Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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since its. foundation over 7,000 have been received since 1875, while 3,900 have been a^rViitted in the last decade The admissions for last yeal1 were 448; tntf largest annual humber eyer received. It has loug.been .claimed that th? institution is imposed upon by the dass of patients sent to it. In other wo-ds, that the benefaction of the State is aVus?d. In response to the question what classes of persons are admitted to the "Hospita^ the Regents state that "By tiie origma! law of 1828, idiots, lunatics and epileptics, and to thesW have been added inehri?t?s and the criminal insane by legal pro vision, while an elastic interpretation of existing statutes has; gradu ally inqluded all the undesirable elements of our communities - im beciles,!, incorrigibles, waifs, the blind," and many aged persons dotards, who pr^ierly belong to county almshouses." Thlr*tate? ment explains in some degree the rapid growth in the population of the I Hospital Vin thV last twenty-five years. SO that, property int?rprti?d, these appalling figures do. not necessarily imply such an enormous increase of cases of acute insanity in our midst. The real fact being, according, to stat:siics presented by Dr. Babcock, that rejeentiy occurring ???es cf lu??ac-y are not increasing in our State out ot proportion .?tothe increase of population. A ?final analysis of-the'f^urcs presented shows that about .one person per thousand of. our:population annually becomes.a patient in the In sane Hospital, and that thc cost of \he support of such patients is about $ioo per capita pernear; Iii thy last message ? . suggested ?h?rincas?rcs-be Ulken by the General Assemblylooking to theere??ofrtof'P?or-Houles iii'those Counties which had notptfervideti ther?ii and towards the improve meht of those already <^?^?; Th** financial management Of $?Hj(?^ and efficiency of Mr, J. W. B?nch, the tr?asurer, is its beat feature, and will be the subject of a sp?cial report of a committee appointed by the General Assembly. Durhl? th? past year the perc?p?ta has remained substantially thc samefor several years. Upon ? business, basis the Regents of the Hospital ask for appro priation^ fpr these specific purposes and amounts : 'Maintenance.. ...... .'. .. .. . '. .... . .$100,000 fmproyemerits and Repairs.. .. 10,000 ? Payment of Wallace debt".. ...... .... 4>i2p Regents Acc??jntj.'. .. .... ,... .. .". 1,200 ' ;' Wife I also take pleasure in commending; the earnestness, and efficiency of Dr. J. W. Babcock, thc Superintendent of this Institution. THE SfTATit I^E???TENTlA?V. The; aimuai report Q? tiie Board o? Directors-and .Superintendent of thc, Penitentiary shows-a most gratifying condition of affairs at this institution. . While no tnoney will be covered into the State Treasury this year, yet permanent^ improvements have been inade out of the net earnings amounting, in round numbers, to $20,000, and there is still a cash balance on hand for current expenses of about $5,000. In addition to this, the farms haye yielded corn and provisions sufficient to run the institution until the next crop is har vested. The number of convicts r?mains practically the same as one year ago. A modern prison, which was very much needed, is nearing completion, within the walls of the Penitentiary, at a cost of $14,500. In addition to being a/ safe prison, it is built with a view to the. health and comfort of the prisoners, and will bc paid for out of the net earnings of the Penitentiary during the past year. At th? last session of the Legislature provision was made for the erection of a Reformatory for youthful crimin?is. A neat and substantial frame structure fotthis purpose bas been erected on ,the Lexington farm, in Which Will be kept all prisoners under 16 years of age. While it will be the purpose of the Superiritendetit;to iurnish them instruction in mot als and, if possible, make better citizens of them when they are released, yet they will be required to labor as other prisoners, but will be kept entirely separate from the older and more hardened criminals. At present there are,only fourteen prisoners under 16 years of age, and these are all negroes. A good many needed- and permanent improvements have also been made on the State^farms, and everything there is now in good condition. T?tere has been some discussion in regard to the ad - vi s abi 1 i ty of > the State owning and operating farms. A. careful and thoughtful investigation of the subject, I am sure, will convince you that it would not be good, business judgment to dispose of these farms. It requires only. 140 convicts to operate tiie farms, and:iii this way com and provisions and other tilings necessary fori the support of the convicts- are made at less expense than they could bc purchased. It is argued by some that these convicts could be worked upon the publie roads. I am as heartily in favor of anything that would give us good roads as anyone, but I do not see how the State could undertake this work except through the Counties. It would be a good plan if those counties in, which chaingangs are maintained would so arrange as to secure enough prisoners from the State to keep, up a good chaingatlg fqree all the time.. From the best inf orin at ion. available, and from those who have had experience with chaingangs, it is not profitable, even to the County, to main tain a chamgang when ilie miniber falls;below fifteen, lu, nipst