Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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since its fouuecaitun over y,oo have been received since 1875, whule 3,oo have been aunnied inthe lasZ decade. The admissions for last year were 8. :he largest annual number ever received. It has long been clai:ned hat the institution is imposed upon by the ;lass of patients sent to it. In other words, that the benefaction of the State is abused. In response to the question what classes of persons are admitted to the Hospital, the Regents state that "1y the original law of 1828. idiots. lunatics and epileptics. and to these have been added inebriates and the criminal insane by legal pro vision, while an elastic interpretation of existing statutes has gradu ally included all the untiesirble elements of our communities: ii beciles, incorrigibles. waifs, the blind, and many aged persons dotards. who properly belong to county almshouses." Tiis state ment explains in some degree the rapid growth in the population of the Hospital in the last twenty-five years. So that, properly interpreted, these appalling figures do not necessarily imply such an eno rmfo0us increase of cases of acute insanity in our midst. The real fact being, according to statistics presented by Dr. Babcock, that iecently occurring cases of lunacy are not increasing in our State out of proportion to the increase of population> A final analysis oi the figures presented shows that about one person per thousand of our population annually becomes a patient in' the In sane Hospital, and that the cost of the support of such patients is about $1oo per capita per year. In my last- message I suggested that measures be taken by the General Assembly looking to the erection of Poor Houses in those Counties which had not provided them, and towards the improve ment of those-already existing. The financial management of the Hospital, through the oversight and efficiency of Mr. T. WV. Bunch, the treasurer, is its best feature, and will be the subject of a special report of a committee -.ppointed by the General Assembly. During the past year the per capita has remained substantially the same as for several years. Upon a business basis the Regents of the Hospital ask for appro priations for these specific purposes. and amounts: Maintenance............... . . ..S00,o0 Improvements and Repairs.. .. .. .. .. 10,000 Payment of Wallace debt.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,120 Regents Account.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,200 $115.320 I also take pleasure in commending the earnestness and efficiency of Dr. J. W. Babcock, the Superintendent of this Institution. THE STATE PENITENTIARY. The annual report of the Board of Directors and Superintendent oithe Penitentiary shows a most gratifying condition of affairs at tls institution. While no money will be covered into the State 'Ieasury this year, yet permanent improvements have been made ofi of the net earnings amounting, in round numbers, to $20,000, and there is still a cash balance on hand for current expenses of about $5,ooo. In addition to this, the farms have yielded corn and provisions sufficient to run the institution until the next crop is har vested. The number of convicts remains practically the same as one year ago. A modern prison, which was very much needed, is nearing completion, within the walls of the Penitentiary. at a cost of $i4;3oo. In addition to being a safe prison, it is built with a view to the health and comfort of the prisoners, and will be paid for out of the net earnings of the Penitentiary during the past year. At the last session of the Legislature provision was made for the erection of a Reformatory for youthful criminals. A neat and substantial frame structure for this purpose has been erected on the Lexington farm, in which will be kept all prisoners under 16 years of age. While it will be the purpose of the Superintendent to furnish them instruction in morals and, if possible, make better citizens of them when they are released, yet they wvill be required to labor as other prisoners, but will be kept entirely separate from the older and more hardened criminals. At present there are only fourteen prisoners under 16 years of age, and these are all negroes. A good many needed and permanent improvements have also been made on the State farms, and everything there is now in good condition. There has been some gliscussion in regard to the ad visability of the State owning and operating farms. A careful and thoughtful investigation of the subject, I am sure, will convince you tliat it would not be good business judgment to dispose of these farhis. It requires only 140 convicts to operate the farms, and in this, way corn and provisions and other things necessary for the support of the convicts are made at less expense than1 they could be purchased. It is argued by some that these convicts could be worked upon the public roads. I am as heartily in favor of anything thit would give us good roads as anyone, but I do not see how the State could undertake this work except through the Counties. It viould be a good -plan if those counties in which chaingangs are maintained would so arrange as to secure enough prisoners from the State to keep up a good chaingang force all the time. From the best information available, and from those who have had experience with chaingangs, it is not profitable, even to the County, to main tain a chaingang when the number falls below fifteen. In most of tdie counties the average is below that number. The farming out of convicts to individuals should be