Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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to 7 1- - e es te - unI - n -h-I b bu bi ~~~ VAI r.-N wn- 0e C 1\ a -l r -,Io See eo v ur L! -t*)k) L t t 1, 71r : ., .l e O tO IL ) i( - - tL- n -or-.. ears. *1the hes -,e as ' c -~'' Gen - so' te war2 v a su Q:::0.ut to cove tCrU e( e: *e : r en"" ation' t::1 l'ar. a:: ie aw:t eithe work done a'r 'he r-'.e direC: vour attention 1 hvre nc:1e to the re - - nev-Geeral, that office ~'1-'' ~ a:nount ot wvork ehte success and s a tendcd the enforts to e T ublication of someK o.tornev-General o c atue is a comn :nene .e . Te reaorts of the ei:cui soe -o~sco:taied n that report ar..0t~ of. voari ate:.i:: They show ti:st 1:2e ats f tits ocers to punish :u< nrv:-ei:cae:tbeen unavail T ty i report of the t. . MI e -id -eo enoe cthat - 'o t - y.. . . t . 1 -1a'-' - *~ - Ylhe Mathn i als way has 'ix aed Si'o" Cvyee- to l'erry, a rmCherw to the %i Wateree R. I. con -r S-,umiitcr Junction to '~me.r, a distance of 15.S TIeNOr-th Western R. R. Comnpany 1 nler construction an extension oer to Camde, a distance of 30 e1ics of which is in operation. m t orileage is under rapid con There isunder construction a line fronm :o in of the Asheviile & Spartanburg . to ehart Mills. a distance of Ij . fro n Conway to the Seashore is r ruction, a distance 01 l0 .Ths wvill make a total new inile : d Iles in the State. ur a.ntion is directed to the report * he Co.mision, in which you will find muit valuale and encouraginig infornia b herew~ith a snVIopis of the RAII.ROAD EARNINGs. arn" o- he railroads of the State from all sources for the year eitdlng June 30, 199--..............Z S,91,6,3S3.04 TOTAL EXPIIENSES. Maintenanice of way and structures. equipleit,con ductim; transportation, 'ener,!i expenses........ 5,831,246.37 Txs.............. ......... -S -7163 laco1e....................... 2, 701,430-44 Increase in gross earnings over 1'9S i............ ; 827,053-00 Gross earning per mie . 3377.43 Operating expenses per mile. 2,357-98 Net incoie per mile 1899. 1,023.36 Net incomie per mtile I19S.... 07.57 inc:rease per nile.............. 215.77 TaE DISPENSARY. There is no question that will engaae Vou attention at this session that will denau-3 more careful thought and in whie'i there is more interest manifest ed than that of the control of liquor. You" will no dloubt have several propo n preSented to you by diiferent :n'mb'er- of your biody or your consid to It is inportaut that you ehol of the question in a o-ite a3 direct maniner and meet e u sq uarelv. Under the Consti tutiou of tue State there are only three mo allow:( for draling with this cueston. "The General Assembly I :uav l icense persons or corporations to manufacture and sell and retail alco no.ie li.uors or beverages within the State:" *or the General Assembly may -on."ibi the manufacture and sate and ,-et'I of alcoholic liqunors and beverages n thre State:" o. it "may authorize a"d empower State, county and muni epa. oflceers. all or either, under the a-horitv and in the name of the State, to buy in any market and retail within the -tate liquors and beverages in such packages and quantities. under such rules and regulations, as it deems ex podient." And in no case shall it be -old in less quantities than one-half pin: or between sun-down and sun-rise, and it -hall not be drunk on the premi ses. Nelther can the General Assem bi "elegate to aiy mun icipal corpora *ion the vower to issue licenses to -e1 the sa'me." Under the last alter native the Dispensary Law is in force. At the present timne and in view of - of material prog-res- and de velopment upon which the State has entered I do not believe it would he wise or good business judgment to refer this question to a popular election. Not thiat there is any uneasiness or nn wilingness to trust th-e people, but it would have a tendency to renew strifes and bitterness aud engender bad feeling and I believe would retard the nr:ogress of the State in its material de veopnment. Much of the prejudice that'has heretofore existed against the Disensary Law has been broken down and many of its most bitter opponents have come to realize its good features and are ready and willing and anxious to see it impr~oved and enforced. With certain amendments which seem neces sarv, and which will commend them selves to your good judgment, and which should be made at the present session, and with the proper enforce ment of the law it is the best solution of the liqutor quecstion yet devised. Even those who oppose the Dispensary Law admit that :t nas good features. Whiskey hias been put under the ban and whether you prohibit it. license it, or take entire charge of it. the princi pe is the same. It seems to me that it woud be good judgment to take hold of the-present law and anaend and im prove i' Prohibition is very nice in theory but in existing circumstances and conditions I do not believe it would be practicable. Ex:.raordinary ma chnery would be necessary to enforce it a there would be no means with which to emnploy the machinery except by addi.tional taxation, and