Pf the counties the average is below that number. The fanning out of convicts to individuals should he discontinued. If this vf ere done it would call in 475 convicts who are flow hired out to individuals and that number put on the roads in the various counties in thc State where chai.??ang? arc maintajiied wo'-iid jn a few y?ars^great?y improve our-public roads and at the same time not interfere willi the State famas. The present systein of ciaingangs in most of thc Counties is a very expensive luxury,. buXby. the Counties Irirjng a sufficient number of comets from thc State, as suggested above,,we could very soon have in those Counties a good System of public roads, and nothing could be done that would add more to the Com fort a?id convenience; an i saving to the people-w^o live in the rural districts. A system of good roads would do very much to $top thc flow of population from the country to the towns. The Counties could not sp?nd tl>e public money more -wifely,,Or wjtli. greater benefit to the public; than by maintaining a good ch?ingang in each County on permanent road building. Good roads would brin? t Arches, and schools, and towns closer, to every country home, in I addition to the/ saving' which would result from, tiie wear and tear upon stock and vehicles, and uppn the people themselves. And this 040 be don? by wise legislation without interfering ih the least with the management or maintenance of tye State farms. I submit here with a statement showing tne operations of the State Penitentiary for th? past year. CON VICT Sf ?f ?MENT. Prisoners in confinement December 31, 1899. 801 Frdm Cpurts since that date........ ^. .. .. . .246 Recaptured...... .. ... ......* ..ti- 257 . ii ?i ' . J - W ;IiO$8 I' discharged. .. .. ...... ... ..iffy Pardoned. . ..24 I^^caped* ... * . . . ? . ? . . . . . - ? ? ? . ? . . ?.??. 22 Killed while trying to escape-.... ... ? D?ed_ . .v..29rr- 263 FINANCES. Balance ?a$k ou hand Dec. 31, .1899.$ 9,886,67 Total receipts for 1900-.65,926.30- $75,813.03 Total disbursements for 1900. 7*1879.91 Cash on hand Deceriibcr 31^ 1900.$ 3*933-12 To t)ns should be added 3?8 bales cotton.. ........... 13,120.00 Due for oats and convict hire. 2,062.00 $20,015.12 Spent ipr Improvements New prison.. ...$14,649.00 Less amount still due contractor. 5,202.45 $ 9446.55 Reformatory. 1,000.00 Artesian wells. 1,22c.ee Barn.. 2,000.00 Gravel roof Hosiery Mill. 450.00 New bailer, etc.. .. 1,100.00 Recovering- guards' quarters. 110.00 Mowers, binders, mules, etc. 1,142.00 ? $'6,468.55 This amount is included in thc total disbursements above men tioned, ?rtd when added to the cash assets above named shows a net Sinnig ot tite institution for the past year of $36,483.67, and. this does tmi include th? corn and other material on hand and grown on the farm the past year for the maintenance of the institution this y ear, and neither is it included in the ?item of total receipts. In fact, the figures here given -show the total receipts to have been $82,008.36. t congratulate you or. thc excellent management of this institution. INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND THE BLIND. The Fifty-second Annual Report of the South Carolina Institution for thc Education of the Deaf and the Blind shows an average at tendance, of 157 pupils, which is the hingest in the history of the School. Thirty-six Counties are represented. The expenditure* have been kept within thc appropriation. The per capita cost re mains ?bout the same. .The building for colored pupils, for which the Lcgistature. made an appropriation at the last session, is in process of erection, and will be ready for occupancy by the be ginning of thc next school term. Thc Superintendent will ask for an yppt-oprjation cf $20,000 for support and $20,000 for thc erection of a school building and $4,500 for other improvements and repairs which are needed. The appropriation for support which is asked this year is the same as was made by thc last Legislature, and the Superintendent says that- the institution cannot be run on a less amount with -the -present number of pupils. In his annual report it is stated,-. "Thc time has come in the history of the institution when i?wiH be necessary to limit the number of pupils admitted or to arrange for-the accommodation of a greater number." The new building which it- is proposed to erect for the sum of $20,000 is for recitation rooms, with a chapel, or auditorium. The Constitution says: "Institutions for thc care of the insane, blind, deaf and dumb and the poor shall always be fostered ana supported by this State." It is for you to determine whether or not provision shall be made for the increased number of these unfortunates who are seeking ad mission to-this institution. For a detailed statement of the work and needs of the institution you are respectfully referred to the report of the-superintendent, TAXATION. Government has no right to take more from the people than is absolutely necessary for a wise and economical administration of thc affairs of the State, and it should be so taken that the burden will bear evenly/ on all property, lt is the duty of every citizen to con tribute his portion to thc support of the government in proportion tp bis ability. This is the standard laid down in our Constitution. That taxation does not bear evenly upon all property is patent to eyery thoughtful person? If you can in your wisdom devise any plan by which the assessment of property for taxation can be