Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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?'Ood nu<l otu1 Nutlvo 'l4?n?l.M JANUARY IT, 1896 Camden. 8. c., Friday VOLUME. VII CF GOVERNOR JOHN GARY EVANS TO The General Assembly of .. the State. ??'*)> t** TMPOUTANT UliCOMMENDATIONS 114 PreaQnta HU Views on tbo Vurlous Subjects fend Tells * Tliem Yhelr Duty. Gentlemen of the General Assembly: TUy past year has boon a mom en tons ono in the history of South Carolina. ? jtfuch has been done to the glory and renown of tho State, and muoh has >j,ee<i done that might well have beyu Jeifc undone. For tbe first tiiuesiuco 1868 your de liberations will, bo governed by an or? ?ganio law framed by our own g?ople. ;*Under tiie act passed by your honora ble bods' calling and providing for a Constitutional Convention, delegates were duly eleoted by tho people, ami tho Convention aKaom bled on tho 10th day of September, and adjourned oi tho 4th day of Deeombor A. D. 189.), having framed tho present Constitu tion, which went into effect January 1, 1896. , I deem it unnecessary to givo yon more than u cursory review of tho .ef forts made by a "few whito menrtiud the negroes to de($at the holding of thit ' Oonv^ntfou, and, but for tho sako oi hi^toi^jTshould not do ro at aii. Aftofr the primary elections for State and County officers last summer au hq tiori was brought by Matthew C. But ler, ex-United States Seuotot*, against W. T. C. Bates Wd' W .* H. Ellorbe, State Treasurer and "Comptroller-Gen eral respectively, to enjoiu tho pay ment of the salaries due to tho Super visors of Registration of thfeState up on tho ground that oivr election laws wero unconstitutional,- null and void. The result was a.viefbry for tho State, but the decision not coming in time to suit the plaintiffs 4 new tauk was taken and a ease made ag*un*t-tl?e Supervisor of Richland County. A ready tool was found in United States Circuit Judge Goff, a fiqpu oil can from West Virginia, and oue^ ftu nee hie own u^rds, who felt that ^'duty mingled w?tK inclination" compelled him to declare our registration laws unconstitutional, and to enjoin the officers from executing them. While thiB crisis confronted us I felt impoll cd to iseny nn address to the people oi ,tho State preparing them for the issues that might confront up, aiujy^t^id no fears of their ability t^jg^et In this address I gj^ET^en portraits | oftheJndges und tht and it is unnecessary t$> pitfCtfay them here. fj 'inWllr^""^ ' .? . Fortunately, we wepo ena^led to ap peal to tho United States Circuit Court of Appeals in time to reverse Judge Gotland couduct our eleetiou for dele* ^gates under the registration laws now to express my high appreciation of the ability displayed by tho Attotney-Geu ? erat-and hia aswiitaut and tho valuable J \ sorvicea of Messrs. MoCrady, Barnwell tarily offered their eeryioes to tboStaJe moverthrowingtbp tyranny of Judge Goff, but I War^inwijling to accept <hism gratis, and upon the request oi thu Attornoy^GenQrailretainoditfeBy^. AlcCrady and Mower to assist in fbe management of tho cases. I trust that your honorable body will grant them mch remuneration as you may thiuk just ^xrcfsqsiitable. ' Iu epite of all efforts to defeat it, "our Convention has met and adjourned and given us a good Constitution, and we can well afford to let bygones ~bo by gones ?nd deal with the preseht as we find it. " RIGHT Or SUFFRAGE. The most mporUnt Article com manding your attention is that of tbo "Right of Suffrage." This matter should be given the right of way,, and let it be tho first law enaoted by your honorable body There, many reasons for this. First, the peopleare anxious k> kuow how and wheu ^the Tight td Agister is to be had; and*, sec ond, it is of vital importance tbtft a fall registration of electors should be hud before the next general election. The r? quiremonts of the Constitution are "residence in the State two years, in the County one yenr, and in the poll ing precinct in which the eleotor offers to votp four months, and tho payment eiijtfonths before aftjp election of any poll tax then due and payable. Minis ters of the Gospel and school teachers arc entitled to vote aftfcr six mmths resideuceju the State. (b) Registration whi?h sball provide for the /enrollment of every eleotor once fnUeft years and also an enroll ? menteadhand every year of every '| elector dot previously registered BQale persons of voting age for registration who oan read a of the Gdostitntion sub by the registration o fl eers, or understand and explain it v^en. read to them. Tfceee are the requirements op to Jmnnf^h 1898. After this tfoe a per ' ion A. firing for registration, if other wise qtu&M, maM be able to both read imi/vritfaay Bwiini ef the Con - ?tM?t*W*M>aitt ed to Mia by there* m i .of all taxes including poll tax, is ft pro roqniftito to votings It wiH readily appear to .you that different legislation is required foi*the period tip tdltiOS, from that thereafter. I would .