discontinued. If this were done it would call in 475 convicts who are now hired out to individuals and that number put on the roads in the various counties in the State where chaingangs are maintained would in a iewv years greatly improve our public roads and' at the same time not interfere with the State farms. The present system of chaingangs in most of the Counties is a very expensive luxury, but by the Counties hiring a sufficient number of convicts from the State, as suggested above, we could very soon have in those Counties a good system of public roads, and nothing could bc done that would add more to the com fort and convenience and saving to the people who live in the rural districts. A system of good roads would do very much to stop the fldw of population from the country to the towns. The Counties could not spend the public money more wisely, or with greater benefit to the public, than by maintaining a good ch aingang in each County on permanent road building. Good roads would bring churches, and schools, and towns closer to every country home, in addition to the saving which would result from the wear and tear upon stock and vehicles, and upon the people themselves. And this can be done by vwise legislation without interfering in the least with the management or maintenance of the State farms. I submit here with a statement showing the operations of the State Penitentiary for the past year. CONVICT STATEMENT. Prisoners in confinement December 31, 199-.-.-.--.-.-.- ol From Courts since that date.... ... . -.... ..246 Recaptured.. .-...-.--.-..-..-.--.-..-..-.--.-..-..-.-- - 257 ,Discharged.. ' -1S7 Pardoned..................... ------ --- ---'-24 Escaped..-..-.-.-.-..-.-.-.-..-.-.-.--.-.-.-.--.-.-.- 2 Killed while trying to escape.................. . -- I Died.............. - -- -- -- -- ....... .......29-- 263 In prso Decmber 3.10100.. .... ........... ... .... .. --795 FINANCES. Balance cash on hand Dec. 31, 1899 .. ..$ 9,886.67 Total receipts for 1900.. .. .. .. .. .. .. 65,926.36-- S75,813-03 Total (Isbur scmcnts for 1900.. .. .- .. .. 1,879.91 Cash on hand December 31, 1900..- . -. -S 3.933.12 To this should be added 328 bales cotton. . .. .. .. .. .. 13,120.00 Due for oats and convict hire.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,962.00 S20,015.12 Spent for Improvements New prison.. ........................... .. $14,649.00 Less amount still due contractor.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5,202.45 $ 9,446-55 Reformatory. .. .... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,000.00 Artesian wells.. ........ .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,220.00 Barn.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,000.00 Gravel roof Hosiery Mill.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 450.00 New boiler, etc.. ...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. 1,100.00 Recovering guards' quarters .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. I10.00 Mowers, binders, mules, etc.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,142.00 $16,468.55 This amount is included in the total disbursements above men tioned, and when added to the cash assets above named shows a net earning of the institution for the past year of $36,483.67, and this does not include the corn and other material on hand and grown on the farm the past year for the maintenance of the institution this year, and neither is it included in the item of total receipts. In fact, the figures here given show the total receipts to have been S82,008.36. I congratulate you on the excellent management of this institution. INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE DEAF AND THE BLIND. The Fifty-second Annual Report of the South Carolina Institution for the Education of the Deaf and the Blind shows an average at tendance of 157 pupils, which is the largest in the history of the School. Thirty-six Counties are represented. The expenditures have been kept within the appropriation. The per capita cost re mains about the same. The building for colored pupils, for which the Legislature made an appropriation at the last session, is in process of erection, and will be ready for occupancy by the be ginning of the next school term. The Superintendent will ask for an appropriation of $20,000 for support and $20,000 for the erection of a school building and $4,500 for other improvements and repairs which are needed. The appropriation for support which is asked this year is the same as was made by the last Legislature, and the Superintendent says that the institution cannot be run on a less amount with the present number of pupils. In his annual report it is stated, "The time has come in the history of the institution when it will be necessary to limit the number of pupils admitted or to arrange-for the accommodation of a greater number." The new building which it is proposed to erect for the sum of $20,000 is for recitation rooms, with a chapel, or auditorium. The Constitution says: "Institutions for the care of the insane, blind, deaf and dumb and the poor shall always be fostered and supported by this State." It is for you to determine whether or not provision shall be made for the increased number of these unfortunates who are seeking ad mission to this institution. For a detailed statement of the work and needs of the institution you are respectfully referred to the report of the superintendent. TAXATION. Government has no right to take more from the people than is absolutely necessary for a wise and economical administration of the affairs of the Statte, and it should be so taken that the burden