Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Supplement to KEOWEE COURIER. CITES WONDERFUL f IN THE ENDORSES THE DISPENSAI SEVERAL AMENDM The Finances of the State in and Good Will Prevail TI i erent Departments o? Numerous and Timel As to Taxation-Clai Government-Goc Gentlemen of thc General Assembly: During the past year the heavy band of affliction was laid upon tl.-* chief execu tive of thc State and the people were cai'eil to mourn the death of their Gov ernor. After a long illness Governor William II. Kllerhe died at bis boluc in Marton County on June 2, 1899. Young in years, full of honors, anil commanding thc respect of his countrymen be was gathered to his fathers. Holding thc po sition of Lieutenant Governor, to which I bad been elected, and obeying the Con stitution, I took the oath nf office as Governor on Hie ;>d day of June, iS99, amt immediately thereafter began tl : discharge of the duties pertaining thereto. Since you last met there bas been very marked material progress in the State in almost every branch of industry. Thc husbandman has garnered the products of Iii.- bolds with the assurance of good re turns for his labor. Manufacturing en terprises have gone forward with almost miraculous rapidity and are furnishing lucrative employment for many of our people. There bas been great activity in thc building of railroads, the great de velopers of a country. Pence, happiness and prosperity prevail in every portion of tho Stale, factional bitterness and strife are things of thc past and the poeple arc united for the upbuilding, progress and develop.neut of the entire State. Death has not thinned your ranks and you como together to deliberate and make laws for thc people under most auspicious circum stances. I trust that tn all your delibera* lions you may ho guided hy a single purpose-the. welfare and happiness of the people whom you base the honor to represent. However you may differ, as differ you will, your combined wisdom and high patriotism, I am sure, xviii re sult in the passage of such laws as will redound to tho good of all thc people. In the accomplishment of this purpose I stand ready and anxious to aid you and .co-operate with you in so fat as my power and ability may go. KV1DKNCKH Ol' I'KOt'.UKSS. In cotton manufacturing South Caroli 'iia leads all of the Southern States ami .stands second only to Massachusetts in the number of spindles and second to none in equipment. If thc progress of the past year augurs anything for the future we shall soon lead all others in Ibis important industry and instead of furnishing any of of our staple crop for ?export to other places for manufacture we ss ill be huge importers of cotton from ?other Slates, tc supply thc li cal demand. I)uring lin- pasi saar ( leven new mills have been organized and are in process nf construction, representing a total capital 01 l\1.-75.' ' ". Sixteen old mills have boen cnl.ogeil, r presenting an increase of their capital stock of ?2,,129,01x1. This not only means a large addition to the wealth of the Stale and au increase of the taxable properly, but it means wealth put into active service and employment for many of our prc ?plc. In railroad building, as I bas e already stated, thcie luis been veiy lieeided ac tivity. 237 miles base been completed and in actual process ol construction. This represents an outlay <>! least i.'.s,<*?> a mile, or nearly ?0,1(xi.ixi?, and when completed and returned for taxation, cseu at a val lint ion of ,M< >,i*:ii a mile will add ?2,370,000 lo thc tax-able properly of the State. In c.n<m sied oil mills, the lumber business, amlotbei branches of industry then- has been very m ilked activity, for the exact figures in all of these new en terprises I bet; lo dil eel youl attention to thc full and exhaustive rep'.ti ni Hu- Sec retary ol'Slate. A - iuds of these ligures iud ?1 reali, atii.n ni the matei i il progress upon ss hick Ute Slate li is entered should la- cause <>t sincere congratulation toevei v true Carolinian and sho ild move you as representatives of the pe,.?de todo ??ll that von can to lostet and encourage this prog ress ami these institiiiioiis and industries which mean so much for our Stale. I have thought pr..p. i Gins bi icily lo direct sour attention t.. thee substantial isi fleeces of progress and growth a-, an en eourngeiiient ?md an incentive lo om pen pie to thc accomplishment of even greatci things which lie easily within our grasp if wc xviii bul put foi th om b.ls and las bold of the advantages and opportunities that thickly sui round us on every vide. I ! \ X NC TS. I take pleasure also in congratulating . oil oil thc Cond il i< ll <.! ibo Imam-es of Hu- Stat? . The Stale 'I n asutei has !.. eu ible t.J mci i ?,|| ,,| Hie obligations ol thc State promptly and also thc interest 011 ?he publie d?lit without the necessity of ETS MESSAGE. MATERIAL PROGRESS STATE, \Y SYSTEM AND SUGGESTS ENTS TO THE LAW. a Healthy Condition-Peace iroughout the State-Dif " the State Reviewed, y Suggestions ?fade. ms Against General )d Roads-Read it. having to borrow any money or overdraw ins account, and mill lias <\ balance in the Treasury. I give herewith a statement of the receipts and disbursements of the past year: I'S it ?'