Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Lexington Dispatch. STTiPlPEEMENT. ^ ^ i ^ ^ I Of Governor B. R. Tillman To the General Assembly of South Carolina at the Kegular Sesson, November 22, 1892, The following is the fall test oi Governor Tillman's message, which was delivered to the Legislature o~ Tuesday, Nov. 22,1892.: Gentlemen of the General Assembly : While the reports of the officers in charge of the different departments of the government will convey to you full information as to the State and Its various departments and institutions, it has been the custom for the Governor to condense and marshal the most salient leatures of these different reports so as to give a bird's-eye view of the situation. As the head of the government, with the dut> imposed on him oi exercising a general supervision of its entire machinery, it is proper that this should be done, the more so because i the message of the Governor Is given extend- i ed circulation through the newspapers, which is not the case with the departmental reports. THE TREASURY. j Notwithstanding the reduction in the tax j . levy by the preceding Legislature and a fur-, tber falling off in the phosphate royalty, all claims against the State of every character have been promptly met and there is a small cash balance to the credit of the general lund. The following tables from the report of the State Treasurer will Indicate clearly the condition of our finances: CASII LIABILITIES, 31st OCTOBER, 1892. Interest due and not called for ?177,880.73 Interest from 1st January, 1880, to 1st July, 1892, on $268,28815 Brown Consols liable to be issued for valid principal of and interest on old bonds not yet consolidated: Bala' e ot appropriation th for - .. 88,572.78 No^^ecially appropriated.. 112,643.33 201,216.11 Sinking Funa ooinmission Direct Tax Fund. 6U.6J3.70 Morrill Fund 66.uuu.00 -Balance Appropriations Unpaid, say 70.000.0u Special Accounts 8,808.03 1 S021.3S9.91 CASH ASSETS, 31st OCTOBER, 1892. General Account 8 29.455.S8 Sinking Fund Commir :on 36.S61.34 Privilege Tax on Fertilisers - 320.00 Department Agriculture .'5^'Redemption Deflcleuces ...I Escheated Estates (cash) Downer Fand Direct Tax Fund Fund J?? jB^ieui&ua u-^JUmgn:ur. r.. .^fl Net cash liability 1st Nov. 1892.....* , TOTAL LIABILITIES NOVEMB Liabilities other than cash (bc_l^^F^ 5 s- debt). Brown Consols 5^403,662.21 Green Consols, face value 528,627.00 ^ Blue per cents 400,000.00 < Brown 4 per cents 38,726 57 Agricultural College Scrip 191.S000O Deficiency Stock outstanding 717.72 Bond6and stock (principal with interest to 1st January, 1SS0.) ?552,584.45, fundable a; 50 per cent, in Brown Consols bearing Interest lrom 1st January, 1880, less estimated invalidity, <tc 268.288.15 86,826,821.65 Less Invalidity in the Green Consols - 420,215.65 86,406.606 00 Cash Liabilities 621,880.01 j i 37.027.995.91 ; Gash Assets-Novemoer isx, zuj, / rfo.ee; i Net Liabilities November 1st, 1892..S6,826,217.01 ; REVENUE AND RECEIPTS FOR YEAR ENDING j i OCTOBER 31St, 1892. . Taxes for 1S80,1891, and back taxes...9713.859.89 ; Phosphate royalty.. 152,286.40 Privilege tax ou fertilizers 36,1089S Sinking Fund Commissioners _ 6,5<X).0u j Railroad assessments for railroad commissioners 7,837.S6j Fees of office of Secretary of State.... 1,406 34 , Insurance license fees 5.650.00 Special Fund 19,149.45 [ liirect tax lund received Irom United States Government ? 221,711.26 Morrill fund received from United States Government 66,000.00 j Other sources 1,662.26 Total $3,262,172.44 j Balance cash October 31, 1691 04,615.021 , Total S1.S26,7S7.46 j i>Yt>xr^niTrpp< KWP VRAP Kvniw: omKP.w ! 31st, 1892. Leglslatvie expenses $ 42,538.19 j Public printing 31,536.881 Educational, charitable, penal and sanitary institutions aud expenses 197.855.13 ! Clemson Agricultural College 45,315 71! Peuslons 51,528.92 j Sinking Fund Commission warrants (>49.00 Interest on public debt and expenses 357,039.37 j Refund taxes 8,388.61 Maintaining militia 1890-91 & 1891-92.. 20,090 00; Redemption Brown Consols expenses S18.05 ! Direct lax claims, act 1884 5,680.50 j Direct tax fund, including a warrant refunded 162.280.991 Department of Agriculture 12.28 j Contingent funds, stationery and stamps,executive officers 6,071.23 J Salaries 149,767.121 On other accounts 44,920.46 j Total 81,125.038.56 j Balance casn October 31,1892 2"1,748 94 j Total $l,3"i5.7S7.4C! There is a large increase in the aggregate receipts for the fiscal year ending October SI by reason of the money paid into the treasury by the Uuited State Government on behalf of the direct tax claimants and the Morrill fund. This fund coming irom the same source, belongs to our agricultural colleges at Orangeburg and Fort Hill,and the two constitute the bulk of the cash balance on hand. I would direct your attention, also, to the item of 8177.8S0 for the past due interest which maybe called for at any moment. It is altogether probable, and in tact almost certain, that this interest will have to be met during the com-j ing year by reason of the refunding of the i State debt. I call your attention to the mat- ! ter because it will be necessary to make some j provision therefor. We have been running i the government for the last few years on au ev(!?oHlni?lr narrnw rruircrin?inn narrnw fnr safety, and it will be risking a great deal to continue in that line. In regard to the refunding of the debt, which falls due next July, nothing has been done under the present act, which allows the old bonds to be exchanged for new boDds bearing 4 per cent, interest Negotiations are now pending looking to an adjustment of the debt, and I hope to be able to present duriug the next week a scheme which will meet your approval. THE INCREASE OE ASSESSMENTS. The State Railroad Board of Equalization last year Increased the assessments of tne; railroads from $17,905,014 to 520,005.390. This increase has been resisted by the roads and; suits are now pending in the United States; Court to enforce the collection of this increase; nrm-res. The cases will be heard in January. and if, as we confidently expeet, the justice of I ttie Suite's action siiail be sustained, there: will be a sum amounting to about S3o,(X)0 go-' ing to Increase the money in the treasury. THE COMPTROLLER'S DIFFICULTIES. The report of the Comptroller Genera,! Abows the total valuation of the Property o^! | the State to be $lifo.