even then whkey woud be freely sold and bar ooms- under the guise of drug stores would -prin'g upi and flourish in every own~ an h mlet in Soutun C'arolina. :ch as ben te eperience where v'"'r.'ibition ha- b en tried Local opu wu'.d b* eve worse than oro 'onty, a liee 'ayc-'-emi in an ad join in count. and the dispensary in aother, woul create no end of ceon u-a-on and trou' l throughout the No tlaw ha- b~en enacted in tistate x oppsea. anu as strongly supplorted as the Dispen-ary Law. And vet. with th' exception' of a fe*w localit.ies. it nha, bInaswl e'nforccd as could be ex e::icbein retOlui'onary as it was Nxla can i be thorounbl enfcorced that hcs, : '. "in 't and to nupr i4t a allynu'ties-:timnt'n its fatvor -o.I d lc sentiment is gro0winZ a t fvr it i-eemsl to mue that it woul"' ie nwise an~d had judgmtect to re'sa' 'h i'*srpensaryv Law and to make tria of o 01 oher system of controlling teiuo usiness. That . ter has been had management 'n -om'e deattuents5 is not an argun metagins the 1"ysvten'. That there '"'ul -av been disagreeme'nt and :1t'ton ion "1t tho'se in control is ! wo, * recommene'-' for tt oar eonsid eratio the a ot of i he State? and l'on c'ar o ontro ni oth the 'sti, ofIhe om cr be th -e .1u -; fate Comm a~i'o o f m high chart ' rt .n *n :ciesent crv t1on tohem rules and regulatious of the Board of Con trol. A, an advisory board to the State Commi,.Koner I would suggest the Comptroller General, the State Treas urer and the State Superintendent of Education, with such powers and duties astun your wisdom you may think proper to conter upon them. I do not deem it w*- to put the Governor or the Attorney General oni this advisor boarI. You in; ht ad(' to this board the chai rmuan ( the Finance Commit tee of the svnutc and the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Houte.' It would not be necessary for this board to meet more than four times a year and at each meeting competitive sealed bids could be submitted and these bid, opened in the presence of the Com missioner and such purchases made as would be needed to supply the demand. The State Treasurer is the custodian of the funds, the Comptroller General dis tributes the school part of the fund arising from the dispensary. and the State Superintendent of Education is the head of the educational dapartment which is the beneiiciary of the fund. These offeers are elreted by the people and have to give accouut to them for the manner in which they discharge their dutics and are always men of abil ity and character. In place of the County Boards I would suLgest that the County Su pervisor, the County Auditor, and the Mayor of the Countv seat town, if a dispensary be lo cated there, if not the mayor or intend ant of some town in the County in which there is a dispensary, constitute the County Board, and that they serve without extra compensation. They too are elected by the people and would have to give account of their steward ship to the people. I would also sug gest that the county dispensers be elected by the people as other county offcers are elected and for a term of two years. These changes ested not only because in my judgment they would im prove the administration of the law, but on the ground of economy. I regret that I have not the figures for the last fiscal year. They could not be obtained on account of the assemabling of the Legislature coming so near to the close of the fiscal year. The Sgures. how ever, will not be materially different from those of the fiscal year 189S, so far as the County Boards are concerned, but the cost of the State Board will un doubtedly be very much increased. In this year the total cost of the County Boards was $9,724 20. For the same year the cost of the State Board of iontrol was $4.390 01, which makes a total of .14.144.21 as the cost of the State and County Boards of Control and which by their abolition would be turned into the profits of the dispen sary. I would also suggest that the law be so amended as to bring violations with in the jurisdiction of the magistrates, so that all cases might be promptly and summarily adjudicated. Nucb of the expense of the constabulary arises from having to attend circuit courts as wit nesses and prosecutors against blind tigers. Soon after I came into office I reduced the constabulary force nearly one-half and endeavored as far as I knew and could secure information to select men of character and discretion to perform the duties of State Constables. As public sentiment grows in favor of the law and magistrates and their constables, and other officers realize that it is as much their duty to enforce this as any other law. I am satisfied that the force can be still further reduced and finally entirely abolished. During the past year I issued a circu lar letter to all the magistrates and sheri s of the State and the mayors and intendents of the incorporated cities and towns, calling their attention to the fact that the Dispensary Law was as much a law of the State as any other law and also directing their attention to their duty to enforce it just as they would the