Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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' Vv v.. 7 * : -" ^SSSSSSSSSSBBSBSStSBHfiSHS'WSHff rtr:! misfortune. It would be worse than a blun-j * der which couid not be retrieved: it would be- r a crime against ourselves. With the mate j J1 rials already on hand under the control of the j11 Clemson Trustees, with an appropriation of." Sl-j.iKX), supplemented hy voluntary contrihu- j ' lions and the aid of public-spirited citizens, 11 the State could mule - at least a respectable ' exhibit; and whatever otiier economies i n J a public expenditures the General Assembly j l| may determine upon, (in all of which I shall ^ hertily join,) I desire to soy in all earnest-i11 ness that a luilure to have the state properly , ;l represented at Chicago would be an act ot i:i parsimony that would cause us to blush. I j P would, therefore, urge the election or ap-j ** polotmentofa proper Corn mission to take charge of the matter and see that South Car-! olitia shall occupy her proper place among I sl her sisters. j,(] Miscellaneous. | I 1 now beg to call your attention to some mailers 01 m nmr importance: as orieny us 11 can to give you clear information. THE DIKECT TAX. The United States Congress, by Act of March 2.1891; has refunded the direct tax collected ,ri from some of our citizens during and iinnie- 'In dlately after the war. The amount Involved i'/1 is about S222.0U0, which is to lie received by 'ii ibe State in trust for the parties who paid it. It will he necessary for legislation on the part at of the General Assembly, to accept the trust; re and that some provision be made for its ?' speedy and proper distribution. After careful ' >' investigation, and consultation with an atlorney who is familiar with the matter, si Hill has been prepared providing for the appointment of a special referee or commissioner, ;ic who shall obtain the necessary information ,.x from the archives at Washington and act as ,,'jthe State's agent in payingall claimants who can present the necessary proofs. The Hill has been carefully drawn and appears to cover th all the points. m< REAPPORTIONMENT. The United States census of 1800 having ty been completed as far as the tables ol popula- <11: tlon are concerned, it will be necessary to o? pais a law reapportioning representation in ?c the House of Kej>re*entatives. In this con* <"> nection I desire to call attention to the mat- in ter of redisricting the Congressional l>is- $-1 trlcts. Our Stale has been held up to scorn in p" the National Congress because of what is co known as the '-black district." This gerry- ty mander. by which a district was formed com- f9 posed almost entirely of black voters?a ells- ta. trlct the like of which was never seen before, ti' and which should never be seen again?can have no excuse for longer existence. We co have no reason to dread a return of negro or wl Republican rule In South Carolina, and there 1" Is now no reason, if there ever existed any. why our Congressional Districts should not in be arranged in reasonably compact shape. in on MEDIOAL EXAMINERS. ??? A Bill was passed at your last session abol- k? ishlntrState Boards of Medical Examiners, and substituting therefor County Boards, which were authorized to give certificates to applicants to practice under certain restric- so ttons. The Bill appears to have been hastily ui drawn, and had it attracted my attention I bti should have vetoed it. This Act has given fci great dissatisfaction to the medical fraternity, bu and in several of the Counties the physicians i?i have refused to recommend for the appointment of the County Boards, and in one (after of appointment) they have refused to serve, be The trouble is, that very little discretion is i?i given tojihe examining Board, and under its wc provisions almost any charlatan who caii ob- be tain a diploma trom a so called "reputable <li medical college" can be turned loose upon the community to commit legal murder by mal- otl practice. In the learned professions an igno- an ramus, or mountebank who attempted to ge practice law or enter the pulpit would neces- mi II.. In i.,oHI/.|no ..r it Is Just the reverse. The doctor rarely has a op consulting physician, especially In the coun- retry, and the people are at his mercy, only as th they protect themselves after they find out ou bis incapacity, and often only after the death tr? of some loved one. In a mutter Involving life it is a duty socle- th ty owes to itself to see that every safeguard is u< thrown around admission to the medical pro- St less ion. We look alter the welfare of our stt souls by admitting only good and pure men to our pulpits; we protectour property by the ty assistance of able lawyers; but the lndiflVr- ait ence wnich we show, and the carelessn-ss ye with which we permit quacks to Inflict pain uii and murder our bodies, is astonlshiug. jui Whether it is best to enlarge the Dowers of the County Boards, and then throw additional restrictions around the practice of medicine, or to have one central Board, is for your ] wisdom to determine. The latter would be r?n the least expensive and cumbersome, and s?m probably prove more satisfactory lu the end. Tl I do not think any person should be allowtd fee to practice medicine who has not taken at A\ least a three years' course, and who cannot re< stand an examination before a competent an Board of physicians. ab A County Board Is objectionable because In uu a small area it might be accused of rejecting applicants from jealousy or a de?lre to cut ofl" bu competition. This objection could not hold gii agalnst a State Board, and I therefore recom- st mend the re-enactment of the old law with oli such modifications as will prevent abuses or ' hj'iauiiiwii ICJC^UUUO. ij St COMPLETION OF CONFEDERATE ROLLS. ja| In the report of the Adjutant and Inspector t0 General, he suggests that a small fund be pro- l": vlded lor the publication, in pamphlet form, ?" of the rollsoi such companies and regiments 111 as are not complete. The purpose is that these may be distributed in the territory from J" which the men were enlisted, so that the sur- 'l vlvors may have some data to be guided by in supplying the missing names. I*, should Ju , he a matter of Slate pride, and of justice to ,s the dead and living alike, that everything Ul' reasonable be done to put on record in the ! " archive* of the government at least the name ic of every man who wore the gray. I therelore urge consideration of the Adjutant Gen- u" erat's recommendation. He is a zealous and I'0 efficient officer; and, being a gallant Confederate soldier himself, will use every reasonable V' effort to finish this necessary work. St sli LIQTTOK LICENSES. ;h I desire to direct your attention to a