*71.227, a very slight in-! ; crease over last year; and considering thede- i i pressed condition ol onr agricultural interests ; and the low price of our staple crop, this is a i satisfactory showing. The efforts of the 1 i Comptroller to have property In the Slate; listed and assessed in accordance with the]" laws liave been largely frost rated by the no- j < I lions of our courts, and I will call attention j j to this matter in another piace. Some J < amendments to the statutes in regard to the j 1 ; assessments and levying of taxes are needed, j and some declaratory statutes are suggested j< by tbe Attorney Genera), which 1 hope your;! honorable bodies will consider favorably. The following table shows the assessment for taxation during tiie last sixteen years,'1 since the white people have been In control: j' TOTAX, TAXABLE PROPERTY OK SOUTH CAKO1,1 S A. I i ' 1876-1877 $135,856,009 j; 1S77-187S 135.2S4.0 W |' 1878-1879 129,314.737 K79-18S0 123,019.O?O I. 1886-1881 129,519.8251 \ 1881-1SS2 186 487,362 j, 1SS2-1683 145.442,292 ] 1S83-ISS4 150.609,304 I, j 1884-1 ?S5.. I 149.727,609 , i 1S85-1880 144.501.184 ! 18S6-18S7 144,070 347 !, 1S87-13SS 141,986,1511, 18S8-1SS9 145.420,016 . 1889-1890 150,602,4511, 1S90-1S91 16S.262 609 . 1891-1892 1OS,871,227 IJ 'i is nn' ? <r,\rtf\ shnwinp. and indicates that I , we are a very improvident and non-progres- j sive people, or else that there is a large amount of property which escapes taxation , or is undervalued for taxation. Our sister State of Georgia, during the same period, with a like climate and like soli and cogreater natural advantages, shows au increase of assessed values of 52-28,000.000. It was S285,000,- , U00 in 1877 and is now St68,"00,000 Xo sane \ man will claim that the average South Caro- , iina county is not as prosperous as the average Georgia county, and that there has not j been a like increase of wealth on this side of the Savannah river. The explanation is not . far to seek. We have a constitutional tax of j two mills for school purposes, and, while our . free schools are not supported as liberally as i, they should be, the disinclinat ion of the peo J | pie to increase the free school fund, under! 'present conditions, has kept property at a valuation of about one-half Its selling price. | DEMAND FOR INCREASED ASSESSMENT. The property of the State, if assessed according to law, would approximate 8500,000.000. This would double the school fund, and reduce the tax levy for the state from about 5 mills to 2}4 mills. The effort of the Comp- I Iroller to execute the laws governing assess-1 ments have been iargely paralyzed by the ; fact that real estate was assessed on the present I basis in 1800 and cannot be touched for reas sessment until ll91. unless the General Asisemblv should authorize it. Had this been j done fast year, as was advised by both the I .Comptroller-General and myself, it would) ' have greatly facilitated the reminding of the j bonds; for one of the questions asked by capitalists is as to the Sta* s valuation fori taxation; and the fact that during the past sixteen years there has been an apparent in-1 crease of our property of only 8*3,015,218 has: created false impressions abroad as to the)' thrift and prosperity of the State. In providing, as I hope will be done, a new system for me assessmeui. ?ji prujicu,*. x uusv u>avc>vij , species of property in the State will be sub- ( jected to the same rule and every effort made c to prevent tax dodging, which is now too pre-' . valent. I will repeat here what I had to say on this subject in ray last annual message, as 1 ( have seen no reason to change the views set . forth therein: TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT. J "The office of county commissioners should I be abolished, and in place of it a government . 'J>y townships snbstituted. Three intelligent ' jaen in each township, elected by the \oters : t^eof, should be entrusted with thp 'man- f Bhjoentj?f the roads and bridgea^^taojols^: M^e^entiifproperty in lEmfll inetH; g ojjjSf gate a county board {? inauage ti' nances, audit accounts and order tures. The salaries, if any, paid thes^^v ^ ship commissioners, or selectmen, s termined by the voters or fixed by iT^Wue L. Constitution can be changed to abolish the of- , lice of county commissioner, and thesechang.s ; Inaitltohlr r*>wn!t in ft crrftjif. Rftvtnf*" * ?V' each coud ty. while there will tie a corresq. ^ v, ing increase in efficiency. Property*^ V Oe L. assessed at its real value, and milling now;, hidden will be made to pay their share of i v taxes. This county board should also consti- | tute the county board of equalization. Instead ! v bein^ appointed as at present by the auditor. |, "Iu. this connection I suggest the propriety " of requiring all notes, etc , to be stamped by [ the county auditor and placed on tax books !s to make them collectible by law. Make thenote sharer or lender pay taxes as well as the ^ land owner whose property stands in his . name, while he perhaps owes as much as it is t worth." ? ', T1IE LUNATIC ASYLUM. The condition of this Institution, us far as L, the conduct of its atlairs is concerned, is allja that could be desired ; but I would again call j c your attention t) the tact that there are v changes needed in the law*governing the aa-it] mission of patients, so as to prevent thefv state's charity from being abused. The Re U gents have asked for an approprla ion of $"20,- j u 000 to enlarge the asylum so as to meet the de- j l( mauds tnade upon it. The superintendent r calls attention to the oveiflowing condition ot! t the institution and the necessity for either',, changing the lews governing admission or ot j t increasing the accommodations. The asylum I , has a large number of patients who morefc properly belong to the county poor house, j( and the General Assembly has the choice oi|Q either making an appropriation for its en- I j, largement or a change in the law which would ' 0' prevent tuis abu^e. If each county be re r quired to pay for its own paiients and the su-),, periutendenl be given the power to examine L into the fitness and needs of applicants for tf admission ; this class of patients will be sent j _ where they propeily belong. There will be j no need for an increase of buildings and the j, institution can amply provide for all whojs properly belong there for many years to come, j; The number of patients under treatment at r p-^sent is 7G4. The total income ol the insti-j"v .-titution from all sources has been $I15.:>So57, | j, and the expenditures have been $112,371.73. { From peronal inspection and familiarity I c with the asylum and its management, the j 0 State is to be congratulated upon having two j such officers as Superintendent Babcoek and. Mr. J. W. Bunch, steward and treasurer : and : the regents have been untiring in their efforts ! to have the institution reach the highest dc- " greeof efficiency and economy. . (. THE PENITENTIARY. j t The number of convicts in the penitentiary J at present is 00'), an increase of 107 as com par- j ed with last year.