statute against larceny or any other crime, and asking their aid and co-operation in the wise and hu mane execution of all laws. The re sponses were numerous and unanimous in expressions of hearty co-operation. Some of them were frank enough to say that they had been and were opposed to the Dispensary Law but manly enough to acknowledge it as a law of the State and to pledge their support and co-ope ration in its proper enforcement. I am satisfied that this circular has resulted in good and that in many of the cities and towns the local authorities are dd ing what they can to apprehend viola tors and that there are fewer violations of the Dispensary Law than of many other laws on the statute book-s. Mr. WV. W. IHarris, who is clerk and is in charge of this department under my direction. in his report to me says: "There is less complaint of the illicit tratiic in liquor coming to this office from throughout the State than ever before during the five years I have been connected with this department and it is very evident that there is less violation of~ the Dispensary Law oyer the entire State, with the possible ex ception of the city of Charleston and two or three of the counties in the north-west portion of the State, and it is probable that even in those sections there has been improvement." I sub mit herewith a table showing the comn parative cost and the work done by the reduced number of constables for the last sixv months of 1899 and the corre spording six months of .1898. It will be seen that so far as the work done the number of seizures is about the same, while there has been a saving for the six months of 1S899 over the same six months of 189S of 8$,:139.90 in this one item. These fi ures include the cost of buiiy hire. railroad fare for the con nales. and the salary of the clerk to* he Governor. i am gla~d to be able to state tat du rin' myv term of ollice, with btone exception, thjere has been no ordc between the conlstales and .iinnsu in thi s exception one eon -:alewa killed and another wounded ad one~ citizen was killed. This un tortunate trouble cannot any more be ,harc to the Dipensary Law than could a !milar diflicultv in the enforce ment (if any otllr lawbe argue against et. Tie annual report of the State Board of Control for the liscal year ending December 31, 1,:. will be submitted for yoir information as soon as it cau be muade up"). As alric:: V ated. it, 11fils:d year ending ::o near the an-eu bling of the Legi-lature, it was impo sible to obtain information showing the' buziiness and condition in time for my iesZe. I am informed, however. that the protits will be much larger than in any previous year since the -enactiment, of the Dispensary Law. This does not necessarily mean that the consumptiOn of whiskey has increased but rather it argues that less whiskey has been shipped in the State for personal use and the blind tigers have decreas-ed and much of the prejudice against the Dis pensary Law no longelr exists. I have received from the Comptroller General the following statement of re ceipts and disbursements on account of the special State Dispensary School Fund for 1898-99: Received from State Dispen sary 189S-'99..... ..........130,000 00 Disbursed to the several coun lies under Act 1.. 8 ...............6St7,204 :15 Disbursed Deli ciency several counties under Act 1899......... 19,33S 02 Disbursed sur plus several counties under A ct 1899......... 43,457 63-$130,000 00 I am sure that you will be guided by a wise discretion and exercise good busi ness judgment in dealing with this sub ject, and I trust that whatever action you may take will redound to the good of the State. CONFEDERATE RECORDS. The last General Assembly made no provisiow for the continuance of the ofliee orState Historian and the com pletion of the work which that officer had in hand. Col. John P. Thomas, wbo had been appointed to take up the work laid down by Judge J. B. Kershaw and Gen. H L. Farley, and in view of much unfinished business connected therewith, deemed it his duty to keel) his office open and to prosecute his la bors on his own responsibility, and as a contribution to the Confederate History of the State. The result of this year's work appears in the elaborate report submitted to me and by me transmitted to the General Assembly. It will be seen that the account given of the raising of troops in South Caro lina for State and Confederate service, 1SG1-'65, which Col. Thomas presents as the joint work of Mr. W. J. Rivers and himself, is a valuable contribution to the history of the part taken by the State in the War Between the States and that taken by the troops furnished by the State to the Southern Confederac'y. This paper throws a flood of light upon the rolls and lays the foundation of the sketch designed to accompany the publication thereof, when this publication shall be ordered by the General Assemby. Col. Thomas further reports, as the result of his services for the past year, the collection of much additional his toric data bearing upon the services of the Confederate soldiery from South Carolina in the War for