Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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S? * " "w **?? c The i'ress and Banner. BYlHUGH WILSON" AititBriLLi:, ?. \\ THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. MET IN ANNUAL SESSION ON TUESDAYOF LAST WEEK. Tlie Kltction of Officers in the Houxe and ST?te the Most Important Work Done on the Flrnt Dny of the deselop. Columbia, S. C., Jan. 13.?The n-oncral Asspmblv of Scuth Carolina convened in annual session yesterday at 12 o'clock. THE PROCEEDINGS IX TUE HOUSE. Promptly at 12 o'clock Cltrk Gray, clad in his otlicial robes, stepped up to tbe speaker's desk and called the house to order. When the houss had been called to order Mr. B B. McWhite moved Mr. C. W. Garris for temporary chairman. Mr. Garris thanked the house for the honor conferred upon him, and proceeded to say that he would leave all matters relating to the affairs of the State for the permanent officers. The roll was called by counties and all the members weresworn in, takiDg the oath in front of the speaker's stand, the temporary speaker administering the oaih. The members all took the oath with hands raised and completed the act by kissing a cheap, cloth bound Bible, which was small and easy to handle. Each member, after taking the oath, went up on the stand and 11 ^ + V? Q f Q/>f signed tne ron. uodmuchu^ IiUO j uvv | that it was the first day of the session, the number of absentes was very small. Hon. Frank B. Gary was unauimousl.v re elected Speaker. On motion of Mr. Winkler a committee consisting of Messrs Winkler. Rainsford and Bacot was appointed to wait on Mr. Gary and inform him cf his election. This committee soon returned with him. Mr. Gary on reaching the stand was sworn in. the members standing meanwhile. On taking tne chair, be ing presented by Mr. Garris, he proceeded to thank the members. He said he esteemed it a high honor to preside over a legislative body in South Carolina. When he thought of those who had presided over the house in the past he felt that the members had mada a mistake in electing him. However, he would know no party or faction. He would be the speaker of the house of representatives and with their co operation he hoped that the business of the house would not suffer. He again thanked them for the higb honor paid him. The election of a clerk was then entered into. Mr. Sturkie in pleasiDg terms nominated Gen, J. Walter Gray of Greenville. It was seconded by Mr. Magill. Mr. Haselden rose to nominate a man whose qualifications could not be challenged?Mr. Jesse T. Gantt. Mr. Blythe then in appropriate language nominated Mr. J. Tom Austin, who had served three terms in the house, one in the senate and was a member of the Constitutional convention. Messrs. Crum, Haselden and deLoach were appointed as tellers. The ania vosilHrri SK folloWS: Gantt . 48 Gray..... 59 Austin 4 Total vote cast.... .?< *. ???*?XII Gen. Gray was then declared elected and sworn in. Mr. Burns nominated Mr. N. H. Stansell as sergeant at arms. Mr. Caugbman nominated Mr. S G. Holley of Saluda. Mr. McG. Simpkins seconded the nomination in a speech highly eulogistic of Mr. Holiey, who is a Confederate veteran. Mr. Crum then seconded the nomination of Mr. Stansell, referring to bis excellent record. Messrs. Rainsford, Childsand Burns were the tellers. The vote resulted: Holiey 25, Stansell 87; total vote cast 112. Mr. Stansell was declared elected and sworn in. For reading clerk Mr. Crum nomi nated tbe "man with a voice that few men had," Mr. J. S. Withers, the former reading clerk. Messis. Graham, Townsend and Perritt were appointed tellers. Mr. Withers received 108 votes, all those cast, atd was sworn in. A resolution offered by Mr. Garris was adopted, that a committee be sent to notify Governor Evans that this bedy was ready to receive any communication Le might have to make. Messrs. Garris, Sturkieand Pollock * 1 nil? were appointed. iue muiumcc orice retired. Mr. Gocdwin moved that the rules of the old house be adopted for this house. Mr. Meares wanted rule 81 except cd as this was the only legislative body that was accustomed to seating of members by delegations. He thought that it was for tne best inter ests of legislation that the members bs seated separately. It would prevent sectionalism. Mr. Goodwin differed with Mr. Meares. He said it was the best advantage cf the house to have the mem bers seated by delegations. Mr. Meares' amendment was killed and the old rules were adopted, 300 copies of the rules being ordered printed. Mr. Slurkie offered a resolution requiring all members to stand outside the rail while the seats were being drawn. This was adopted. The house, on motion of Mr. Kinard, under the new act, proceeded to elect a chaplain. The Rev. J. C. Abney was nominated by Mr. McG. Simpkins; the Rev. R. M. Kinard was nominated by Mr. Skinner. The ballot resulted as follows: Kinard 53, Abney 46. Mr. Kinard was declared elected. The governor's message came in at this time, and at the suggestion of the governor, upon motion of Mr. Garris, the reading of the message was postponed until the pri. ter could supply suflicent copies to be placed upon the desks of ail the members. Asjnopsis of the message will be found in another column. The delegations then proceeded to draw for seats. A small boy drew the names of the counties from a hat. Hampton got the first choice and took the seats midway on the right side of the centre aisle. Union, Chesterfield and Spartanburg came