University of South Carolina Libraries
GOVERNOR'v Thinks Dispensary S> Reform-Arrai In bis annual message, read before the General Assembly on Tuesday, January Olh, at noon, Governor Hey ward speaks of the dispensary troubles as the "only cloud which throws a shadow over the State." Nevertheless, the Governor shows himself to be a pretty strong advo cate of tho dispensary system when properly enforced, and he goes so far as to reiterate suggestions ns to its management made iu his last annual message. The message also calls at tention to the necessity of reform in tax assessment, and it takes up the question of inequality in valuation and the large amount of personal property not on the books. The Governor's message covers a wide range of subjects. It is very conservative, as was to be expected. The strongest portion is that dealing with mob violenco and lynching. This thc Governor approaches with out any modifications or excuses. The principal parts of tho com munication follow : I am gratified to report an im proved condition of our State finances. In my Inst message I called attention to the fact that, since the year 1000, the expenditures had ex ceeded the revenue of thc State by annunl sums varying from (10,046.42 to $208,005.28. During the past fiscal year the revenue has exceeded the expenditures by about $125,000, as is estimated by thc Comptroller General. This improved condition is empha sized by the fact that the State Treasurer had to borrow less money this year than formerly. If the ex penditures remain approximately os thoy aro at present, it will be seen that within a few years the State will be operated upon a cash basis. This is not only desirable, but is un questionably the only basis upon which our business affairs should bo conducted. Tho corporation license tax, passed in 1004, went into effect last year and has operated most satisfactorily, with very little additional expense to the State for collection. From this tax about $04,000 in round numbers has been realized. To this can be added from insurance license fees $37,000, and from the Secretary of State ?20,000 has been received, making a total indirect revenue amounting to $121,000. The estimated receipts for tho past fiscal year from the ft A mill levy aggregate $1,164,240, making total estimated revenue of $1,205,240 from direct ano indirect taxes. The estimated expenditures for tho past fiscal year show figures amount ing to ?1,171,000, leaving a surplus revenue over expenses amounting to $124,240. ASSKSSMKNT OK PROPERTY. It is a well known fact that the tax burden is not equally distributed, and it appears that a very large amount of personal property is es caping taxation. Comptroller-Gene ral Jones, who is a capable, thor oughly competent and conscientious officer, believes, after careful study of thc complex questions involved, that our present laws, with a few slight amendments, aro sufficient to correct these evils. I agree with him in this belief. This being the year for the assess ment of all personal property, tho Comptroller-General has made a de termined effort to enforce the tax laws. Ile has hada digest of the tax laws prepared, copies ot which hftVO been sent to each assessing officer throughout the State, with instructions to these officers as to the proper enforcement of these laws. Our laws require that all taxable property shall be assessed to its real value. This is a wise provision, be cause tho tax assessor must have some fixed standard, to the end that all property should be equally as sessed, thus making the burdon of taxation rcHt aliko upon all. An in creased assessment (loos not mean an increase in taxation, but simply means an equalizing of the burden. A certain amount of money is neces sary to meet tho requirements of the State government and a higher as sessment would necessarily mean a corresponding decrease in tho rate of taxation. STA TB FINANCES. S MESSAGE. 'stem Good, But Needs i gris Mob Law. It is sometimes urged against an increased assessment that thc rate bei ng fixed by the General Assembly upon the last assessment, that should , thero be a decided increase in thu assessment of property, the amount I collected would bo moro than sufli I cient for tho expenses of tho govern ment. This objection is fully met in the report of th.* Comptroller General. Ho points out that the General Assembly can determine the appropriations for both State arid county and can authorize a sufficient levy, based upon the assessed valua tion of property as fiually decided upon. This levy, I may add, couid be fixed for the State by the Comp troller General and State Treasurer and for the counties by the various County Comnissionors. In reference to the three-mill tax fixed in the Constitution for educa tional purposes, the Comptroller points out that if this tax, on the increased assessment, should alouo realize a sufficient sum for tho sup port of the schools, tho special school levies could be dispensed with, and other revenues now going to tho schools might be diverted to the county treasuries, thus reducing the county levy. In my opinion, how ever, wo cannot get too much money for the support of the schools, cer tainly not under the present condi tions. The Comptroller-General also makes a number of other recom mendations, all of which I commend to your consideration. I must repeat to you my recom mendation of last year in reference to County Auditors and Treasurers. These officers, for every good reason, should no longer