Southern Inde pendence. The rolls having been practically com pleted, Col. Thomas recommends their publication, propei ly edited and accom panied by such a sketch as that outlined in the one submitted, supplemented by a concise statement of the part taken by each of the organizations from South Carolina which participated in our he roic struggle. The cost of this publication would be very small compared with its historic value. It is important that we should preserve this history and that it should be put in permanent shape while some of those are still li ving who helped to make it and are more competent to re cord it accurately than any of their- de scendants will be. I submit for your consideration the wisdom of continuing the office of State Historian and of making provision for the publication of this history. Estimates have been re eeived from a reputable publisher which indicate that it will not take a very great outlay to have this history pub lished. It is nrobable that a sufficient number of copies could be sold to pr-i vate individuals to reimburse the State for the outlay. Before taking definite action you might appoint a Committee from both Houses to look into this mat ter and report at the present session. Col. Thomas will gladly furnish the Committee with such information as he may have. Col. Thomas has submitted to me his resignation as State Historian, to which he was appointed in October. 1897, by Governor Ellerbe. He has given efficient and faithful service da ing his term of otfice and has labored hard to gather aud put in shape the part that South Carolina took in that great struge le. He should be compen sated for his services during the past year, and I commend it to your favor able consideration. CHtICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD. The General Government has pur chased the Ch ickamauga battlefield and converted it into a national park. It is kept in excellent condition and stande as a permanent tribute to the magnili cent valor of the Americau soldier. It is the only battlefield so consecrated. The General Government has asked the various States having troops engaged in that battle to mark the positions o' their troops by the erection of suitable monuments. Many of the States have so honored their sons and 8471,500 have already been expended for this purpose by sixteen States. Georgia leads the Southern States with an expenditure o1 8-15,000. The Geeeral Assembly ol South Carolina in 1893 sent a commis sion to locate the position of het troops and in 1894 appointed commission t o s e 1 e c t suitable monuments. In view of the promi nent part South Carolina took in this war and in this battle it seems but fit and proper that she should join with her sister States in this tribute to the memory of her heroic dead and provide the necessary means to complete the work already commenced. The South Carolina Division U. C. V. will present at memorial to you asking an appropria tion for this purposelof $10,000. I com mend it to your favorable consideration STATE BOARD OF HEALTH. The annual report of the State Board of Health will be submitted to you I is important that you should give care ful attention to this report and the sua gestions and r-ecommendations con taned in it. You will also findl a flP exibit of expenditures of the Boardt The fund appropriated at the lasts sion was exhausted before the elose o' the y-ear largely on account of the ex> ece of small p~ox in various ect(inS o' the State and in the ciforts of the Boarc to combat the disease. Other infee tious and contagious diseases have lpre -vad to a moe o,- lesextent in some part ofi the State but have been of a vritld character. Only Small pox has asUUmedt anvthin;; like an epideinic form and the mortality has been very light. It has appeared in twenty-three counties dur-e the year and is still prevalcrt in lnene sections. t r Iotn Iba ! ing t Sw L ' oL ubtIW!I e adop I I i order to staip it (yt he ure it a fsurus a more virulent type. Thlie Mertary of the State I toard, Dlr. James Evans. in his report to I' say,: It was impob-tbir. for :h( Stat' lHaard of Heal th to pI evcent tht ri.pid Spread of the disetatse to those widely separated seetionis of the State for several reasons, the chief of which was the inadequate funds at the disposal of the Board: not being clothtd with sulliciont power to enforel, their authority in isolating. guarding and preventing intercourse with the sick: in enforcing the great safeguard against the spread of the contagion. compulsory vaccination. and the great necessity of extending the health organization to the township which would secure prompt notification of the presenee of anY contagions orjn fectious disease to the health authori ties, who could thus take prompt ac tion in stamping out any disease before it could possibly infect other persons and become epidemic." This matter deserves vou rcarefl! attention. Toex tend the organization from the State Board to the County Board and from the County Board to the Township Board would put in operation machin ery that should be able to control and