/ ?"'5?y ?38 833 8 I R ; ! rf, ?' !? i,;-? ? S V: 2 ?5 * $,? S % 8 " ir, ff ?? f. i Thc Treasurer of the State has called inv attrill ion lo thc fact that there arc n I number of old bonds which have hitherto I been reported as fondable, but which uii I der the Art of i So.} are now no longer so, and among, them arc thc bonds claimed by the State Ko uk (Bine Ridge Railroad hon.ls of iNvs<))to the amount of f37,ooo. Thc Act of i.s?/> referred to prohibits the Slate Treasurer from funding or paying any bonds aller the expiration of twenty years from the date of maturity. The bonds above mentioned matured on July isl, 1870, and the twenty years limitation expired on July ist, ih'99. These, bonds, it linty bc recollected, have been thc subject of several applica tions lo thc General Assembly for permis sion to fund them without the surrender of thc bonds themselves. One hundred thousand dollars of these bonds were, it I is alleged, plundered and taken fro::; the bank in I'ehr nary, in6,s, by the Federal lioops in their march through the State. They have: from that time been constantly claimed by the Hank, thc receiver of which obtained an injunction from the courts as early as 1870, restraining the Tieasurci of thc State from paying prin cipal or interest of any of them to any one but to the receiver, and under that in jinu lion all of these bonds but thc thiily seven now remaining upon the Treasur er's hooks have from lime lo time been recovered bv the receiver of the Hank, and bv him funded. Noone has dining ? Ibe thirty years since the injunction has I been ill force claimed thc bonds in tpies I lion, and thc Courts of the Slate haye de- | ! elated that they are thc property of Ibo. I State Hank, and that the receiver of the i hank is the only person entitled to fund ! and colled them from the Treasurer of ; the Slate j The State owes these bonds lo some one, and thc objection which the General I Assembly has hitherto had to th? funding j of them har, bet n, il is understood, the ? leai thal '.nie one might still produce and prese ii I them to the Treasurer, for funding mulei the funding Act of the ; State, and that the State might III illili ' wa) have lo pay them twice. 'Ibis ob I jeetion ' ems now removed, as noone but th.- receivci of the bank has the right lt? j ask lo have them funded, all other per sons being no? h.u rod by the statutes from applying to the Treasurer fi ?r that purpose. Hut howevci this may be, some action ma t non- be taken in regard lo them. They can no longer be c.uiietl on the books of the Treasurer AS bonds fmidiihle. lt lists with the d?lierai Assembly to say what must l c done in the matter. A short time ugo I received a commu nication lioin thc Sccretaty of thc Treas* myal Washington calling my Attention lo a claim of Hie I'nitcd State-. Govern nient ?gain .1 thc State ol' South Cand?na and au Act of Congress passet! Mulch 3d, 1890, requiring him to institute such pro cccdiugs as bc might deem proper lo col lect ?ny bonds or storks, principal and | interest, which the General Government hohls against this Slate before any claims on the part of thc State against thu Gen eral Government should be paid. This communication was bi ought forth on ac count of thc claims put in by this Stale for reimbursement of expenses incurred in organizing volunteer troops for service in thc war with Spain. I submitted the letter to thc Stale Treasurer and asked bim for a statement. I submit herewith bis statement and ask for this mattel such consideration and action as in your wis dom you may deem proper to take: "lu pursuance of this provision of law the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States bas notified us that tin-General Gov ernment bolds certain State bonds lo tho amount of?125,(xx), principal; and interest to maturity of ?123,750, aggregating ?2.|S, 750, and requests payment of the same. These bonds bear interest at six per cent, and were issued under Act of December '9i 1S55, for construction of new State House, issued January ist, iS ,6, redeem able January isl, |88l. Hy reference lo thc records of the Stale Treasurer's office it is noted thal there was some ?orre Buondencc had between this office and the 'treasury Department nt Washington in November, 1 SS 1, and during thc adminis tration of Governor Johnson llagood, but without a settlement of the claim so far as wc know. .'Under thc Act of thc General A sse m ? bl y at that lime of force these boc. ls, principal mid interest unpaid to isl Jan uary, 1880, were fondable in six percent, consolidation bonds at fifty per cent, of said amount. Thc consols being redeem able on isl of july, 1893. 'flic Act of thc Legislature of 22ml of December, 1893, provides thal all bonds ami slocks hith erto fundable in these consols upon their surrender bc exchanged for the new 20 40 years .