qoes* ol tlon of great importance, with which the wel* j? fare of society aud the economical adminis- |lc tration of the government are closely connected. It Is the matter of licensing the sale ^ of liquor. Without entering into auy discussion of the prohibition question, I will call 1M) your attention to a gross Inequality and In- J,r . justice to a part of our citizens, entaUed by or the present system. Section 1732 of the Gen- to eral Statutes reads : "Xo license for the sale ll( or intoxicating liquor shall be granted by any in municipal authority in any city, town or vil- ut .'age in this State, exccpt upon the payment by the person applying for the same to the 0f Treasurer of the County In which said city or t>> town is situated the sum ofSlC'J in addition to ^ the license charged by such city, town or vil- ol lage, for the use of said County, to be applied ,,c to the ordinary expenses of the County. w It will be seen that, by this provision of law. only a small proportion of the tax derlved from tbfe sale of liquor goes to the general iunu. ?>i>w, wuue i uu uui uuiieve iiiai ii< is aIJ practicable, or even desirable, to attempt tbe (lt absolute prohibition of the Hale of liquor in w this State, no sensible man will deny that n. ODe-half or three-fourths of the crimes com- jn mltted in the State are traceabie directly to m the drinking of whiskey. In order to punish ja these crimes, the machinery of the law is set in motion.' 1? The Courts are supported by general tax eJ atlon, and largely by the country people, and cj yet the State permits municipal corporations tl. to maintain or license what many men re- l(J gard as nuisances and breeders of crime, while two-thirds or three-fourths ofthemon- ^ ey accruing therelrom ts retained by the cor- w porations. The anomalous condition is pre- ?f sented then of a com inanity allowing itself to be unjustly taxed as a whole for the sup- al pression ol a crime produced by the action of a part. The liquor tax is largely for local tu benefit, whlletheabuse is general. The peopie in the country not only pay tribute to al those who sell liquor,?by means of which ol the towns are beaut ified and adorned,--but VJ they pay tax for the surpression of crime pro- ,r* duced by themaintenanceofthese bar rooms. a, It Is unjust and unequal, and ought to be stopped. I therefore strougly rccommened l(, that all municipal corporations be prohib- .? ited from levying any license at all, and that |n all tax derivable from the sale of whiskey go Into the State and County treasuries, leav- (j ing the matter of local option as at present; aud If any municipal corporation desires to license the sale of liquor, let it derive no special benefit from it. There are, as I am informed between 700 and SOO bar rooms in yi tbe State. How many municipalities would <1 relinquish the sale of liquor il they derived $ no money benefit from it I cannot even guess, it What decrease may follow the enactment of ia such law Is equally unknown. With > a high Si license imposed on each dealer in the article, either at wholesale or retail, and all ot this cl fund going to support State and County gov- u< eminent*, it appears to me we would have a :u large increase of revenue, as well as a large us decrase in crime, with a corresponding decrease in Court expenses, and consequent in reduction of taxes. is fr Chief Justice Slinp*on> Death. Very shortly aiter the adjournment of the j3 General Assembly theState was shocked by the news of the death of Chief Justice Simp- ? son. This distinguished jurist died of heart r, disease, after a brief Illness, December 20.18'J0. t| It is needless for me to say anything by way of encomium on this beloved man. On the jt field, in the forum, as Governor, and as n Judge, he h^d always discharged his duty t.( with zeal and ability, and his public honors, which were varied, and of long continuation, t, were the rewards of his high character and u' acquirements. He was a typical Caroliniau, c] and while we mourn his loss we rejoice that u he has left so bright an example for others to j,, imitate. c Conclusion. la In concltslon, I beg to remind you that the a, present General Assembly and the present I State administration were elected ou a plat- e form of reform, and that the people are con-10 fldently looking to us to redeem our pledges. | Many of the reforms contemplated have been ! p consummated, or in process of consumma- g lion; but there are other questions of vital _ Importance which I hope will receive your (b itt'lui ?aa?? art fill considerat ion. The present de- ai| lorablecondition of our people, which I !in, ave more than once alluded to, caused by jts !;6 .>oor yield of our crop and Its low price, t laKo It obiisiitory upon you to cut olF every in , ossible item of expenditure not absolutely i?.i i! u ii.l.. <,ii,i <ili(ii>i>lwr robable, thai there will he a considerable tj1(l elicit hy reason of the inability of the peol?* t<> pay Ihfir tuxes. A Hill to substitute iliii ics Instead of lees in County ofliees, put- wj( iik tlie !ees into the Treasury, and inakint: jcv reduction ot >:dari<*s all along tlie line to mj tlgun* corresponding with the increased ,ax urcbasin^ pov.ei-ot money and the decreas (,s'. I ability oi the people to pay, seeuis abso- (ro itely necessary. Tiie saving may be little, rj nt we have reached the point where even a us , null economy is of material importance. cjtj Kelvins; upon your patriotism and wisdom, cjlt id assuring you id my cordial co-operation, |ac invoke the blessing of God on your labors. uf U. II. Tillman, Governor. aI1( cull as i Comptroller General's Ilcpprl. '] Thennntml report to the Le<rislature of Comp- ^r" dler General W. H. Ellerbe, made public yester- ' .y, is a document ?f especial interest to every taxyer In the commonwealth. The paper is exhaus- ( re, and conte.iiis statements arid suggestions of ' ure than ordinary significance. Other interett laches to the paper inasmuch as the department . presented is one of the main arteries In the ad- . inistration. The -salient features of the report iol- rf|j !1" the ANNUAL SETTLEMENTS. I ditt As required by law 1 have personally attended to an<] d made the annual settlements in eaeh county, me: cept in a few counties where I secured the services a competent agent to make such settlement for These settlements in many respects, in several of e counties, have not proved satisfuctoiy. Nuorous errors were detected, and In some cases Incusable irregularities were found, and in others a ortage of accounts of treasurers; and in one coun( Union) embezzlements of the school funds were icovored. This ease has been turned over to the urts us required by law for strict investigation and T tion. The errors detected have been corrected, Sir d ail monies