be subjected to political influences and to the neglect of their duty incident to political campaigns for re-election. The report of the work done dur ing the past year by the Comptroller General contains most valuable infor mation, and well deserves your most careful consideration. Tho report will show that there aro now 8,804 old soldiers or their widows upon tho pension rolls of the State, to whom $200,000 is annually paid. It will be seen that when this appropriation is distributed it amounts to very little in individual oases. If tho prosperity of the State continues I would be glad to seo this appropriation for the bravo defend ers of their homes and country in creased as much as possible. Tho report of the State Sinking Fund Commission will be promptly submitted to your body. These funds have been well managed, as will appear from the report. Permit me to mention here, with the sense of loss and thc sadness which we must feel, the death of a valued member of this Commission, and a faithful servant of our State, the late Hon. Altamont Moses. DISPENSARY. The only cloud that throws a shadow over the State is tho unsatis factory condition of the dispensary. Great dissatisfaction has been mani fested by the people in many quar ters. It exists, I believe, because of loss of confidence, resulting from abuses in connection with its opera tion. No one can ?leny that the present atmosphere surrounding the dispensary is a grave reflection upon South Carolina, for it is n State in stitution, and any odium which at taches to its operation necessarily attaches to thc State. Since your last session a large number of coun ties have voted out dispensaries, but I must say that tho vote abolishing I them I take to be a rebuke to the mode of operation rather than a re pudiation of the system itself. In nay lust annual message, when considering the needs of the dispen sary, I said : "I am convinced if this gystem can bc properly regulated, it will be one of the best solutions of the liquor question. If not properly managed and controlled, its useful ness will be at an end." Despite the events of tho past year and the revelations which have attended tho investigations of your committee, I am by no means hopeless. I still believe that the dispensary system has many strong points and admirable features which commend it, but in saying this I am by no means blinded to its imperfections, It is imperative for the honor of the State that existing conditions should be immediately remedied, either by radical changes in the laws governing the dispensary or by the adoption of a different system for regulation of tho liquor question. Thu details of this situation are so well known throughout e\ery county in the Sinte thajb I feel no exteuded discussion is neoessury here. It is incumbent upon your budy to give this matter your most careful and serious consideration. You are chosen by the people co make their laws, and in such a crisis as this they will be satisfied only with direct and specific notion on your part. During the year that has passed, since your last session, I have given this questiou my earnest, considera tion, hoping td devise some certain romedies for the evils complained of, but have been impressed with no bet ter solution than was included in tho recommendations I mado to you last year. In order that my views may be clearly understood, I shall again call to your attention such extracts from my Inst message as I deem nec essary for this purpose. I herewith submit for your consideration the fol lowing extracts bearing upon this subjeut, with ono change, namely : The abolition of county boards of control. These aro again recom mended to you as embodying the changes which I think will best serve the proper regulation of the dispen sary system : "The State Commissioner should, in my judgment, be the officer whose duty it should be to purchase all sup plit > for the dispensary. Ho should be required to make contracts, not for any specific amount of liquor, but for such supplies as may be actu- j ally required, such requirements to be determined by the Commissioner." "Each contract made by the com missioner should require the firm contracted with to guarantee the sale of such goods aB may be ordered and shipped to tho State dispensary, said guarantee to bo entered as a part of the bond. All advertisements for bulk goods should be placed strictly and absolutely upon a competitive basis, by letting it be distinctly un derstood that the lowest responsible bidder shall be awarded the contract. It should further bo the duty of the commissioner to make, each year, quarterly reports to the State Board of Directors, showing that tho amounts contracted for the previous quarter, including the brands and prices, and the names of parties from whom goods are purchased, which report the State Board of Di rectors shall have published in at least two daily newspapers of tho State." STATE BOARD OP DIRE0T0R8. "The Board should be required to meet each week at their office in tho State dispensary, to remain in ses sion as long as maj' bo necessary for the transaction of their business. The general supervision and manage ment of all county dispensaries should be in their charge, and they should be specifically charged with the duty of seeing that all restric tions governing the various dispen saries should be strictly enforced. These are responsible and arduous duties, for which the members of this board should receive a salary of not less than $1,000 per