( !j per cent, bonds and stocks authorized by Ad of December, 1892, for the redemption of brown Consols. These coupon bonds now held by thc United Stales Government are fundable as above staled upon their surrender, i. e., at ,s< per cent, of principal and interest opto maturity. The State, however, bas Revolu tionary War claims lo the amount in round numbers of ?550,000. In the in vestigation of this claim against thc United States Covet liment IhcGencral As senibly in December, i\s<>, passed a teso lotion authorizing the appointment of sonic suitable person to investigate ami prosecute the State'? claims as afoiesaid, and under thal authority Governor K. Iv W. Allston appointed Hon. Jas. A. black agent fm- thal work. The said agent in corpotated the result of bis labors in a re port to the General Assembly, which wa: ordered to he filed with Comptroller Gen er.il, which cannot now bc found amolli the records of his office. There is a larg? mass of old papers now in one of tin rooms of the State House, among whirl this valuable report might ber found if tin means were in hand to employ au elli cit nt ami painstaking person or person! to examine this confused mass of papers There are, ia all probability, other claim: held by the Slate against the Genera Government, to say nothing of pt i vat 1 claims of large amounts amounting li ir Thous of dollars." This is a matter of very great imper lance to our State. At your last sessiot you passed a joint resolution request i ll) and directing thc Governor and .Stat. TTensurer to furnish all information avail able to our Senator and Representative touching the claim of the State agailis the United States for money ail vance, during thc War of 1S12, and that oil Representatives in Congres* be ri-qucstei Ul urge forward all legislation oil the sui: ject. You also rescinded all outstanding contracts if any should exist for the col lection of this claim, lt seems that th black Report made in and nii utiouc by thc Slate Treasurer embraces all th testimony and faels relative to th? State' claim. In view of the importance of t ti i report I recommend thal you provide fe an er '.ablation of all Ihe obi record? n:i espe? .Hy thc old rubbish that is store away in one of the unoccupied rooms ? the State Capitol to see if this report ca bc found. Hs recovery may bc the mean of our getting a considerable sum < money from the United Slates Govert nient and it is importa il to pul our Sen; lots and Representatives in possession ( all the frtcts that can be obtained. As understand il, thc claim of the Unite Slates Government foi 'be seulement ? the f.123.000 of South Carolina bonds lu longing to the Indian Trust bund and th accumulated interest is a just and hone: claim which we ought to pay an which we could pay with our elah against the United Statis Coxen ment and have a balance to the credit ( the State il" we can lind the testimony I substantiate the claim of thc State. Tl maller was in process of seulement win the Civil War broke out in iN<<>, amt tl State bad joined with other Stales in pr lest against the unfair methods of tl United Slates in adjusting tin- claims ar it was to sustain its contentions th black was employed to work up tl Stale's ?'ase. lt may not bc possible obtain the full amount claimed by tl Stale, but I am informed that there is a solute proof in ollieial docuiiu-ntsth.it ll United States acknowledged that it ow? tin- Slate of South Carolina in iS fyN,?xx> and this with accumulated int? cst for fifty-nine yeats would amount about f 350,? ' . >. If this could bc adjust, w ithout going into the disputed clainisll Slate could pay the ?lam? the Cuit. States Government bolds against it ai ba?e about ?fuxi.ooo left. Under the co s.ilidatiou Act ol 1873 thc Stale Treasur can only refund old bonds at fifty cen mi the dollar, bul if a sett lenient assn gested could bc made with the Unit States Government you might pass ; Act authorizing the Slate Ticasun-r settle at loo cents on thc dollar 1 condition that th.- United Stales pay I just claims to thc Stale ol South l'ai..li as acknowledged in thc upi at of the Si rotary of the Treasury ii. oH.vS. l'or a statement of the bondel debt the State your attention is directed lo I annual report ol the Stale Treasurer. < > i bonds li ntl a ready sale iii the maikels the wot ld al a premium and thc credit lin- State is good, I A X AT ION. 'flu- Const it ul ion sly s that "All bu upon property, nalani! personal, shall laid upon thc actual value of the propel laxed, as the same shal! be ascertained au assessment made loi the purpose laying such tax." lt also says the "Gi eral Assembly shall pi oville b\ ?a v to uniform and equal tate of assessment 1 taxation." It is 11 la l thal very little any property is assessed foi luxation.it "actual value." poi if il were thc la' ble properly of the State would bc a gr? deal mo: c I han il is uni tia- late ol la - lion could lu- considerably reduced., lin taxpayer, however, thal is not a m t* ? ol very great concetti, :<>i a ceil; amount of money has to be laised to nu the expenses of government and w hile Hie valuation were high the rate could he I reduced, yet in tile end it amounts to the same Hiing. Thc question Hint concerns thc taxpayer is to have a uniform value of assessment whether il he the actual value Ol' one half the actual value. The Imidi n of taxation would then fall equally on all thc taxpayers in proportion to the property they own, hut if one man's prop erty is assessed nt its actual value ami another man's al one-half its actual value the uno either contributes more than his share to