The daily phoenix. (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, January 13, 1875, Image 1
uJIOE.
DOMESTICS, HOMK8PUNB.
JEANS, OA8BiMERE8,GENTB
FUBNlSH'lNQ OOODB, NOTIONS, LAOEH,
EMBROIDEBIEB, RIBBONS, HANDKER
nntuua nr;ATina nnotri'w IfWDlMn
IU<U?V| UUUIJm. UUUIUU.I
JNDEHWEAB, BHAWLB, LINEN8, TA
? I S.JOWEi : ?
kLPACAS. BOOTS and SHOES. 0ARPET9,
>ILOL0TH9, BUGS. BT ATS; ?TTOMAN8,
Ao,Ap? pwMjroom for Spring Btpok.
wo have markod down our priooo, and for
tho next alxty dayo from this date will sell
REGARDLESS OP COST. Wo havo ? juet
Now York, at nnprooedentedly low prlccB.
WoofforMo. Drees Goods at 25o. a yard,
and largo lines of .other gooda in propor
^??^^^K-TOTOTOW for
^AY8, and will offer them at
it tho tlmoa. Wo InTite all in
_ da to oxamino our assortment,
euch Inducementc to buyers in
)E3IBABLE OOODB that they
i ceo. Our gooda aro all new
quality, having been seleoted
OHM . specially adapted to this
Abling us to meet any oompetl
?tertr character. Our salesmen
atad attentive, and will take plea
aura In showing gooda at tho
Grand Central Dry Goods Etsabiioh't
WM. S. LOTE & CO.
AaT-Bamplea. sent gratuitously upon ap
pUoati on. ???>.?:?? pec 20
jl
SHOES I
SHOES!
/LADIES', GENTS',MIB8ES' and'OHIL
.. j ? . . . . ? ii
DREN'8 fine SHOES, far below regular
prices. Now is the .time to buy good goods
at low prices, at old stand of
? ? <? . ?? i I ? M - ? '
B. G. SHIVEB & CO.
Deo 89 :'
A CARD.
The Laurel Street
in y
1*1
6R0CEBY ESTABLISHMENT
IS now open to the pub'io, oGoring the
GREATEST INDUCEMENTS known
to the trade; The proprietor is so confi?
dent of the superior marita of his gooda that
he aBka no discrimination in his favor an
compared with' anything in thia market; so
that you oor> at onoe encourage Southern
industry, and at the same time direotly
eorvo your interest, by -purchasing from
thio reliable hoaae. Offering every reason?
able facility to customers, I beg an humble
share of public patronage.
Peel ? JOHN E. QYLE3, Agent.
GOOD THINGS.
100 barrelB NORTHERN APPLES.
200 boxes CANDY; ?
100 boxes EAISINy.
200 cases CANNED FRUITS.
Pecans, Almonds,' Oranges, Limons,
Walnuts, Ac, wholesale and retail, as lo*
as any house in this oountry.
' L?RICK A LOWRANCE.
?8BNIHX QOOfl
SACRED mUSIC BOOKS
FOR 1875.
. river op life. (35ctn.) A moat
beautiful Sunday Bchool Book. E. S. Per?
kins and W. W. Bentiey.
LEADER. ($1.38.) Full collection of
-Metrical Tunes, Anthems, Ao., with Sing?
ing Sohool Courae. U. U. Thomas and L
O. Emerson.
THOMAS' QUARTETTS AND AN?
THEMS, ($2 50 ) Perfect music of the
best claBB, lor Quartett Choirs. J. B.
Thomas.
DANKS' ANTHEBI SEBVICBH.
($2.50.) Anthom musio of excollont quality
for all the aervioea of the Episcopal Churoh.
?"*-P. Banks.
BBK1NS* ANTHEM BOOK, (f 1 SO.)
ussy Anthems Very full, gond and
already popular collection. W. 0.1'erkins.
SONO mosabch. (75 0te.) For
Singing Schools. Not much Sacred Music
but an admirable preparatory course, with
a large quantity of secular musio for prac?
tice. //. JR. Palmer and L. O. Emerson.
All books sent, post-paid,for retail price.
OLIVER DITBON A CO., Boston.
* OHAS. H. DITBON A CO.,
Jan 10 awV 711 Broadway, New ?ork.