stamp out any contagious or infectious disease before it could have opportuni ty to spread. and could guard with a jealous eye the health of the State. You have now on your calendar a'bill providing for township hoardsof health. On account of the prevalence of small pox recently I made arrangements to borrow 82,000 to be put at the disposal of the State Board of Health in order to stamn out and control the small pox epidemic. Up to this time that fund has not been drawn upon but I have no doubt the State Board has incurred some obligations which will have to be met in handling the disease. The health of the people of the State is a very important matter and should be carefully guarded by the enactment of wise sanitary measures. In the rerort of the State Board you will find several important. suggestions and recommen dations which should receive your care ful consideration. MEDICAL COLLEGE. The Medical College of the State of South Carolina located at Charleston is not a State institutson but through the kindness of its faculty has for sev eral years been furnishing free tuition to seven deserving young men, one from each congressional district in the State. These young men have been named by the Governor. I thougbt proper to call this matter to your ofticial attention and to commend this institution for the good work it has been doing for the State. OYSTER BEDS. In our coast counties the oyster busi ness could be made an important indus try if proper and wise legislation were enacted to proect the oyster beds. I am informed that tons of oysters are shipped from Beaufort County every week during the winter to canning fac tories in other States for which the State receives practically no reve nue. and these beds are almost in exhaustible. And what is true of Beaufort is true of Georgetown and our other coast counties. It is a much more important matter than some of our people who are not familiar with it imagine. If properly protected. can neries could not be built and profitably operated where the beds are and remun erative employment given our own peo ple. If they were not and the oysters were exported tbe State should receive some revenue from them and not vol untarily contribute to enrich other States from property which is ours. I ask for this matter your careful consid eration and suca legislation as in your wisdom you mi ty conclude proper for the protectiol of the State. At the session of I8:7 -..mii *gislation was bad along this hoe -c:- it tieeds to be amend ed arid perfee:ea and made more effec tive. CL A [MS FOR CAPTL'RED AND ABANDON ED PROPERTYX. It has been brought to my notice that there remains in the Treasury of the United States the sum of $10.512,007.965, balance remaining from the sale of captured and abandoned property of the southern States. under the Acets of Con yess approved 'March 12, 1863, and July 2. 18634. this being chiefly cotton seized in and around Beaufort during the occupancy of the parishes of St. E&eiena and St. Luke's while the war was in progress, and eisewhere through out the Southern States in such parts of th e territory as were under Federal con trol during the war, and after the war by special agents of the Treasury ap pointed for that purpose. This fund nhas be,:s the subject of considerable contention. Claiustat have endeavor ed to establish their right t' it, but owing to the difficulty of bringing suit against the United States. a sovereign, -ind the peculiar provision of the law under which it was taken requiring iroln-clad oaths and proof of loyalty, in dividual suit could be brought only in a very few instances. Meanwhile the fund 'has laid in the Treasury, and in dividual efforts have continued to be 'nade by persons deeming themselves intirested therein. before Congress, to secure thle privilege of bringing suit in ;he (curt of Claims. During the years that have passed the subject has been considered frequently by the Supreme Court of the United States, and it has ,en determined by that tribunal in a lir-ct uceision), (Klein vs. U S 18 W. \. L. L. 1:3S II) that it was not the in 'cntion of Congress by the enactment )f thiose statutes. that the title to prop !rty seized under them should he di cc-ted from the loyal owner: (2) that he piroceeds of the property should go into the Treasury with out change of uwniership: (8) that the same intention urevai led in regard to property of own -ers, who though hostile at the time the property was taken. might subseqont Iy become loa:()ta hIoen metconstituted itself trustee for those scho ) ha Act were declared entitled :o toe proceeds of captured and aban iioned property. In the 55i:h Congress a general hill was introduced opening the deer if the (court of Claims to suits iv all of these claimants, and !ia corable reCports from thn Com nittcc- on Claims~ of both H-ou-'es Ier Jubmitted. reommndn'n the >asg of the b:i (- -nat, Hill .