the support of thc government or the oilier does not mensure up lo his duly in this matter. The main desideratum is to secure such a mode of assessment ns will give II uniform valuation lo all prop erty subject io taxation. Thai such re sults are liol obtained now I nm sure. Whether it is the fault of the law or its administration I am not prepared lo say. Wc have township boards of assessors and county boards of equalization, but the manlier in which they as a rule discharge their duliesand the lime thev allot lo the discharge of these duties does liol secure a uniform valuation of properly for the purposes of taxation. Nor indeed could they do it under the present plan if they gave more lime to il. They may secure an approximate uniformity for valuation in each county, and so far as county pur poses arc concerned thal might sutlice, nut thc average in the counties varies and the burden of Stale taxation does not fall equally oil the several counties. 1 have no fully matured plan to submit for your consideration as a remedy for Ibis evil, bul 1 am persuaded thal if some plan could be devised by which the Constitu tion could bc obeyed and all properly as sessed at its actual value the burden would hear more easily and equitably upon all taxpayers. As the law now stands the County Auditor is required to go into eaeh township and take returns of prop erty and then Ute township boards meet and go over these returns und then Ute) aro gone over by the county boards ol equalization. I submit for your eonsid elation tho advisability of requiring thal ihr Constitution bc carried out and all property assessed nt ils actual value am that Ibo County Auditor take returnsonl) in Hie townships and thal the townshi] boards bc required to attend while tbesi returns aro being made and if any epics on ai i ses as lo tho valuation of the propel!) it could bo settled by tho Auditor, th? boa ni of assessors and tho owner of Hu property. Those township boards sltouh be men of ability ami character am should bo in position to dele rm inc tin actual value of thc property. 1 believi that some such plan if properly can ici out would materially increase tho litxuhk property of the State and go far toward equalizing the burdon of taxation. Then is need for something ti. be dom; alo nj this linc. There is also some complaint of tho ii regularity in which some County Treas mers remit taxe.-, collected by them to th State Treasurer. The law fixes the lillie at which they shall remit but many o them do not observe it. I think it wont bc advisable lo place them on salary tb same as County Auditors and requir monthly statements from them and willi hold their salar)- until the statement were received And also require thei to submit with their monthly statement statement from the bank of deposit show ing thc amount of ninney lo their crcdi as Treasurer. And penalty should b provided for the failure to lum ov< I mids and make reports as required b law and power given the Governor t suspend or toinove such as persistent! refuse or neglect to oho)' the law. This subject of taxation is ono th; more directly concerns tho people tba any other with which you will have t deal and it deserves your most carne: consideration and ill whatever you do yo should endeavor to make the burdon be. equally upon all thc property of tho Stat by comparison ot the ligures in tl Comptroller General's reports you wi see that the taxable properly for the li cal year commencing January t, 1S99, '85,183 moro than for the precedii fiscal year. Total taxable property for the fecal year commencing Jan nary isl, 1899.$176,422,2! Total taxable properly for the fiscal y ear commencing Jan nary isl, 189S. '73.237.1' Increase. MN'KINli PUNI?. 1 beg lo direct your attention to the 1 port of the Commissioners of tho Sinkii Fund fi om which it. appears that the C mutative Phosphate Sinking bund n< amounts to $347,731.38. This shows increase of these a;.sols of $51,1 since the report of last year. Of tl amount $11,746.65 isdorived from inten and $39,379.28 is derived from phosph; royalty during the year. The assets this fund consist of the following,: State stocks.< 35?728. bank loan seemed by Stale bonds. 20,000 Loans lo Counties. . 1 13,084, Interest bealing deposits in Hanks. i7.S,oiK you\...-vi/.v.o The assesls ol thc Ordinal y Sink I Ptllld amount lo $43,330.64 of whi $3O,2<XMXI is loaned lo counties and $1 130.64 deposited ill banks. This show decrease of this fund of $2,143.42 sii thc last top? >i t. This is covi red by t purchase of escheated lands which h? since been sold at a profit but the lei ol' sale have not yo( bein lulls- com pl willi by thc purchaser, 'flu- report gi full detail-, of thc work of Hu- Conni sioncis loi ibo scar and 1 invite yt careful attention to it and Hu- reconnu dations contained Hierein. I'?NSIONS. A generation has passed since the V between thc States. Thc Sou Hiern . (hers who fought lor a cause they delict to bc right laiil their all upon the abai their country, (treatersacrifice and si denial were neva i mote ehceilully in: iii any cause or in any country than this struggle hy thc Southern .sold They displayed 1 fortitude and a beroi that will fin nish themes for thc port : the historian