next. Union and Chesterfield selected seats on the left side. Clarendon came next. Spartanburg got the front seats on the right side and Lancaster and Abbeville on the left. Messrs. Pollock of Chesterfield and Smith of Hampton got the two best seats in the house. It required over an hour's time t( complete the selrctions of seats. Flor ence wss th^ last county to pet seat' ar d had to take what were left. E. B * 1 ^ ?v\nw V*o rt A>JGprSOD, ine HIJI.V tuIU1CU uicluuvi got the r.eoat he has occcupied for sev eral sessions past. Speaker Gary was at work last even inyr on the arrangement of his com mittees. He expects to announce hi; appointments at today's session. H< says he will give the matter ruosl careful consideration and ascertain the sentiment prevailing among the mem bers as to the personel of the commit tees. At yesterday's session, Mr. Rains ford called attention to the dangei from falling skylights and the ser geant at arms was directed to have the matter given proper attention. All but 13 members of the house were ' > CI f pr6S6iii yp&ttruay, oumtui uioau^u tefs are sick at home. Speaker Gary appointed t^e following com m it tecs: Privileges and Elections?D H Ma gill, Chairman: S T McKeown, RY LemmoD, Ben F Townsend, C M Da vis, G L Toole, John M Glenn, D F Efird. Peter Hollis, Joremian Mishoe, SMcGo. Simpkins, T T Westmoreland, J G Wolline. On Medical Affairs?L K Sturkie, C T Wyche, II P Goodwir, R H Timmerman, A J Spear, J R Smith, J H Price. On Judiciary?J M Skinner, T W Bacot. PH Gadsden, C L Winkler, H C Patton, W P Pollock, A Blythe, Knox Livingston, T Y Williams, George W Gaee, W H Thomas, W tL Stevenson, ?t a. aiearesWays and MeaDs?C A Barry, John P Thomas, Jr, C W Garris, J C Mehrtens, CRD Burns, Thomas H Riins ford, J H. Wilson, H P Goodwin, W HYeldell, Julian Mitchell, T A Graham, HHCrum, J W Witherspoon. On the Penitentiary?BT McKeown, J M Hyatt, L A Moore, J M Sullivan, jb. H Crum. On Military?II H Crura, M W Pyaft, HETowns<?nd, W 8 Smith, W H Thomas, A. F H Dukes, J D Haselden, D H Magill, George B Lester. On Claims?'J. T. Wycbe, R. L. Caughman. Peter Holli?, D. B. Henderson, G L Toole, E L Asbill, T E Johnson, L N Gasque, R W Anderson. Roads, Bridges and Ferries?Joshua Ashley, R L Caughman. J D Haselden, CRD Burns, A W Cushman, J S Graham, D M Miles, J O Wingo, 0 PGccdwin. On Agriculture?J A Harvey, H M t - t w ?-i-i? n IjOHOD, J W X Ciri XJLV/lltC, 4-/ M Betbune, J D Kinard, D F Efird, R B A RobinsoD, N M Seabrook. Corporations?C W Garris, Jeremiah Mishoe. E LAsbill.W H L'eLoach, D A McCullough, W Iiderton, T E Johnson, H J Kinard, W A All. On Federal Relations?T W Bacot, O L Winkler, R B Anderson, A J Spear, Joseph Bailey, J F Banks, A K Sanders, B B McWhite, T I Rodgers. w p T? r V-/LI JLVAllIUawo ff JU J. waawwuj V Barkeley, J M Skinner, R A Lancastpr, H J Kinard, J F McLaurin, E E Verner, M W Phillips, P H Gadsden, J D Haselden. On Education?John P Thomas, A J A Perntt.A Bly the, George W Gage, D B Henderson, G L Toole, Cowper Patton, T A Graham, J D Hinard. On Internal Improvements?M W Philips, D M Miles, J H Price C J Prince, J S Reynolds, M W Pyatt, S W Russell, R Y Lemmon, A B Lay ton. On State House and Grounds?RM Lofton, JM Humphreys, George W Fairey, S W Smith, W S Smith, A S Bedon, W C Vincen', W A All, B B McWhite. On Public Buildinirs?M W Philips, J M Hiott, J H Wilton, W A Nettles, T H Owen, J E Miller, W H Kennedy, W H Edwards, E M Seabrook. On Accounts?L A Moore, L A Carson, W G Austell, L K Armstrong, C W Whisonant, JAM Caraway, William Mauldin, A F H Dukes. On Rules?H C Patton, W P Pol lock, T W Bacot, C L Winkler, Huger Sinkler. On Enrolled Acts?T A Grabam, W S Smith, E L A&bill, Arthur Kibler. R H Tiramerman, T Y Williams, D B Henderson. On the Legislative Library?M W Pyatt, C J Prince, A J A Perritt, J M Glenn, C A Barry, E J Limehouse, C J McDaniel. On Engrossed Bills?Jeremiah Mishoe, LK Armstrong. J S Grahan, A B Layton, Joel H Miller, Ross Fox, 1 B Owen. On Public Printing?J D Kinard, A J A Perritt, W I Ilderton, CJ Colcock, R Y Lemmon, A Blythe, J ? Reynolds. On Lunatic Asylum?J DHaselden, L K Sturkie, C A Barry William Ilderton, H J Kinard, R H Timmer man, L D Childs. On Offices and Ollicers?B L Caugh' man, N W Philips, George W Davis, RBA Robinson, B B Mc White, T 1 Westmoreland, J M Price. On Commerce and Manufactures?li C Barkeley,R Y Lemmon, George W Fairey, E J Limehouse, W A All, J A MeCullough, A W Cushman, S W Russell, D M Miles. On public Schools?H P Goodwin, William Ilderton, A J A Perritt, S W Smith, Arthur Kibler. L A Carson T 1 Rodgers, C L Winkler, C J Col ccck. On Mines and Mining?J C Mehr tens, J H Wilsorr, C J Prince, C Vi Whisonant, A F II Dukes, S H Epps T Y Williams, Knox Livingston, W G Austell. THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. Promptly at noon .Lieutenant Gov ernor Timinerman called the Stat< senate to order by sharply rapping hi: gavel. The noise and talk of th< senators who were standing about ir groups at once subsided and each hast ened to find the seat, which lot hac given him. From the very first th< senate settled down to routine work ai if it had been in session for some tim< instead of but a few minutes. Therol call was at once ordered and showet the only absentees to be Senator Den nis of Berkeley and Senator Archei of Spartanburg. A number of new member? wer< present to whom the oath of office >>ac to be administered. These senatorsHenderson 'of Aiken, May Geld o Barnwell, Talbird of Beaufort, Gaine: of Edgefield, Walker of Georgetown Dean of Greenville, Scarborough o Horry, Wallace of Laurens, Gritlitl of Lsxington. Brown of Marion Mower of Newberry, Conner of Or angeburg, Alexander of Oconee, Sud dath of Saluda, and Love of York were escorted to the front of the pre siding officer's stand and there sworr in. Dr. Timmerman was dispatching al this routine work as fast as was com patible with the dignity of the bodj over which he presided, when he sua denly recalled that the proceeding ) bad not been opened with prayer. I] - suspended business and announce 5 that the Rev. Mr. Willoughb.v woul . make the opening prayer. Mr. Wi , | loughby did so, asking ie>r airecuo from above and that all work whic was done by the senate should be fo the glory of God and the good of th - people for all a?es to come > Dr. Timmerman here extended j cordial greeting to the senators an t then announced that the election c 5 the clerk of tbe senate wa3 in ordei On motion of Mr. MayfieJd Gen. E R. Hemphill was unanimously re elected to that position, no oppositioi to him having developed. Senato D. K. Norris of Anderson was electe pressident of the senate pro tern an } Mr. W. H. Steward reading clerk. i A good many candidates appeare i in the field for the position of sorgean1! at-irms. Mes3rs. J. D. Hood of Chen ter, D. R. Leseene of Williamsburg, J W. Floyd of Kershaw. W. J. Sheltoi of Union, R. Jolley of Spartanburg J. T. Parks, of Orangebure, John F Folk of Bamberg, and L. E. Parler o Colleton were the aspirants. On th ttiird DaiJOt iur. J. w. r loya was ut clared elected. The Rev. J. H. Wi] loughby was elected chaplain of th senate. On motion of Senator McCalla th ; president appointed a committee o three to wait on Governor Evans ant . inform him that the senate was read; for business. Senators McUalla, Buis and Pettigrew were appointed on thi committee. Dr. Timmerman announced the fol lowing appointments: J. T. Gantt journal clerk; E. A. Perry, bill clerk George Anderson and ? Auld, pages Jas. T. Parks, postal clerk, Jacob F Gooding and J. F. Shumpert, door keeper and assistant doorkeeper; D W. Harris, gallery doorkeeper; W. E Evans, assistant gallery doorkeeper 1 N. 0. Pyles. general committee clerk M. S. Ashley, Calhoun Butler and 3 A. Turner, porters; Jas. Crazier am Tomcd TTnrlopa lnhnrprs Hfl mad these appointments after consultini with the newly elected lieutenant gov ernor, Mr. McSweeney, to ascertaii if they were satisfactory to him. I The following committees were alsi ' announced: Agriculture?J H McDaniel, chair man; J S Dubose, A S Williams, I M Stackhouse, J T Douglas, A C San ders, W B Love. , Claims and Grievances?Altamon Moses, chairman; E L Archer, Geo ' Mower, G W Ragsdale, J M Gaines > J S Suddath, J H Turner. Contingent Accounts?D J Griffith chairman; A H Dean, L M Ragin, 1 S Connor, J T Hay. Education?W A Brown, chairman I D 8 Henderson, D K Norris, W I Mauldin, I H McCalla, G L Buist. Enrollod Bills?LeGrand Walker chairman; Jos Alexander, A H Dean . Thos Talbird, R B Scarborough, E . Dennis. Finance?G L Buist, chairman; i r? ? ? ttt t> t a tt \xr: i ' ?1 mcuaiia, W. n. .Lime, .n. xi Y* II ; liams, A C Sanders, J S Dubose, Alta mont Moses, H M Stackhouse, D , Griffith, D K Norris. Charitable Institutions?J T Doug lass, chairman; J N Turner, B F Mil Isr, W B Love, J T Hay, J B Suddat) ' L 8 Connor. Commerce and Manufactures?F 1 Archer, chairman; A H Dean, D 1 , Norris, J E Pettijjrew, LeGrand Walk ' er, J S Dubose, J M Gaines. Countv Officers?A C SaDders, chaii : man; R B Scarborough., W A Brown .T S Dubose. E L Archer. ; Engrossed Bills?B. F. Miller, chaii ' man; JTHay, AH Dean, JSDubose G W Ragsdale. Federal Relations?E M Stackhouse chairman; W T O'Dell, G L Buist, . R Turner, E J Dennis, B F Miller. Immigration?E J Dennis, chaii i man;C R Wallace, AH Dean, J I Dubose, G W Ragsdalu. Incorporations?D S Eenderaon chairman; Geo S Mower, A H Dean G W Ragsdale, R B Scarborough, J' Hay. Judiciary?S C May field, chairman Geo S Mower, J T Sloan, G L Buist D S Henderson. Thos Talbird, L? Grand Walker, J T Hay, R B Scai borough. Medical Affairs?A H Williams chairman; Altamont Moses, A I Dean, D J Grffiith, C R Wallace, , - BSuddath. i Penitentiary?I H McCalla, chaii man; Altamont Moses, A H Dean, 1 J Griffith, C R Wallace, J B Suddath Privileges and Elections?Geo ! ; Mower, chairman; I H McCalla, J 1 ' Gaines, D S Henderson, G W Rags dale, J T Hay. Public Lands?A H Dean, chaii man; J S DuBose, L M Ragin, J ' Hay, Jos Alexander. Retrenchment?J os Alexander, chai man; A H Dean, G W Ragsdale, L ? C Sanders. Roads, Bridges and Ferries?W ' , O'Dell, chairman; A H Williams, i \ C Sanders, B F Miller, C R Wallacf r J B Suddath, D J Griffith. \ Legislative Library?JTHay, chaii man; J E Pettigrew," L S Connor. Military?W HMauldin, chairman \ A C Sanders, Altamont Moses, J ' Sloan, J H Tamer. Mines and Mining?J S DuBosi chairman; LeGrand Walker, H !! Stackhouse, A H Dean, G L Buist, ( \ R Wallace, Thomas Talbird. Printing?J M Ragin, chairman J H McDaniel, J B Suddath, Jos A ^ exander, I H McOalla, Altamoin Moses, W A Brown. Public Buildings?J E Pettigrew chairman; W T O'Dell, J T Douglas*: 3 H M Stackhouse, L S Connor. > Railroads and Internal Improvt 3 ments?J T Sloan, chairman; G ] i Buist, J T Douglass, II M Stackhouse S G Mayfield, A H Williams, I HM< I Calla, D K Norris, W M Mauldin. 3 Rules?L S Connor, chairman; E s Dennis, G L Buist, A H Williams, s T Hay, D K Norris. 