Watches, Clocks, Jewelry,
SILVER AND PLATED WARE,
SPECTACLES, EYE-GLASSES, ETC.
^tfs
T HAVE a large stock of the above ,on
jl hand, ana win seit them at the lowest
cash prices. All goods warranted ae repre?
sented.
MW Witches, Cloche and Jewelry re?
paired and vr6rk Warranted.
Wi! . ! GEO. BRUNS,
Oat 27 a i. , Colombia Hotel Block.
AO Caeoi Otrfettbtf Oh?mpagne.
THIB WINE jn fully euaal to the French
and imported Champagne.
Deo 18 J. O. SEEDERS.
"Le
BY J. A. SELBY. COLUJ
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
Executive Department,
Columbia, S. C, January 12, 1h73.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of
llcprcscn ta lives:
In the inaugural address which I had
the honor to deliver before the general
assembly, I stated that, "owing to the
want of the information to he obtained
from the reports of the various officers in
charge of the several deportments of the
government and the public institutions,"
it would become my duty at a subsequent
time to present to you some additional
information and recommendations con?
cerning several important interests of the
State.
In accordance with that announcement,
and in the discharge of the duty imposed
upon the governor by tho constitution,
"from time to time to give to the general
assembly information ot the condition of
the State, and to recommend to their
consideration such measures as ho shall
judget necessary or expedient.]' I call
attention to the serious public incou
venience resulting from tho delay on the
part of the officers irom whom annual
reports are required in furnishing the
same. Even at this late day, nearly two
months and a half after the close of the
last fiscal year, aud seven weeks after
the annual meeting of the general assem?
bly, I have barely been able to obtaiu sev?
eral of the most important reports in time
to make a brief ana imperfect examina?
tion of their contents. My public duty
will, perhaps, be discharged by calling
yourattentiou to the great detriment there?
by occasioned to the public .service. If such
delays arise from causes beyond the con?
trol of our public officers, then, if possi?
ble; the general assembly should remove
those causes; but if they arise from other
causes, a remedy ought to be devised and
applied.
state treasurer's report.
The report of the state treasurer will, I
think, be found to be a luminous and
complete exhibit of the operations of that
department. The observations of the
6tato treasurer upon the several matters
discussed in his report will likewise de?
serve your careful consideration.
appropriations and receipts.
I desire especially tu call attention to
the prime importance, as urged by tho
state treasurer, of keeping the appropria?
tions within the receipts. This is mani?
fest without argument. All proper de?
ductions should bo made from the gross
amount of the taxes to be levied, and a
rigid estimate, based dpon the results of
former levies, should he reached before
tho rate of taxation is fixed. After tbisi
has been done, the appropriations from
the proceeds of the levies made should
never be allowed to exceed, by a single
dollar, the estimate of the amount of
Lsuch proceeds. As the state treasurer
'justly remarks: '"This is absolutely essen?
tial to the restoration of the credit of the
iStato * * w and the success
aud prosperity of our public institutions."
j Iii this connection, I call attention to
'the statement on page 1- of the comp?
troller-general's report of the total tnxsi
!ble property of the Stale under the re?
cent assessment, and the amounts to be
jrealized therefrom under the specific levies
iuin.de by the "act to raise supplies for the
Ifiscnl year commencing iSuvember 1,
1ST4." I am confident the estimates
there made are the highest limits which
will be reached under those levies. 11'
this be so, it is absolutely necessary that
the appropriations to he made at the
present session should in no instance ex
jceed the amounts there specified. Oue
'palpable departure from this rule has
{already occurred in the legislative appro?
priation bill passed at the present session,
land 1 trust no other similar departures
jwill receive the sanction of the general
'assembly.
In this connection, T call attention to
jthc "estimate of supplies for the support
!of the State government," at page 101 of
{the comptroller-general's report. The
.whole amount required, according to that
estimate, for "salaries and contingent
{funds," is no less than $1212,400; whereas
'at page 12, of the same report, the whole
{amount to be realized from the levy made
dor the same purpose is only $150,470.51.
If this estimate, therefore, is made the
jbasis of the appropriations, there will be
?a deficiency of $01,973.49. It is mani?
fest that such a result must be avoided,
and I point it out in order that it may re
iccivc the attention which it demands.