will bear evenly on al! property. It is the duty of every citizen to con tribute his portion to the support of the government in proportion to his ability. This is the standard laid down in our Constitution. That taxation does not bear evenly upon all property is patent to every thoughtful person. If you can in your wisdom devise any plan by wvhich the assessment of property for taxation can be more equitably made and all the property of the State can be placed on the tax books you will have contributed much to lighten the burden on that class of property which in its nature cannot escape taxation. In some of the States tax inquisitors are provided to discover property that is omitted from the tax list. There is no doubt that a great deal of property escapes taxation which should be on the books and made to bear its portion of the burden, and some plan should be devised by which this property can be reached. Missouri has adopted a law which provides for the taxation of mortgages, and the man who owns the property has it assessed at the value of the property, less the value of the mortgage, and. the owner of the mortgage is required to pay tax upon the value of his mortgage. Some such provision in our laws would be just and equitable, for it is not right for the owner of the property to pay taxes upon the full value when in reality his ownership is only the value of the property less the value of the mortgage. It would not be right to tax the property at its full value and then tax the mortgage, for that would be paying taxes upon the same property twice. This question of taxation is worthy of y-our attention, for it is one of vital importance to all of our people. RAILROADS. The Twenty-second Annual Report of the Board of Railroad Commissioners contains a very full exhibit of the operations of the roads within the State for the past fiscal year. An examination of the report will familiarize you with the duties of this very important department of our State govern ment. You will doubtless be gratified to note that the general prosperity of the year has benefited the railroad interest, and that the roads as a whole are in good condition, both materially and financiallv. There is a gradual improvement in the roadways;.the trestles and bridges have been strengthened, as required by the increased capac ity of the rolling stock and the large increase of the tonnage. There has been considerable improvement in the depot accommodations, some new ones constructed, and many old ones repaired. There has been constru~cted and received for public business since the last re port about 2oo miles of new road within the State. The gross earn ings of the roads have about reached the $10,000,0oo mark. The entire operating expenses and taxes amount to about $7,ooo,0oo leaving a balance with which, in a large measure, to liaiuidate the interest On the bonded indebtedness. Some few roads have paid a small dividend on their stock. The report showvs some of the vexed qu estions that were brought to the attention of the Board, and a full statement is made of the dispositionL of the same, demonstrating the fact that the Commission has endeavored to adjust all differences between the public and the roads in a just and reasonable manner. The prosperity of the rail roads of a State is a good index to the general prosperity of the people. PENSIONS. For several years the State has been doing what she could for the ;fe. ennnnc olr1 ('onfederaie snidiers and the widows of soldiers who are in need of its aid. It should be a matter of congratulation to every patriotic son that we have been able to do what we have, and a source of regret that we are not able to do more. The trot.'):' with our pension laws is the tendency to abuse them. and in many cases those who are really deserving go without the asistance they need, and to which they are entitled; but better that a hundred who are not entitled to it should receive aid than that one deserving old soldier should suffer in his ul age for the want of such help as the State and the people he served s: well are justly due him. At the last session of the Legislature a new pension law was en acted, which has not yet been tested. The new law is intended to reduce the number of pensioners nw on the roll, and to have-on the list only those who are worthy, and to give them a sum sufficient to be a real help to them. In order to carry out the purpose of this law a new set of blanks have been sent out. and the roll for this year will be completely revised. In view of this fact, it would be well to give the present pension law a fair trial, and to make such an appro priation for the old soldiers as the General Assembly may in its wisdom feel that the State is able to spend for this purpose. Last year the appropriation was Sroo,ooo, and there were on the pay-roll 7.707 pensioners, of whom 4.575 were soldiers and 3,132 were widows of soldiers. I recommend that there be no reduction in the appropriation for this worthy cause. STATE MILITIA. During my administration several occasions have arisen in which the civil authorities have called upon me as Commander-in-Chief for the assistance of the Militia to preserve the peace and avert riot and bloodshed in the State. In each and every case the volunteer troops have responded to my orders with alacrity and enthusiasm, and in every instance, by their promptness and coolness, lawand order were enforced without loss of life or property. In the recent threatened riot at Georgetown, caused by the killing of an officei in the dis charge of his duty. by a negro, it is attested by Mayor Morgan and the best