1 Several bills were introduced and r< 1 ferred. Tfte committee returned aftt informing Governor Erans that th p senate was ready for business and ar nounced that the governor said h 3 would send his message ia a few mil 1 utes. After wailing for a little tim - for the message, on motion of Senate f Moses the senate adjourned today ? s 12 o'clock. The governor's messag . will then be read. f 1 Will Take It. , Canton, 0., Jan. 13.--A messag - received here from Washington t< - night makes it reasonably certai , that Senator Sherman's present intei i tion is to accept the posidon of seen i tary of State in President McKinley cabinet. It was intimated to Senate 1 Sherman several days; ago that Ma McKinley would be glad to kno j whether he would be inclined, to a cept a cabinet position, and he has d s cided to accept. de ~ HFS LAST MESSAGE, d I- GOV. EVANS* OFFICIAL COMMUNICATION TO THE LEGISLATURE. ir " o Oluoh Fpace Devoted to the Dispensary Law-Other Matters of Grttve Importance a j to the 8tat*. 'f The following: is the annual message of Governor John Gary Evaas to the ? General Assembly: Gentlemen of the General Assembly: 1 It is the duty of the governor under f the Constitution to give you from time to time information of the condition ' of the State and to recommend such measures for your consideration as he may deem expedient. I shall confine < myself in this my last annual message < to giving you such information as I have been able to obtain as to the con1 dition of the State, leaving to my sue'? oessor to make recommendations as to any future legislation or policy. f Two years ago I was elected gover0 nor to succeed a leader of a revolution > who, to use his own language, was the " "'worst hated and best loved" man ? who has ever entered the politics of our State. The policy that I should a oureue was alreadv formed bv the f people and the only'issue made was as a to the enforcement of the dispensery y law?whether it should be aggressive it with a view of destroying the illicit s traffic in liquor or whether it should be of a milk and cider form as our [. enemies would have it with the hope | of its final repeal- My nomination '! and election meant the former and I ! have endeavored to be true to that i' policy. It would have been an easy matter for me to have placated my enemies and the enemies of the Reform movement by giving ear to the * overtures of th? whiskey element and ! their allies in the cities of the State? ' the daily press. These people who j slandered and vilified the framers of e the dispensary law have continued y their stubborn warfare to an extent _ that would barely be tolerated by a j less conservative people. They have not been content to express their con3 tempt of the law, but have attempted to drag down by lying and slandering every official connected with the ad^ ministration of the law. Every error in bookkeeping or ar inexperienced disper has been magnified into an embezzlement. Every arrest of an illicit t dealer in liquor by a constable has 3 been characterized as vilest oppression '? of innocent and law-abiding citizens. If perchance an offender is lulled while resisting the officers and carryJ ing on his damnable traffic, it is class ed as a murder most foul. These re; I ports aire sent out to the world as I truths, when as a matter of fact they are brazin falsehoods. It is a disgrace'? ful spectacle that South Carolinians should descend so low as to slander J their own government from political malice. I The dispensary law is stronger to1 day than at any time since its enactment and is better enforced as will J appear f rom the statistics later on. This is the most important matter - with which you will have to deal, and I would respectfully call your attena tion to the excellent riport of the board of control, with the request that j you study it and think well before ? making any changes in the present _ system. THE DISPENSARY AS A BUSINESS. Up to the time of my induction into office as governor, the dispensary had ' been in operation about 18 months. .. The governor was charged, not only with the enforcement or tae law, out as business manager in the capacity of chairman of the board of control, r The business had continually increased until it reached over $1,000,000 an, j nually. Realizing that as a business 3 it was tentative and that it had not been placed upon what could truly be called a business plane and that it was '* | burdened with crudities of which it n must be divested before it could reach the expectations of the public as a mor' al reformation and a business success, I my first official act was to give its for* mer management a thorough investigation in order to ascertain its flnancial status as well as its weak points. I was met by many difficulties, politii, cal as well as business. To commence I the business the general assembly of T 1QQO on onrntAnyiafinn nf 4R0 * !Ut7? V i/VVU wu v? vwv, 000, For the first 18 months of its existence the dispensary experienced ) many vicissitudes and when it was u placed in my hands I found it still g embarrassed and hardly able to stand 1 alone, it had not paid a dollar into i the State treasury in net earnings and the $50,000 appropriation was still un - liquidated. The statements of its r growth and progress as published from time to time by the former commisr sioner were unsatisfactory to the pub^ lie, for the reason that the system of bookkeeping was a Chinese puzzle and r no one could tel l exactly the true sta \ tus of the business. This fact gave ? color to the adverse criticisms of the administration of the law and invited f. the terrific accusations that were made against those charged with its mani; agement. The last statement of these T assets and liabilities and profits which the former commissioner made was ?t for the quarter ending January 21, d 1895. In that statement, the profits J claimed to have accrued to date amounted to $151,295.51. Bookkeep\; ers of experience could not cipher this I. out and claims were made that the it profits were fictitious. I determined to change the business management and adopt a full and satisfactory system j of accounting. An expert bookkeeper was employed and it was ascertain). ed that the profits claimed had not acL crued, but that the accrued profit to that date was forty-odd thousand dollars less than the amount. This was simply a mistake ia bookkeeping and J in crediting to the profit account what j had not accrued,but what was expected to have accrued in the hands of 3. county dispesers. After a thorough ,r dissection of the accounts it was ascere tained that the profits had not reached i- $110,000. The entire assets, including e cash, merchandise, teams and wagons 1- and personal accounts amounted in e round numbers to $198,000. The liair bilities amounted in round numbers it to $86,000. The total assets being sube sequently aB'ected to the amount of $2,000 in a final checking and adjustments of accounts. The liabilities were as follows: To State appropriation, ;e $50,000; to sundry persons, for liquors )- $36,000; total indebtedness $86,000; n cash on hand $15,518.40 or $10,151.60 1- less than amount necessary to liquij date the indebtedness. This is simply 's a rough statement of the status of the >r dispensary when I took charge of the j. business. 1 am happy to state that 1 w turned it over to my succeussor healthy c- and in good condition and a^ sound e- financially as any business institution of the country. It has been taken out of politics and placed in the bands of a board of control composed of farmers. bankers and business men of ability, whose reputation for honesty and integrity cannot be impugned. The purchasing power, such a temptation to some men, has been taken from the hands of the commissioner and given to this board. They have exercised it judiciously and in a manner to command the respect of all parties. The duties of the commissioner are now exercised by the chairman of the board and superintendent, and the office of commissioner could be abolished by your body. If this power is ever again placed in the hands of one man, he would at once become an object of vituperation,misrepresentation, abuse and slander of all the enemies of the dispensary and every penBy aliner, without any moral or social responsibility. The experience of the past year should be enough to convince your body of the truth of all iViof T Viorra coirl a nrl ni*pHipfp^ Qnrl I while I am sure that you will be advised and importuned to change this law and return to the old system, you will find by investigation that such propositions come from lean and hungry politicians with itching palms. You will be told that the operations of the present board are a failure, i Judge them bv their acts and results and not by hearsay. The subjoined comparative statement of sales to county dispensers has been furnishde me by the bookkeeper and is subject to your examination and verification: The net profit that has accrued to ; the State for the past year is in round numbers $200,000. The next amount accrued to the towns and counties for < the same period $122,000, making a fcntftl nnrriipd nrnfitto the State, towns and couuties$322,000; addin i $57,652.- < 65 unearned profit on goods in the hands of local dispensers first of January, 1897, swells the total of earned and unearned profits to the State and towns and counties for the past year to the amount of $379,652.65. The net profit accruing the past administration for 18 months was $110,348 80. Net profits for 1895, $133 467.79. Net prohts for 1896, $200,000, making: a total net accrued profit to the State to date $443,816.57. Add tothisnet accrued profit the outstanding unearned profit, $57,652.65, makes a total earned and unearned profit to date of $501,469.22. If to this sum we add the amount of the net accrued profits to the towns and counties for the years 1895 and 1896 of $228,121 28 we have a grand total of aamma/] nnnnunorl fc in Qtoio oailicu ouu UUVMlUbU ^/AVU?N ?V WKMUVj towns and counties to date of $729,600.50. The amount that has been actually paid to the State, county and town treasurers from the net earnings from the State and county dispensaries is as follows: Paid into the State treasury in 189 5 $100,000 Paid into the State treasury in 189 6 100,000 Total $200,000 Paid to towns and counties, 189 5 ..$106131 28 Paid to towns and counties, ; 189 6 122,000 00 Total $228,13128 Grand total net profits paid in from all sources $428,131 28. For further particulars of stock on hand, etc., I would respectfully refer you to the report of the State board of control herewith submitted. It will thus be seen that as a financial business its success can not be denied. To the above estimates the sum of 50,000 per annjum, the average cost of maintaining the dispensary consta- 1 bles, should be added. The enforcement of the dispensary i la nr V?oo kflnn 4 Via KariA r\f fllA wlllfllrfiV I ickvr una uoou buu vnuv vi uuv ?