JoVKRDIt.VWN WARRANTS AND DRAFTS.
I I concur especially in the views ex?
pressed by the state treasurer upon the
evil and unjust practice which has pre?
vailed of drawing warrants or drafts on
the state treasurer in excess of the appro?
priations from which they are payable. I
think this evil should be checked by im?
mediate legislation. Towards those who,
in good faith, accept such overdrafts in
payment of dues from the State, such a
fmictico may be properly, denounced as
raudulent. -.
OOXrPTROTiLER-GBKkftAn*s REPORT.
The report of the comptroller-general
presents a well arranged mass of infor
jmation, which will deserve tho considera?
tion of the general assembly.
'I call the attention of the general as
Kornbly to two statements, at page 12, of
"tho total taxable property of the State,"
namely, $141,024,952. Tho correspond?
ing amount under tho former assessment
was $17e;956,602/74/ I also call' atteiy
i ti?ny with approval, to the'- observations
of tte'Oouiptroller-generai, atf pages 13 and
14, respect ing a change in the time of the
JBIA, S. C, WEDNESDAY M
year when property should be listed, the
necessity of a revision of the present gen?
eral tax uct, and additional legislation in
regard to forfeited lands.
DELINQUENT COUNTY TREASURERS.
1 call special attention to the fact, as
stated bv the comptroller-general at page
15, that"tho sum of $470,090.20 remains
charged against county treasurers on the
books of bis office; that amount being
about 15 percent of all State taxes col?
lected since 1808. Whilo only a part,
possibly a small part, ofthat sum is ac?
tually due to the State, yet no reason of
which I am aware exists why tbis entire
sum should not at once be "accounted
for." I, therefore, ioin with the comp?
troller-general in asking "stringent laws
providing severe and prompt punish?
ment' ' be enacted to prevent sucb results
in the future, and also that the attorney
general and solicitors be directed to use
all existing legal means to compel an im?
mediate settlement of all unsettled ac?
counts of County treasurers, nnd the re?
covery of the amounts fouud due, by suits,
if necessary, against the sureties.
CLAIMS OF THOMAS W. PRICE COMPANY".
The comptroller-general has allied the
attention of tho general assembly to the
character of tbe claims of the Thomas
W. Price Company, of Philadelphia, for
books and blanks furnished for tbe use of
county auditors and treasurers for receiv?
ing the returns and assessing and collect?
ing the State and county taxes.
There is also an unpaid claim of the
same company on account, of work done
for the superintendent of education, as
stated at page 24 of that officer's report
for 1871!. amounting to $4,539.35, which
is equally meritorious.
The work of this company was superior
in quality, vvus done at the lowest prices,
aud under circumstances which entitle the
'company to our gratctul consideration. I
transmit herewith copies of tho corre?
spondence relating to this matter, and I
trust that the general assembly will not
fail to give it prompt atteution.
BONDS OF COUNTY AUDITORS AND TREAS?
URERS.
I transmit with this message copies of
a circular letter issued bv the comptroller
general and approved by tho governor,
fixing the amounts of the^bonds of county
auditors, and also requiring all county
treasurers now in office to comply within
'thirty days with the requirements of law
respecting their official hoods. The gov?
ernor is authorized to fix the amounts of
the bonds of county auditors, and I have
[endeavored to exercise this power iu a
I manner which will secure the public in?
terests.
OBSOLETE ACCOUNTS.
The comptroller-general, at page 18 of
his report, calls attention to the fact that
the books of his office?and the same is
true of the books of the treasurer's office?
are burdened with certain accounts which
are really obsolete, representing values
which do not now exist These accounts
must be annually carried forward until
authority is given to tbe coinptrnller-gen
jeral and the treasurer to close them. Vor
obvious reasons, as well as in accordance1
with numerous precedents in this State
[and elsewhere, I join with tbe comptrol
llcr-gcnernl in recommending that author-!
jity be given by the general assembly to
j finally close all such accounts.
!VACANCY IN Tire OFFICE OK COMITROI.
LER-OENERAL.
1 The comptroller-general hns called at-!
itention to the vacancy which will arise on
the fourth of March next in the office of
comptroller-general, occasioned by the
(election of the present incumbent ns n
I member of the forty-fourth congress. ]>
need not do more than to reuiiud the gen?
eral assembly that it will be necessary to
provide some mode of filling such a* va?
cancy. INSURANCE DEPOSITS.
