Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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several- other questions of interest. Each year reveals the great need for such a'State Board, as it also discloses the good work, and I commend this report to you for your careful consideration. RAILROAD COMMISSION. The twenty-fith. anmual report of the Railroad Commissioners will-be submitted for your consideration, and this will contain some interesting figures, as the following tables show: Gross Earnings. igo3-Total gross earnings. ................$13,117,181 z6 1902-T9talgross earnings.. ................ 11,785,946 2 Incrase...................-.........$1,331,234 64 Net Income, Less Taxes and Expenses. 1903-Total net revenue.. .... ............$4,108,080 8 190a-Total net revenue.. ... ..--.-..-.-.-3,640,590 24 Net crease.. .. ...................... $467,490 56 Taxes. 1063-Taxes due the State.. .................$453,015 28 19=-Taxes due the State.. .. .. ........... 472,171 14 Derease... .............. ..... -. .$19,55 86 Percentage, of operating expenses to gross earnings.. .. ...686o -The reason for.the decrease in the amount of taxes paid is already explained by the Commissioners in their report. Ths. report includes a number of recommendations, principal anlong them being that electric railway lines operating outside of meiiipalities be placed uider the control of the Commission. Next, th,k the railroads lie required to have an agency in this State to p ss upon clims presented for adjustment, and also that they be giwn authority to employ.a civil engineer,-to work under the super vion and make. such investigation of .the physical condition of th railroads .s they may find: requisite and necessary. These are f&ieful suggpstiots and I :ommend them, along with the other sugestions contained in their report, to your eariest consideration. . STATE GEOLOGIST. The report'inadebY t1i State Geologist of his work during the pist year contains much of lftdest. Systematic geological surveys have, been midf thiz officerdui-ing the year, the' surveys being deted prncWpy_to the 'niddle and lower portions of the State, where are -o..df in abimdence, fuller's earth, limestone, niarls, geen sands..id goodaclays.' These surveys are most important, Iii4eling hidden sources of wealth to our State. Regarding, for c t q4 lity tf'Sduth Carolina marls, this report quotes tbfdiWkwing from tie Bureau of Chenistry, United $tates Depart pept of Agriculture. A test of .the"chemical and physical prop e4ies'of a sampe of South Carolina~marl was there made, and the weppft . "This- mar- lis he.highest plasticity and cementing e o narl tested in-this aboratory.". The report adds that t neat briquetes" Tade -rom this marl exceeded in tensile the reqie ts of the Ut;ited States Army by 5o per at irequmy jaireceipt of-commnnications from distant States as g for.o&cia igonnation regarding our mineral resources. report furaisbesA& and scientific information concerning this and ane itself to all, especially to the consideration State Geologist makes the following recommendation, in I concur: "That the Legislature authorize. the Secretary of Stt o secure pppropriate cases in harmony with the woodwork of die maisi ball 6f ifwCapitol, in order that the mineral specimens Edi1itinithettresources of the State may be becomingly displayed tersii without.obstructing that space." THE STATE MILITIA. The act that this is a decidedly. important department of our SteTGogenent.is receiving greater recognition each year. In thi morateffict of a..well-organized and well-disciplined fores,'eivi1law of.the State needs this valu'able adjunct, .pdnthose odcsions when its aid mnustbe'invoked. The - ou$r State Militia- is hard to' .overestimate,' and its nanan maintenance and -support well deserve our et creflconsideratio'd. :On several occasions during the past s~Mea for i~su rvices arose, and the responsetoimy sum ~j.eeisyynstande,:was 'pirited, immediate and soldierly. - 4P erthe'reorganization'of the State Militia last year, a consid nineim.was-paid-to South Carolina from an appropriation made b'y tbe tnited States>G6ernment, available in cash and equip zffents 'Ther former was used in holding encampments throughout (Stie he latterw s ofgreat benefitinsppyig the needs of r'oldiers." di.i'a:result of the work of the year the improvement inr or Militia"badbeei rmarked. The total strength of our Militia force.-officers- and enlisted men-today numbers 3,735, giving Senith Caroline high iiik among the militia forces of the States, and these are better equipped than has been the case for years. It is:to me exceedingly gratifying to make this report, and I may add that-the outlook is most. promnising for continued improvement and eiciency. I'ask your careful consideration of the exhaustive and complete report which has been submitted by the Adjutant- and Inspector General. Here the condition and needs of our State Militia are thoroughly set forth. Among'the recommendations made in this report which are well worthy of your attention, I would especially emphasize the .need of a State Armory, the building now rented being absolutely inadeq6iate for this purpose. The details of this recommendation made by the Adjutant-General will show how much he is hampered by the lack of a suitable building, and his proposed plan for a State Armory 'is a business proposition which has my indorsement. The fact that for years our Militia force has been practically self-sustaining, and their great