^lgqfht, however, to your honorable body that nil the provisions of the Constitution uiid your legislu* tiun ill reforeuoe thereto bo comprised iu oj/o statute, as it is exceedingly do sirfcblo that it should be thoroughly c/iroulated amoug the citizens of the State. Designing demagogues aro al ready at work filling tbo ears and heads of confiding .constituents with falso impressions ooitcerniug tho pro* visions of the Constitution, ami ttvoro is uo safer plan to set at naught euoh falsohoode than by allowing tho peo ple to soo and rtfad for themselves. It is your duty to provide Jor tho is suing toiaoh duly registered elector a certificate of registration, and for the renewal thereof, when lost, mutilated or destroyod. "T am satisfied you oau do no better than to adopt tho old form of registration oertifioato and tho provisions of tho statute law now of foroe rogulating the saipo, expunging such provisions as conflict with the new Constitution, which will readily present themselves to you. This, how ever, is a matter for your own good judgment and wisdom. Any person denied registration st\vdl hnvo tho right of appeal to the Court of Commou Pleas or any Judgo thereof, and thenee to the Supreme Court. It is made your duty to provide by law for such appeal and for tho correction of illegal >iild fraudulent registration, votiug aud ill other crimes against tho cleotion ? a wo. I would suggest that, as little ?ed tape as possible bo placed around this right of appeal, and that you shall imply provide against defeating it by technicalities. " There should bo aho as littlo expense attached to tho right as possible. Under the provisions governing this right of appeal to tht? Supreme Court n^w existing in civil oases, .1 fear very few oases of deniod registration would ever roach this stage if thesnmo woromado applicable. Tho persou complaiuing in such cases must necessarily be of the.pooror and less intelligent classes; but this is a sacred right under our form of govern ment, ajid they aro eutitled to Ovory test allowed under tho Constitution, consistent with the rule of intelligence, without unnecessary hardship or ex pense. The severest punishmentshould 1)0 prescribed by your honorablo body for frauds in registration or voting. The re* was a traio when tho euds would seom to justify the means in this i/av ticular, but the necessity no longer exists, and tho day is past when any thiog byt tho will of the intelligent majority freely and honestly expressed at tho ballot box oan govern in South Carolina. 0 ^ Certain persons convicted of crime, tho insane, etc., are disqualified from registering or voting. I would re spectfully reoommond that you provide for a list of all criminal* in each County, to be filed in the office of the Supervisor of Registration- and also ^ritlfthe Clerk of the Court, in order that they may be forever barrodof the privilege of - registering or votiug.- ? Itisinoumbent upon you to presoribe the manner of holding elections and of ascertaining the results of the same. Tbere is no necessity for any ohang-* at this time in our law in this par ticular. Our poople ere accustomed to the eight box law, and ihere can manner of obtaining the results of elections. Wo have been served with notice that this _Aliifllo jn our. Constitution would be tested before the ^nited-BtateB? fiopremo Oourtj -- t*ad whi^Jt have Jio 'fears as to the resplt, and am fully convinced of its constitu tionality, still Bhonld another Goff come alontr, whose "inclinations made it his duty" to set aside our registra tion the day before election, in such an omergenoy Our / eight ?box* law would bo some protection. I, there fore, would respectfully recommend iV&i W0U loavo this statute na it. stands and in future, whon our status is thoroughly settled, such action can be taken