- A copy of the financial a statement is appended, showing the opera-je tious of the institution duiing the year. Statement of cash received and disbursed at js South Carolina penitentiary during theij. period oeginning November 1st, ISO!, and j . ending October 31st, 1892. 1 RECEIPTS. To cash balance on hand 31st Octctober, 1891 S 8.430 95! To amount received for convict hire. 39,681.83 j Sales cotton and other farm prod- j ucts 19,326.16 Sales sundries at prison 2,340,11' Sundry tines, stoppages, <kc 1,841,40] Visitors' fees 459,20 ] Transportation new convicts 2.995 73; 87-3,081 41 j Assets: Cash on hand 114,125.48 i Due by sundry contractors j for convict hire 2,823.71; Estimated value of unsold farm produce 19.401.17 j DISBURSEMENTS. Hi- amounts paid per itemized statements : Pay rolls?prison, farms and other camps, ?. 314.372 2" ' Subsistence, 17,16? s7 j ' Shoes 2.047 43 11 Clothing 2.834 93 j* Hoard of birectofs 1,600 931* Hospital supplies S-'ls is {r Transportation new convicts 2,'.Kfo 731| Transportation discharged convicts 032 80j' Clemson College pay rolls and expenses 3,221 21 :1 Payment on DeSaussure tarm o.ooo (Hi' ? Sundry bills for I>eSaussurefarm... 2,8 J 2 ( -"> ' ISM guano account 1,354 CO j' Mineral and supplies for water wheel well 392 2" ;? Incidental expenses?wood, coal, etc 5,7*2 i?7 Balance cash on hand 14,125 18 1 ?7.">,0M 11 I The expense of the IteSaussure farm t have teen as above S2,S12 0"> I: In addition to which the value of t clothing, etc., sent there have been ! > "> ol ; j Making a total cost of. 53,7^7 Odj j While the yield of cotton on the State farm ' has been small and much of it. has been sold i at a low price, an abundance of corn has been | raised. The third installment lias been paid j iin the State farm, which was purchased in | 1S90, and is being rapidly put in a high state; of cultivation. The policy hit tier to pursued i of working on shares in the Congaree bottoms with Messrs. Keagorsand others has been dis-j continued, and the convicts are now being hired out at. a fixed rate. The 500 horse-power which the State reserved when it donated the jinnl fo tlift ritv of Columbia has beet, deve! r?ped under lease tr> the Columbia Electric j Light and Railway Company at a rental of 52,500 per annum, with a reservation of 100 Horse-power for the use of the state whenever i l may need it at a similar rate. EDUCATION. The report of the Superintendent of Educa-j Lion shows that the free schools of the state! ire In as satisfactory condition as we can ever J jxpect them to be under existing laws There are some radical defects in the system,' ind it will have to be remodeled and an in-; jreased amount of money provided if the ichools are to answer the requirements and' >ur children not crow up in mil or a nee. .My views on this subject are so well known, and the discussion of the matter has been so gen -' jral, that I do not deem it necessary to repeat Lhem at any length here. I would only say' that, in my judgment, the State can furnish! education ot a proper kind and quality cheaper than it can be done through private effort,I ? nd we owe it to ourselves to put forth every' energy towards perfecting the system. The present system is a lmmoug, and totally in-j adequate for the purposes designed. The re-j port of the State Superintendent of Educa- j Lion, who is a painstaking and zealous otlicer, shows a decreased attendance of pupils last! year as compared with the previous yenr j . mrainii n<r f,, > Slfl lin?, 1 roin extended ailil I intimate association with the people in every J county during the last summer, I know that there is widespread and deep interest on the ! subject of education, anil that the General j Assembly will merit and receive the approbation of the masses in anything that they may do to give us better schools. The times are stringent and money very scare, but all j along this line all necessary increase of tax- j ation will be cheerfully borne, provided the j schools are run sufficiently long and proper j teachers provided. TIIK SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE. This institution, which has been in exist-! gnce for nearly one hundred years, and has been the head of our educational system, is j not it. a satisfactory condition. The attempt to make it a university some years ago had i failed dismally, although there was an at-j tendauce of *22i> students in 1SS3-90. The last; Legislature ordered the discontinuance of the school as a university, and the organization,! nstead, of a first class literary, classic and j Tl u'iifi nt.f iitm! ?n/l pv np.1'. id, that the transition would cause a falling >fT in the attendance, and at the close of the ] jollegiate year in June, l.*92, the number had!' lecre-tsed to ninety-eight. It was hoped and | ixpected by the trustees that with the open-' ng of the college in September there would | >ean increase of students, but we have been | lisappointed, and linu that there are now j >nly seventy in attendance. There are sev-ii ;ral causes which have produced this result.! ind I will briefly outline some of them. | fhereis a great financial stringency among | >ur people by reason of the low price of cot-} | on, and the inability to bear the expense lias \ :aused a falling ofl in the patronage of ail the! :oileges. but the small attendance at this i college may be ascribed almost wholly to the ; Dolitical and social antagonisms whieh exist n the State. The college is located at the j < ?pita I, the people ol which are bitterly op- ' >osed to the present administration, though j i t was put in office by an overwhelming ma-11 only on issues, trie principal or which was | vhat should constitute our system or higher h Klucatlon. The old idea was in favor of liter- j I try and classical culture, at an expense too j < rreat for any but rich men's sons. The new 1 dea is to provide cheaply a thorough English j idtication' witl^naradical knowledge and ap-! < jgggtBSEBBBBUk to agriculture tud the me- i ^S^^^&^i^Kndnstrial lines. Tnere is j HBHHMHB room fori both schemes. j llernson college ejdgrffc^A^>ne-L-ad louth Carolina college th^Bher. They will } lot compete with each ^per, and there ! hould be no antagonism between them ; and J ertalniy, Ciemsou not having yet opened, { here is no falling off in the attendance ut the ! !ah I h f1o vs\ 1 i no />r*1. .rro /"\r* 1 Kol o ooa iint liiit't he adherents of tbe old regime have iargely j withdrawn their patronage from the college iccause they could not have their way in conrolling it, and the county ot Charleston, rhleh has always supported the college zet'liusly, has at this timrt ro student within its rail's. The adherents of the new order of < hings, while paying taxes to maintain the chool cheerfully, and indicating their inten-; Ion and ourpose, in no uncertain manner, 10 ustaio it liberally, have felt no inclination to latromze it because of the inhospitable atnosphere