efficiency, despite this difficulty, should give added force to any request they may make of your honorable body.. .IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC HIGHWAYS. Among other important questions that should have your careful consideration is'one in which all :.. si of South Carolina have a vital interest. This is the subject of good roads, a subject of the greatest importance to us all. To you, gentlemen, who understand and appreciate so well the needs of our people, argument here is unnecessary. I have noticed, with great gratification, the interest which hrs teen ff!anifested in many of our counties in this need of today, and hope soon'to see every county in our State actively en gaged in this all-important -work. A large number of meetings have been held at various places and I feel sure that good results must follow. Improvement in all departments and branches should ever be our aim and purpose, and the sure rewards of faithful labors in this field are worth striving for and should command our most careful legislation. - Every practical and business consideration in volved would be greatly .facilitated and helped by the general im provement of our road system. While I am cronvinced that proper and systematic work of county chainga.ngs can be of decided benefit, still, very much more than present system well-built and durable highways cannot be hoped for, as the present condition of our roads do well attest. Experience will prove, I am sure, that it is. wise economy to spend time and money in this work, and I believe that our people now realize this sufficiently to be willing to defray whatever cost may be necessary. In my judgment the various counties in our State should be given the legal right to tax themselves for this purpose, should they deem it best to do so. To this end, therefore, I recommend such legisla tion as you may deem judicious and which will give to the counties the right, by a majority vote, either to issue bonds or to levy In annual tax for road improvement. Money voted for the improve ment of our roads will be an excellent business investment, the value of which will be more appreciated every year. As all citizens, whether in town or county, will be equally benefited by such an in vestment, it is but fair that all should be made to bear their share of the burden, and this can only be done by a tax upon property. The building of public highways is now a national question. Na tional good roads associations have been formed and are actively at work to secure aid for this purpose from the National Govern ment. Senator Latimer has been doing active and vigorous work along this line and is.verv much interested. It seems to me that if National aid is to be given for this work, there is no reason why we in South Carolina should not have our share of such an appropria tion. The cooperation of our National Government in this matter is no new policy. No particular State has paramount claims here nd it would, in my judgment, be an error for South Carolina not to secure her proportion of any appropriation for the permanent improvement of our highways that may be available from this source. The plethoric condition of the National treasury is a further favorable consideration of this aspect of the case. BUREAU OF COMMERCE AND IMMIGRATION. The recent movement to secure immigration to our State gives me great pleasure. I have been profoundly impressed, during my ad ministration as your Chief Executive, with the absolute need of just such work. We cannot afford to delay longer in this all-important matter, and systematic business consideration is demanded by the needs of the hour. Our resources are both varied and unlimited. These embrace as fertile lands as can be found on the continent, and at prices far below their intrinsic value; a climate unsurpassed, allowing these lands to produce -the entire year; mineral resources of the greatest abundance and, of the rarest qtfality, with water powers, variously located and practically undeveloped. In addition to all;of this the cost of living, and of living well, has no lower average and our health record is second'to none. Despite these facts we have been simply letting opportunities pass by, because of no effort whatever. on our part to let the outside world know, in plain facts and figures, what we have to offer. Facts and figures must be given and must be accurately and officially given. These are absolutely necessary, for a home-seeker generally has nothing else to. go upon. Other States,. with far inferior advan tages, have in recent years seen these possibilities, and as a result are reaping golden harvests. The time is now ripe for .such a move on the part of 'our State, and, viewing the present mirkets, the commercial conditions-Na tional and international, particularly this country's relations to the West Indies and 'the Isthmus-t6se wbo wish to see South Caro lina.strike the crest of the wav.e'slould urge that action be now taken in this matter. Any movemeiit to induce.i gration in order to be .successful must be thoroughly organized aid skilfully directed_and.this, in my judgment, can best be doie by the State itself. Nearly all of the Northern and Western States have Bureaus of Immigration, with- a Commissioner in charge, and every effort is being made to attract desirable settlers. Many. pf the Southern States also are at work/ Alabama has such an offic.e, with a Commissioner of Agri culture and Industries, and much has been accomplished