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GOVERNOR ANSEL T9 GENERAL ASSEMBLY RETIRING CHIEF EXECUTIVE RE. VIEWS CONDITIONS IN STATE. Review of South Carolina During The Past Year, With Recommenda. tions For The Future. Governor Martin F. Ansel Wednes day afternoon transmitted his last an nual message to the general assembly. The folowing is the message in part: To the Honorable, the Members of the Senate and House of Represen tatives of the State of South Caro line: In this, my fourth and last annual riessage, I wish, to congratulate you and te State for the great measure .%1 pr.sperity that has attended us all these 3 ears, and for the progress that our people have made in all lines .ook*ig to their betterment, agricul turally, educationally, commercially, and otherwise. There is a great fu ture In store for this State if we will only do our duty and "how to the line." State's Finances. The last legislature gave to the governor, the State treasurer and the comptroller general authority to bor row $600,000, If so much be necessary, In anticipation of the collection of the taxes of 1910, to pay off the interest on the State debt, the pensions for the Zonfederate veterans, and other ap propriations, and to pay the expenses ef the State ,government for the year, It became necessary to borrow for 4he purposes named.the sum of $550, 900, the notes for which amount are mow being paid off from the collection. 9f the State -taxes of '1910. We could not borrow the ioney this year at as low a rate of interest as we did last year, having to pay 4% per cent. I have heretofore recommended that an extra one-half mill levy.Je made for the next few years, placing -the same in the hands of the ,Sinking Fund commission to be loaned to the State until sufficient amount has been thus. aised to do away 'with the ne * cessity of borrowing, and I trust that you gentle~men will take this 'matter up at the present session and carry -out the recommendations made. The necessity for this has been set out in former messages. In this connection I oduld recommend that you authior ize the State treasurer to use, for State purposes during the next year, 'so much of the fujid .turned into the treasuiry of the State by the dispen sary winding-up commnission as is not appropriated by :you for schools, and that the same be returned when the -tae are collected at the end -of the year.'~ This will obviate the necessity of borrowing from the banks as large an amount as we are now compelled * - to bosrow. Sinking, Fund. The assiets of the Sinking Fund comm'sr'on on January 1,' 1911, are as N - follows: Culmative sinking fund (for re * demption and payment of South Caro lian Brown 4% per cent bonds), $737, 413.41. Ordinary sinking fund $86,516.74. Sinking fund for insurance of pub % li-c buildings $64,520.11. -In the year 1913, the -State has the right to call in and refund the State * debt now outstanding, and as the cumulative sinking fund is set apart for the payment of .the 4% per -cent Brown bonds,. I suggest that steps be taken now to pr"epare for the paying off of as many of ,the bonds as c paid with the funds that will be /on hand in- 1913 in the Sinking Fund commission for that purpose. 'As -to the State debt not thus paid off, I think it wise for you to consider at this time, whether you v)ill under take to refund same at a lower rate of interest.than 4% per cent.* Education. The report of th'e State superin tendent of education will show that the "year 1910 has been the banner year in this State as to school attend ance'and as to amount expended for education in the different counties of the State. This is a matter that should be a source of gatification to every South Carolinian, for the better the people are educated, the better citizens they make. We have now 1h7 l'igh schools that ar~e being assisM by the bigh school fund approprk: ed at the last session of the legislature, and we could have had even more than that number if you would by act allow the State board of education to use the funds set apart to one county and not used, to the schools of another county, where the demand is for mo"re than the r'onnt allotted to that county. Several :of the larger counties in the upper part of the State had to be scaled this year, because there was not sufficient funds allotted to the particular county to give each school its full amount, while in other count -1s. nn+ mnim th an n-half thea allot.. ment was used and the balance re- o verts to the State treasury. Through the generosity of the Pea- c body education board, a supervisor of c rural schools, working under the su- b pervision of the State superintandent o of education, has been put, to work in t: hs State, since July last, and I am d pleased to report that he is doing a b good work for the rural schools of the p State and for education in general. I b ask that each of you read his report S as printed in the report of the State superintendent of education, and also the report of the State inspector of i] high schools. p Under the joint resolution passed t at the last session of the legislature s providing "for a commission to exam- t) ine and revise the school law of the v State and to recommend changes in I] same," I appointed Prof. D. B. John- h son, president of Winthrop college; -a Pfof. Edmunds, 'superintendent of the a public schools of Sumter, and Hon. M. g L. Smith of Camden, oIr said commis sion, and I am informed that they will submit their report to you during the y early part of the session. - t The appropriations made at.the last r; session of the general assembly for b rural schools and for the erection and n improvement of school buildings have t] been of immense help to the people ti as is shown by the very comprehen siye End able report of the State su- s perintendent of education. - c The governor then reviews each of t] the State institutions in detail. ft Dispensary 'Winding-Up Commission. Since the last session of the gen eral assembly this commission has q been at work attending to the duties r imposed upon .them:by the several t] acts of the legislature, and 'but for v; the fa$ that one of the cases passed n upon by them is pending on appeal to si the supreme court of the United States, they would be ready to make il their final report at his time. They is turned over to the State treasurer on o: the 31st day of December, 1910, the a sum of eighty thousand and thirteen s! and 75-100 dollars, which, with the w two hundrked and seventy-five thou- a4 sand dollars heretofore turned into c, theitreasury of the State, makes a to- ro tal of three 'hufndred and fifty-five thousand and thirteen and 75-100 dol lars turned over to the State by them- ti They have reserved a sufficient sum'e in theirrhands to pay off the case now u pending in the court as aforesaid,' a should the State lose the case. ,. p Dispensary Work. ir There are now six' counties in the State to wit: Charleston, -Richland, f( Georgetown, Beauf'ort, Aiken'' and a Florence, in which liquors are sold ~ through county dispensaries. The dis pensary~ auditor has been looking closely after these dispensaries and s reports to me that 'hey are being i-un ti according to law. In my annual mes- a sage made to your honorable 'body at s the session of 1910, I reco>mmended r~ that in the six counties named, that not more than one co'unty dispensary g be allowed except in those 6ounties ti where there are cities with a popula- t tion exceeding twenty-five thousand. 