In my inaugural address 1 ventured to
say that, in my judgment, good policy
'dictated the repeal ot the present laws re?
quiring deposits from insurance coinpa
jnies not incorporated by this State.
[Further examination und reflection con
jtirms me in that opinion. The supposed
.security to policy-holders from requiring
such deposits is fallacious. If a company]
Iis sound, thero is not tho least difficulty
in recovering any less by process of law,
'and if it is unsound, tbe fact of a deposit
dicing made in this State would iitlbrd
[very little protection to our policy-holders
fin case of disaster to the company. It is,
j moreover, a serious legal question whether
these deposits can beso sequestrated from
'the general assets of a company us to pre?
vent their becoming a pert of the general
[fund applicable to tbe payment of all
[creditors in case of the insufficiency of
lother assets. Tbe general effect of re?
quiring sucb deposits is to exclude tbe
best companies and admit tbe weakest,
except in cases where tbe sacrifice of with?
drawing from the State overbalances the
injury to the company by scattering its
funds in the manner required.
I transmit herewith a letter addressed
to me officially bv an eminent insurance au?
thority, in which the whole matter is dis?
cussed in a most clear and conclusive
manner. 1 hereby renew my former re?
commendations of a repeal of tho present
laws on this subject, in order to allow free
competition in thi? branch of business,
' under such restrictions only as have re?
gard to tho general character and ?trongth
of tho several companies.
EXTENSION OF TTME TOR' COLLECTION OF
TAXES.
In1 connection with tbfc * coraptroller
general's report. 1 desire td cortect' ai'mta
appreheusion now widely prevailing as to
Attend the True E
ORNING, JANUARY 13, IS*/
the power of the governor and comp?
troller-general in extending tho time lor
the collection of taxes.
! In tho tnx act of 1 SOS. in section 147,
authority was given to the state auditor,
with the approval of tho governor, to ex?
tend the time for tho performance of the
duties required of any officer by that act.
Itisnioro than doubtful whether this
I provision ever gave power to the gov?
ernor and state auditor to extend the
time for the collection of taxes. However
that may be, that section was repealed
by the act of March S, 1S71 (vol. 14, Stat?
utes at Largo, p. 622). No similar power
was again conferred on any officer until the
passage of the act of February G, 1874,
(acts of 187:5-74, p. 533). The latter act
was expressly limited in its application tc
tho fiscal year commencing November 1.
187:>, and its operation, of course, ceased
with that year.
The result is that the only power now
possessed by anv executive officer or of?
ficers to extend the time for the collection
of taxes is conferred by section 139 ol
the act of March 19, 1874 (acts 187.1-74,
p. 77s), which is in the following words:
"That whenever the general assembly
shall fail to make the annual levy of taxes,
or the collection of the same may be in
any way delayed, it shall be the duty of
the comptroller-general to notify each
[county treasurer that the penalty for non?
payment shall not attach until after the
[expinition of sixty days from the date of
!his public announcement of his rcadiuess
to collect the said taxes."
Under this section the governor has ne
power to act, and the power of the
comptroller-general is limited to cases ol
delay in commencing the collection ot
taxes at the regular time. 1 call special
attention to this statement of the law in
order to relieve myself of tho frequent and
urgent applications made to me for ray
action in postponing the collection of
taxes.
If any further legislation on the subjccl
is needed, it will be the duty of the genera
assembly to provide it
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.
The comptroller-general's report cover.'
that of the superintendent of the lunatit
asylum. This institution deserves the
generous support of the State. In man.\
respects its present condition is very satis
factory. The buildiugs have been great!}
improved, aud the domestic economy ol
the institution and the professional treat
ment of the patients are believed to bt
worthy of high commendation.
It is, however, the financial condition ol
the institution which will require mosi
serious attention. It appears that then
was a debt owing by the institution o!
$55,295.55 at the close of the last fisca
year, October 31, 1S74. This debt result:
from the exec.-.: of expenditures over re
ceipts for several years past. From what
ever motive expenditure beyond tin
means provided for meeting them art
'made, the practice Ls not to be approved
No public officer, under anything lesr
than very extraordinary circumstances,
can be justified in assuming to inctu
obligations for the public without express
authority of law.