surrounding it. Another thing: here is competition between the college and he denominational institutions at Greenille, Spartanburg, Newberry and Due West, o which schools the reformers of the State re sending their sons in preference to sendng them here ; and this will continue as long s the present conditions of social and polltl al nntagoufsms exist in Columbia... The:, wealthier class of boys from both political ele-: ^ aeuis are being sent out of the .State to Har- I 'J ard. Vale, Princeton and the University of!; lr^inin. me coinpeuuon ana consequent, infriendlinessof the denominational colleges * o the South Carolina college can be gotten . id of in only one way, and "that is to makej: his college so much belter and higher in its', equtrernents and facilities for teaching, that I: heir students will seek its walls to completely heir education, and wiien this is done the in- * entive for young men to go abroad wlil no], anger exist. I-'actiona! feeling must sooner ' r later pass away or it will wear itself out.j* f the good sense and community of interest, I f our people do not frown upon and destroy j1 L. The broad and patriotic view, then, to ake of the situation, is to give the school all j he money it needs, and leave time, the physl-! jan, to restore it to health and vigor. The ! \ ledges given by the March convention of j c s<?ll must hpsaeredlv kent.anrl the friends of ? llentson college continue to give a clieerfu' j? up port to the South Carolina College. The | rustees are keenly alive to the responsibility t estingon them, and. with your co-operation, , re contident'y expect to see the college, ere i t jng, occupying lis wonted place in the aflec- j ion and confidence of every Carolinian, be-! ause it furnishes an education such as no: titer college in the State can give. CLBMSON COLLEGE. Asa member of the board of trustees, utter the will of Mr. Clem-am, 1 am thoroughly nformed as to tlte condition and prospects of Mernson College. The original purpose of the i rustees was to build and equip a college for 1 lot exceeding 250 students, but the popularity " if the idea ol industrial training caused such < , large number of applications to be made for f dinission that the board felt constrained to 1 n'arge the whole plant, and we are prepar- |' ng room torfioO. The claim was made by my- : elf and others, and it was generally under 1 tood by the people, that with the privilege ax, formerly expended by the Agricultural )epartment; and with the funds donated by : lie United state* Government, known as the i t latch, the Morrill and the land scrip funds,., he college could be built and run without t axation. The expectation of the board was a hat tl?i> could t>e done In two year*, and I so j tated in my la^t n o-sage: but at the end of t he second year we find ourselves constrained i o ask tiie help of the Legislature for money ! i o complete the buildings and give us a par- L ial equipment so a* to open the college next ' i pring. After careful and thorough investiga-! j ion into the kind of work remaining to be ; c [one. and of the needs of the institution, I t .in of the opinion that, if the Legislature will t ;ive us forty thousand dollars the school can i ie opened by the first of May, and there I Prvn I, I Kii ci 1 fti /itonf ftlttflc 1 n run if t lin Imlotina * n'Utu uv oMmuiviii, imuu." tw lUil IV iuv uawtii^ | >f the year. The boa?d of trustees a?k for I itty thousand dollars, and I ain free to admit i hat ifItlie sum is appropriated the equip- i neut would tie much more commensura'e ( vith the requirements of the institution. As ! i in explanation of tiie failure on the part of' i he board to redeem its promise that tire j 1 ciiool would be completed in two years with- i >ut taxation, I would direct attention to the!* act that this year there was a falling oil'in i he amount received trorn the privilege tax j a j'Jn.oeo. It was estimated that tlie sate of Ygricullurrl Hull would add to il< revenues.! >ut the property has not been sold. The low- f :st estimate placed on that property was j, JU.OUO, and the two together made a deficit of j j 40.000 iu our Income. The hoard, therefore,! jus not deceived the people, fur their promises j votiid have been kept had this money been ivaiiable. In asking the state to make it up o lis. we on ly have at heart the best interests >f the institution and of the large number of, joys and younrr men, nearly a thousand, who ; ire awaiting the opening of its portals. The eport of the president ot the board will give, nil details as to the progress of the work and tie scope of the institution. T1IE C IT A DEI. ACADEMY. On the llth day of March last the central or nain building of the Citadel Academy was dmost wholly destroyed by fire. The proper-' y was fully insured, and the question which presented itself to me was whether it should < ?e left in this condition, subject to further in* i ury bv reason of exposure to the weather, or ; I I should arrange for its being restored. I do- t cided at once, both in the interest of the \ school and as a matter of economy, in the j preservation of the State's property, that it j was better to rebuild without waiting till ac-1 lion could be had by the tie 11 era I Assembly, j* Had ibe insurance money been paid into the; 1 treasury there was no authority of law n> use j> it. nnd besides I did not like to assume the re-j < sponsibldty of deciding how much of the in- s surance money was due the State. The insnr- j1 a ncv companies in en proposeu i<> icmikc mr < building rather than pay the whole of the in- ' surance, and the matter was adjusted on this ; l basis. Desiring to see I liat t he work was Umr- I oughlv done, I appointed as the agent of the i I State to supervise the contract Maj. s. Gads- j > den, a resident member ol the hoard ot visi-( tors. There was no fund out of which to pay j him Jor tills service, but he cheerfully under- j took it as a labor of love, and save much vai-; uahie time to the work. Advantage was taken of the opportunity offered, as far as it could be done, to modernize and add many new anil valuable features to the reconstructed building; and the institution is now in perfect condition and far belter adapted to the purposes of the school than it was before j the fire. MaJ. Gadsden's report is on tile in I my ottice. together with all the vouchers and j papers connected with the matter, and it af-' fords me pleasure to testify to the thorough j and business-like way In which lie discharged j the responsible duty Imposed on him. Thf h I Ipnihi new :t f. T tie Nelmnl is sat is fact or V. ' 137 students having matriculated at the beglu- i ning of the present session. There Is consid- i erat)le complaint of favoritism and abuse of the purpose of the school as intended for poor j boys