foi all time to come. Tl lo .t in battle because of overwhelm numbers and resources 011 the ot dei si and wi.bout repining laid down their tu and returned lo their homes and bej willi i s pi i it of ('heel fi I bless 1 il eb, sec I rebuild theil lost fort mies. Many of th have passed to the other shore and i rest mulei the shade of thc trees, . every yeal the ranks grow less. It is sacred duty lo honor their memory ? defend their good name. Not oi.ly si is om thily lo take care of and provide those who aie in need of om help. I we can do without thc slighosl sembla ol disloyally to the I ilion. There is lougei ans antagonism between the ? lions. The Southern soldici will def the I mon ?is cheerfully now as any ( zen. This was demonstrated in the with Spain, w here those who had op|M cadi other in baltic fought shoulder lo shoulder for UK* Hag. What WC aro able to give is but a pit tance, bul it helps and we should give it cheerfully. I,asl year you appropriated for pensions to Confederate soldiers and widows of soldiers the sum of ;*nx>,(x>o. I recoin mend a like appropriation this year. It is important that this appropriation should he expended and distributed wise ly and in such a manner as lo meet thc intention of thc appropriation. The se lection of good, competent, and conscien tious township and county boards, men who know tile conditions and arc ac quainted with the m;cdsof the applicants, is of very great importance, lt is difficult to gel men to work without pay, and while in this case it seems that good nu n might be found who would be willing to serve without compensation, 1 suggest that you consider the wisdom and advisa bility of allowing the members of the county and township boards one dollar per day for not exceeding two days for this service. As you will see from thc repott of the Comptroller General, there were on the pension roll the past year y, 15S pension ers. Of Ibis number _',i)io are widows of soldiers. The total amount disbursed in pensions was $98,675.80. Thc widows were paid $38,412 mid the soldiers $60, 363.80. niRKe'f TAX. Coder thc provisions of the Act of Con gress August 5, 1861, a direct lax was im posed upon the citizens ol" the United .Slates, and a part ofit was apportioned tc and assessed upon the Stale of South Car olina, Direct Tax Commissioners wen appointed to doiiionstiatc this law. but al that lime no part of the State of South Carolina was under federal control, lt November, 1861, the whole of the purist of Si. Helena, ami all of that portion o St. Luke's, which w??s composed of is lands, fell into lae hands of bellera forces, and lin Direct Tax Commission eis established themselves al thal point and under thc administration ol' the lav all ol" the properly belonging to the etti /ens of those two parishes was sold aili bought by the United States, and resoh under the provisions of thal Act, and o other Acts amendatory thereto, and Ibesi citizens were entirely divested of tbei properties, 1.aler upon the deterininalioi of thc war a portion ol thc direct lax as sessed to the Slate of South Cai ulina w a collected in Chai lesion and iusomcothe lower counties of thc State. Thc pre ceeds arising from the sale of the lands ii beaufort went into the Treasury of lb United Stall's under the different laws re kiting thereto, and have been disposed , hythe I'nilcd Stales Government in at cordance willi those laws. A number of school farms, consist i 11 each of 160 acres, carved out of the plan talions entirely in Si. Helena parish, wer reserved from the early sales, and lease by thc Government, and n uts collecte ?iud separately kept, and al thc close 1 the wai thc Government found itself i possession of these school farms, ol' a nun lier of houses and 1? >ts in the tow n of beal fort, anda number of lots in what w; then known as Port Royal City, a myth cal city sought lo be laid out and eslal lished by the Direct Tax Commissioner and which, though thoroughly laid 01 and projected, failed to become a cit; and is now a part ol three plantations i St. 11 eic na parish. l iv special enactment (Act of Congres July K>, 1866) it was directed that the: school farms, houses and lots in I lean foi and lots in I he city of Port Royal on S Helena Island, should be sold' and tl proceeds invested in bonds of the Uniti Slates, and the interest used under dire lion of the Secretary of the Treasury thc support of schools, without distill lion of color or race, 011 the islands in ll parishes of Si. Helena and St. Luke' and by subsequent Act ol' Congress, a proved Match 3, 1S73, it was directed th in addition lo these funds the rentsd lived from the lots of .school faint lan should be likewise invested in such bon of the Ulliled Stales, and all ol" Un bonds retained by thc Secretary of t Treasury ns n fund for the usc and sn port of free public schools in thc parish of St. Helena and St. Luke's, South Ci ulina, in equal pail:;, the interest >vhich should be annually expended increase the eflici'uiey of any free pub schools established .md sustained, m s. parishes by authority ot' said State, if sn school sh ill exist,olin, ass ise at tile disc lion nf the commissioners herein nairn and a Special board ol' three commissi, cu., dil cet cd to be appointed by thc Sec i.uv of the Treasury, u nlovable at '. pleasure, each to receive a salary of .