for the - State. North Carolina has an Iipmigration Department connected with the Department of Agricultu'e, and Maryland maintains such a department under the-direction of a Commissioner of the Land Office. In other'States similar bui-eaus, varying in the scope of the wvork, are maintained, and they are having a most telling effect. We, on the othe hand, are doing nothing. Frequerit inquiries are made in regard to our resources, but there is no one in a posi tion to furnish official information, and the inquirer goes elsewhere. If today we manage to secure one settler annually from abroad out of the huridreds of thousands coming, it is merely by chance. Out of the 648,743 immigrants who came to the country in 1902, 88,ooo were Iarmers and farm laborers; 8o,ooo were classed as skilled, and 3,00o professional men were included in the grand total. Many of these camne with money' to invest. -It is estimated that the aver age Scotch immigrant comes with not less than $1,500 in cash. Surely all these are most desirable, and we cannot afford longer to sit idly by and allow none of them to come to us. I am profoundly irnpressed with the needs of the situation, and recommend, therefore; in view of the advantages we have to offer and of the great need of utilizing them, the establishment of a Bu reau of Commerce and Immigration, with a Secretary or Commis sioner in charge of this department. OFFICIAL COMPILATION OF CONFEDERATE RECORDS. A matter of great importance, not only to South Carolina but to a much larger territory, which very specifically includes the South, well deserves a place in this Message. This relates to a recent Act of Congress, which Act provides for "A complete roster of the Federal and Confederate Soldiers in the War Between the States." The Honorable, the Secretary of War, notified me of the passage of this Act after the adjournment of your honorable body, which I very much regret, as I should have been pleased to have had the benefit of your advice in this matter. The truth of our history is dear to every Southern heart, and with loyal pride we ask no more than the glorious truth for those heroes of the Confederacy whose lives and deeds have made history for all aiges to come. Realizing the importance of the interests involved, I had no ,hesitancy in undertaking this work, though in doing so I had to arrange for financial aid pending your future consideration and action. South Carolina. above all Southern States, should not fail to respond where the records of the soldiers of the Southern Con federacy are concerned. There are no more glorious deeds of sacri fice and valor recorded than were given to the world by the men wvho wore the gray, and it is our grateful privilege to see that their names shall have imperishable inscription in the archives of our nation. On March 16, 1903, I received an official communication from Secretary Root, from which I beg to quote the following clause of the "Legislative, Executive and Judicial Appropriation Act, ap j:'-oved February 25, 1903": "That under the direction of the Secretary of War the Chief of the Record and Pension Office shall compile, from such official records as are in the possession of the United States, and from such, other records as may be obtained by loan from the various States and other official sources, a complete roster of the officers and enlisted men of the Union and Confederate Armies." Acting upon this official information I at once appointed Col.j these responsible duties, knowing that in his care they would be faithfully met. Colonel Tribble's official report of the work done, though brief, is accurate and of comprehensive information. It recites the progress made over great obstacles, and most clearly reveals some of the difficulties in the way of recording, for future ages, some of the truths of history. It shows how these obstacles can be overcome, and-contains accurate data concerning what has been actually accomplished. This is interesting information and should have our careful attention. It may be unnecessary to do so, but I beg that you permit me, 'as a further evidence of Colonel Tribble's fitness for this work, to em phasize his patriotic services in having a meeting of the commis sioners of the Southern States at Atlanta. The resolutions there adopted, memorializing Congress to amend the present bill, so that it may allow the acceptance of such rolls as can be made up by the surviving members of the Confederate States Army, is one- of the most valuable services rendered in connection with this work- In all of the work done by Colonel Tribble I am glad to note that this important task has been in capable, patriotic and faithful hands. His war comrades will unite with me in emphasizing the true value of such service as he has rendered, and I recommend that he be paid the sum of $1,500.oo for this work. Colonel Tribble'has been put to heavy expense, having to reside in Columbia, and also-having to employ a clerk, and I know that this amount is much less than what has been paid for similar services by other Southern States. Colonel Tribble, in his report, acknowledges hi.' ;ndebtedness to Gen. Edward McCrady, to Prof. W. J. Rivers, : to Generals Manigault, Kershaw and Farley. He also takes occasion for special mention of the valuable work done by Col. John P. Thomas in co,nection with the securing of rolls and records, and in all of these acknowledgements I beg to join. PENSIONS. The members of the General Assembly, acting as the representa