only; and though the board of visitors) appear to have exercised every precaution, such tilings are Inseparable Irom an institu- h lion of this kind and their prevention almost j. impossible. Owing to the better advantages j offered to boys living tn.or near towns o.' the | State in attending good schools, the country | boys are at a disadvantage in a competitive ] examination, and the prize of a cadetship in t tliis institution, wiiich is worth 51,200, rarely j, voes to thein. It would nonpar too. that to I i broaden the school and to Increase Its useful- < ness it wow id be better to double the number J | of beneficiaries, allowing for each SloOayear i instead of 8300, and by reducing, if possible, the cost per capita, enable a greater number to receive the advantages of this noble beneficence, and deficit to be paid by the students i themselves. Then if, as I hope, the public free I ( schools shall attain that degree of excellence ? which alone will entitle them to long exist-m ence, these cadetships could be open to poor i i boys as pri/.es to be contended for,and award- j i ed under the auspices of the county teachers ( associations. The ambition of teachers and t students both would thus be stimulated, the < boys to get the place and the teachers to have j \ their students to get them. And we would < certainly be rid of the Complaints now coming from many quarters ihat the town school boys are receiving nearly all the benefit of mis eiiarny, auu mat, too, wneii uiey are uui . entitled to it. It is n6t always the brightest hoy or the one c.ipable of the greatest mental cultivation I who answers t he questions best at the exarai- j nations, for it is rrequently only a difference of opportunity. If a certificate, under oath of the three) township assessors where the appl cant re-j sides were required, of the inability of the) boy or his relatives to pay tor htseducation.lt l would largely do away with the tomplaints 1 which are made about boys who are able to pay their way getting the appointments. What the State wants, and what was contemplated when the Citadel was founded, was to Lake the brightest youths among the poorer olr.i-Ke.s and sriee them a nr?elirnI education. I Ihe welfare ami popularity of the school will | J depend on th?s scheme being honestly carried j jut and the elimination of the abuses which ! f now certainly exist. If these recommendations meet j >ur approval, in the counties where no teachers associations exist, the conduct of the examinations and the investigation as to property, etc., could be placed in '' 3barge of the members of the General Assem- :l t>ly, who, for political reasons, if for no other, f would endeavor to see the law properly en- v forced. 0 , c ) THE WI XT II HOP SCHOOL. . r ! - *. ' ^Tlmjij^^ition, which is s^^being con- t ng ad't^^^^^KjrlCw TKu^ts^atUi? ? asl the General Assembly found- t ngan j^^Hwnl college forgijjis in conjunc- e .ion wtJ^lWormal school has resulted In u nothing up to this time. Tiw city of Anderson was the highest bidder nnu offered 575.000. c defore issuing and delivering tne bonds it was q Vmvtri th-.it rhiwii^hr in n.lilifirm (fi ivhuf. flip ? :Ity owed, exceeded by a sinail amount the S " 3t*r ,;eut. Jlruit prescribed by theconsiilution; t >nd to leave no shadow on the validity of the t, jonds a friendly law suit was begun and ar ji ;ued last April in the Supreme Court to have (_ be questions involved passed upon. The de- j lision of that tribunal has just been made s jublic, and, as it is against tbe validity, the t >oard of tru-tees will have to reopen the bid* s "or the location of the college. Had the court u avored us with its decision sooner, which we p jad a riglit to expect in so important a mat-! a er, tne school would have been thrown open |g > competition of other places and at this t ime would have been far on tlie way to coin-; i lietion. ; h The Hon. Robert C. Wlnthrop, president ol j e he i'eabody Roard, whose honored name the j chool bears, has always taken the deepest in- L> ereatin its welfare. On his account, as well i p is because we have a well founded hope that I p vhen the I'eabody Fund is distributed this n ichool will receive a large endowment, R is a j i natter of deep concern to every person inter- i jj sieu in leinaie euucauoti aim in normal i * raining, that this important branch of our h, iducational system sJiall have a permanent] [ md suitable foundation of its own ; and we vi 11 hope that when your honorable body j gain assembles this will have been aeeonidished. . hp; institute for the dkaf, the dumb ^ and 'rhe blind. ' a I V There is yet another Slate institution which I o vhile itdoes not furnish higher education, oc- i h upiesan important place in oar school sys-j ii em, and appeals strongly to the sympathy b mil kindly f<-eliti; of every citizen. It is the g nstitute at Cedar Spring, Spartanburg coun jc y. where those unfortunate children, who are j a leflcient in one or more of the somi'-s, receive i n heir training. I always recall w ith pleasure j b ny visit to this school last year, wiien I made j a i thorough inspection of it, and became satis-! b ied that, under the admirable management ' e >f tlie superintendent, Mr. N. F. Walker, and j n lis noble wife, xlie money that had been given j u vas made to accomplish wonders, and that|s here is nothing to be desired in that direc i ,ion. White the ordinary supposition would ' s >e that it was a gloomy and sad place. I fount? j t in reality a noine, full of hrigtit races and j rappy Hearts, me increase m trie manner or i undents has been considerable, requiring a i corresponding increase in llie maintenance j "tind. and I feel that I can confidently rely on lie General Assembly to give all thatisask-! d. for its past management is a guarantee oi j lie money being spent to the very best ad-j Vantage. i CI.AFI.IN UNIVKRSITY. j_ Last but not least among the Slate's institu-j ,ions of higher education is Clafim C'oliege, j itanted at Orangeburg. This Js popceded to; ie one of the best co)or?ai collies in the1 smith. There are over 600 students in attend-1 [ met, and the colored youths of both sexes aiel leing trained here in almost every indu-trial j md mechanic art, while receiving a good Eng-j ish education. The trustees of the South Car-; ilina University, of which this sclioo: is aj iruncli, at tiie request of I>r. Dunton, its pres-! dent, have appropriated a large pert of the! me-half of the Morrill fund, which belongs I .0 tliis college, to an increase in the force of j eachers and the purchase of much needed j ( Tiachinery and other tilings necessary for its j jetter equipment. Owing to the accuniula-; ion of four installments of tills fundvcaused >y the obstinacy of the Secret ry of the lute-; *ior at Washington, who refui A to pay t