placed in the public treasury, except bon Charleston, w here there is due from State taxes foil S0.33. Iroin county taxes $4,912,76, and school and mei ill S2.S92.1S, a total ol SS,165.29; and in Sumter acti unly <617,49 from Statu taxes, $S6.89 froui coun- I taxes, and from school and poll 262.94, a total of abs 93,32; and in Union counjy $415,30 from State stat xes, making a total of $9,60S,91 due these respee- diti rc funds trom the three counties named. Cas The balance from union county grows out of the Cas unty treasurer presenting a receipt as a voucher aioh properly belonged to aud had been allowed Net the settlement for ISSS-S'J. A Information comes to me that county treasurers some cases deposit county and school funds ABE bank and receive ttieioof a small rate of interest i such deposit, and often purties holding claims ainst these funds are told that no money is on " ml to pav them. ~us Gel A CHANGE SUGGESTED. De] Sill The irregularities that have been thus revealed jje( gsest to my mind that some changes should be ade in our system of county collections and disrscm^nts, and while it may have objectionable ? utures I nin now of the opinion that one dis- jgo irslng officer for the State would remedy the ex- jn\ ,i:ig difliculties and irregularities. ^()J A slight increase of the force (clerical) in the office j)e, comptroller general would enable the work to done and neatly every county in tne utaie nav- j)e, g State depositories in them the general public iulrt not be inconvenienced nor additional expenses gjn incurred by such a system of county and school int sbursements. yn The penitentiary. Sinking Fund commission and tier institutions ol tlie State under the law collect d disburse money. 'I he adjutant and inspector neral disburse tho money appropriated for the qu ilitia when he is not a bonded officer. The habit yttS extending the time for the payment of taxes crates injuriously upon the annual settlements jje] quired by law. The time should be Used at about A ^ e first of January for the payment of taxes witht penalty and not interred with except In ex- abs (ordinary cases. The system of one disbursing office would save e expenses and time necessary to send the comp- As; iller general to the thirty five counties in the ute and make his oversight continuous or daily in- A -.id of as now only at the annual settlements. Qei There is also an old balance due in Kershaw Coun- ])ej , coming over, however, from a compromise of Pri titers there in the settlement for the preceding Sin ar. The grand Jury of this county has taken the Ke< titer in hand under order of court and a speedy ad- Cle ttment is hoped for. Est Do ixsckasce department. [ beg to call your attention to the fact that the enues from this source are far less than the same urce in other Mates coming under our observation. . le laws of this State now require an annual license }n ' ; of $50, which amounteu this year to $d,SS0. 1 so, each company doing business iu the State is liiired by law to return '-gross premiums" for tax on, from which source the Slate received taxes on ?.Pe out $550,<JW. This vear the return of premiums Uu - rim l'he three largest lite insurance companies doing sines* in this Statu paid into the treasury of Geor- * i, as reported by tho comptroller general of that R ute, near $10,000, into the treasury of South Car- j? Inn, as far as the fucts have oeen ascertained, ?150. {* 'l'iie gross receipts have not been returned regular- '~rt by any class of companies doin^ business in the ate except Are insurant companies, and these have UtJ1 ceiy returned only gross receipts sent by agents _ the home ottice, and thus a large amount escapes 01 nation. There is another class of comi>anies which p into the Stale without complying with its luws any way and do more or less business. n The law should be made more stiingent along this IJUI le, v;lth a view to prohibiting such business. As now stands tbe law att'orde no adequate piotection the assured in cases of losses where contested and dgments obtained, as in mauy cases no property owned in this state suject to tbe process of law _ cessai v to cotupel payment. The only remedy iw is for the comptroller general to revoke the Llu sense of such companies, which prohibit further _ wTul business, but does not attorn relief to the *'as tizen of the State who took risks with such cotn,nie*. ? A small deposit from each company admitted into el e Stale, in South Carolina bonds, made with the ate Treasurer, would remedy this ditliculty, but _ ould not be so large us to be at all burdensome to ,, e insurance companies. This requirement would also aid in obviating anher difficulty with wild cat companies, by preventg their enti iiug the Slate at all, and imposing upon ^ r citizens as now is somqtiuies done. All companies admitted into South Carolina should ? charged at least the same lees and charges that a 1 mth Carolina company would, by the Slate incorirating such company to Jo business in such Slate A county. In other words the comptroller general ber insurance commissioner should be given authority Taj grade the charges agaibst a company by those i'ui ade by the couipnny\own Slate so as to make our Pri surancelaw reciprocal us between the Stale or of Kin her counties. l>e] The Comptroller General c in discbarge the duties iial insurance commissioner, but, with his present ;perleuce, inclines to the opinion that an insnrance Pet partment, either separate or subject to the co.ilrol the Comptroller General, woulu be a matter of Sp< onomy to the State, and properly guarded by law, Oil ith efficient management, would increase the reviues to the Slate proportionately to that of other ates from this source. P.al if the onu-disbursting-olficer idea advaoceed under lolller head should prevail, then there would bo need asubexntciner, uud the iusuiance couiiiiissiouer | ?ilil be L'iven such authority as this interest may | quire. Then u large number of interests and bus- yyC, ess in, and seeking to coiue into this State, that j?lt iw pay nothing or comparatively nothing, under our ?,), ws, for the support of the government. building and loan associations, foreign land and ^j] nu associations cannot be reached advantagously jjel ;cept by some system ot license, and should be q0, iMed with insurance companies and made to con- int ibute their portion of taxes toward the support of Loi le governuieut whose protection they enjoy. },;|t There is also a largo interest that now comes under (j0, e law known as that ull'ecting hawkers and peddlers, Inch should be placed under the same condition jju law and tnude to do tbeir duty as to taxation. jje< In concluding this subject^ the law should be so Dit iiftided that any and every class ot busineBS ill, or du eking to