1 I call your attention to this matter c' again and :make the segne recomnmen-t dation. b The State Hospt&d For the Insane. There 'were on the first'day of Jay uary, 1911, the following number of patients in the State hospital for the b insane, La-wit: ' White men, 375; 'white women,51; colored men, 322; colored women, 320. 0 There werje admnitted during the D year 658, .discharged 330, and died 298. Patiints treated during the year 2,193. Under and virtue of the joint res olutioxg passed at your last session, It appointed as members of said conmmis- ~ sion J. W. Babcock, superintendent of u' State fxospi'tl for the inisan'e; ex- a Judge R. 0. Purdy of Sumter, ILeroyt Sprihgs of Lancaster, Dr. Robert Wil- hi son, Jr., cbaiSrman State board of health, and George B..- Cri>mer of ~ Newberry. This commission has been g working wisely and intelligently all at~ year, and their report to youc will show that thev have acted in the I mos;t businesslike way in the purchase of the lands and other work done by' di them for the enlargement of th'e hos pital foi- the insane. t The term of office of the members ~ of 1:his commission was one year, with no provision for their reappointments or the appointment of any one,else, * and as they have the work well' in 9 ~hanid, I recommrend that provision be a made at this session for a continuance of said commission until the work Is 0 completed. There were on the ~first day of Jan-t uary, 1911, prisoners in the State peni- e. tentiary as follows:d White males, 177; white females, 6; colored males, 699; colored females,,d 53. They are located as follows: On county chaingangs, 64; on State farms, 175; Lexington county refor matory, 107; at Clemson college, 32;I penitentiary yard and hospital, 557; total, 935. Whics "'n t'h 'subject of convicts, I ~ wish'to ,call your attention to the ne cessity in this Stat for an inspector 11 the county conviet casils and of ounty convicts. Every now and then omplaints have come to me of the ondition of some camp, or the un ealthy condition of the convicts or f their treatment, and while some of ae complaints may have had no foun ation, still I regard it as wise and umane that an, inspector should bel rovided for and the costs of the same;, e paid by the several counties of the tate. State Board of Health. In the erection of the Szieitce build ig for the South Carolina university, rovision was made for quarters for de State board of health, and the ame has been occupied by them since ie completioi of the building. Pro ision -has been therein made for giv ig the Pasteur treatment to all who ave been bitten by rabia animals, ad since this department was opened large number of persons have been iven this treatment. Confederate Veterans. It is hardly necessary that I call our attention to the appropt-iation for ie poor and needy Confederate vete 3s..* A liberal one will, I am sure, a made by you for these grand old Len. Let us never forget them, nor leir valor and heroism in the days iat tried men's souls. There are now 87 inmates in the ldiers' home provided by you in the ty of Columbia and on furlough, and i,ey are well and comfortably cared -Salaries. Your attention is again called to the uestion of the increase of the sala es of our State officers and judges of ie supreme and circuit courts. I ish now to reiterate what I said in ty annual message of 1908 on this ibject: ' "Some years ago when the purchas ig value of a dollar was more than it at this time the salaries of our State Boers and judges, of the supreme Ad circuit court were reduced. I de re to ask if the time has not come hen these salaries should be raised Yain and your officens paid a salary Ymmensurates with the work they are ,quired to do?" Governor's Conference. It has been my pleasure to attend ie two la'st conferences of the- gov mors .of the several States of the nion and derived much information ~hich has been useful- to me in the erformance of my duties and hselpful imany ways to our State. South Carolina is prominently be >re the people of the UJnited States, aid much good will result to the tate from these meetings. Supreme Court Building. The question of : the erection of a ipreme court building and its loca on, as I understand, was referred to special committea at the last ses on, which committee is expected to sport to you at..this session. The necessity for~ this building is~ reat. I respectfully call your atten on .to the plan suggested in my last ranual message in reference to pay g for the same, to-wit: "This money >uld be borrowed by the State from e sinking fund commission and paid ack by an annual appropriationa of om five tqg six thousand dollars until ie same is repaid. I believe this ,to a feasible, and a commission could e appointed by your hon:orabl-e dies, consisting of one of the jus ces of said court anLd two or three the State officers:, to arrange the ans and -superintend the construc on of said building." Conclusion. In a few days I will retui'n to th~e sop1.e of the State the commrission tey gave me four years a,go. I have ught to discharge every duty laid pont me, according to the oath I took, id what I considered for the best in rest of the State. The mistakes I tve made have been from defect of idgment and not from intention. My hole time and thought have been yen to the, discharge of the duties of te office, and I have endeavored to mply with the protnise I made that: would be the governor of all the iple. And now as I lay down these ities 'and responsibilities, I thank mu, and through you the people of .e State, for the generous help andI icoura'gement given me.. I bespeak for my successor the tmne kind consideration and co-op -ation accorded me, and your sym .thetic support in his efforts for the Iministration of law and order and er .the prosperity and happiness of ir people. Your respo'nsibilities are great, and te people ane looking to you for the actment of such laws. as will re und to the best interest of the State. May God grant you wisdom and; scretion in all your labors. M. F. 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