It is proper to call attention at this
point to the act of March 17, 1874, "t?.
regulate the manner in which publit
funds shall he disbursed by publit
officers." This act makes it a felony
"for any public officer (State or county J
to enter into a contract, for any purpose!
whatsoever, in a sum in excess of the tax
levied or the amount appropriated for the
accomplishment of such purpose." Here?
after, therefore, no expenditures can be
'made in excess of the appropriation.
jThe amount of tax for the support ol
jpcnal, charitable and educational institu?
tions has already been fixed for the pres?
ent fiscal year. This levy will not permit
the appropriation of a single dollar for
payment of past indebtedness. By refer?
ence to pace 12 of the comptroller-gen?
eral's report the amount to be realized
from this lew will be about ?150,000.
By reference to the act making appro?
priations for the last fiscal year it will be
seen that the total appropriations under
ithc same head were upwards of 8190,000.
It is clear, therefore, that no appropria?
tions can be made for the present year in
excess of lho.su of lust year. I cannot,
therefore, consent to recommend an in?
creased appropriation lor the lunatic
asylum for the present fiscal year, indes?
it can be .shown from what sources funds
lean with certainty be obtained to meet
such increased appropriations. I regret
to reach such n conclusion, for n<> one cm
have a stronger sympathy with this insti?
tution than i have, or a more ardent wish
to increase its efficiency and extend it.?
blcssiugs. Hut we must not, from sym?
pathy or benevolence, repeat the financial
mistakes of the past. It is far better foi
every public interest to keep our expendi?
tures rigidly within our receipts than t<
cripple our merchants and ruin our publit
credit by contracting debts which cannot
be paid, except, possibly, at .some indeli
nitc future time.
I canuot give my consent (^appropria?
tions in excess of probable receipts, nor t<
(expenditures iu excess of appropriations,
1 shall approve of the most gencrou:
treatment of tho lunatic asylum consist
ent with our ability to pay our obligation!
when they mature, but nothing more
I ahnlf speak further of the actiot
proper to bo taken, in my judgment, it
reference to the past indebtedness of th<
lunatic asylum, as well as that of thi
state penitentiary, at a later point in tin
i message.
vent."
'5 VOL. X?NO. 254
STATE PENITENTIARY.
The comptroller-gonerai'b report covers
also the report of the superintendent of
the penitentiary. Here, again, tho fea?
ture of the report which will arrest most
attention is the statement of the indebt?
edness of this institution. Tho superin?
tendent states that the aggregate indebt
: edncss of the institution on tho 31st day
of October, 1873, was $102,238.40. He
: further states that tho present indebted
? ness is $87.918.39, of which $12,380 has
arisen during that fiscal year. Another
statement is, that there is due to the
fuards and employees of the institution
15,850.31. The appropriation for the
penitentiary for the last fiscal year was
$51,500.
i These facts present a problem not easy
to solve. The remarks already made con
1 corning the financial condition of the
lunatic asylum are applicable here. The
r levy of taxes for the present year will not
? permit an increased appropriation. One
i thing is evident, namely, that the expend
' itures of this institution must hereafter
i he kept within the appropriations. It is
difficult to see how, without direct viola
? tion of the law of March 17, 1874. already
referred to, an indebtedness of $12,380, in
! excess of the appropriation, could have
' becu contracted during tho last fiscal year.
I strongly urge that the immediate
attention of the general assembly bo di
? rectcd to the question of making the
' labor of tho penitentiary available for the
i support in part of the institution. I call
? attention to the remarks of tlse superin?
tendent on this point. If the labor of
! the convicts can be utilized within the
' walls of the penitentiary, this would bq tbe
wisest plan. ^ Mechanical pursuits are con
1 ducted in similar institutions elsewhere
i with profit to the State. Such labor is
I ad v.intageous in many ways?as a means of
? discipline during the imprisonment of the
' convicts; as a means of encouraging habits
of industry and the ability to earn an
t honest living when they return to free
1 dorn; and as a means of reducing the pub?
lic burden of their support whde in con?
finement. _ If there are no opportunities
; for the utilization of this labor at present,
5 I think the plan of letting out the con
i victs for hire, which is adopted in many
' other States, is worthy of immediate con
- sideration. I am informed that such labor
' in other States can be leased at a net daily
tl profit of at least twenty cents per dav for
?'each laborer. Out of an average number of
? two hundred convicts, at least one hundred
able-bodied laborers could be constantly]
P furnished, and from these laborers an in-;
L come of several thousand dollars, above
i all expense for their maintenance, might'
1' be realized. Motives of economy, as well
1 as the. pood of the convicts themselves, in
s my judgment, require that an effort be'
? made to obtain employment of somo kind
- for this class of laborers, and I earnestly
_> recommend that the attention of the gon
? oral assembly be directed to this subject
. without delay.