* dealer, the terror of tha illicit distiller, the pitiful excuse for the opposition of : hypocrites and cranks, and the plat- : form of disgrunted politicians catering to local influences, good or bad. It is the duty under the law of all the executive officers of the State, counties and towns to enforce this law, and such officers are compelled to take an < oath prescribed by your honorable body to faithfully enforce the law f whan they assume their official duties. The governor is*authorized to employ constables and State detectives, whose especial duty it is to enforce the law. ? 1 have employed on an average about 50 constables during my term of office and one State detective, and they i have been zealous and faithful in their efforts to suppress the illicit traffic, ; and I am satisfied?and 1 am sure tbe < people of the btate are?at tne results obtained during the past year 55 regu- i lar commissioned constables, including the two chief State constables, i have been regularly employed. The State is divided into two divisions < known as the4'upper"and the "lower." i The upper division is in charge of < Chief Fant and the lower in charge of Chief Holley. The salaries and expenses, including one detectivo and the clerk in my office, amounted to < $47,726.01. Thirty-one constables are assigned i to ttie upper and 24 to the lower divi- i sion. The upper divison has been much harder to handle by reason of the proximity of North Carolina and < the mountain distilleries. The amount < of whiskey and brandy seized in the i upper division for the past year was 3,245 gallons, 90 gallons of beer, 8,976 gallons of cider and beer in hot- j ties, 12 vehicles and 16 head of mules < and horses, and 10 illicit distilleries were destroyed. In the lower division there were seized and confiscated 6,090 gallons of whiskey, wine aid ; brandy, 39 barrels of beer, 2,255 gallons of beer and cider in k?gs, three vehicles and four head of mules and horses one i licit distillery was de- ; stroyed. The resistance to the law in the upper tier of the counties adjoining the North Carolina line and in the county of Charleston has been most, stubborn. In the remaining counties of the State a healthy condi- i tion exists and the citizens are almost unanimous in support of the law. and I am glad to report that the law is i being better enforced throughtout the State at large, 3s is snown by the sales of the dispensaries aud the number of convictions of illict dealers in the State and municipal courts. The violations reported to my office show a large decrease and the daily reports of the constables show a better state of feeling throughout the State at large, In the counties of Oconee, Greenville and Chesterfield difficulties have been had with traders coming from North Carolina. These desperadoes invariable go armed to the teeth with a determination to resist the officers to the extent of loosing their lives if necessary. In Oconee a dastardly attempt was made to assasinate the constables almost at the doors of the court house and they narrowly escaped with their i lives. The good people of the county J became indignant and an honest at- are tempt has been made to bring these fori offenders to justice. In two instances Sta the constables have been compelled to law shoot down these desperadoes, and al- ass though fully justified and acquitted mei by the courts of the land of any thei wrong, they have beon handed down unci Vvr* f hn nan pnn ratw n*>r\nc c/l I Vi ic lam />Ka uj biic nc w bpapcio VUIQ ian vua and branded as common murderers, tern The only way to deal with such offen- en 1 ders is to let them know that the law Thi will be enforced even if it be necessa- of ry to take their lives. Cbt We have been greatly embarrassed linl by the decision of the United State/ are court which allows the importation of has whiskey for "personal" use. The resj matter is now before the United oth States supreme court, and if our posi- II tion is sustained there will b9 little and trouble in puttin i an end to the illicit grai traffic. One of the best evidences of to 2 the decrease in the illicit traffic is the lice decrease in the number of licenses is I) sued by the United States Inter- bou nal Revenue department. For the viol year ending June 21, 1896, there cast were issued to parties outside are of dispensaries 315 licenses and nuc one wholesale license included. Of vie! these 190 were taken out in the city of trea Charleston. For the same period sho ending June 31,1835,720 licenses were max taken out. Of thi3 number 157 were terr l i-i ~r - ?l lasen UUL IU iuu uuy ui ^uarujsiun, uui showing a decrease of 405 in the State wh< and an. increase of 33 in the city of upo Charleston. For the year ending g?a June 20, 1897, there have been issued bill so lar to illicit dealers 173 licenses, of had whicb 125 were taken out for Charles- case ton, among them four wholesale li- ble censes to dealers in that city. For the wh< same period the previous year there wer are 299 licenses to illicit dealers, 157 aeja of which were taken out in the city of Pos Charleston. It will thus be seen that of t for the revenue year ending June 30, the 1896, the State at large showed a de- gaii crease of over 56 per cent, while the dur city of Charleston showed an increase ters of over 20 per cent. Since the 1st of U June, 1896, the State at large shows a and decrease of over 42 per cent., while 100 the city of Charleston for the same pe- T riod, under the metropolitan police, 189i shows a decrease of over 20 per cent, ties It is another