lie j iioiiey to me s>iaie unui lon^ 10 qo so oy i j Congress. and the fact that another install-}, nent ?.l,5O0 will be coming toC'latlin on the H 1st ol July next, there is more money in sight L than the school can economically use in one |, rear. Hut as the donation of the Morrill fund ^ iepends upon the state's continuing out ol t ts own funds to give it support, there must t>c ) ? in appropriation of ?oine amount. j ? TIIK ASSKSSMK.NT OF PROl'KliTY. I ^ : r Tlie questions of t lie assessment of properly 1 r ind tiie proper control of railroads and other : a :orporat ions are ot deep concern to thepeo-jc pie; and these questlous have excited much t iiioujihl and interest by reason of the litiga-} t ion winch has been foicedon tlie State dur- s ng the last two years. The power to levy and ; v tolled taxes lies at the very root of govern-11 nent; so much so, that the very existence of fc tons! ituf.ona! government may be said to de-; I; x-mi upon it. iieuce, In all written constitu-; t: Lions and statutes this power is conferred and ! a ts exercise jealously guarded. I o In all free governments i lie object isto make, i .ho taxes equaland to Imveall species of prop-'t ;rty stiare alike in hearing the bunion ; and <* )ur laws have wisely and properly provided i idequate remedies, equally for t lie state or j e lor any of its cili/.en* when injustice has been j u lone, or inequality shown, nut, as the duty; >f collecting taxes is imposed on the execu-j1 live department, tiiere is a strict prohibition j igaiust interference by the judiciary, except j inder plain limitationsand in clearly defined ,vays. THE t'Ol'RTS INTERFERE. The legislative branch of the govt rniner.l iiiacts; the judici ?ry interim t> : the i'mvii :ive enforces and carries out the laws. The} ire co-ordinate - iidco-ei|iiat; but it was ix-vi-i son t em plated that the judiciar*" should annn i law simply b\ a decision which i< clearl} ivronc or override the executive branch h\ usurpation of authority wh ich is forbidden I'hey have tiietr separate places and func Lions, and should be kept in them. The Leg [staturecan protect itseii from encroachment aut the executive has no remedy other that tppeal tottie representatives of the people. While It is to he supposed that all branchc nf the government will labor in concert to so* that the laws are properly interpreted and ex ?cuted. It Is natural that there should be dif ference of opinion in these matters: and it b not impossible that favoritism and prejudlc may exist in some of the departments. Hut ifter the legislative branch ol tbeKovernrnen has ordered a levy and given plain instroc ttons as to toe methods ot assessment, am the executive branch lias loyally and in gow faith set in motion the machinery providti for the collection of taxes, the judiciary ii sternly forbidden to interfere by sumtir>rj process, and the only remedy for Improper o; undue assessment is'that tlie tax-payer shal paj1 under protest and tlien recover by a sul it law. I do not deem it necessary to quote a length from our statutes to show the correct uess of tills synopsis, but will give brief ex tracts when necessary, DIFFICULTIES IX ASSKSSIXG PKOl'KRTY. In the discbarge of his doty, as tlieState'i fiscal officer, the (.Comptroller Genera! Issuet yeneral instriicti:m? in tlio Anilifnrs in re?/ar< to tbe assessment of property last year,? all Ing attention specially to the reqniiements o the statutes, that "all property shall be valuec for taxation at Its true value in money," which is declared to be "the usual selling prlc* >n the usual terms of similar property at ad ministrators or executors sales;" and in tin 'axe of real estate at "sales for partition und' i the order of the court" His ertorts were dl rected towards havingall property honest I j issessed as thus clearly provided; but no reasessmentof real estate being possible undei Lhe law until the four \ ears had expired since die last assessment?in 1890?and knowing diat it womd be a labor of year,? to have thh statute enforced as to all species of property when it came to the Comptroller General'* inowledge 'hat some of the banks were nol eturning their surplus, and that other prop ?rty was not assessed in accordance with hese provisions, i. the usual selling price ir reel value, the attention of the auditors was called to Section 239, G. S.. which I will luote In full : THK I.AW IN REFERENCE TO RETURNS. "Section 2"19. If the county siuditor shall iuspect or be informed that any person or persons, corporation or company, has evaded nakinga return, or made a false return, o: lis, her or their property for taxation, or iave, or has, not made a full return, or that he valuation returned Is less than it should iave been, according to the rules prescribed >y this chapter, it shall be "his duty at any irae before the settlement with the reasurer or the year, to notify such party to appear >efore him at r,is office at a time fixed in said lotice, together with such other person or lersons as said auditor may desire to exanine, and the party, together with any witless called, shall be examined by said audior under oath (whicli oath said auditor is au horized to administer) touching the personal iroperty and the value thereof of such party md everything which may tend to evince the rue amount such pai ty should have returned or taxation." WHAT THE JUDGES DID. In the county of Newberry the auditor, unler the authority ol this section, raised the issessment of the Bank of Newberry, which he sworn report of its officers showed to be vorth Softfi.Otm. and had been returned at S100,(K), to $240.-000. But the auditor neglected to lomply with the provisions of the law which equired him to summon the partie'- in interstand take testimony under oath. fAfter the tooks were, made up, the taxes entered and he duplicate in the bands of the (treasurer, P|i? i ?<?jrcntt. J?i dae for a tundttmu* ip require tne auJJ17oMpr^TestT#f? he assessment to the origin at ftgu^s as pastrd on by ithe equalization board( and this /rit was granted. in me c?.umy or iijannoro a similar case ocurrei!?except that in that county every reuirenoent of the statute had beep met, testimony taken, and the property assessed at its true value in money/' as shown by that tesimony. Here asrain the court was appealed r> and a similar writ issued by the sarin udsre. The one were appealed to the Supreme lourt and that court sustained the Circuit udge in the exercise of the power of issuing utnmary proce s, the Supreme Court holding hat our statutes on taxation must be contrued as a whole, and that after the equalizaioti hoard had passed upon the return of proerty the Comptroller General and auditor re debarred from any further action. Now ^/.linii O-m ohavr. ArnrA.cltr ?.l ? cv-wv... - 1 c-o. J ,'iuuuw hat "the auditor, at atiy lime before the setiement with the treasurer for the year/'shai ave power to huut up property that has vaded taxation or beeu assossed too low. tnd Section 2-& provides how parties, who onceive tiiat they have been unjustly or IIegaliy taxed, shall make payment under proestand bring an action in the Court of Cumuon Pleas against the treasurer for recovery, iiid Section 209 expressly, and in peremptory inguage, forbade the judge, in Hue first iutauce, to Issue such writ, and declares what * the only remedy under tiiese circumstances, hat sec'ion reads as lollows: MOIIK LAW. "Section 209. There shall be no other remey in any case of the illegal or wrongful col t-cwuu in WAW vi <iiLriiipi/ luvuiieui iaies ' * tnan that here.n provided; * * * nd no writ, order or process ol any kind ,hat>oever staying or preventing any officer f ibe Mate charged with a duty in the collection <?