~0^0 >5h ( or Tgres.t, :Ird-Se-on. lI)port 'en te (Cmmittee on Claims No.j 1:4) and bes e publIiiic cumentsl carid on their on ,i't. aT bil fariled0 to-a only for h~e r'e--on . a I a'" informed. th it alb- to eceve atentm1i the- ma .vhose propercxty is inl thit fund. faileid at that (Congress. With a view of aid troduced. as it has been or will be. I have seen proper to address a reouest to every member of our congressional delegation. requesting them to give diligent attention to this important neasure. and I lave also addressed coumunications to the Governors of 'iue vea Southern States. whsCit izuns are in common interested in the fund, and requested them to take sini lar action. and replies have been re evived from several of the Governor.4 ShoVilng that, tLI have acted 11uon tihis suggestion, and the Legislature of Georgia has passed a resolution re questing its congressional delegation actively to co-operate, and it is hoptd that at the present Congress by united effort, this legislation, long del.yed, wiil be enacthd. It is ditlicult to see why in this era of good feeling, when all the acerbities of the war have gone to their merited oblivion, that the Con gress of the United States should with nold from its citizens the simple right to proceed before its own courts, and demonstrate their interests in the fund, for which the highest courts has admitted that they occupy a tid ueiary position. In this connection it is properto state that much of the evidence upon which these claims exist is rapidly passing away. and some means should be af forded to our citizens to perpetuate this testimony as far as possible, and to enable them to do so a commissioner should be appointed with power to ad minister oaths who should take deposi tions of witnesses who are cognizant of facts relative to these claims, put them in permanent shape, and register them in a suitable manner, so that this testi monv, now so valuable, may be available whenever the Congress of the United States shall see proper to permit these matters to be litigated. Such a commis sioner should be appointed without ex pense to the State, but his compensation should be entirely a matter of agree ment between him and the parties who may desire to avail themselves of his services in the perpetuation of the evi dence relatiug to their several claims, and a sum of money, not exceeding $100 might wisely be appropriated to defray the expens- of printing needed blanks and purchasing suitable books of record. ROADS. There is no subject of greater im portance and that will affect more peo ple than that of good roads. No bub ject will come before you t. which you could give careful consideration with more profit. The tendency has been for the country population to move to the cities and towns in order to secure the advantages of church and school. If this continues the country districts will become depopulated and the popu lation will be congested in the cities and towns. The condition of the public roads in certain seasons of the year makes it almost necessary that the country people should be denied school, church and social privileges. Unless something is done to arrest this flow of population to the cities and towns the condition of the country districts will become alarming and it is already re ceiving the attention of the tbought ful. The country is the preserver of true manhood aud the foeter father of manly independence. Nothing will conduce more to its development and desirability as a place of residence than the building of good roads. The sav ing af time. the saving in the wear and tear of stock and vehicles, and the ad dition to the loads that could be hauled with more ease, would compensate for much outlay in road improvement, not to speak of the convenience and com fort to the people who travel on the roads in marketing their products and attending church and school. Our con ditions are such that it would scarcely be wise to levy an additional tax for this purpose. But by wise and proper use of the means at our disposal much more might be accomplished than is now done. In many of the counties wuuch of the work on public roads is but a shiftless pretence. Under our system of county chain gangs if the force were kept at work on permanent improvements and the building of permanent roads instead of cleaning out ditches and throwing a little dirt in the middle, which has to be done over after each rain, much more might be accomplished. Some of thecounties have realizod the importance of this permanent work and as a result good and permanent roads are being built. I submit for your consideration the im portance of requiring all county chain gangs to be kept on permanent work and not be permitted to fritter away their time on work that will have to be done over two or three times a year. I am glad to report to you that thne authorities of Clemson College have realized the fact that road improve ment is one of the greatest economical problems of the day and that they are devoting money and time to the study of the problem for the benefit of the farmers of the State. Experiments are being made under the direction of an ex pert, who will also give the col lege classes a series of lectures on road making. Experiments have also been made at Clemson on the use of broad tires and the