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schools to become too mechanical and inelastic, thc irregularity in attendance at the country schools renders it impossible to have graded instruction or systematic work. Since the State offers free education in order that its people may be titted for the duties of cit izensuip. it is wordy of consideration whether, within proper limits of term and ag?:, it should not require attendance at the schools. The ideal is a well articulated system extending from primary grade to college; ai hast one well equipped school in every commu nity, accessible to every citizen of school age; a term of at least eight months, and the requirement that, within reasonable limits, the communit) avail itself of thc advantages offered by thc public ; a County Hoard of Education, removed fron, local prejudices, charged with the duty of assigning teachers to vacant schools and of inspecting the schools. At a later period each school should bc equipped with a circulating library, and should be prepared to give technical training in the industrial arts. We are far from thc ideal, hut our schools arc making gratifying progress; and the whole sub ject has been much embarrassed by the race problem. Wc should address ourselves faithfully to the development of the system. "Thc glory of founding educational systems cannot bc ours; but thc effort for improvement, by building wise practice upon sound the ory, is within the reach ot each one of us." Whatever you effec tively do for the improvement of our educational system will bc so tnuch wisely contributed to the welfare of the State and thc ad vancement of civilization. The report of the Stale Superintendent ?if Education wi'.! acquaint you fully and in detail with the condition and needs of our schools. This report contains a full and intelligent discussion of the whole subject of the common schools and those things which are neces sary to make them more efficient. In tile estimation of thc State Superintendent one of the most pressing needs of thc country schools is better supervision of the work done. This is a very im portant matter and cannot be too strongly impressed. To*secure it, however, it is necessary to have and to sp? I more money, so that men trained for the work could be employeu. The salary of County Superintendents ranges from $300 to $600, while thc town Super intendents receive $900 and upwards and their fields of supervision are incomparably smaller and far less complex, and hence their re sponsibilities are less. And yet unless thc s?lection of these County Superintendents could be made on account of merit and regardless of personal or political affiliations and not be subject to change upon the political whims of a changing public sentiment, increased pay would not be a guarantee of efficiency in thc management of the country schools. The management of our schools should be as far removed from political influences as possible and men should bc put in charge who arc devoting their life to the work. Thc office of County Superintendent of Education being an elective office, only as thc people come to realize the importance of efficiency and com petency as essential qualifications ir. the man who fills it, can we hope for or expect good results. Very few men have the courage to run counter to public sentiment and all .re more or less influenced by those things which affect their own interests. Provision should he made as already suggested for a County Board of Education se lected in such way as not to be influenced by local or political pre judice who would have the duty of inspec'ing thc schools and ap pointing teachers to vacant schools. There is no more importan: subject to demand your most careful and earnest attention than the education of thc children of the State. The country common schools for white children were kept open on an average during the past year for 21 weeks and the negro schools for 15 weeks. Thc previous year thc white schools averaged 19 weeks and thc colored schools 14J/?2 weeks. The enrollment in the white schools during thc past year was 126,289; m tnc colored schools, 155,602; total, 281,891. For the previous year the enrollment was: whites, 123,398; negroes, 146,477; total, 269,875. It will be seen that wc are making progress slowly. The town schools in nearly every case run for 36 weeks. It docs not seem to me that thc coun try people should be satisfied with less for their children. The ex penditures for white schools during last year were $700,540.60. while during thc year previous they were $576,353.26 ; for the negro schools last year, $202,178.93, and the year previous $193,461.39. This shows some gain in thc matter of expenditures for common school education. But when wc consider that thc enrolment is con stantly increasing, thus calling for the employment of more teach ers, and when we consider that our schools now run only 21 week? when thc regular school term throughout thc country is considered to bc at least 36 weeks, it is borne to our minds that wc have yet to spend considerably more money on our schools if we would bring them up to what our people expect and ought to expect. * There were 3,270 white teachers and 2,294 negro teacher? in thc schools iast year over against 3,000 white teachers and 2,003 negro teachers the previous year-a gain of 270 white teachers and 291 negro teachers. Our State Department of Education is too much cramped for quarters. The State Superintendent is at present