more equitably made and all the property of the State can be placed on the tax books you will have contributed much to lighten the burden on that class of property which in its nature cannot escape taxation. In some.of the States tax inquisitors are provided to discover property that is omitted from the tax list. There is no doubt that a tvfeat deal of property escapes taxation which should be on the bo oh 5. and made to bear its portion of the burden, and some plan should be devised by which this property can be reached. Missouri has u Jopted a jaw which provides for the taxation of mortgages, and the man who owns the property has it assessed at thc value of thc property; lfcsa thc value of the mortgage, and the owner of thc mortgage is required to pay tax upon thc value of his mortgage. Some s?ch* provision- ?? our laws would be j?st and equitable, for it is rii?t 'rtglitlfor' the owner of the property to pay taxes upon the full valu? Hvm?h'irr reality his ownership is only the value of the prop?rty !#is the value of the mortgage. It wcu?d not be right to tax the proj&irjty'air its full value and then tax thc mortgage, for that would be paying" taxes upon the same property twice. Thl? question Of taxation-is worthy of your attention, for it is one of vital importance to all of our people. RAILROADS. The- rXwcntyrsccond Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners contains a very full exhibit of the operations of thc roads within the State for the past fiscal year. An exarninatipn of the report will familiarize you with thc duties oi this very important department of our State govern ment, You will doubtless be gratified to note that the general prosperity of the year has benefited the railroad interest, and that thc roads as a whole are in good condition, both materially and ?r.ar.c;?iry. T^iereis a gradual improvement in the roadways ; the trestles and bridges have been strengthened, as required by the increased capac ity of the rolling stock and the large increase of the tonnage. There has been considerable improvement in the depot accommodations, some new ones constructed, and many.old ones repaired. There has been constructed and received for public business since the last re pof Jiout 200 miles of new roa4 within the $tate. The gross earn ings pf the roads have about reached the $10,000,000 mark. The entire operating expenses and taxes amount to about $7,000,000 leaving a balance with which, in, a large measure, to liquidate thc interest on thc bonded indebtedness. Some few roads have paid a small dividend on their stock. Thc, report shows some of the vexed questions that were brought to the attention of the Board, and a full statement is made of thc disposition of the same, demonstrating the fact th-it the Commission has endeavored to adjust all differences betunen thc public and thc roads in a just and reasonable manner. The prosperity of the rail roads of a State is a good index to the general prosperity of the people; PENSIONS. For several years the State has been doing what she could for the few.- retraining : old Confederate *>idiers -md Ihje .widows of soldiers who are in need of its aid. It should be a matter of congratulation to every patriotic son that wc haye been able to do what we have, and a source of regret that wc arc not able to do more. Thc trouble with our pension laws is thc tendency to abuse them, and tn many cases those who are really deserving go without thc assistance they need, and to which they are entitled : but better that a hundred who are not entitled to it should receive aid than that one deserving old soldier should suffer in his old agc for the want of such help as thc State and the people he served so well are justly due him. At the last session of the Legislature a new pension law was en acted, which has not yet been tested. Thc new law is intended to reduce thc number of pensioners now on the roll, and to have on the list only those who arc worthy, and to give them a sum sufficient to bc a real help to them, lu order to carry out thc purpose of this law a new set of blanks have been sent out, and the roll for this year will be completely revised. In view of this fact, it would be well to give thc present pension law a fair trial, and to make such an appro priation for the old soldiers as thc General Assembly may in its wisdom feel that the State is able to spend for this purpose. Last year thc appropriation was $100,000, and there were on the pay-roll 7,707 pensioners, of whom 4,575 were soldiers and 3,132 were widows of soldiers. 1 recommend that there be no reduction in tho appropriation for this worthy cause. STATE MILITIA. During my admiuiatrauon several occasions have arisen in which the civil authorities have called upon me as Commander-in-Chief for the assistance of the Militia to preserve thc peace and avert riot and bloodshed in the State. In each and every case the volunteer troops have responded to my orders with alacrity and enthusiasm, and in every instance, by their promptness and coolness, law and order were enforced without loss of life or property. In the recent threatened riot at Georgetown, caused by thc killing of an officer in the dis charge of his duty, by a negro, it is attested by Mayor Morgan and the best citizens of that city that but for the timely presence of thc volunteer troops the civil authorities would have been overwhelmed, and the city reduced to riot and bloodshed, and probably destruction of property. With the rapid