annum each, It ts n well known fnct that cotton. ginla-Cnrolina Fertilisers will bring th Sinkt! healthy, strong, woll-dovelopou, the fruit limhs at tho huso as wolf as u emil of tho branches ol tho cotton pla Virginia-Carol This (gone of tho several ways to ii They contain all the Histori?is noe monts which have boon taken from Ith Those fertilizers will greatly*. lucres mixed hy cupuhlo men who have boon 1 lives. They contain inatoriulH In the soil tho plant-foods that it needs. Act Vlrglnla-Carolh and should be required to file a bond of not less than 910,000." "I further recommend that the law as to the location of cuunty dis pensaries be amended to restrict them to such incorporated towns and cities as, in the opiniou of thu Board of Directors, furnish adequate police protection. All dispensaries so lo cated, in my opinion, should be olosed." After mature reflection I am con strained tooommend that the County Hoards of Control be abolished, and the dispensers appoiuted by the State Board of Directors upon the recom mendation of tho legislative delega tions of tho various counties. It should never be the polioy of | the State to force dispensaries upon counties or communities desiring prohibition nor to maintain them when it is tho wish of the majority of tho people to substitute prohibi tion in their stead. Legislation should be enacted at this session to freo the system from tho abuses which have crept in, to emphasize its restrictive features, j aud to ensure proper s compliance with the strict letter of the law. This matter will certainly be brought to your attention at tbid session of your body. I sincerely trust that you will give it your most careful consideration, and that you will, with a realization of your responsi bilities, make a fearless and deter mined effort to effect such changes as will at least relieve our State of the reproach which certain features of tho dispensary system have cast upon us. 1 ueed not assure you that in tho discharge of this duty I am ready and willing to aid you in every way that lies in my power. KXFoncK.VK.NT OF PROHIBITION. Tho enforcement of prohibition in counties which have voted out dis pensaries presents a serious problem. The present law, as I construe it, makes it the duty of tho Governor, whenever ho is satisfied that thero are violations of law in such coun ties, to appoint constables; these constables to be paid from the spe cial tax levied for that purpose. Dur ing the past year I have been con fronted with many difficulties be cause of local conditions und diverse public sentiment, but havo endeav ored to do what I considered my duty. My experience in the enforcement of this law has convinced me that certain changes are necessary for the mutual interests of all concerned. While I believe that special officers aro necessary to prevent violations, and that such officers should be paid by the counties, I also think that these officers should be scleotcd by local authorities and be under their direction and control. I, therefore, recommend that in the future this course be adopted, and trust you will so amend the law. The law, as it now stands, will give rise to serious complications, and these should be avoided as much as possible. BIENNIAL SUSSIONS. At the general election of 1904 an amendment to the constitution, pro viding for biennial sessions of the Goneral Assembly, was submitted to the people and was adopted. A committee was appointed from both Houses at your last session to report (Concluded on Pago 7.) or any other crop, produced with Vir? o hignest possible price on tho niarkut. early cotton, with' full grown bulla on ,11 tho vny up to tho vory top um! tip nts, by liberally using ina Fertilizers. torease your yields, ossary to supply to your land tho elo y repeated cultivation year after year, so your yields per aero," for they sro oakliiK li ?rh tr radi- fcrtili/oui all their rltiht proportions to return to your ?opt no substituto from your dealer. na Chemical Co. Atlanta. Oa. Savannah, Oft. Montgomery, Ala. McmphlH, Tonn. Shreveport, La. TONI Values Above Par ERMANENT MEADOWS should have an annual dressing of 500 pounds per acre of a fertilizer containing eleven per cent. POTASH and ten per cent, available phos phoric acid. This will gradually force out sour grasses and mosses from the meadows, and bring good grasses and clovers; thus increasing the quality as well as the quantity of the hay. Our practical book, "Farmer's Guide," gives'valuable facts for every^^ sort of crop-raising. It is one of a number of books on successful fertiliz ation which we send on request, free of any cost or obligation, to any farmer who wiii wr '.c us for them. Address, OBRMAN KALI WORKS, New York-93 Nassau Street. or Atlanta. Qm.-ZZX So. ilroad Street. BARGAINS BARGAINS % A first class line of Odd Pants at or tjelow cost . rfor the next thirty days. Also a full lino of Leather Gloves at cost. >'i All Clothing at greatly reduced prices. H Making room for my spring line. ' ' M. S. S^BIBMNOt Westminster, S. p. $15,000 for Her Pets. Tho fact that Cecelia A. Wolsey, who was formerly a performer on the vaudeville stage under tho name of Lillian Weston, bequeathed $15, 000 for the care her dog, parrot and a cage of birds, became known re cently when her will was filed. Miss Wolsey died in Now York a few weeks ago. Harriet E. Gates, a friend of the dead woman, is charged with tho care of the animals. A Candidate for Fire. "I don't seo what's tor como tor mo in do New Year," said a growling member of Brother Dickey's church. "I had very little coal tor burn dis whole win tor." "Don't you worry 'bout keepin' warm in dis worl'," said Brother Dickey. "Des koop on iu do way you gwyne, en you'll be in de Fire Department fer good on all!" _ _?