NATIONAL PRISON association.
I transmit herewith a letter addressed
? to me officially by the secretary of the Na-1
: tional Prison Association, and in this eon-'
ncction I respectfully invite attention to
i the truly noble work in which this asso-l
uciatioii is engaged. The association pro-1
?poses that the several State legislatures
?shall, if so disposed, make a small annual;
appropriation, which will eutitlc each,
i Stute to 5IKI or Goo volumes of tbe annual,
> "Transactions of tho National Prison
: Congress." This would place the volume'
?'in tbe bands of ouch member of success-)
ive legislatures, officers of penal and ?-o-j
; Ihrmatory institutions, public libraries and
schools.
I do not hesitate to say that such a
volume, so distributed, would arouse an
(interest among our people in one of the
: most huinaue and successful efforts to re
?Iduco tho number of our criminal classes,
'and to restore them to the walks of use
?IIul industry.
I The most distinguished statesmen,
I scholars and philanthropists arc officers
{and active promoters of the association,
! and I recommend that thegeuural assem
-jbly, if possible, make the small appropri?
ation of $1,000, which will entitle them
to the benefit of tho annual publications
lof this association.
STATE ORPHAN ASYLUM,
The report of the trustees of the State j
'orphan asylum has already been trans-:
limit ted h> the general assembly.
? This institution is entitled to adequate
support, and the report of the trustees
will furnish, J think, tbe necessary in-'
II form a tion for tbe action of tbe general as-j
isombly.
11EDUCATION Ob' TUE DEAF, DUMII AND
HL1ND.
Tbe institution for the education of the!
I deaf, dumb and blind, formerly located at
? Cedar Springs, near Spartanburg court
? house, was closed in September, 1873. I
> regard the closing of this institution as a
? misfortune and reoroach to our State. It
1 was an act of education id retrogression,
? and a wrong to a class of our fellow-beings
and fellow-citizens which has peculiar
? claims upon our aid and sympathy.
), If the re-opening and rehabilitation of
.'this institution cau bo effected by any
i means within the control of the general
- assembly, consistently with the present
} condition of our financial affairs, I unhesi?
tatingly recommend that it po douo with
i out delay. If this cannot bo done at once,
l I trust that such arrangement will be
e made as will .secure that result during tho
a next fiscal year.
S QUARANTINE AT CHARLESTON.
The report of the health .officer of the
port oF Charleston has heretofore boon
transmitted to the general assouiblv^ ,qu\ ?
I recommend, to. your consideration the
various sugge^Upjus,ma.de iu that jrepprt.
Tho maintenance 01 an efficient quaranj- >
tine department at the principal port of
our State, und at our other seaports gen?
erally, is a duty of too obvious importance
to need special enforcement. | .,
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF. STATE.
The report of the secretary of state pre?
sents information of great value, covering
the matters connected with the ordinary
duties of that office, and also . tho land',
commission department, and the improve?
ments upon the State house and grounds
during the past year. I call attention to
the recommendations of tho secretary of
state on page C of his report
REPORT OF THE ADJUTANT AND . IN?
SPECTOR-GENERAL.
I herewith transmit the anuual report
of the adjutant and inspector-general,
with its accompanying documents and
vouchers, and invita vnnr.ftltflntinn tO tho
information, as well as/the various recom?
mendations, therein contained.
REPORT OF STATE LIBRARIAN.
The report of the keener of the state
house and state librarian has been hereto?
fore transmitted to the general assembly.
REPORT OF THE 8TATE SUPERINTENDENT
OF EDUCATION.