enter the State, call be l eached and inade ^-ol pay a tribute to the government whose citizens the isiness seek to make uioney out of or investments ytt] nong, This cannot be done except by some system <jn f business which will torce payment therof in adnice, us m?ny are ephemeral in character and vanish urn starch or sight before the tax collector can get ]ja] ound. Let every interest, Individual and business be forced i pay a just, fair and equitable percentage of the ex. uses necessary to guarantee protection to such terest, individual or business by the governent under whose jurisdiction the individual may ve or the interest may lie or busiuess bo done. TAXABLE rROI'KISTY. r The total taxable property of the State for the fisica' ar eiidim; 8ist October, 1SU1, is $103,'212,619, against D" [.">0,002.421 for the last tlsicid year. An inciease of Do 17.W0.216 over last year. About 50 per cent, of lis increase is due to the increased assessments upon To tilroads, banks and other corporate properly iu the late. Esi Some complaints have been made as to this special Es ass of increased assessments, but it is not believed :ir has it been shown that these assessments 'J e above the true value in tuouey ol' the property isessod. Esi No complaints have reached this oftlcc from the 1 icreases on other classes of personal property. It ere known that the increase comes almost, entirely re| oin taxable property other than real estate. 'J This Legislature, in my judgement should order in reassessment of real estate in South Carolina, as it i known that the average assessment upon this class I taxable property is not much above 50 per cent ] I its reftl money value, which ditticulty am now be an tuedieil only by the authority of law coming ciu trough the action of the Legislature. 2 There are, us 1 have good reasons to believe, mill- fuc ins of dollars of other taxable property in this state cue ot now upon the tax books, nor cau it be iairly reach- cus ;1 by the present laws promptly and evidently. tin The fact that a large amount of property escapes cui ixation altogether and that values are placed so low ] pon other property makes the burden upon that tiu lass of property, honestly returned and assessed, ru; nbeaiable and vicious, and hence largely the cause eu< >r the complaints against high taxation from that tin lass of taxpayers. del Willi the re-assessment of real estate let the legis- abl iture also provide u system?a law that will'reach uuy Wi lid every class of taxable property in the State- Le Let monies, notes, bonds and taxable securities of wi very class and and kind be reached and placed upon tin ur tax books. lo:i The ramifications of that system should bo so com- j lete and thorough that no property can elude its ior rasp and the rich and the poor, the high and the low cet -the citizen of South Carolina of every condition of e made to feel, to realize, to know that be bears only i,r< ust portion of the burdens of a government created 1 nmintniried fur tlie benefit and protection of nil citizens alike. Vssessmenis properly adjusted to the true value money thereof with nil lax books. I confident ly ieve,"instead of the present valuation of $108,090!I for taxation, we would have $'5(M0.'>0.000. Willi properly of the State assessed at its true value, ler resources of revenues carefully and judiciously naged and encouraged and expenditures kep" :nin the absolute needs of the government, the y lor Stale purpose could ho reduced to '2 or 2J lis, and thiif a great part of the incentive to the [uivers to dodge returns will he removed and the i mat is placed upon ourselves at home and opinion mi aliroard of the Slate not impaired thereby. The present low rate of the property of the State, now published to the world, is keenly felt by every zen who knows the wonderful resources, and llnanl strength of the State. A knowledge of these ts, too, should act as Incentive to every good citizen the State to his full duty in remedying the evil I encourage those churned with the enactment and ninistration of laws to the fullest scrunlin of the ise and the application of sjtch remedies and aids vill produce the results desired. 'be Inequalities of the present assessments tiro ss and palpably glaring in some Instances of the | ae class of property indifferent parts of the State, ; the law as it now is dors not confer the necessary horlty upon anybody, except every 11 ft li year, to iiilize the assessments between the different comnities of the State. If the authority now given lie State board or equalizations for railroads could extended toall taxable property in the State other n re?l estate the evil, 1 think, could be largely ledied and proper equality of assessments in all se classes of property mailo and preserved. L has been mv purpose to simplify and present the lenities as I And thetn from one year's experience 1 leave details and remedial law to the good judg at, wisdom anil experience of your honorable body. Respectfully, W. II. Kli.kriif., i Comptroller General. Report of the State Trensurer. Office ok State Treasures, Columbia November 1, 1 SOI 'o tbe Hon W. II. Ellerbe, Comptroller General? i : I huve the honor to tubmit through you to the [ oroaole Senate and House of Representatives the owing report, exhibiting the stite of this depart- ! [it at the close of the last liscal yesrand its transons tor the fiscal year ending OctoberSl, 1S91. I have thought proper to submit a number of brief tract stateuientsin addition to tbe regular annual omenta in order to give nn easier view of the conon and work of this department. h liabilities November 1,1SU3 |4S9,197 h on hand November 1, 1S90 77,943 93 : casli indebtness November 1.1S90 $411,253 40 is set forth in the following: iTKACT OF cash AS3KT8 AND LIABILITIES NOVEMii ec 1, 1S90. Lssetsin cash OctoberSl, 1S90: h balance October 81,1890 S "",943 93 leral account $ 3,943 06 ? I. wnoi) ot [mrtmeni agriculture king fund commission 39,337 40 lomptlon diticiencies 1,1)41 20 Total... $77.94:; 93 lurrent liabilities, in cash, October 81, 0: erest due and not called for $177,878 84 tn interest to be included,$500) 50,U00 00 uartment agriculture, applied to Cieuison College.... 15,000 00 ^artment agriculture due on department warrants (since paid) 6,047 02 king fund commission 89.337 41) erest on bonds not yet funded 94,826 00 paid balance of appropriations 10ti,Cl)S 07 $iS9,197 83 ih liabilities November 1.1891 $428,232 83 >b assets November 1,1891 64,615 02 t cash indebtedness $303,617 SI is shown in following: iteact ca6ii assets and uauilitie8 kovemi1ep. 1 1S91 : sets in cash October 81,1891: Cash balance October 31,1891 ..$04,015 02 ls follows: jural account 22,876 49 ;>artment agriculture. 