progress the State is making-the cen treing of populous industrial activities herc and there all over thc State-the ever present problem of another distinct race in our midst may warn us that wc are ever liable to such occurrences as thc Georgetown riot, and to meet such conditions, and to protect thc lives and property of our citizens, the State has no other appeal, no other means so adequate or reliable, nothing else so satisfying to the people as the presence of a well organized, thoroughly equipped body of soldiers. Therefore, if the Militia is a necessity when calam ity threatens the peace and good order of society it is the bounden duty of the State to make liberal provision in the linc of wise economy to foster and maintain it, for under the genius of our system of government the Militia, or citizen soldiery, is, and must always remain, the court of last resort in the maintenance and en forcement of law and order. A^ide from my personal knowledge and observation, as Commander-in-Chief, it gives me pleasure to note thc expressions of satisfaction that constantly reach me in praise of thc progress and improvement of our Militia system under the able con trol and direction of that department, and I do riot hesitate in ad vising the General Assembly to provide as liberally as our means will allow for the maintenance and advancement of the Militia, feeling, as I do, that every dollar appropriated will be wisely and economically disbursed in thc interest and steady improvement of the service. I respectfully refer you to the Adjutant General's report, which covers in detail the entire operations of the Adjutant General's Department for the last fiscal year in a most satisfactory manner. CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD. At the last session of the Legislature $10,000 was appropriated for the purpose of erecting a 'monument to the South Carolina soldiers on the Chickamauga Battlefield. The Governor was authorized to appoint a Commission, consisting of three Confederate soldiers, with thc Governor as Chairman, to have charge of the erection of this monument. I appointed as members of that Commission Gen. C. I. Walker, Col. J. Harvey Wilson, Capt. C. K. Henderson. The Com mission visited the battlefield and selected the location of the various markers, designating the positions of the South Carolina troops. They also selected the location for the large monument for all South Carolinians who fought and who fell on that historic battlefield. The Commission called for designs and bids. Several plans and bids were submitted, and, after carefully considering all of them, the contract was awarded to the Stewart Stone Company, of Columbia, S. C., as their designs impressed the commission as the most suit able, and they also offered to do the work at the lowest price. Thc total cost for markers and pavement around the monument, and for the monument itself, is $9,450. The work on thc markers has been done, and that on the monument is nearly completed. The monu ment is 32 feet high, and will be a handsome shaft, made of South Carolina r rani te, surmounted by a bronze palmetto tree emblematic of our State, and flanked on two sides by two bronze statues, each of a Conf?deratc infantryman and artilleryman, these figures represent ing the only arms of the service from South Carolina on that battle field. It is proposed to unveil the monument in July, 1901, that being thc time of the reunion of the United Confederate Veterans at Memphis, Tenn. This time has been selected so that many veterans and our people generally may have an opportunity of attending the cere monies while on their way to the United Confederate Veterans* Re union, and thus be able to secure thc advantages of the low rates of tare given on.that occasion. The Commission feels that it would be very appropriate for tba entire Legislature to be present at the dedication of this memorial which they have caused to be erected to the gallant sons of the State who on this sacred spot offered their lives with distinguished gal lantry for their beloved country. The spot selected for the monu ment is one held by the intrepid courage of the brave men of Ker shaw's Brigade as they victoriously swept toward Snodgrass Range, and every marker shows the spot where South Carolina valor was displayed. THE BLACK REPORT. In my last Annual Message to the Legislature I called attention to the importance of securing thc report made by Mr. John A. Black to the Legislature in 1858 in regard to the claim of the State against the General Government on account of thc Revolutionary War, and sug gested the importance of provision being made for search for this report, which was supposed to be in one of the old rubbish rooms of the State House. The Legislature made an appropriation and di rected the Governor and thc State Treasurer to employ some one to go through this rubbish room to sec if this report could be found. The report was unearthed amongst this old rubbish and has been forwarded to Senator Tillman along with other papers and docu ments bearing on this subject. I will submit to you a Special Mes sage covering this matter. SPECIAL COURTS. At the last session of the Generai Assembly there was an Act passed providing for Special Courts, and stating how they should be obtained, and also fixing thc salary of thc special judge. In fixing this salary, however, the General Assembly failed to provide any lupd out o? .which it should bc paid. During thc past year four.