'1.+G2.25 on to theC ecern -s and towns aOfnnfdC to $2b.233.Y ma'in-' a totAl net pro fi for the ye ar .of $->2'..12. The r o: t stat:s that tlI snoal Lund at pres nt amounts to $[5?1.l354.13. hut that i!. s avoi'abte vero s'owly :or payment to the schools inasmnuch acs it is used a In the anagement of the consta-gS bulary I ave tried to select men of t] bua n d and discretion, who would s judgn their duty and at the a perft ime cause no friction cjment of the law. There is and a been and will continue to be viola on of the law as there is of all lan1 and an army of constables could not enforce it absolutely in all sections ofl b the State. It would be better for the u law if It were possible to do away with fl the constabulary feature entirely and S this could be done if the municipal au c thorities and other ofieers throughout P the State would lend their aid in thei I enforcement of this law as they do of 0 other laws. This is the case in many aetions of the State and it is getting more and more so throughout the en- b tire State, and as public sentiment ' grows in favor of the system the con- s stabulary may be removed enticely. t During the year closing November e. 30, there had been 272 convictions for t violation of the dispensary law; $23,- s 486 imposed as fines, of which amount f $4,735 was paid, and 1.7 of the con- d victs took the alternative on the chain gang. The total cost of the constabul ary for the year was $45,011.25. I would recommend that the mini- c mum fine in case of conviction for vio lation of the dispensary law be made* 0 $50 Instead of $100 and that the mini-! mum service remain at three months. There are cases when it would be bet ter for the county and State to have P $50 than three months' service and when it would be paid if the Judge had Y the discretion to impose it. I In dealing With this question your; purpose should be to improve and per- i feet the system. STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. The report -of the State Board of t] health, showing their work for the year a and making sevecal recommendations, r will be submitted to you. a During the past year smallpox ap- I peared in several sections of the State. T Such cases as were reported to me r were immediately brought to the atten- T tion of the Board and in every in stance efforts were made to suppress 01 the disease by the enforcement of gen- f( eral vaccination. According to the 1 weekly health reports of the United $ States Marine Hospital service there a were in the United States in! October, 1901, twice as many a oases as at the same time In 1900. This d sh'ourd be a warning to all local boarda of health to act promptly at the first d appearance of a case and enforce vac- b cination. The most economicai and ef- o fective measure in stamping out the disease is to vaccinate and, owing to y the wide-spiead prevalence of the dis ease throughout the country recently, u it would be wise to take some action making vaccination at certain stated s periods compu.lsory throughout the G State. The Board calls attention to the fact i that In 19S an Act was passed "to a provide for the inspection of food, drugs, spirituous and fermented 1 liquors, and ito provide for the t punishment for adulterations thcre- d of," and making it the duty of the . State Board of. Health to carry out its t] provision.: No appropriation was ever tl made, however, to enable the Board to carry *ut the provisions of the Act, and drugs is a very important matterI as on the use and consumption of pure food and drugs depend the life and health of our citizens, and some action should be taken which will enable th!s law to be enforced. There is no doubt t that at precsent there is much adultera tion of fcod and drugs and a law of1 this kind shculd be made effective. The Bored aloo recommends that the cifice of State Bacteriologist be created g giv ing as a rea.scn, "th'e great need ofa competent exptert service to detect the early manifestations of disease as f shw by laboratory test," especially cf cuspcted tuberculcsis or consumnp-c tion in its early stages. diptheria andI xyphoid fever. The hoard thinks the a .=prad of these diseaces could then in c r aan insances be checked at the very -ou'rce and by early discovery and r trcatzment of the cases restore to health a la:ge number of those with the dis-c case.1 Several cther recommendations are I made which are embodied in the re port to be submitted to you. STATE MILITIA. it I deem it scarcely necessary to call your attention to the ever increasing I necessity of the State having at itsa command a well ceganized and well equipped volunteer y i~ery-ever ready t "to aid by its mora. effct the prezer- I v-ation of peace and good order In our Czm:nonwealth." Its maintenance scems imperative. Thefore I deem it ;ike3wise unnecessary to sug-gest that r the dlignity of the State. the pride of t her people, the safety of life, the prz tection of property, and the wisdom of t round statesmanshtp, all deruand that c t;M PnmmI of the s'ate be eared fcc and l1 It is gecnerally recognized that under' j LI' ir ent direction of the States mill- d tary epartmenft the volunteer service c ha beenc- vastly improved and an im patus given to its p.rogess and dis ip -:2 th~at deserves and receives my her~s commendation. I may say that ~ in every intance dring my occupancy ct the executive chair whenever an enrgenzy has oocurrdI t'eat nfes3i taited a call en the miiitia to a.ss st in *r:srving the peace and protecting i :'iv reprty of ou:' people. offirers and r n!!s;>lmmen .atit:e hava obeyed c:2ers - wVahi the grc::test alacrity, courage andp coolness. -s In May last at the unveiling of the monment at Chickamsuga erected by South Creclina in commemoration of s her heroes who there fcught and fell. t 1 considered it o matter of pride and patrictism to oare the volunteer troops to do honor to the occasion, and I therefore directed the Adjutant Gen-1 eral tu form a provisional regiment t from among those in the service. Ninet r comanies composed the icemation and C(l. Wilie Joynes was appointed the~ colonei in comimand. Th'e ecos of trans-1 b portation was 81.876.25 which the nrfi- a~ vr board decided to nay out of the e annual appropratfin made to a van-e b th eflcne of th State militia. The Adju'nt Gene-ral inu his rer-'t asksl