1,114 52 vilt'ge fertilizer tax 1S7 50 king fund commission 31,010 34 Jemptlon deficiencies (sales blues) 098 97 m6on bequest cash 5.24T 78 limited property, caso 2.60164 u-nm- fnn/1 ........... 517 78 Total $M,015 02 CURRENT CASn LIABILITIES OCTOBER 31,1S91. erost due and not called for $17S,096 04 ereslon bonds not yet funded after fundlug .. 92.S93 -13 king tundcommission 81.010 84 cial accounts reserved 9,332 42 paid balance of appropriations 116,000 00 $428,282 S3 bstractof liabilities other than cash, 1st .November 1891. (Bond debt:) >wn consols.. ?5,393,070 "0 a 4i per cents 400,001) 00 iwn 4 per cents, 1S90 29,390 70 'icultural College sciip. 191,800 00 leliclency stock outstanding 717 72 ids and stock still fundable in Brown consols, less invalidity, etc 391,014 8S $6,400,COO 00 .'ing the year the sinking . fund commission has purchased ami retired Brown consols amounting 20,911 72 Total liabilities 1st November, 1890. ,h liabilities.... $ 4S9.197 83 bilitiesother than cash... 0,433,517 72 r. no.> 7ir. nr. ih assets 1st Nov?mber,189U 77,943 93 : indebtedness 1st November, 1890 $G,S44,771 12 'otal liabilities 1st November, 1891: hi labilities S 428,232 fcS bililies other tbau cosh. 0,400,006 uu S G,S34,S3S 63 ih assets 1st November, 1S91 64,615 02 t indebtedness 1st November, 1891 $0,770,223 81 ibstract revenue and receipts yearcndiug31 Octo, 1891: ?e? 1889-1890, and back taxes S 776,S9o 57 jsphate royalty 184,502 46 vilege tax on fertilizers 5'.,2S5 85 king fund commission 13,779 29 nartment agriculture 3,533 25 lroad assessuieut fur It. K. commissioners. 9,748 48 !8, Secretary State. $3,OKI) 07, insurance licences So,890 S.970 07 icial fundB 17,450 22 ier sources 578 79 $1,078,752 98 nnee cash 81st October, 1890...- 77,'J4:t 93 $1,151,090 91 EXPENDITURE YEAR ENDl.NO OCTOBER 31, 1S9I. rislative expenses S 42,052 01 blic printing 22,199 73 ueatioual, charitable, penal and sanitary institutions and expenses *201,702 34 'in so a Agricultural College 107.&78 30 jsions 49,191 K2 ninissioners sinking fund warrants.... 27.10C 35 crest on public debt and expenses 354.520 75 iu under Act 18S9 and interest 50,.Vlll 00 iction expenses 10.377 56 aipletion State liouse 17,577 30 fund taxes 10,479 31 mtaining militia 10,413 00 leuiption Brown consols 4,431 21 - ? ?-> leal '2 9?UM partmeutagriculture G,047 02 iitingent funds stationery und stamps# of executive officers 0,943 SO aries. 142,440 09 otber accounts 13,?')T0 GO $1,0S7,0S1 80 lancc cash 31st October, 1S91 04,016 02 SI,151.090 91 TRUST KUND6. itnson bequest?cash assets S 5,247,78 ;uison bequest?other assets 70,902 SU Total estimated assets, 5:32,210 58 vrner fund?cash assets $ 517 7S wnerfund?other assets 7,700 CD tal $ N/274 3s cheated estate of Malone?easli assets $ 079 5S cheated estate of Malone?other assets... 10,500 UU rotal 511,179 58 cheated estate Burton?cash 5 1,982 00 i statement of each of these in detail, with refnce to Acts governing same, is furnished in this >ort. L'he transactions of this oflice are further set forth accompanying annual statements. FINANCES. from the statements or exhibits given in this report idea can be formed of the condition of the linan il atla<rs of this Stute. .<? one can say that they are in an eminently satisitory condition. The llVcul year was begun with ill liabilities amounting to $489,197 and with h assests only $77,943 U.'i, and with merely ?>.943 to : credit of the general fund and available fur the rrent expenses of the Government. ^otwithstruding tho fuels just stated and the fur r circumstance that the receipts from phosphate rally lell oil' $52,030 09, as compared with llie prciing year, and that some $10,000 of the receipts of ttscal year just closed were applied to payment of bis of preceding year, fortunately we have been le to meet every demand made upon the treasury. e have paid the loan negotiated under Act of the gisluture bv the lust Administration, amounting th interest to $50,000. and also every claim against ; State as it was presented, without resorting to a >n except in one small insmiice. \ loan of S&Oii was obtained from tho Central Nat ml Bank with which to purchase Blue 4| per it bonds and certificates of stock needed for purposexcUauge, and which purchase was not technically >vidcd lor in tho appropriation of 51,900 for the puri pore of completing Ihe consolidation. Jtwilibcnec- < essary fur the Legislature to apprnpria'u the Mitn of cr. $S00 to pay this loan kindly made to the 8'ato with- ,.,,J out interest. w.| I bes leave to call your attention, and that of the |[t, Legislature especially, to the fact that the Slate owes )la 11 iaree floating debt. esliMiated at $2il.>!?0 07 of pust} es ilue interest alone, besides unpaid appropriations as ,.ol sot forth above, and to the further lact that the so- 4 c called "treasury reserve fund" is practically u myth. e?| representing lor the most part debts and not credits of the Slate. The sinking fund portion of what coiisti- POI tuted the original "treasury reserve fund." amounting ,|r( t<> siu.otii is, when the Act was passeii in ic-^u, nas since been i-xpcudcd. as 1 understand, under laws Clll uoverniiiir the sinking fund in payment <if warrants cnl drawn against it by the board of commissioners of the nl, sinking fund. Tin- direct tux fund portion under Act of isll t, amounting orielnalty to $:J9.'2JI 39, (tlio _> f amount received fi out Congress,) bus been reduced to j"l(, $!S,4')!t 77 by payments upon the warrants of the Governor to parties to whom it belonged under the Cll, law. 21 The interest on the unfunded bonds lias been re- J",), duced gradually as the funding in Brown consols propressed, ta $92,793 4-i, a<i estimated, liut it should be borne in mind that these arc in a sense debts the State sc| owes, and do not constitute a fund practically held in so( reserve in the State treasury. # coi The only available way to create a reservs fund is to C0| raise actual motley by taxation or by the sale of State securities and then hold it in reserve for the su special purposes for which it was created. A reserve fund is really ueeded to meet the large tloatin^ deht [)? ol the State, composed principally of past due but un- Cilj called for interest, and interest on unfunded bonds, es- (,y timated to lie $J71,(?90 07, besides unpuid appropria- ta| tionn. It wniilil nerhaiis better SatiSl'v the people of m. tiiu Statu if the Legislature would linv-.' this reserve I'llI1<1 investigated by U competent committee. It is surprising that the consolidation does not pro- , gress more rapidly and that the past due interest lias . not been called for. Some of it may never be called for. However, a demand is liable to be made upon eiLI the treasury at any time for this money, and yet it P bas been the policy of the Legislature to ignore the danger and raise barely enough money to meet the current expenses of the State, anil depend upon borrowing to meet any such emergency. I feel it my at duty to respectfully submit that this is not the wisest a9 policy, especially ui this time when no large a part of Pri the Statu debt is nearing maturity, and when it is *Jj more than ever incumbent upou the State to see that w' her treasury is provided with ample funds to pay . promptly any just claims against her, REFUNDING OK TUB CONSOLS UNI>EB THE ACTS OK on 1SS9 AND 1S90. 