The report of the state superintendent
of education is herewith transmitted to tho
general assembly. I commend the entire
report to the earnest attention not only of
the general assembly, but of all our fel?
low-citizens who look to tho welfare of tho
State. It presents the actual condition at
this time of our common school system,
its progress during the past year, tho
causes that diminish the efficiency of tho ?>
system, and also points out some remedies >
for present evils. It may bo said, in.gen?
eral, that the report shows a fair measure
of progress during the last veart. .? The ?
school population of the State ib 230,102}
the total school attendance is 104,738,. an
increase of 19,144 over the school attend?
ance of the preceding year. The number
of free common schools in the - State ia
now 2,353, an increase of 272 eir.ee the ?
preceding report of tho superintendent. -
The total number of teachers employed' i?
2,627, an increase of253 since the preced?
ing report. The average number of
months during which the schools were ac?
tually open was only five. Tho number,
of school houses in the State is 2,228, an.
increase of 211 since the preceding report.
The total amount of funds applicable to>
the common schools during the past year
was $512,924.93, of which there remains
[as unpaid appropriations the sum.of $29,
779,71, leaving the sum of $48.3,145.22 as
the net school revenue of tho past year. ..
Tho school expenditures for the yean were |
$448,251.76. '
I oall attention .to one or two facta,. .,
which appear from these statistics, and
which show how far our school system
etil! is from the standard which should
be aimed at. Firot, tho tolal cchool
attendance falls considerably below
on? half of the totol ebbool popula?
tion, being about seventeen thirty
eighths. Second, the average period
during which our schools are in aea-,
sion, is only five montbu. Our, oua- .
stunt aim should bo to increase.:the.,,
school attendance till it embrscqs. .all1.
our school population, and to increase -
tho length of timo. during which our
schools should be in session to eight or
nine months in tho year.. The State
Superinttiudcot calls especial attention
t<> tho incapacity of many, of .the
teachers employed. X agree.with.Him
in the fact stated, and in bra-sugges?
tion of the caune of that fact. The
blame reals with the I3ourdn of County
School Examiners, whose duly it in to,,
examibe* all teachers. These boards-,
consist in each Cou^t^pf.tue County
School Commissioner and two persops
selected by ihe,County '?Schon! Qonit.- .
missiotn-r. i: rcoqmmend pi out earn?
estly that the appointment ol the latter
examiners be.'gijVep Jta the. State S.u
poriuteuden? of Education, . I d<> not
w'uh (to be understood hh reflecting
upon' ull'ot'ir.'Cquutyj^Bbitiopl pommis
Diouerb by this rec6?^a\e.qilavroor bnt
in View of nndoninblo faoio ua to vtlio
incapaoity, of ,'^uie of ,tbeae officers,.
I am peranaded that the mode of ap?
pointing the examiners should be im?
mediately changed. That being dono,
I think thio primary, oaaao of iuefE
cieuoy in oaV school System?tho in
oomputeu'oy of teuohara ? will be al- ,
moat entirely removed. I also renew
the recommendation made in my inau-. ..
gnrul address,' that high schools be
provided for in each County. The
amonbt of money required by the
State Superintendent, to carry on the
"chool system for the present year, io
bated upon a school year of pine
months, aud is undoubtedly largely in
excess of the mean's available fur that
purpose. I cannot recommend any
appropriation under this head in ex*c
cess of our means. The homely
motto, "Pay an you go," is appb'eable
here as el.-ewhere. Even iu eduoa
ttonul mutters, we cannot afford to
make expenditures until wo have the ?
means to pay. I do recommend, how?
ever, that the largest appropriation.
possible, with a" duo .regard to oar
duancial necessities., be made for all
our educational institutions. But
what Is quite as indispensable to the
?iuoooat? of our school system, I trust
that our follow-citisonn generally-will
take a more active personal interest in -
the practical working of the system. .
It is my purpose, during the coming ?
season, to makeaomo personal inspec?
tion of our schools in different parts
of the State, and to seek, in some
public and private ways, to call out;
and seoure a greater interest in out -
people generally, in this enbjeok, Itr -
those efforts I know I shall bo oecondod ??
by the State Superintendent of Edu?
cation, as well aa by all those who pro?
perly appreciate tho relations of eduoa^ ??
tion aud free government.
The State Umk^^m lte P***
paratory s sohool," the State Normal
Sohool and the Agricultural and Mo