| taxes irom any step or proceeding 11 the collection of any tax, whet her such tax < legally due or not, shall in any case be ranted by any court or the judge of any ourt ; but in aii cases whatsoever the person gainst whom any taxes shall stand charged pon the books of the county treasurer shall e required to pay the same In such funds nd moneys a* t tie said county treasurer shall e authorized to receive by the act ol theGenral Assembly levying the said taxes in maner and form as above provided, and therepon shall have his remedy under the proviions of the next preceding section.'' I1ALL THE JUDGES INTERFERE WITH A COORDINATE J'.KANCH OF GOVERNMENT? Further: section 171 declares (hat "the col eel ion of taxes shall not be stayed or preented by any injunction, writ or order l*sud by any court or judge thereof." Now, the [iiesiion presented to you is not whether here was any inequality or injustice in the iction or tile auditors In these two eases. It s not whether the Comptroller-General lias ranscended bis power, but it is whether the udges of South Carolina shall interfere with icoordinate branch ot the government, when ney are strictly prohibited by law from so loing. It is idle to deny the proposition hat the Comptroller-General, the Auditor nd the Trea-urer are all "oflicers of the jtate charged with a duty in the collection ot axes," as set li.rtii in Section 269. There can ie no collection until the property is assessed .1 d the duplicates made uj bv the Auditor. ,nd to quibble and split hairs and exercise tower forbidden, upon the ground that the Auditor its not "an officer charged with a duty ti t lie collection of taxes," is merely trifling nth ihe common sepee of the people. The tanks had their remedy, namely, paying un[er protest and recovering t>y suit: and the nethods which they successfully adopted to vade an appeal to a jury only emphasizes lie danger, which is becoming to be recoglized throughout this t'nion, from corporaions and the power of money ; and the furlier danger which iies in the gradual absorp ion and usurpation of power by tiie judiei.ry. Stele and Federal. It is a notorious fact liat the claims set up, and exercised, unquesioned by tie* judges of the United Slues lourts. and tile protection thrown around lorporations by those courts, are today the reatest menace to American liberty. The xecutive and legislative branches of the "nited .states Government are powerless to esist these encroachments except by ini leachment, and that is a remedy so difficult nd well nigh Impossible of successful ampliation that it i> rarely restored to. Under he construction given to Federal Statutes by he Federal Judges, lbs reserved rights of the ^ates are one hy one being disallowed ; and rhen plutocracy shall find itself able to bu he House of Representatives as it has once ought the Presidency and the Senate, the list nail will be driven into the coifiu of ousted American freedom. Rut while we re powerless to resist this engine of Federal ppression, we can at least apply a remedy to is countermart in South Carolina. What hilt remedy may be is fur your v isdoin to deIde. It docs not appear worth while to ni <U>* he law any plainer than it is now. though i lsewhere advise yoij to declare wqat the law i. ?.\NfrEH FKO.M INTERMEDDLING J CDIfT A RV. I will only say that the people of the [ j State who d?>ire reform and who fe* 1 the ineqnalitv of the administration of tlie law may elect Governors and Legislatures time | ?nd again to do tlieir bidding, but as long as It lie judiciary misimeriret the law, overrido -1 >t, or indulge in judicial legislation, our efI forts to secure t-quality in taxation, the proi tection of life and properly and a fair and in>I partial administration will l>e in vain. If our courts are allowed to exercise a power whicii they are forbidden to exercise, and it. . goes unchallenged, how long will it t?e befo-e other usurpations will follow? If interfer. eneevvlth t he an<l ilnr is nl lowed if 1 he>p mail. : In muses are to continue, the judges can i block the wheels.of government, ami destroy it even. Suppose every taxpayer were to api ply for a writ and a judge granted it, how > would we be able to conduct tlie State's al fairs? It Is Impossible for the government to - calculate withany certainty upon its revenue, * if the collection of taxes is subject to be arrested til any instance in which a taxpayer . should make out a prima facie case; and the t interference by summary process is therefore - positively forbidden. 1 t WIIAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS DONE. 1 Every government claims, and must have, * a certain and speedy method of collecting taxes. In an absolute monarchy It is a very r simple process, and used in the past to great : '.y oppress the people; and, therefore, in a ' constitutional government there is an at1 tempt to balance the prerogative of t he s vereign and the right of the taxpayer. The * board of equalization and assessment directly represent the individual taxpa>er; t lie officers elecied by the people represent the State. When the assesineut of piopertv is s too high the board of assessors can reduce it. 1 This is the safeguard of tiie taxpayer. In 1 section'2:59 the correlative right is given the - state to increase when i he assessment is too I low, and this not upon the personal know1 ledge or subject to the whim of the auditor, ' but upon sworn testimony. The tax acts ; must be construed as a whole and as firming - a system designed to secure uniformity and equality and affording equal protection to sovereign ami subject, you cannoi, wuuoui disarranging Its nicely balanced machinery, grant the taxpayer a remedy when the assessment is too high and deny the correlative relief to the State when it is too low. Yet this is exactly what the decision of the Supreme Court has done. Very few men. however, believe that any private citizen would have received the consideration given the banks; and though I stand ready 10 accord all corporations equali>y before the law, I cannot remain silent while the laws are trarnoled under foot, and see them accorded privileges which a private citizen feels he caunot obtain. prohibitio" For some years there has been more or less agitation on the subject of prohibition, and there have have been contests at the polls In municipalities and counties to decide whether or not liquor should be sold therein. At the last session of the General Assembly a prohibition bill passed the House, but failed in the Senate.