8,1 en I compiled with Instructions given me in the Act, loi sad liKd proper notices inserted in newspapers. I al- mi so had c irculars and copies of the Act printed and no- co tice given that they could be had upon application by tb parties desiring information, and have sent out a large fui number of copies. Copies of the circulars and notices are furuished with this report. 1 also had prepared with much care the necessary books in which to record all transactions under the Refunding Act and . duplicates of these books for the offices of the Gov ernor and Secretary of the State. An agreement was 1'!. entered into with the American Bank Note Company to furnish the necessary plates and to eDgrave the 01 bonds and stock certificates as needed. 1 have ordered and paid for only three hundred one thonsand-dol- ?r lar bonds, three hundred five hundred-dollar bonds J:'.' and two hundred nnd fifty stock certificates, reserving **' orders for a further supply as may be reqnired from time to time as refunding progresses. Until July, 1SD2, the office is restricted to the svs- e* tern ol exchanging tho new -1 per cents for the Brown "" consols. *" But little progress lias been made in exchanging. lu Only $29,305 70 of new 4 percent have been exchang- T: eil for an equal amount af Brown consols. Under the 11 rigid requirements of the Act I am afraid not many l,r exchanges will be effected. Propositions were made which, if authority had been given me to accept, P1 might have resulte'd in exchanging one million of u" these bonds by this time. . I am not seeking responsibility, but I respectlully submit that perhaps a wider discretion should be civen to the Governor and Treasurer than is allowed in 111 the Act as it stands. In the possible event of th?r F holders of the Brown consols declining to make a vol- ln unturv exchange for the new 4 per cents snch provis- J? ion should be made ns will insure the sale of tho 4 .j per cents, in'order th:it tho proceeds thereof may be ' appl led to the redemption of tho consols at maturity in July, 1S!M. De An appropriation of funds should also be made for the payment of the difference of 2 per cent in interest required in the Act. CI.EJI80N 11 Eg U EST. Vi The variety, cliaracler and condition of the assets of this bequest give the treasurer and his assistants much trouble, and increases very greatly his respon sibility. The State Treasurer has virtually been _ made an executor in this case and responsible for the *j management of an estate, some of the sccwrltca of which are payable in another State, and some are a against parties in different counties in this State, secured by mortgages on property, concerning which I kDow nothing of own knowledge. See table No. 8 for detailed statement, ? I have given notice to all parties against whom claim!) are past due to settle by November 7, or the claims will be placed in the hands of the Attorney General for collection, my intention being to invest all the funds in State securities. = I respectfully ask that the Legislature will authorize the speedy conversion of ull notes, etc. into cash? the investment of this Into a piece of scrip such as the land script. ? land script. The requirements under Actof 1S5!), No. 190, In regard to the land scrip have carried out, because the board of trustees of the University of South Caroli- Kil nn, to whom the scrip was issued, have not been able se to produce it fur concellation. Consequently the .. State Treasurer could not Issue the new script in lien 11 thereof to the trustees of the Univorsity and the trus- to tees of Clemson Colleee. This office holds the receipt of W. D. Simpson, president of the trustees of . the University of South Carolina, for this missing scrip. fr If it is impossible to find this scrip, as seems to be the case, it might bo well for the Legislature never - -I ! ?1,Q 11' tUeleSS to aumuriftu mu imuc ui iu>i> >? ...v, boards of trustees respectively and at the some time ' pnovide for converting the Cletnson bequest into simi- jj, lar scrip. jt PRIVILEGE TAX. The collection of the privilege tax on fertilizers pi was imposed upon this ollice by Act of December, (,b 1S90. Table No. C exhibits the amount collected by this office and from what companies, and also the amount collected by department of agriculture. Col- fo lections for this Usual year esceoded those of 1SS9-90 iq by $14,249 25, cc ESCllEATF.D ESTATE T. 8TECT BDBTOK. On Jannare 19,1S91,1 received from A. W. Jones, m auditor Abbeville County, and ex-officio escheator, ^ $1,954 93 as the sum of essheated estate of T. Stacy ' Burton, as by his statement on file in this office. I 8t took the liberty of placing (his amount in one of our rc best savings banks at interest while awaiting needed |r instructions Irotn the Legislature as to what disposition to make of it. w b< THE DOWSKK FUND. w Alexander Downer, of Edgefield County, some time prior to 1S3S, in his will devised and bequeathed the principal part A his state for tjie purpose of estab- ci fishing and maintaining a sehool for orphan children ti: on bis plantation. The Legislature in 1&J5 ordered the appraisement.and sale of the plantation and the . erection and. maintenance of a sehool lor orphan chil- " dren at or near the plantation. In 1SS0 the Legibla- la ture ordered the sale of the scnool building and lands by a board of commissioners, and the investment and reinvsstment of the funds aud their preservation. lit 18S7 an Act wi-s passed authorizing the State qi Treasurer t? receive the assets of this fund from E. S. Hammond, treasurer, and to safely keep the same. c( Authoitry was given to invest the assets in South tc Carolina itnd Georgia Stale securities or in bonds of ei the city of Augusta. As stated in this report, the ei fund now amounts to ?S.2T4 ;J8, and it might bo weil to make some ( radical use of the same not inconsistent with the benevolent purposes of Mr. Downer. W. T. C. Bates, State Treasurer. Report ol" Secrctnry of Slate. To the Honorable, the Senate and the House of Beprescntati ves of the Slate of South Carolina. . ckntlemkn: I have the honor to here with _ Iranttmll to jour honorable bodies 11 report of the S< transactions ol this branch of the Executive Department, for the fiscal year ending 31st