citizens of that city that but for the timely presence of the volunteer troops the civil authorities would have been overwhelmed, and the city reduced to riot and bloodshed, and probably destruction of property. With the rapid prog-ess the State is making-the cen treing of populous industrial activities here and there all over the State-the ever present problem of another distinct race in our midst may warn us that we are ever liable to such occurrences as the Georgetown riot, and to meet such conditions, and to protect the lives and property of our citizens, the State has no other appeal, no other means so adequate or reliable, nothing else so satisfying to the people as the presence of a well organized, thoroughly equipped body of soldiers. Therefore, if the Militia is a necessity when calam ity threatens the peace and good order of society. it is tie bounden duty of the State to make liberal provision in the line of wise economv to foster and maintain it, for under the genius of otir system of government the Iilitia, or citizen soldiery, is, and mist always remain, the court of last resort in the maintenance and en forcement of law and order. Aside from my personal knowledge aid observation, as Commander-in-Chief, it gives me pleasure to note the expressions of satisfaction that constantly reach me in praise of the progress and improvement of our Militia system under the able con trol and direction of that department, and I do not hesitate in ad vising the General Assembly to provide as liberally as our means will allow for the maintenance and advancement of the Militia, feeling, as I do, that every dollar appropriated will be wisely and economically disbursed in the interest and steady improvement of the service. I respectfully refer you to the Adjutant General's report, which covers in detail the entire operations of the AdjutantGeneral's Department for the last fiscal year in a most satisfactory manner. CHICKAMAUGA BATTLEFIELD. At the last session of the Legislature $Srooo was appropriated for the purpose of erecting a monument to the South Carolina soldiers on the Chickamauga Battlefield. The Governor was authorized to appoint a Commission, consisting of three Confederate soldiers, with the Governor as Chairman, to have charge of1 the erection of this monument. I appointed as members of that Commission Gen. C..I. Walker, Col. J. Harvey Wilson, Capt. C. K. Henderson. The Com mission visited the battlefield and selected the location of the various markers, designating the positions of the South Carolina troops. They also selected the location for the large monument for all South Carolinians who fought and who fell on that historic battlefield. The Obmmission called for designs and bids. Several'plans an'd bids were snbmitted, and, after carefully considering all of them, the contract was awarded to the Stewart Stone Company, of Colum~bia, S. C., as their designs impressed the commission as the most suit able, and they also offered to do the wvork at the lowest price. TI e total cost foi- markers and pavement around the monument, and for the monument itself, is $9,450. The work on the maikers has beeii done, and that on the monument is nearly comyleted. Thd mnn ment is 32 feet high, and will be a handsonie shaft, made of South Carolina granite, surmounted by a bronze palmetto tree embleinatic of our State, and flanked on two sides by two bronze statnies, each'af a Confederate infantryman and artilleryman, these figuies represent ing the only arms of the service from South Carolina on that battle field. It is proposed to unveil the monument in July, 1901, that being thc timeof the reunion of the United Confederate Veterans at Memphis, Tenn. This time has been selected so that many vetai-ans arid our people generally may have an opportunity of attending the cere monies while on their way to the United Confederate Veterans' Re union, and thus be able to secure the advantages of the low rates of fare given on that occasion. The Commission feels that it would be very appropriate for the entire Legislature to be present at the dedication of this memorial which they have caused to be erected to the gallant sons of the State who on this sacred spot offered their lives with distinguished gal lantry for their beloved country. The spot selected for the mhonu ment is one held by the intrepid courage of the brave men of Kar shaw's Brigade as they victoriously swept toward Snodgrass Range, and every marker shows the spot wvhere South Carolina valor was displayed. THE BLACK REPORT. In my last Annual Message to the Legislature I called attention to the importance of securing the report made by Mr. John A. Black to the Legislature in 1858 in regard to the claim of the State against the General Government on account of the Revolutionary War, and sug ested the importance of provision being made for search for this eport, wvhich was supposed to be in one of the old rubbish rooms of the State H-ouse. The Legislature made an appropriation and di rected the Governor and the State Treasurer to employ some one to go through this rubbish room to see if this report could be found. The report was unearthed amongst this old rubbish and has been forwarded to Senator Tillman along with other papers and docu ments bearing on this subject. I will submit to you a Special Mes sage covering this matter. SPECIAL COURTS. At the last session oif tile General Assembly there was an Act passed providing for Special Courts, and stating how they should be obtained, and also fixing the salary of the special judge. In fixing this salary, however, tihe General Assembly failed to provide any