occupying com mittee rooms of the Legislature, and thc space i* not ample for the duties which arc required of this department. The Superintendent of Education is guardian of a number of important records and it is necessary to have thc space to keep these. Thc department of edu cation should bc put on the same basis as thc other State depart ments. Thc Summer School work has assumed such large propor tions and the correspondence and other clerical work of thc State Board of Education has so much increased within thc last year that the duties of this office have been considerably enlarged. Moreover, there is a statute requiring thc State Superintendent of Education to collect in his office books, school apparatus, furniture, appliances of various kinds for inspection by teachers, school officers, and trus tees. This cannot be done unless thc Superintendent has sufficient room to display them. Thc reports of the various State Colleges will be presented to you through the Annual Report of the State Superintendent of Educa tion and for detailed information as to them you arc respectfully referred to this report, lt is gratifying to note that thc attendance upon all of these institutions is good and the management wise and satisfactory. Exercises at Clemson were temporarily suspended jw December on account of the appearance of scarlet fever among the student body but it was not of a serious nature and the regular work at the college will bc resumed with thc beginning of thc year. At Clemson a textile department has been added in which is taught, in addition to the usual instruction in mechanics, mathemat ics and English, thc manipulation of cotton machinery, designing and dyeing, and thc textile students arc also taught to weave va rious fabrics. At the South Carolina College there is pressing need for a new steward's hall. The new dormitory at Winthrop is nearing comple tion. The South Carolina Military Academy will ask a slight in crease in thc appropriation given to that institution so that the price for pay cadets may be reduced from $300 to $250. In order that you may intelligently act upon thc appropriations which will bc asked for these various State colleges it is very im portant that you should acquaint yourselves with their need*, and this you can do only by a careful study of thc reports which will be submitted through the. ?Miperintenncnt o? Education. It will he impossible for me in this connection to take up a discussion of thc demands of each college separately. It is your dutv to guard carefully thc public treasury, but it is not always wise economy if an institution is to bc maintained by thc State, to make niggardly ap propriations which will cripple the influence and thc good work of the institution. It is your duty to make these appropriations with 1 an intelligent insight into thc needs and demands of thc institution ' CHILD LABOR. The question of child labor in our cotton mills is one that has been attracting a great deal of attention recently, and properly so. Conditions in this State have changed very much in the last few years. We are no longer simply an agricultural people. With thc rapid growth in manufacturing enterprises we are already a large manufacturing Slate. The relation between the labor that is em ployed in these enterprises and the employer is not merely orle of master and servant, but there are rights and privileges and dut'es, obligations and opportunities, on both sides which should be care fully guarded. There has been no conflict, between employer and laborer in this State and nothing should bc done to disturb the ami cable relations which now exist. Government recognizes the fact that it is thc duty nf the strong to care for and protect the weak. It is certainly the right and thc privilege of government to provide for the inspection of any and all enterprises or corporations deriving their life from thc State and to see that they do not impose upon the weak. Of course this should be done with a proper regard for the property rights of thc corporations. There is no doubt thc employment and constant labor of children of tender agc in our factories is injurious to them and will result in untold injury in the future. To interfere with the government of the family by legislation is dangerous. And on the other hand unless something is done t. ? protect the tender children of vampire parents who spend their time in idleness and live off the labor of their little children who are required to work in our mills from year to year without the advantage, of school, the situation for the future be comes alarming. To force these children out of the mill and make no provision for their attendance upon school but allow them to spend their time in idleness on the streets presents almost as alarm ing au aspect as to permit them to labor. In a great many of our mills the officers and managers have provided schools and teachers and libraries and churches at thc expense of thc stockholders, and some of them will not employ childr? n under twelve years of age and they require thc parents of such . children to send the children to school. This is the tendency in all the mills in this State. These . children should be protected, but it is not well that they should be idle, and I doubt the wisdom of a rigid law laid down by the Leg islature prohibiting absolutely their employment. It would be bet- . ter rather that all children between the ages of seven and thirteen years whose parents or guardians