significant fact that in the of \ counties of the State whore public sen- whi timent has always upheld the law, as key for instance the county of Abbeville, whi the sales of the dispensary have fallen of ^ off. Thus showing a decreasa in the key consumption of whiskey and a promo- bee tion of the cause of temperancs. Due- rait ing the holidays only one instance of ha\ the commission of crime of which T whiskey was the direct cause was re dea ported in the State, and the Christ- thei mas holidays were marked for their left sobriety, peace and quietude. During T the recent 8tate fair held in the city of thri Columbia 20,000 people were reported all to have been upon the grounds Thurs the day and not an arrest for drunkenness fort was made in the city. The same re- chit cord has been made in every county ord in the State. The number of convic- one tions for the violations of the dispen- sev sary law has increased from year to twc year, as the following table by the at- offi torney general shows: I No Bills .. ry J & discon- Not Mis To- gle< tinued. Guilty trial Guilty tal. oth In year 1893.24 7 1 16 48 goo In year 1894107 3 2 112 pla lnyear|i?y5.tj& zi oo j.41 In year 1896 444 24 159 627 ed. 1 For the past year of the 627 cases re- rou ported 231 were from the city of hui Charleston. trie METROPOLITAN POLICE. has The greatest problem that I have c.er Imd to meet since my connection with S10^ the dispensary law has been its pro- ^J?11 per enforcement in the city of Charles- .?? ton. There are more friends in this 1]^e city to the law than an outsider who a has had no dealings with them would *?n imagine, but it has come to be a polit- Clt*( ical and a social question in that com- " munity and a great number of its ??? friends have not the timerity to pub- phat licly uphold it. I realize that to be insj politic in dealing with this question er^ meant to be false to the great majority eny of the people of South Carolina and noJ untrue lo those who had elected me out and I determined upon an aggressive policy towards this city. The question narrowed itself down simply to t?w this: Whether the illicit traffic and est( contempt of law and order should pre- th? vail in Charleston and be restrained I in the rest of the State or whether I 'ea< should support and enforce the law cou with a strong hand giving equality to b?a all men. Seeing the increased amount ^ of illicit sales of whiskey in this city afld and the contempt with which the offi- Stal cers of the law were treated and hav- fou ing warned the mayor and city coun- to \ cil repeatedly of my intention to no tim avail, the State commission consisting Pro of the governor, the secretary of state . T and the comptroller general, was in t called together and thoroughly re- and viewed the situation. They unani- SUM mously agreed that the only course ?ou left was to use every power for the |in(3 enforcement of the law placed in our *7 * hands by the general assembly, or to era] abandon the city to the barkeeper and an? the rumseller. We decided on] the mai former course. I expected and so did ar? the other members of the board to re- 'or? ceive the condemnation of this city and r\f 4lia 1Q XX7 VY e Ill IIIO CLLDUilCO VI tuo j ?mi. , througnout the State, but I determined to do my duty, and, failing in that, be?1 to recommend to you such legislation as I deemed necessary to meet the m01 case. The metropolitan police has P0?: proved a success in every sense of the ?? 4 word and I am satisfied, if left to a forf vote of the honest, Christian, lawabid- j*81 ing citizens of Charleston, freed of bus: political malice, they would sustain it. In the first place it is admitted by "1SC its enemies that the chief of the force P^13 and the police are more efficient and have given better service than any in n9 , the history of the city. The police- Wlt' man as a political ward wheeler has ??7 been destroyed and even Mr. Barn- "on well, chairman of the opposition and can a bitter opponent of the law and the aat* police, in an interview in a city paper after the last election stated that Mar- 1 shal Martin and his entire forc3 had sigl acted with absolute impartiality and tioE had performed their duty faithfully, of t Praise from Sir Hubert is praise in- den deed. The only objection seems to be fice that the city has been deprived of one ins] feature of home rule and this has been ma; the slogan in the absence of any mer- cers itous objection. What is home rule? th.3 Does it meau the absolute power of a aud municipality to abrogate and nullify dat: the statute laws of a sovereign State? tak Does it mean the submission of the my lives and homes of honest citizens to a Pre government of rumsellers and illicit giv dealers in whiskey? Does it mean the mei free parade through the avenues of pre lawless Italians with whiskey barrels 174 wrapped in tne Hag of the Union? If thu so, then let this conception of Jeffer- fall son perish in South Carolina. Under ? the laws of this State police officers State officers. Municip^^H^^H med for the purpose of te government in enforcinnHjj^H s of the State. They are int^^BH ubordinate limbs of the gova^HH at, and when they fail to perfonflHB ir functions they should bepit^H ler State control, of or have their rters repealed. It has been con- V led that the police have been tak-<*<l from the control of the citira?n J a ia linlmo Their am in i Via Viands i a commission of native born irlestonians, whose interests are ted with those of the city;. They under