_ The recently ended hunting sea son in Maine is said to have been one of the most successful in many years. Between 20,000 and 25,000 deer and about 450 moose were killed. Maine makes her hunting season short, limits the "bags" of the hunters and charges a license for the hunting privilege. In this manner she keeps her forests stocked with big game, and at tho same time de rives a revenue from tho hunters. FOR CHEAP RATES TO TEXAS, ARKANSAS, LOUISIANA, OKLAHOMA, INDIAN TERRITORY, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO, UTAH, WYOMING, OREGON, MONTANA, WASHINGTON, and Other Point? West, Northwest and Southwest, Write or Call on J. G. HOLLENBEOK, District Passenger Agi LOUISVILLE & NASHVILLE R. R. No. 1 North Pryor St., Opposite Union Depot, Atlanta, Ga. NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT AND DISCHARGE. - NOTICE is hereby givon that the undersigned will make application to 1). A. Smith, Esq., Judge of Prohato for Oconco county, lu tho Stato of South Carolina, on Saturday, 20th day of .January, 1906, at ll o'clock, in the forenoon, or as soon thereafter as said application can ho heard, for leave to make final settlement of tho estate of John H. McGuflin, deceased, and for a final discharge as Administrator of said estate. J. S. KING, Qualified Administrator of the Porsonal Estate of John IL McOuflin, deceased. Decombor 20, 1905. 61-8 COOK STOVES, RANGES, HEATING STOVES FULL LINK OF TINWARE, BICYCLES AND SUPPLIES. ROOFING, EAVE TROUGH AND ALL KINDS OF TIN AND SHEET IRON WORK MADE TO ORDER. Typowritors, Sowing Machinos, Guns. Rovolvers and Bicyclos cloanod and ropaired. All work dono on short notico and guaranteed. I*. S. LOOK. Summons for Relief. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OK OCONKK. In tho Court of Common IMoas. Norton Cox, Plaintiff, V airain st. Waltor lam? pk .1. I Jot t io I,'.napkin and Charlie C. Lumpkin, Defendants. Summons/or Retie/-Complaint Si ri ll (1 To tho Dofondants abovo named: You aro horoby summoned and re quired to answer tho complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you, and to servo a copy of your answor to t ho srtid complaint on the snbscribor at his oilico, on tho Public Square, at Walhalla Court House, South Caroliua, within twenty days after the sorvico hereof, exclusive of tho day of such sor Y iee; nut! if you fail to answer t he complaint within tho timo aforesaid, tho Plaintiff yt this action will apply to tho Court for the relief demanded io tho complaint. Hated Decombor 28th, A. D. UK)5. IL. S.] C. lt. D. BURNS, C. C. P. R. T. J AYN ES, Plaintiff's Attorney. To the Defendants Abovo Named : Please tako notice that the Summons and Complaint in the abovo entitled ac tion were Hied in tho office of tho Clerk of Court of Common Ploas of Oconee county on the 20th day of December, 1005; that the objeotof this action is the partition of tho roal estate described in tho complaint among the parties to this action as tenants in common according to thoir respectivo legal rights, or for the salo thereof aud division of tho proceeds of salo among said parties according to thoir legal rights; for suoh further relief as may seem moot and proper. R. T. JAYNES, Plaintiff's Attorney. January 8, 1000. 1 0 Assessment Notice AuniTOU'S OFFICE, OCONKK COUNTY, WALHALLA, S. C., Decombor 12, 1005. THIS Olllco will bo open to re?oive Re turns of Real and Personal Property for taxation for the noxt fiscal yoar, j from tho 1st day of January, MOO, to tho 20th day of February following, inclu sivo. Tho Roal Estate, Lots and Puddings aro to ho assessed tins yoar. Taxpayers will ho careful to list exactly tho numhor of aries, numhor of lots and numhor of buildings on their Kuturns, us tito assess ment made now will stand for tho noxt four years. Tho Township Assessors aro required by law to list for all those who fail to make their own Roturns within tho time proscribed. Hence the ditllculty of de linquents OSOaplng tho 60 por cont pon alty, as well as tho frequency of errors resulting from this practice. Hy all means make your OWN Returns and thereby save expenso and trouble. Ex-Confodorato Soldiers over 60 years of age arc exempt from Poll Tax. All other males between tho ages of -2\ and 60 years, except those iucafpahlo of earn ing a support from being maimed or from any Other cause, shall bo doomed Taxable Polls. Under act of Idol, a capitation tax of 60 couts was imposed upon ALL dogs, and tho owners of such property aro re quired to list their dogs for taxation at the time of making thoir annual return, and it is mado tho duty of the County Auditor and Township Assessors to en forco tho provisions of this act. For tho convonionco of Taxpayers I I will have Deputies to tako Tax Roturns at tho following times and placos: I). F. Carter's, Thursday, January lHth, from 10 a. m. to 8 p. m. Tugaloo, Friday, January 10th, fropa 10 a. m. to ?) p. tn. M adisnn, Saturday, January 20th, from 10 a. m. to ?". p. m. J. P. REESE, Auditor Oconeo County, S. Docombor 13, 1005. 5o7o White Men on the Fan WANTED, good whito mon to tvork on farms in healthy and Hnsilrablo sootion of Fairfield county, noa. i [. rob. schools and railroad station. JGood wages. Address JOHN J. McMAIIAl 51-tf Columbia, ft. C.