- At the recent Democ-atlc primary the question was submitted to the peo pic ttO tiu ililMIclCb ?HUVUl nuj definite legislation being indicated, and received a majority of the votes cast on that subject, although not a majority of the totHl vote cast. This would indicate a wish on the p ?rt of a large number of our people that j there should be some restrictive legislation | in regard to the liquor traffic. This question j did not enter into the issues of the campaign. It was not discussed by ihe candidates, and the decision at the polls cannot be considered as a conclusive test of the popular will. Knowing, however, that some legislation is likely to be had. I feel called on to point out some of the obstacles and difficulties in the way of enforcing a law of this character ; and the probable cost of a prohibition bill as indicating a necessity for increased taxation on other lines; rather, as a matter of in forma lion than as showing any anrugonlHtio views on my part. One of the most common among modern sayings is that "prohibition does not prohibit," and. experience as well as observation teaches us that certainly most of the prohibitory legislation has resulted in partial or complete failure to accomplish the end sought, namely, the absolute prevention of the selling ancj^lrtnklng of liqour. Town alter town in the stale najiried tt, and, finding tae?-u? evoIn dlsguest to the^iircense system. Auc^^HHKi^l|9S may as well be understood that no law whieh may be passed on this subject will enforce it- ' / -elf, or be allowed to be carried into effect, without strenuous opposition and many cunning devices belog brought Into play to evade it. Ti e troubleTs, that when public opinion does not generally sustain a law, its enforcement becomes almost impossible, and what is ] everybody's ousiness Is nobody's business, I Men dislike to play the spy on their neighI bors and incur the odium of lodging inforrnaI lion or. taking out a warrant. When iudictments are brought, Juries are divided, convictions are difficult or impossible to obtain, and society, divided against itself, finds such restrictive legislation very difficult of enforcement. . i All classes,'men and women alike, feel.at I times, the need of stimulants, and many who I are never guilty of excess in their use resent any law infringing upon personal liberty. Then, many who rarely Indulge in ititoxical lug IIIJUWI tut I'UUIIS.J >u c?u^ .Timipiuary legislaiion. Every thinkingaudobservam person sees and acknowledges the evil, aial. in some undefined way, wishes to see Its abatement. It Is well understood and acknowledged that liquor drinking Is thecau.se, directly or indirectly, ot most of the crimes committed in our country. It also produce* much ot ttie poverty anu misery among certain classes ; but- the human family cannot ! be legislated iuio morality any more than it j can be made honest and truthful by legislative enactment. lean readily conceive and believe that with a strict law, ligidly enlorei ed, great good would follow. I can just as [readily see that it will require a stern head, ! with many eyes and far reaching hands, to t c.irry it iirto effect. As an example of the difficulty of con I trolling tue selling anil drinking of liquor, I would call attention to the impunity with which existing laws are disregarded. We I nave a statute which forbids under a penalty itlie putting up of screens in barrooms aud the jselling of whiskey to minors, and there is j hardly a barroom in the State wnieh obeys it. Our solicitors, our judges, our juries, sworn officers of the law, see and know these things, I aud yet they do nothing. The trouble arises, I think, frutn the fact tnat there are officers of the state and county, while liquor uuder existing statutes is sold under license granted by municipal corporations. The police conin lve at and are blind to these infilngements [of the law by the bar keepers, under lnstrucI tions, doublets, from the authorities, and the [ people generally become educated and accus> j lomed to seeing the taw despised. A n/vi h^p tiling- Thfl nrnti ihl Mori amitlrnf>nt S as opposed by the wish to license tho sale of j liquor, is found largely in the country?the j liquor men living in the towns. They make money selling the itquor; the towns make | money; ihe country sutfe s; the country | pays for it; the country has increes?-d taxes j tor It; hence the divi>ion. But with a major, i ity.of the people in the towns in favor of sell. | ing whiskey, the prohibitionists in the couu> j try will find themselves handicapped and their eUoris rendered nugatory in attempting ; to control the nuisance. The people ot this ) State are already sadly divided along this very fine ot town against country and the wisdom of further division is questionable. 'Granting the possibility of doing something j towards abating the nuisance of barrooms, I I would call your attention to the law now in I force at- Athens Ga , by which a dispensary I for the sale ol liquor is provided, and which, iafter trial, is pronounced a success by the ! prohibitionists themselves, who, in despair at j the failure of the prohibitory laws, had it en[acted by the Georgia Legislature. I would I further direct your attention the following ta. ' bte, showing the number of barrooms in this | state, the revenue derived from them by thb ; counties, and the revenue for the towns; Number Amount Amount of Paid by Paid by j Coquties. ' Bar-r'ms. Ibr r'ms Bar-rms to County, to Towua Abbeville 5 ? 500 $ S.60U | Aiken 10 l.OtKi 4,5oO | Anders* n ~ T-C^i 4,200 Barn wed -- 3,200 Beaufort 9,000 2,362 ; Berkeley ". j"? 3.400 Charleston 2a> 2^,-rW 2*,."<00 ! Chester o o?X) 4,0)0 i chesterfield 3 ">'10 WW ! Clarendon 3 300 l.aOO C'olielon 31 S.3UU 1,500 | Darlington 1') 1.000 .5,000 K dge tie Id } 400 1.60b 1 Fairlield 7 700 2,900 Florence $ 300 4,o00 I l.\r\eir..f <\n*n li (i0'J 5i (Kill ' VCWiHVJV'n u v ? Greenville 10 1,'iOO 1.6000 Hampton 7 ?<>J 8,7.jO Horry ?? ? | Kershaw ii ?khj 2,-r>00 Lancaster i* !Kfc) o,5<X) ! Laurens 4 400 2.*00 {Lexington 8 '9?) 600 Marion ?^ ? Marlboro ?. ? ? : Newberry x soo +m) i-Gconee ?. . ?- ? Orangeburg '20 2.600 7.S00 | Continued on next page.