results have been pub lished in bulletin form. If in your wisdom you can devise some plan by which you can give to the people o. this State better roads you will confer a lasting blessing upon them. WAR CLAIMS. During the raising of troops by the State in 189S for the war with Spain considerable indebtedness was incurred which has not yet been entirely adjusted Claims have been pot in against the general government for these several amounts but many of them still remain unpaid. I will submit to you a special message covering, as far as I am able, a full statement of this matter and I de sire now simply to direct your attention othis special message. Those citizens who furnished supplies on the order of the Governor of the State should have their money and should not be required to wait any longer for payme-nt. They sold their goods to the State and look to the State for- payment and not to the eneral government. You should make some provision for the prompt and sat isfactory adjustment of these claims remaining unpaid. This would not in terfere or retard the collection of these laims from the general government and private parties would not be sub jected to the inconvenience of being kept out of money justly due them and which they expected to receive in cash. STATE MILITIA. It is gratifying to note that marked iiovement has been made in the status of the State militia under the resnt administration of the Adjutant eneral's department. The number of :ompanies in actual service has been cnsiderably reducr-d but there has been an increase in etliciency. You are ware that for several years past the spport of this Department by the tate bas been very meagre and really< nuicient to meet the demands re uired in maintaining a creditable and an eflicient militia organization. < Grave social and political cond itions, lia at nny moment to threaten the peace and welfare of the State, would seem to indicate the necessity of prep aratian at all times. . would, there fore, recommend that you be as liberal the current year in the support of this important branch of the State service as the finances of the State founded on wie ectony will allow. A full and exbaustive report of all matter relating to this depWtment has been prepared by the Adjutant General for your consideration. I commend it to your careful attention. TAX ON sT.\TE iANKS. The repeal of the ten per cent. tax on State Bauks will go far toward solving the money question. This is a matter entirely within the province of the Na tional Congress at Washington bnt a resolution from the several State Leg islatures requesting Congress to repeal this tax would have its influence. Such a resolution from you would give en couragement to our Senators and Rep resentatives in Cong-ress who are making a fight for the repeal of this tax and would. be evidence that they had behind them the support and en dorsement of the people whom they represent. BANK AND IN'SURANCE EXAMINER. In 1896 an Act was passed creating the ollice of Ba' k Examiner. But the Board appointed by that Act did not elect the Examiner, as I am informed, for the reason that no appropriation was provided for the exp-,ises of the office and the law is, therefore, a dead letter. There are now more than one hun dred insurance companies doing busi ness in this State. Life insurance as well as fire insurance has taken deep root with our people and nearly every man has those who are dependent upon him provided against his death with an insurance policy upon his life. It is of very great importance to a great many of our people that the companies that solicit business in this State should be substantial and reliable companies, so that the in sured may feel secure that when he pays the premium on his policy, when death comes, those for whose benefit he has paid it may get the insurance. And so with State Banks. A great deal of the business of the country is done through banks and many of our people have their savings in these in stitutions. They invite the trust and confidence of the people and should be under the supervision of the State. I submit for your serious consideration the wisdom of providing a State Ex aminer for State Banks and bankers and the insurance companlies doing business in this State. All reputable companies and banks should be glad to have such examinations made for their own protection as well as the protec tion of their customers. The salary and expenses of this office could be provided for by the institutions named in proportion to the business they do, as is done in the case of the Railroad Commissioners. TRUSTS. While we feilicitate ourselves on the number of corporations that have been chartered within the State during the past year and should do nothing to hinder their success it should not be forgotten that they are creatures of tbe State. Obtaining their existence fromi the State, you have the right to, regulate their operations- and the: operations of those doing business in, this State though receiving their cor porate existence from other States.. The tendency of these corporations is; towards