day of Oetobcr, 1891. together with such recommendations a? I haw deemed it important to make. I qualified and took charge of tne ofiice on the Gth tl day December, lsDO. . An inventory of the records, furniture ni:d ^ property of the oflice was turned over to me b> lion. < '' J. Q. Marshall, which is now on file. ; The sum of $250 93-100 was also turned over to me , by him, Wing the amount of cash cllcced from the 3ist day of October, 1890, to the 0th day of December, M 1890, as shown by the cash book ofihc ofiice, for jj commissions, charters and certificates. The records of the ofiice show that he issued from the 31st ol October.lSUM, to the Ctli day of Dec mber, til 1890. forty-nine commissions to olllee appointed by p( the Governor und elected by the people. ,, Since the Gth day of December, 1890, to date of this report. I have received $2,833.11, which, together with the $256,93 turned over by lion. .1. (>. Marshall, compose the whole amount ol cash paid into the ofiice for commissions issued, (.'ranted, and certified copies of records furnished. Under Act of lfcfilO. as Cl construed by the Attorney General, no fees have been charged for commissions to Trial Justices, w hich reduced the income of the cilice about $1,11)0. Nine hundred a.id seventy-six commissions have, been issued, which include appointments made by ^ the Governor, and officers elected by the General Assembly and the people. ^ Two hundred anil eighty-th ree official bonds have been approved anil filed in litis department, and the j> same have been turned over to the State Treasurer Exhibit E, page 19, shows the number and amounts of bonds and certificates of slock upon which thu seal bus been stamped, and also the names of parties by whom surrendered ami to whom issued. The various appropriations with which the Secretary k< of State stands charged have been disbursed, as is set forth in Exhibit 1\ see page 31. tbi a i. jfsticks. Section 740 of the Gelieral Statutes requires the Clerks of Court of the several Counties to transmit to this ofiice a list of the names of Trial Justices who ' have qualified within their Counties during ihc preceding year. Thirty-four such lists have been received in this ofiice. . UUUNDAKT LINK ItKTWKKN fLOUK.NVK AJCDWIL- II i.iamsiiuiu; cousitiks. v' By virtue of the Act passed at the last session of the Legislature 1 caused a survey to be made of the pt boundary line between the Counties of Florence anil Jo Willlauisburg, us directed in the Act. A map thereof ct is ou file in this office. D CMARTKBM AND COMMISSIONS. Cl The number of charters applied for and issued bj from this ofiice during the fiscal year far exceeds that I w of any previous year. See Exhibit G, page 32, I B! ...... - . ' . nwaaa Due hundred ami fifty-two (152) charters have been intei! am) fifty-seven (57) commissions of tneoi poinn, to which returns havo not yet been made, iicli R:e classified as follows: 31 real estate and II building companies, 10 publishing companies, 1 port in:: nml shipping company. 4 telephone in I ia ii ies, 11 l'i'>tili/.?i' hikI mannfactmin:: companies, oinpress computes. 1 college company, 20 banking it panics, 1 bitling company. 12 merchandise inpanles, 4 warehouse companies, 4 ) minufacturins n panics, 1 engineering ami stevedoring company, :J H2 companies, 1 navigation company, '2 insura'co inptnies, 1 ice company, 4 water works iiipauie*, 2 nil mill companhs, 1 music company, I r company. 2 steain laundry companies, 8 building il loan companies, ) ventilated barrel company. C 'ininir companies, 1 saving anil in vestment company, Isliing companies, 1 Masonic temple company,:) tel companies, 1 opera house company, 1 poultry and tstock company. 1 cotton company, 2 hospital ti panics. 2 dredging ami transportation companies, oan and in vestment companies. 2 clothing comnais, 1 tobacco warehousecompany, 1 steam joint cotnny, 1 commission house company. 1 school book supr company, 1 hydraulic motor company. 1 eroded iool company.1 fair association company,! diivin;:asMat Ion, 1 Jenkins' safety catch pun company.1 towage inpany, 1 kaolin company, 1 mattress and spring bed mpany. Ftie Carolina Printing and Manufacturing Company rrendered its charter 12th March, 1S91. fwenty-three charter companies have increased L'ir capital stock, and one company has reduced its [ilt ii stock. There is a provision in tlm charter law which charter com pan ies may increaso their caplstock, but nnne to authorize them to reduce. I ist respcctifully call your attention tills fact. INDEXES. I"hc work of indexing the records in the ollice oi i! Secretary of State has been most diligontly and refully pressed by Col. William Wallace, whom I pointed to continue the work where Mr. L. T. vin, Jr.. left off. Ho has examined 50.9G0 grants ntaincd in 1)3 volumes and discovered 1,268 errors. unto tn the number of 513 wore found not indexed all, 755 other muteriid errors were discovered, such incorrect paging, etc, which rendered the index ncticaily of no value to that extent. The missing ints were interlined, and the paging corrected, lich is of great benefit to the people who li.ive terests involved. Many volumes, ho found, are plicatec, or nearly so, which causes more or less lay. and, as indexes seldom gave the water courses which the lands lay or name of Counties as bsequently divided, much time was consumed in terlngupon the indexes descriptions of grants as to :ation, which is of great importance, and saves tich time when reference to them is necessary. The mpletionof this work is of manifest importance to is office and the people at large, and I recommend a rther appropriation. KEEl'ER OF STATE IIODSE AND OBOUXDS. Exhibit F, page 32, shows the amount expended for el to heat the offices, the libraries, and the two houses r the General Assembly. Whole amoant expended, 9!); amount appropriated, $1,200; leaving a balance $501. Exhibit F shows the amount expended and propriated for lighting the State House and ounds. The gas lights of the Senate were in bad udition when the General Assembly met In 1690and d not afford sufficient light. Under a resolution of e Senate, directing the Secretary of State to increase elr light, I bad the gas jets overhauled and made ery effort to render the gas lights sufficient; but ter a second complaint of Senators and by resolu)n of the Senate I was forced to have electric lights rned on in the Senate Chamber. No provision was ade by the General Assembly for thisextra expense. ie attention of your honorable bodies is called to the iportance and feasibility of securing electric lights rail public buildings in Columbia through one nntlnrfitfil (it thfi A avium which wonld lesson the ntial expense of lights and be more satisfactory. The State llouse grounds have been carefully and di1ently kept and improved as much as the amount of Impropriation could afford. The floweis were belter an I hud hoped could he made with the sum approiated. The two mounds in the front feil down durg the year. One of them has been replaced more bstantially, and the other is now being rebuilt, ilbs and plants for early flowering are secured in nited quantities for the coming year. Terraces In e rear to correspond with those in front have been arly completed, but not sodded. A less appropriation than allowed the last year >uld he inefficient to keep the grounds In their osent condition which dnrinc the year have printed a neat appearancc and given m.