work-in a, textile, manufactory should be required to attend school during the school term, if this can be done under our Constitution without extending compulsory education to thc State. This would permit them during the vaca tion to relieve older sisters or brothers and give them a little rest and not take the means of support from the family,and at the same time accomplish the end sought-thc protection and the education of thc children of the mill districts. But better to have a prohibitory law as to child labor than that nothing should be. done for the protecr tion of these children. Thc mill owners themselves realize the dan ger of child labor and arc doing what they can to force attendance upon schools and to keep the children .oui of the mills, and a law making attendance upon school compulsory would have their coop eration and accomplish the desired results. With our present manu facturing interests and their constant increase this becomes a serious question and deserves your most earnest consideration. It should be considered without prejudice or passion and. by counseling with those who arc interested I am sure a wise solution can be reached. THE DISPENSARY. The Dispensary has been well managed during the past year, as thc statement of thc Board of Directors and the State Commissioner, which will bc submitted to you, will show. Thc Dispensary system and the management of che liquor qucsr tion have occupied much of the attention of each Legislature since thc system was inaugurated. Thc Dispensary has also been an issue in every campaign in the Slate since it was passed and has been more strongly opposed possibly than any other law that was ever placed on the statute books of this State. Every argument that could bc brought to bear against it has been presented by some of thc ablest intellects of the State, and yet after a thorough canvass of each County and a presentation of the case to.thc people the system has been endorsed by decided majorities on four different occasions and thc principle is incorporated in our organic law. Under the Constitution the. Legislature may license individuals or corporations to sell under the rules and regulations governing the Dispensary, or it may prohibit the sale and manufacture of liquors. Both of these plans have been thoroughly .and exhaustively argued and advocated before thc people.and thc verdict every time has been decidedly in favor of the Dispensary under the management of t^lie State. This.^reference is made to emphasize what seems to me to ba the duty of every patriotic citizen who loves his State and believes in democratic doctrine and republican institutions, and that duty is to submit to the voice of the people and go to work earnestly and conscientiously to improve and perfect a law which has received so. many endorsements from those whom it directly cor. "*rns. Thc , Courts have held that under the police regulations the State has a right to take charge of the sale of whiskey. Thc question when re duced to its last analysis is not one of principle but of expediency. What is the best method of dealing with this evil so as to secure the best results. That is the question. Thc present system, as it maybe improved from time to time, is the beat solution yet devised, and is growing in public favor; much of the prejudice that has existed against the law is being removed, and many of those who oppose the system are in favor of the enforce ment of the law. As public sentiment grows in its favor it will bc easier to enforce it. The mayors and intendants of the towns and cities of thc State, in response to a circular which I issued during November, state that the law is well enforced and that the sentiment ' of thc towns is for a strict enforcement. The exceptions are the cities of Columbia and Charleston and a few Counties in which thc sale of whiskey is prohibited by law. In fact in those Counties in which no dispensaries arc established it would conduce to a better enforcement of law and there would bc less illicit sale of whiskey if dispensaries were'established. Iii the cities named the Dispensary cannot bc rigidly enforced so long as -public' sentiment upholds vio lators of the law and grand juries fail to find true bills and petit juries to convict when cases arc made and th? evidence furnished. As public sentiment grows in favor of the law in these cities and the prf judicc against it dies away convictions for violations will bc had and it can then bc more rigidly enforced. As a rule, however, the law has been weil enforced, and it has been with a small constabulary force but with thc aid of the municipal officers. All law is violated. If there were no violators of law and this were an ideal country there would bc no need of law or courts to try and punish offenders. The United States Government with its illimitnu?r resources has failed to stop a!! violations of the revenue laws. ' / Thc present law might bc made-H liitlc*ni?,r? explicit in som*? par ticulars, for in some respects it-will take a judicial deliverance, to de termine what has been repealed and what r?-?nacted by th? am?n?