tht tha sar amoun ve ad d to the e "'e' t' a:-ition andl I rceommend i -ht hi h done. In $11 suchi p t~~ :2cr nation1l demonustrations the c -er~c Frats of the Vaien cheerfull ea- ! th expenszs of their voluntee -l w!: to welc-ome:l by the neople of -e 'ce and every true citizen willj a W.e satsfaction the day whe. outh Carolina shall be able to fonou ie laudable example of some of ha ister States in amply providing ft nd maintaining that important .arW. L the State government. CONFEDERATE RECORDS. The Adjutant and Inspector Generat i whose department the ConfederatW rolls ave placed for preservation, in arms me that almoat daily he is called pon by old soldiers or their kinsmea yr permission to examine the rolls In' arch of the names of relatives and for. rrection and for various ather pur. .ses. Such daily examination and andling naturally results in the wean f the colls and the fading of the ames. These rolls are very incomplete; ; is true, but an appropriation should e made for printing them In book >rm so as to preserve in permanent; hape that part of the record for w'iicht ie State has already made considerable spenditure. As a testimonial of grati ide for the patriotism of those whe rved their State so well in this con-' ict, South Carolina should no longer *fer this important matter, but shouldi t once take some action to preserve .is link in our history, and make pro islon for the preservation of this re a,,--d. The organizations of Veterans, Sons r Veterans, and Daughters of the Con-. !deracy are agitating the question and taking preparation to undertake the ork, in a systematic way, of com leting and perfecting these recordse nid in their efforts they should have our encouragement. But to preserve n1d put in permanent shape what we ave, will in no way interfere with this 'ork, but will be of assistance in car ing it forward. PENSIONS. At the last session of the Legislature, ie Act to provide for Pens!ons for cer tin soldiers and sailors, approvei Feb iary 19,1900, was amended so as td ppropriate $150,000.00 anually to ay the pensions provided by tlis Act, he appropriation bill, however, car ed only $100,000.00 for this . purpose. hat raised doubt In the mind of the tate Treasurer as to whether $100,000. ) or $150,000.00 had been appropriated :c pensions, agd he refused to honor ie Comptrolldr Generars warrant for L50,009.00. Under this condition of fairs mandamus proceedings were In :ltuted to settle the question. It- was rgued before the Supreme Court and ecided by the Court that the amount opropriated was only $100,000.00. The Istribution of the fund was therefore ased on the appropriation of $100, 0.00. If it was your Intention to pay the ,nsicners in 1901 $150,000.00 an appro riation of $50-,000.00 for this purpose ill be necessary at this session. There 'ere on the rolls last year 6,503 pen oners. In Part 2 of the Comptrole eneral's report you will find an Item :ed statement of the dIstr upto;L* of iis fund, together with a llt of pen oners on the roll. In this report the Comptroller Gen -al calls special attention to the fact tat in distributing this mon*. a Sol ter 60 years of age who was not 'ounded or injured in servic,1 fare e same as the wounded soldier, and e widow whose husband was ki k battle or died whie In servkea ho was not remarried, sharesine H W, 'ears. He also submits a. suggestion as ta i lassification and the amount tio li - aid. As the Comptroller Generat Is amiliar with this subject, his sugges ion should have your careful attention. JNVEILING O)F THeE CHICKAMAD GA MONUMENT. The monument which, through your enerosity, has been erected at Chick mauga to commemorate the heroismr isplayed by the Confederate soldier rem South Carolina on that battlefield ras unveiled with appropriate. exer ises on the 27th of Il~st May. The onumient is one of the nmost beautiful ad appropriate en the held. It Is made f South Carolina granite, and on the nxe sidie is a bronze life-size Confede ate infantryman, and on the other .Confedecate artilleryman. o f the monument Is a gracefulbi >almetto tree, the emblem of the P! aeto State. On one side is the in criotion: "To her faithful sons at hickamauga South Carolina erects his monument to commemorate the . alor they prov- I and the lives they ave on this battlceed." On the other re the ns.mes of the regiments rhich represented South Carolina in' h's batt'e, and to the membees of ;hich this monument was erected, to ether with the number of killed and 'ounded fron: cach. The exercisos at the unveiling were iost appropriate and were largely at, ended by veterans and citizens from outh Carolina. For a detailed doe cription of the monument and accoult f the excecises I refer you to the pub shed, report of the Commissioners. All true Eonls o South Carolina re -ee that she has at last done her uty to her sons who fought and fell n this historce field. REDISTRICTING. At your last session you had before ou for ccnsideration s~sveral bills for, edistricting the State. None was pass d and the whole subjiect will come up or considerat'on at thIs session. There oa longer c':irsts any reason for the9 ho-tring dist: lcts which we have inf his State and it is a duty you owe the' ople to red:str:ct the State into cn resional dis:ricts that will be comn act and corntig:uous In territory. This huld be done without regard to the olitica.l fortunes or interests of an7 2dividu:'.i and solely wiP.h a view of rving the interests of the people of, Te several distriets. At the last ses ion of the Congress of the United tates an Act was rassed in which the llowing secticn occurs: a "Section 3. That in Each State en tled under t's anportionment the umbcr to whieh such State may be ntitled in the Fifty-aizhth and each ubsequent Congress shall be elected v districts c:omnosed of contiguous nid compact te- rritory and containing s nearly as pz cticable an eq~ual aum er of inzhabittt." You will rto:r that Act of Congress rovides that te districts "shall" be 3mpsed of to-ritory "compact and ontiguous." This may not he manda >ry, but as tho:o is n reason at pres at for the ergressonal distri'et re-. ;ainir~g as th'y ar"' :t seems to be the' rt of wisdorm and good iudgment at: is soveien to pass an Act mnang1 tem "contig;:ors" and more "com it." FOREST PTISERVATION. It is only recently that the subject