-" pei year for his services in admitiisteii Ibis fund, 'flic Act concludes with I following statement: "This Act shall subject lo amendment or repeal at I pleasure of Congress." From the proceeds of sales directed these Acts ol pr<?pelly fi ?1 un riv belong: lo cill/.cns of beaufort Count y lhere \ realized a sum of money in the neigbl hood of 553,?xx>, which money, in ob? i i nee io these Acts, has been invested bonds of the I oiled Statis, am! th bonds au- now in the Treasury of United Slates, and the interest, thong mere pittance, alter the payment ol salaries of three commissioners, is adi to the school fund for beaufort Com Hld Continue:, to be so applied lo I dav. An Act of Congress approved Maid iSqi, was passed to refund lite money lcclcd bs thc United Stales under Dh Tax Acts, and a provision was ni id' thc .ph section of thal Act lo make si partial compensation to the citizen; beau foi t foi the l< ?ss of their laud-, and actual direct ta\, with thc pen..Its intel est, has been refunded to the citi; of Ibis State, and the citizens ol' beau have received from the Secretare ol Treasury the gratuity which ss is give: Ibeiii oil account of their laud, but fund, thc immediate procci ls ol' laud foi mer citizens of beaufort Connie, remains in the Treasury of ihe Un Stales undisposed of. ail I i- still wilki bom them, though the Supreme Com the I lilted S! iles Mc ?sec VS I '. S. . I '. ii. Reports, ."ii 1 has dod ?red th t perusal ol' thc entire Act 1 Mandi ?, 1 show.s that its pu i [i- ?se ss a s \~< pis bac thc States, and lo] individual zens of thc States the amounts of mc received from them in thc course of cn ut i. .?1 ..! thc 1 ?ne t l ax Acts ol 1 ?uni Acts aiiieiidatorv theicto." This I could liol hi paid back fol ka l ..I leg lion, in isintu h ,c- the elicej of thc Ai Match 15, IS73, has been lo co ll fe I il bonds, and impound it in the fica "subject to th.- plea- ure of Congii ss." lt '.'ciii'. to bc soi 111 .sh it ofan anoi that thc ( ,1 ? s ci uni, nt of the I Tilled St should fed itself interested in the sch ?oh. of two of Ihe J? Irishes ol this S and sh,'Ucl go to the < xii nt ssiibh ing and using money which mot.div longs to the citizens of beaufort Coi to obtain the lund'- wherewith to d and it bas also seemed to me Illili il wa: pc ,.iar province of the Slate of s Carolina limier ils Constitution lo provide for all of its free schools, ami this il hus ?lone willi'?ul making any exception in respect to the schools in l?tese two former parishes, mid the conduct of the Govern ment of the Coiled Stales in this regard would seem to be somewhat of an invasion of Hie constitutional rights of the Slate, as well as au injustice lo those citizens, the proceeds of whose 1.mils are Ilms withheld ami perverted. I have, therefore, requested member of Congress to introduce a bill lo repeal Hie provisions of tho Act of March i.s. IS73, to provide for Hie sale of those bonds, the proceed? lo the persons from th?: sale or leasing of whose lauds they originated, and such action, taken al my request, al the suggestion ol'parties inter ested, is now pending before Congress. When this matter is concluded the whole subject of direel tax may be said lo be ended. Ponai and Charitable Institutions. The Constitution of the Stair- imposes upon us the duty of earing for the insane, blind, deaf, and dumb, ami ibe poor, and says that institutions for this purpose shall be fostered and supported. STATIC HOSl'ITAi roKTIIK INSANK. W hile wc all deplore thc fact that we should, have amongst us those who are mentally afflicted, we should not only consider it a tildy but we should esteem it a pleasure lo care for them. I desire to call your special attention lo the full ami complete report of your cllicienl Superin tendent of Ike Stale Hospital for the In sane, Dr. J. \V. Babcock, and to ask for it your can Cul consideration. lt is a sad fact that the population at ibis institution is gradually and constantly increasing,the -average daily population being one thous and. The total number being cared for nt this lime is l,?xi2, an increase over last \ ear of 36. < If Ibis number 599, are white and ,|o/ colored. The number admitted dm in;; Hu- year closing December 31 w as 11S- The discharges were yr;. Intlie report ol tin- Hoard ol' Regents to un- it ir; slated: "The steady growth of the insti tution in thc last twenty-five years has imposed burdens upon us beyond, the ex peet.liions 1 >f our predecessors. The num ber of colored insane will in a few years exceed the white. While thc races have always occupied sep?rale buildings or wards, yet we cannot bul anticipate the tillie when a wider separation than now exists will be deemed necessary. lu dealing w ith her charitable institutions as with other vital questions, no progressive coin tuon wealth should be satisfied with temporary makeshifts. These subjects demand not only consideration lor to-day bul also provision for to-morrow. We must adjust our present plans lo meei so far as possible Inline needs." All these malters and the improvements deemed I necessary aie carefully and minutely dis cussed in the report ol' the Superintend ent. The Hoard ol" Regents desires lo sug gesl for your consideration the better de velopment of the system of county poor houses ami the consideration of the mal 1er ol' "settlement," by which il would be better established who may claim bene ficiary support in tlc State Hospital. Our law should also be more specific in deal ing with inebriates anil the criminal in sane. During the prevalence of au ?pi d?mie disease it is also recommended thal for the protection ol" the patients in the Hospital the right of quarantine against the infected territory be entrusted lo the C.overnoi , Hu- I'll iii man ol' thc Stale board ol' Health, and the President of the Regents. The growth of th.