> ????????????y**1"*"'-* ment adopted last year, and yet in its practical operations tne'law' has worked very well. While it is important that the law shall not be violated by illicit sale of whiskey, it is equally important that those charged with its r administration shall conform io ii? requit cmciiis. Ii this were mor? -? rigidly done public sentiment would grow more rapidly in support of the system. I doubt if there is a dispenser in the State who does ito* violate the law every day, not with any canina! ??ient. The law re quires that, "Before selling oi"delivering any intoxicating liquors to' any person a request must be presented to ,the Co^ty^Dispenscr, printed or written in ink* dated o? the true datfj stating- that he or she is of age, and the residence of the sign ?r, fori^vhorh or wltose use .it is required, the quantity and kind required, and his or her true name ; and the request shall be signed by the applicant in his own t-ue name and signature, attested by the County Dispenser or - his clerk, who re ceives and files the requests. But t^erequKt? ^?a.ll'be rcfus|!d;;va?ti|ev; County Dispenser Ailing it personally knows thv' person applying"Js a minor, that he ia intoxicated, or that he is ijfs thc habit bf using in- ' toxicating liquors to an excess; or if the applicant is not so person any Known io s>aiu -ooumy j-uajTcnact, uciuic uuui^ semi ui uti or uc livering said liquor, he shall require the statement of a reliable and trustworthy person of good character and 'haf?tslTknown personally to him, that the applicant is not a minor, and is not in the habit of using intoxicating liquor s to excess." The fctaunty Dispenserta^ts ? an obligation to the effect that he will and another afterwards th^rhe decs comply strictly with this'provision and all of ihe other provis ions of the law. lt has become customary for County Dispensers to sell to any One who applies to purchase without being identified* ot; without *!gnin? : the application "in his own true name and signature" and without stating "for whom or whose use it is required." Ample provisions made for the course to be pursued for violations in the administration. of the law. The County Dispensers are responsible to the County Boards of Control and they are appointed by the State Board ci y>|* rector* on the recommendation and with the advice afid consent, ol' the Senator and Representatives from each County. That brings thc case right up to thc door of the members of the General Assembly. This is a business matter and as careful and as prudent business judgment should be exercised in thc selection of those. who .are charged with the administration of .the law as a prudent-business man would exercise in the selection of those * whom he would plac? in charge of his private business. Politics and partisanship should have no part in the selection, . , I again commend to you the advisability of abolishing the County Boards of Control-and of devolving their duties upon the Mayors or Intendants of the towns, and the County Supervisors of the Counties, in which Dispensaries are located. The towns and Coun ties are directly interested in the proper management of local dispen saries, and the duties thus imposed would not be onerous. I also recommend that County Dispensers be elected by the people as other County officers are elected, for a term of two years. They woiiid then be responsible to the people for a proper conduct of the business placed in their hands. . v ! In the management of the Constabulary it has been my a:*m aftrt purpose to secure men of discretion and judgment, who would,per form their duties without fear or favor, and at the same time without causing conflict berweeen themselves and the citizens; and it is ? source of gratification to me that there has been no conflict. T sub mit herewith a- table showing the mimber of Constables employed, thc total cost of the Constabulary, and the number of seizures"for each month during the past year, including eleven months, inasmuch as the fiscal year has been changed'to end November 30. ilpili ?mm ..ir f?ii5 Number of seizures for- this mooth. Ampunt pf gallons. JR ! S3S33388S88 ?ilsi; Sit: SI 8888: 888: 88 Number of seizures for this month. If in bold ea give No. of doz. here. If hr kegs give No. . of gallons here. Number of coavictiona for violations of Dispensary Ln- Obtained this'month; Number of cases, sent,- un".tpj Circuit Court and not re ported ' in column for con victions. Amount of fines imposed. L- c! ci 01 o t; cc -> M toc? H 3 3 8 j| 3 jjj o 3 g S g - jiff ff ffffjl^^j^ M 5. o. t. c.s. cu. j? N>?o.?t?t*'-'; ; ; ; ; _. a. a. eu C cg-. 3 a s a 5, a a. I M-pa-. S ?li?S'i5::::: nuivuiu ut fine? paid. Number convicted who' went to jail or coila gang and paid no fine. In'iMisl From the report of the State Board of Directors: it will be astii that the net profit to the School Fund from the business for the past year, after expenses are paid, is $176,012.18, and to the towns, and counties, $298,166.28. This report covers eleven months, as the fiscal year has been changed so as to close November 30. In dealing with this question I feel sure that you will bc guided by a love for your State and an earliest purpose and a. sincere desire to do that which will bc for thc best interests of the greatest num ber, and not be actuated by prejudice or partisanship. STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. The issue of thc Seventy-seventh Report pf this institution calls attention io tuc fact that it is one of the most venerable of its'kind ;? thc United Stales. Begun as ?n experiment by the State, it has . ?Vo ?mi\.\i-rfnt,^A ,./.Aft?h?A<iii Th-. ^w.-^?irt ll .w"#0 .r*^?**r?* >?^p??*^-???r^* . ??? . ? ..*?#.**. ??a*a?w ?uu li^i.iMinv.?a. i uv j^a %r ?.* o? the institution, however, appears to have been confined largely JO tofc; jpuigq;. Qty .century ; Ol '&^:;p$*n#