tives of the people of South Carolina, have shown that they consider it a privilege to provide for the needy survivors of the Confederacy. These veterans, in the vigor of young- manhood, offered their lives in defense of their country, and now, in their declining years, it is not only a patriotic duty, but it is also a grate ful privilege, to show our appreciation of such heroism. In their great struggle these soldiers were actuated solely by principle and patriotism, and our care for them today cannot. be more fitly nor more appropriately bestowed than upon the foundation laid by these men themselves in the years gone by. We have now upon our pension rolls 8,296 pensioners, an increase of 546 over last year, and among this nuniber your appropriation of $2oo,ooo has been divided. The present laws regulating the distribution of this pension fund, in the main, are working satis factorily. I am advised by the officers whose duty it is to distribute this fund that frequent changes of,this law, particularly such as have local bearing, disarrange its working order and seriously impair its efficiency. I can readily understand how this may be so, and as it is now working smoothly, in charge of the survivors them selves, I think it would be well to leave details to them, so far ;s this may be possible. The report of the Comptroller-General fully and comprehensively sets forth the distribution of the amount appropriated for pensions, and the list of pensioners for each county, with the amou4t paid to. each pensioner, under the classifications prescribed by law, are here set forth in full. THE MONUMENT TO WADE HAMPTON. Among all the great men our Siate has produced there is no one whose name is more beloved,.whose memory is more honored whose fame.sis more secure than is that of Wade Hampton. Not- only was he the brave chieftain, the wise statesman, but to us he was even more: he was-and is-Wade Hampton, the beloved South Carolinian, the redeemer of our State. We can never forget him, and it is the earnest desire of our people that a monument to his memory should st-.::d before the capitol of the State he loved and served so well. With this object in view, you appropriated, at your, last session, the sum of $20,ooo.oo, which sum was to be available when the people of our State shmould raise $mo,ooo.oo for this purpose, and I had the honor of appointing a committee from your body to tak.. charge of this work. Many reasons have operated against the completion of this subscription, the principle one being the inability of the Committee to reach the people. The Treasurer of this Comn mittee has reported to me that $5,467.86 of the required amount has been secured to date. In my judgment it is best that there should be no further delay, as this is a matter where sentiment and pride are concerned, and I recommend that you make the amount already appropriated at once available, and instruct your Conmmittee to proceed with its work. CHANGES IN OUR JUDICIAL. SYSTEM. For a few years' past the congested condition of the calendars of. the Circuit . Courts in nearly all oi the counties of our State has been a problem which forced itself upon the consideration of the people. To relieve this condition, in 19oo an Act was passed pro viding for the holding of Special Courts. While, through the instrumentality of such courts, much work has been done this year despite the continued illness of two of our Circuit Judges-still it. is obvious that they have not met, and cannot meet, all the-require ments for which they were intended. Only a brief presentation of the present condition of this problem can be included in what I desire to say to you in this Message. Since the passage of the Act above referred to, each year has shown a rapid increase iri the number of Special Courts held, demonstrating the fact that among other objections such a meas ure does not tend towards economy. Last year a Civil Contingent Fund of $2,500.00 was appropriated by your body, to be applied to payment of the expenses of these Courts. This fund has-been entirely exhausted, leaving twelve terms of Court still unpaid for, payment for which will have to be referred to your Committee on Claims. Besides this, there are perhaps even more unsatisfadory conditions involved, which, if these Courts are continued, will still further diminish their effectiveness. The discussion of this phase of the subject has been general, and the conclusion seems to have been reached by thoughtful .men that it is unwise to make a temporary judge out of a practicing attorney. This certainly involves the highest principles of our judicial system; and, in my judgment, it is an error. That such appointees may be gentlemen of the highest character and ornaments of the profession to which they belong does not lessen the fact that the permanence, stability and highest meaning of our judicial system is menaced. On the other hand, our system of having eight circuits proved satisfactory until it was outgrown by the progress of our State. When these circuits were created there were thirty-four counties only, whereas we now have forty-one. Our growth in population - and wealth has been great, making naturally a very large increase in the business of the courts. Without going further into the details of this mc-t important subject, it needs only to be stated that existing coniditions clear!y prove that the present system. is alike unsatisfactory and inade quate, and a remedy must be found. In my opinion, it would be