- institution has been so great that the necessary re j ia i rs from ordinary wear and lear have become a considerable drain upon the maintenance lund. The board estimates that in order to kee]) np these repairs and mala- sonic of tin improvements recommended will require about ;ti? , xxi. An ilemi/ed state ment will be lound in the Superintend ent's report. The Hoard estimates that il will m ed for this ye ir appropriations ns follows: l'or maintenance.$ioo,rx> 1'"or debt o 11 Wallace property and interest.|,3fio Por permanent improvements. 10,000 Tor Regents. 1,20o ?i15,500 The institution is efficiently managed au.i tin- appropriation is as economically expended as is possible with a wise eon duet ol' tue a (Va i rs, I commend lo your favorable consid?rai ion the suggestions of the Supei intend, nt and board ol Regents. SOITII CAROLINA I N ST III Iii ? N Tole 'lill-: i.iu'CAVioN <?i' 'im: i?i:.\r AM? l ill-. OLINO. The annual report of this institution for Ibe year closing I (coomber 31, iKyn, shows an enrolment of 1S6 pupils, representing thirty-seven counties. Asan evidence ol' the economical manner in which the in stilutioii is managed the average cost in twenty-four schools in which this school was included w as >222poi pupil as against A132 for this school. Hut the school bas grow n beyond the accommodations which it has lo oller. The Superintendent in .1 report lo me says: "The time basc?me in the history of the institution when it w ill be noocss i ry lo limit the nuiuhei of pupils admitted or lo arrange for the accommo dation of a giv lier number." Al ?1 meet ing of Ibe Hoard the following action was Liken: "< ?ll motion .,1 Mr. I). I'. Coil verse the Superintendent was instructed to ask thc- Legislature in next annual te pon for an appropi ?.ilion of 520.1* .'' for the ere? lion ami equipment of a school build in;',. Also l" renew ri quel for appropria tion of ? n?,i . . i for bu i hiing foi department of ?'?doled pupil-." The following Hppn - pi ?at iou are deemed necessary for I he proper maintenance and < quipmetlt of ibe institution foi the ensuing fiscal year: poi supp ?ri.?*>,? - > > P? M gene" al 1 < p iii s.. ' Por school bid 1.1 mg. .'.I,IOD por building for colored pupil.. io,...*? Su ??el i ut cm le ut Waiker ailil hi-, elii.ienl corp.. of instructors are perfoi ming a labor ol love ami doing au excellent work at thi-. institution. The c ue and ?ducation ol the ie un fort un ile children ol the Slide should enlist your sviupathv and com mand your thoughtful consideration. ri:M I L\ ri \uv. At your last ses: ou a rcsohilioii was ad oj .'eil ordering'au i livest iga tum into the ; iiaii - ol the Stale Penitentiary. Thal ?nv? ! ?gat ion was had and a rep n I of the committee was submitted lo me ns direct eil by ibe resolution. I have submitted in a separate message the action taken by me on Ibis repoil and beg lo ?lireet your attention toit and also lo thc leporl ol' I he special committee. That committee pel formed thc lintier laid upon il cflicionl I . and iv? ll as voa will r ee from an ex un illation ol (heit wi.1 ',.. Tb?: presen! Superintendent o? the Pen itentiary, Capt. I >. I Ci i Ililli. took charge on I he 15th of March. An examination I ot his report will show thal the affairs ?>f I the Penitentiary have been managed in a very satisfactory manner anti thc finances of the institution are in a very henlty con dition. He found il necessary todo much repairing on the buildings at Hie institu tion and on the farm and there is much more work that is necessary to be done. When he look charge H ere wnsturned over lo him by Ins predecessor ?i 14.35 in casli and he found il necessary to commence buying provisions lo support the inmates at once and from Mardi 15th to the har vesting of thc new corn crop bc was com pelled to buy 3,388 bushels of corn and meal. ll does not appear to mc lo bc good business judgment, with Hie farms thal are worked by the State, to be forced lo buys so large a quan tity of corn and meal when they could and ought lo to made on the farms. I am glad lo be able to slate that Ibo Su perintendent thinks bis supply of corn made during the pasl year will be suffi cient to supply the institution during this year until the new crop conies in. There was also a large crop of oats made, some thing over .