as may bo deemed expedient. The polling preoincts of tho State must bo changed so as to mako every in-' oorpofcated town a separate polling precinot. This is necenaary for tho following reason: Section 12 of Artio.e II provjdes that eleotoysin municipal elections shall possess ,the qualifica tions and be subjeot to the disquali fications herein prescribed. Tho pro duction of a certificate of registration County as an ? elector at a precinct included in the incorporated city or town in which the voter detires to vote is declared a condition prerequisite to his obtaining a certificate of registra tion/yor.. municipal elections, qlo. There are many incorporated towns in 4he State that do not include polling precinct s, but are Included with such prccinots. It is, therefore, Necessary to have such town include such a precinot in or for the electors thorein to vote in municipal elections. You are also required to provide for the registration of electors' fn' muntci paliti?*; but this should be" dbae in your general law for such corporations and as near Uniform wMr that pre scribed for State electors as practi cable. 4 Tb<r Governor then gow on to noto the cbaioges made by tho now Constitu tion In tha ftjftooi of government,- aod pointa imt OQino of. ihe moat important r eqairementeof thedoaeral Assembly. The now Cooatttntion Jim boon pnb Usbed in fnll and tkichangM qpado aro familiar to on* rvadonC Ho tbon kom on to make oartain rpapmmandatiooa. A arnop#a of tin Anav^iai atatna of tha States tka panitiiUnry, phoMpbato tadoeiry, ota, baf# Bpymwwl horo bo foroia U?o *?$?*%* at tip ofloer* fcat After roviewing tho various repo/ts the Governor says : From tho forogoiug it will b? eoen that wo oommeuoo tho fiscal year with* out u dollar of ludobtoduoss. It will bo necessary for your bono ablo body to provHo sullloient revenues to ruu tin government for fourteen months litstoud of twelve as heretofore* Thi* ! results from tho change in tho olose of tho fiscal year from tho 81st of Ooto her to tho 31st of Deoembor under the uuw Constitution. Two-twelfths of tho ordinary expenses of the State govern inynt will have to bo added, thorofore, to your levy for tho next flsoal year in ' order to make up the deficit ut ouoo and routain on a cash basis. Uudor tho provisions of the now Constitution (ivory dollar of outside rovenuo here* toforo going into the State Treasury to meet the ordinary expenses of the government except in phosphate roy alty, which is now hardly sufficient to pay the fixed oharge of #75,000 to tho finking fuud, lias been diverted to th? school fund. Tho disponsary profits, tho direct tax fund, escheated estates and all gifts to tho State where the pur pose is not dosigoatod go to this equal lztng school fuud. We are ontiroly dependent upon a direot tax to raise funds to mo.t tho ordinary exponst s of tho government. I am satisfied, how over, wo will bo able to mqot all do mauds with tho samo levy aslfor the past year, with the exception, however, of the two mouths additional.^ Ffifd ' the funds of last year boon left appli cable to the ordinary expenses, the levy for the next year would not have exceeded three mills. The total tax able property of tho State for tho past liseul year is SI 60,448,941. This will bo greatly increased another year by tho large number of manufactories now in process of oreotion, aud it is to bo hoped by a more uniform system of asaosamont, neoessary to bo dovisod by your honorublo body as required by tlio Coustitntion. Your preseut levy will bo upon tho assessment of 1804-5 for State purposes, but thip is not true as to oouuty aud schools. The funds arising from taxes of 1804-5 for coun ty and school purposes were expended <>n contracts made against them before they woro even collected. This condi tion is unfortunate for the creditors of tho counties, who are school teachers aud contractors, who aro compelled to discount their claims ut\ oxorbitatft rates. To meet tho diffloultifce arising from such a condition, I would respect fully suggest tliaf all contracts duo or | to been mo due, after exponding the revenues of tho your 1804-5, lrom auy lawful oauso prior to January 1, 1806, for couutv or school pur nc83 an< lowed to issuo bonds to liquidato the oarno. The bonds could bo made pay able, say in ton years, with proviui^is f?