centralization and combina tion. This tendency leads ultimately to oppression and an effort to drive the weaker institutions out of competition and unless guarded by wise legislation will eventually take away from ihe in dividual his dearest rights. While on the other hand if wisely conducted and properly guarded they will do much to develop and bring into life the natural resources of the State. It is a subject that should command your most ear nest and thoughtful attention. I thought proper simply to call it to your attention, so that while you legis lated to foster and encourage corporate enterprises you might also guard and protect the rights and privileges of the. individual citizen. BIENNIA L SESSIoYS. The advisability of bienniai sessions of ther Legislature has been frequently called to the at tention of the General Assembly by myprede cessors. That we have too much 1e '' aion we. all adinit. Fewer changes in our aws as a rule would be better. There would not be that un-. certamnty in regard to many. la-ws, that now exists. .Many states have ado pted bienniat sessions of their Legislatures. The state Con stitution provides for annual sessions of the Legis.lature and the .Declaration of Rights de clares. "The General Assembly ought frequent~ to assemble for the redress of grievances and fo'r making new laws, .a; the common good may re, quire." I submit ' the muatter to you for your careful consideration, inasmuch as there has been sonme discussion of this subject and some, demand in certain sections for biennial sessions.. As you will see. in order to change, would re quire an amendment to our Constitution. LOcAL LEGISLATION. Much time at each sessioii ofthe Legislature is eonsumed with the passage of laws that have only a local application The attention of the Legislature has been called to the expense of such legislation at different times by my pre decessors and yet every session of the Legisla ture finds itself confronted with a batch of local and special legislation. The Constitu tion prohibits the passage of local or special laws concerning certain subjects and demands the enactmenit of general laws to cover the same. You should avoid as far as possible the passage of local i-nd special legislation, for it not only involves expense, but it creates confusion in un derstanding and knowing just what the law is. Where general laws have not been provided in accordance with the requirements or the Comsti tiition they should receive your attention and then the introduction of local and special legis-. lation should not be permitted. rAYM:E~w oF' TANES. In view of the demand from certain sceftia that the tinie for payment of taxes he esxended, after consultation with the Conmptrolier Getreral, by virtue of authority given us by law, we ex tended the timie for the payment of taxes with, out penalty to the first of February, i900. GooD) ORDER, There has been no mob violence during the past year and general good order has prevailed throughout the state. The county oftDarlington is to be congratulated on giving a legal trial and execution for a crime that usually results in summary justice. This spirit is to be encouraged and commended and will result in greater re 4pect for the proper and legal channels of ad iinisterimig the laws. l.iberty i.' too often construed as license and we need to instil into our people a regard aind re ;pect for constituted authority and that thedbest md most ighly prl7zed liberty is that wvhich is surrouded bv restrainmt. One of the greatest evils of the "dav and of modern times is the endency to disregard and disrespect constituted ithority and to rebel at the restraint that is :ecessary to put upon pers'onmal freedom in order o secure andm enj~oy the best and the purest and he sweete:-t libertv. coxrsoN. I hav e thus endeavored to ober the mandate of hie Constitutimon laid upon the Governor to "give . o the Ge.ner-al Aissembly information of the con. iition of the state, aiid recommend for its con 'ideration such mneasure-sas he shall deem nees. ary or expedieiit." I have not presumed to ecture youm oiieconomy, for I feel sure th?.t von ealize '-s fully as I do the needs of out- people mdl wil' be as econmical in the exr'enditure of tub:i money. as is consistent wvith efficient ser. Le . h budens of taxation ahvays fail .'eav ily but w;here there is a wvise and nocessary expenditure of the public fund for the general tood no reasonable tax-paye.r will complain. Con should deal with ine atTairs of state in a iusinesslike mainer and as a prudent business. nan would manage his ptrivate affairs. If you md that in any department the expenditures. an be cut down without hu-t to efficient service ts s your duity to cut them down. Useless and ~xtravgant ap)pro'p'iationis should under no cir umnstauces even he considered. Prudent and. areful economny should guide you in all matters. Ouem::g.'. the state's linances. I i::vok~e upon all yur deliberations the uidance of ain al-wi-e and overruling Provi k-ece anid trust that whatever von do may- be lone with ani eye sin:gle to the good of all the. eoleof the slate.