-.ch pleasure to sitors. All of which is respectfully submitted. J. E. Ti.ndal. Secretary of state. Phe Press and Banner By HUGH WILSON. Wednesday, Nov. 25, 1891. Twelve IPages. Tbc Governor's Message. Owing to the fact that there Is a general dere to see the Governor's Message, we prent that document this morning. It was devered yesterday evening in the Stele House i the General Assembly. It is an able document, and 'ike everything iat the Governor writes, it is full of interest om beginning to ending. It is full of Information, and deals with the vins: issues of the day. Ihe manner is open and frank, and some ues vigorous, especially In his reference to idgc Wallace. We had hoped that Judge Wallace might be it on the Supreme Bench, but we presume ie Governor has "cooked his goose.'' He recommends the stamping of mortgages r taxation and for empowering the courts i enforce the debt. Nothing short of such a turso will bring mortgages lo paying taxes The recommendation for towusbip governentswontdo. The physical condition of ie country would prevent It. Some townilps have all the bridges. Some have good iads, and others have not. With that law i force we would have no good bridges. 1 e had good bridges some townships would staxed to death, while adjoining townships ould have almost no taxation. The recommendation as to the whiskey 11mse will meet the views of nine-tenths ol ie people. It is based on equity and Justice. The Governor is as sound as a dollar on all lat he says under the bead of "criminal w." He is about right on the Railroads. He is exactly right la what ho says about naek doctor*. 'Jho rc-apportlonment we (presume will >me now, and Charleston will be compelled ?surrender the representation to which that ty has held so long against all fairness mid i niiy. The message is a first rate one. Head It. tic Governor's Message is Read?A Coot] liill to Kill is Introduced? The Governor is Sustained. Columbia, S. C., Nov. 24,1891. The General Assembly convened at noon toly, a majority ol' the Representatives and Miators being present. The Governor's Message was presented and iid. Among the important Bills introduced in ic Senate was one to lay out Calhoun coun from parts of Lexington and Orangeburg unities. Senator Bulst Introduced ft Bill providing r the procuring and presenting of docuems relatlug to tlie li is lory of South Caro* ua. In Executive Session the Senate sustained ie action of the Governor in removlngSu^rvisors of Registration W. I*. Cantweil of mrleston, and W. T. McElroy of Laurens. The Culhoun County Bill was also Introiced in the House. It will have a hearing before the Judiciary jmmitteeon Friday next. RAILROAD MAGNATES IN TOWN. L. T. Myers, General Superintendent Sea>ard system. J. H. Winder, Superintendent Seaboard and oanoke Road. Win. Smith, Superintendent of K. & G. aud . & A. A. L.' Wm. Moueure, Superintendent Carolina jiitral Road. Capt. T. W. Whisnant, Superintendent G., ic S. K. U. >ai) masteks ok tiie entire seaiioaiid svstem. Samuel T. Hand, ol the S. and R. E. G. l'orier, of the S. and It. II. M. Robinson, of the R. and G. Geo. K. Lemon, of the It. and A. A. L. J. T. Elmore, of the C. C. R. C. Warren, G., C. and N. J. J. Jowers, of the G., C. and N. These gentlemen have been and are now reirnlng from inspecting the track of the en re Seaboard system, and stopped in Abbe lie lant night. M. Our sales of ready-made clothing for the ist ten days have been very large. Y?u can r a short time longer buy these at ninety ills on the dollar of manufacturers price, on't miss this opportunity. R. W. Cannon. There will be preaching in the Baptist lurch nextSunday morning, November a), r the pastor. The subject of the sermon ill be, "The history and the influence of the Ible." v- ' 1-t j-j. _ > qreKgffgjlff "Iff i I WE DON'T mrnn^m mA mi n I WWT IT Aim mfli*l -3 WIT III IIILIi MM III lll i on account of HARD TIMESjfj But will MAKE THINGS LIVELY by o?-1| fering some of the greatest bargains ever Jjj Imnrxm to tViA -normlo nf AhhATnllft rimint.Tr 'JB& AAAAV VV M UV UJUV J^VVJ^/AV AA V W f AAAV/ W VMM. V J " U^jTI Our stock was BOUGHT TO SELL and if CUT PRICED on every article | will be of any avail WE WILL 8U0- 'i ; CEED, and thereby enable THE MAN WITH LITTLE MONEY to buy the $MSaM necessaries of life. IF MONEY IS SCARCE with you and you are in need of goods, that is why it is Your Duty to Take Advantage o|||| the Extremely Low Prices -pi we offer you. No one need deDy them- ? I selves of a good SUIT or OVERCOAT, as we propose to sell our entire ' stock of Men's aud Boy's Clothing' at PRTPUC WITHTW THTi! "DT? A C*TT -58 OF THE CLOSEST BUYEB8. We'V'l also have _ v ' Big Bargains in Hats, Big Bargains in Shoes, Big Bargains in Men's Underwear and Furnishings. ; | You are not looking to your own inter-*11 est if you do not price our goods before buy-| inn- TPV A "RATPTJITT. HIT TTT.nTTT? frran 'I lilg* Jit X J.X V/A 4i XJV WAV our new mill. Every One Delighted f|j3 with our new brands of Flour. Give us $M call and we guarantee a saving of money to M you on every article. D D Afl/mh/wtf Jft PA? r. nuaciiucig ui uup At last I am in my new Quarte Where with a splendid line of i Furniture! I will be glad to see my Friends. ^ A Cnaice for All !?| An elegant set of Walnut Furniture, sol- f| -j T7?AI^ATI ^LIqoc! QTI/1 {'-til JLU. OYlfcU UJLt5 iUp9 UCrt L i1 lcuuii uovcx U*UM best rubbed oil finish G-IVEN AWAY.'J Worth $65.00. How Many Grains ? Can yon Guess ? J| Try it. You will lose nothing. dal To increase my volume of business I of- ^ fer the above described elegant Suit to the | one buying #10.00 worth, and guessing | nearest the number of grains contained in the glass jar. There are 300 tickets and as soon as || they are taken up the contents of the jar will be counted by three disinterested per- i sons and the prize awarded. Remember it is no betting. No gam- | bling. You get the Full Value of Your Money :| besides. It is done to enliven trade. Don't fail to buy $10 worth and give it a trial. Come and give me a call and see my VERY LOW PRICES. J. R. MINTER, Jr., I In store recently occupied by R. W. Cannon. 1