|,< ? o bushels having been sold. The Superintendent says: "Thc year ag riculturally has been satisfactory, consid ering thc late sit..i and other disadvant ages under which thc work was done." The cotton crop will amount lo nearly six hundred bales. There bas been no serious sickness amongst the prisoners except a few cases of miniugilis, front which there were sev eral deaths. The Superintendent informs inc that then; are several prisoners who me suffering from consumption and close confinement only aggravates the disease. I have thought it would be wise and hu milit? to secute a report from the physi cian of such cases and have them turned out, or placed in a separate building re mote from other convicts, for their punishment was not intended lo be a slow death. There have been only 15 (.-scapes under the present man agement and 12 of these were from stock ai les of private parlies who have convicts leased. I understand thal the Hoard of Directors have been making contracts for the lease of convicts when there was not a sufficient number lo lill existing contracts. 1 do not consider lins good business judgment. Neither do 1 think it wise lo make contracts for a long terni of years, for conditions might arise which would not leave a sufficient number to work the State's property. I ask a care ful considi .ilion of these contracts.'These suggestions are made only in the interest of tin- ellicicnt management of the institu tion and not willi a view of criticism. There has been a slight bibil increase of convicts during the past year, as the fol lowing statement will show: CONVICT STATKM l\NT. Prisoners in confinement De cember 31, 1898. 7S4 Prom courts since that date. ... 272 Recaptured. 17- 289 V>7J Discharged. 199 I'atdoned . 16 Kscapcd. 15 Accident)) killed. 1 Died.ll 272 Inprison December 31, 1899.... Soi A summary of expenditures and re ceipts during the past year shows a net cash balance on baud of $9,886.67. balance cash on hand Deo. 31,'98$ 4,804.44 Total receipts for thc year. 63,518.23 $68,322.67 Total expenditures for thc year. 58,436.00 Cash balance Deceinbur 31, '99.$ 9,886.67 In addition to the above receipts the following amounts were collected and be long properly lo the earnings of 1899. Jan. 3. Collected from contrac tors. f 431.60 Collected from J. M. ( ?rabain,Hosiery Mill, October, 1S99, hire... 2,182.29 $2,613.89 In this statement the provisions and supplies made on the farms to bc used in the maintenance of the institution are not included. This, it appears to me, ;s a good showing anil demonstrates good business management. It seems to me il would be wise for the Superintendent lo keep on hand a sufficient amount of this money to meet current expenses audio pay the cash for what be is compelled lo liny, for by so doing be can run the in stitution much more economically, and thus in thc end be able to save money for the State. I commend lo your careful consider.ition thc report of the Superin tendent ;ind Hoard of Directors. KM-CATION. Along willi lue material progress that has come lo our Slate lhere has beena lively interest in thc education of our youth. Not only bas this been manifest 111 our higher institutions of leat tiing but thc country schools and the primary schools throughout Lil? State have been .Mcally improved. lu almos; every incor porated town and many of the country districts Hie three mill constitutional lax has been supplemented and the schools are kept open for the full school year. The teachers are educated Christian men and women who have gone out from our col leges and training schools fully equipped foi their WM-h. 1 II a government like oms the education of our youth is of para mount importance. Any legislation that will foster and encourage our common sebo ils should ...( ive your heart)' ap proval and endorse lent, tor you may fos lei and build colleges as you please, the fact remains that a vast majority of our children can in ver avail themselves of a collegiate training. If the means are available it is within the range of possi bility for all of them to obtain a common school education, and thus bc equipped for tho proper discharge of the duties of citizenship, Intelligent citizens make intelligent voters. Ivducaled mothers u ar intelligent citizens. When you put m..nev in education yon invest capital that will give you ever increasing return and can neither bc lost not squandered. To secure efficiency in om common schools three things arc of panuni mut i III pot ta ncc : first, sou must have the means with which lo operate them. Second, von must have educated and cousccrali d teachers. Third, you went intelligent ami ellicicnt County Superintendents ol bducation. ! nfoi tun it. ly \s iib thc money which tho State is able toexpend for common school education thc average length of Hie tenus of thc publie schools where thc public, school tax is not supple nu 11 ted is only from Ihree lo four months, lt i-. impossible lo secure that efficiency and thoroughness which ?.. ? should have unless the schools could run longer. Thc teachers asa rule, are ellicicnt and competent ami then pay i . fal too small for tuc work they tender. I fear thal the parents too often feel when tho have paid their tax th .t they have shilled the responsibility foi thc educa tion of theil children hom their shoulders to thc State. Il the parents could be. made to realize the importance of this matter and their responsibility and duty