the control of a chief who enjoyed the confidence and >ect of the city and they cannot be erwise under the law. t will be seen that the total drinks drunks and disorderlies have dually decreased from 801 in 1890 77 in 1896 under metropolitan po* ?a decrease of nearly 75 per cent, 'uring the year 1896 there were 3 ad over by the magistrates for [ations of the dispensary law 281 is. Their names and residences duly given in the report. Of this aber 32 have been tried and oon;ed and have paid into the county aury $5,250 in fines. A bettor wing than this would have been le but for the fact that at the last n of the court every case was conledjUpon the affidavits of attorneys : 3 claimed to be sick and were seen >n the streets the next day. The nd jury found. Zi additional true 3. in 1895 not a conviction was / :| , the grand jury refusing in many is to find true bills. It is a nota- Z fact that two of the city council /M d were sworn to enforce this law ^ e among the number indicted and inst whom true bills were found. | sibly the best evidence of the work he force would be a comparison of sales from the dispensaries. The is under the metropolitan system ing the first second and third quar- j of the year 1896. tader metropolitan system to city , county reach $7,427.02, nearly per cent. he police made during the year ; 5 582 raids and recovered 418 botof whiskey partly filled, 39 bottles rine partly filled, 70 demejohns of iskey partly filled, 6 kegs of whisnartlv filled. K half barrels of iskey partly filled, 42 full barrels vhiflkey, 54 10 gallon kegs of whis, 16 cases of wiskey, 88 kegs of r and 10,304 bottles of beer. The Is where no seizures were made e not been entered. hirty-one ex-barkeepers and illict , lers have been made to discontinue ir business and most of them have the city. he police department consists of ee commmissinners, who exercise | the Dowers conferred by law upon department. The strength of the , ie is as follows: One marshal and | ef of police, three lieutenants, two erly sergeants, eight line sergeants, I -i-J-i.?u xi ? i A* KM ) uujci ueieuuve, uireo uciouuyo*, enty-three privates, four gatemen, > draymen, five drivers, ten special cers. n the enforcement of the dispensa- : law the police force have noine- v?| cted their duty in the detection of a er offenders against the peace and 1 id order of the city, and no com' :| Lnts have been made on this score, ; j 'apt. J. Elmore Martin has enforc- ) the laws in an aggressive and vigos manner. Notwithstanding the ldreda of arrests made and the inate and delicate questions he has hod tn r?<v?ir?A flfl thPi fixecutive offl of the department, on every occa- ] i he has displayed the ability to I cably adjust the issues involved, and his efficient force and the pocommissioners deserve the thanks .11 good citizens in placing Oharlec upon as high a plane as the other ?s of the State. . . o far as the other cities of the State concerned, I am happy to state t the municipal authorities in every ance have shown a desire to co-op? with the State administration in arcing this law, and while we do claim to have entirely stamped the illicit traffic, all good citizens it admit that in Columbia, Greene, Spartanburg and the smaller ns a better feeling exists and earnefforts are being made to enforce law. desire to call your attention to a ,ure of the law which I think Id be dispensed with. The county rds of control in most instances do TViott nntild Ha fthnlithfld WUU U1. XUWJ irV - their duties imposted upon the ie board of control and three or r inspectors, whose duty would be pisit the county dispensaries from ] e to time and see that they are perly conducted. here have been several shortages he accounts of county dispensers they have been invariably the reof negligence on the part of the nty boards of control. These dement nisnensara have been prompt sported by me to the attorney gen[ with instructions to prosecute, I he has performed his duty in a aner deemed best by him. It is no ument against this law because iooth an officer occasionally errs becomes unworthy of his position. M might as well argue that the v ring system should be destroyed iuse a cashier occasionally goes _ : ay. There are good and honest i,and they can be nad to fill all these itions. It is your duty, not only ? be dispensary law, but to the Ren movement and to those having nterest at heart to investigate this iness from its organization to the sent time. If anything wrong is :overed let it be ventilated and tish the guilty parties and rebuke slanderers. This should be done only with the dispensary, but 1 every department of the State ernment where the slightest wrong lg is suspected. In this way alone your government be kept honest perpetuated. CLEMSON COLLEGE. am unable to give you a full inlt into the workings of this institui. The governor is not a member be board of trustees and is depent entirely on the reports of the ofrs of tbe institution and personal section for what information he i j posssss. The reports of the offl- m i have not been furnished me al ugh request has been made to the * iting committee to furnish me the a. What I shall say, therefore, is an from a newspaper report and own knowledge from visitation, sident Craighead, in his reports, es the following figures: Enrollat 346, of which 169 were in the paratory or fiting school, leaving in the college proper. It, will s be seen that there has been a large ing off in the attendance upon the [CONTINUED ON PAGE FOUR. | A