>r the retirement of a given numl>fci eaoh year. The Counties of the Stat? would thus bo* placed upon ft cash basis aud teaohers relieved of great hard ship. Much complaint has been made by the Comptroller-General against tho present system of assessing the property of corporations other than railroad. I think the complaiht vrell fou ndecT, aa justice 'and equity demand ' uniformity in this particular. We have in one County the stock of a bank that pays ten per oent. dividend assessed at Bov<Mity-flve oents on the dollar. In an adjoining Qounty a bank that pays eight per eeht. divi dends assessed' at' one hundred and tight onTHo dollar. ~ I would respect fully nnggest to your honorable body that the State Board of Railroad Asses sore ~U8~^$iven "Jurisdiction over all banking aud tganufaotiirjny companies in this rsspect. Wo would theh"Eav<H one eodfral authority, with no local in fluents that could be brought to bear upon it. The same difficulty exists a* to the method of taxing ins 'trance com panies. I- would respeotful}^ . recom mend that in lieu of the pr'esont sys tem of taxing .net premiums receivod in the V4nous counties, whioh is almost itnpossiblo to get at, a fixed per cent, of such gross premiums be reqniipd to bo paid direct into the State Tjtfasury, and, if necessary, the proportion ad justed between the several Counties. CJnder tho terms of the new Coustitu tiou tho^foneral Assembly is authori zed t compose a graduated tax on in comes and on profession* and business occupations. It is hardly nocossury for. mo to argue to your honorable body tho justlco of an income tax. It has been advocated upon every stump aud throughout the entire Union uo tho most equitable system of taxinq the rich in proportion to the poor. It is impossible to devise a system that will secure a just return of personal property. It has been tho dream of legislators and statemen for years, and wo aro no nearer a solution of the problem today than we were a century ago. I believe an inoomo tax will greatly assist in solving the problem; The present time will be known to his tory as the great t\pnd eta in the histo ry ot our country. As wealth becomes centralized its ' cower is broiiaht to poses hear, with all its corrupting iuflueuces, to obtain nontaxable securities*. TU? citizens, of towns and Sitiea and corpo rations require more protection from government than the rnrai population, anH it in bat proper that they should hear a greater proportion of its bnr> dens. Under the law money invested inStafte and United States bonds is exenppt from taxation. The Stock of banksand corporations is exempt in proportion to the amount of their cap ital invested in Slate bonds. . Thi? was intended to encourage Che bank* to as sist the State ia reloading her debt, ?*nd yet not one wonld come to the rtactte at the critical moment and we; were %M?d to sUl tie boade in for eip Mek 8i?o? that Nisi how rc the Uob asd kweiioWst the ed Ivy an income tax, ami I rospcotful I y recommend to your honoiabjo bodv that a graduated tax bo placed upon *H incomes of one thousand dollar* and upwards, and that County Audi tors bo givou full authority to hear ev idence and report to suoh Mother means as to your honorable body may sooni expedient t?> obtain full and accurate returns. It will bo necessary f*>r you to provide for tbe payment of the sal* ury of tho various School Commission era and other expenses for oolleotiug and disbursing school funds out of thy general taxes as the Constitution pro vides. It will be unnecessary for the expensos of tbe Stuto Pouitontiary and tho Dispensary to be -paid out of the general luud, as both institutions are self-supporting. I would, thorofore, recommend that in your appropria tions for these institutions you spoei Dcally state that suoh amounts bo paid out of their earnings to bo deposited in tho State Treasury for that purpose. Tho Governor recommouds Jho adoption of a section similiar to thai in tho constitution Of Georgia in re* lation to the Sinking Fund. CHARITABLE AND rHNAL INSTITUTIONS. It is always a ploasuro to tho Exe* ontivo to visit tho State Hospital for tho Inesno. This institution ia managed and conduoted -fix a raannor that must satisfy the most hypororitioal. While tho amount of tho appropriation askod ,,for is apparently greater than that for the procoding year, a study of its de tails will show that a reduotion has lioen made in tho par capita main 'ona'iyu. from $123.37 last y$ur to 311(5.70 for tho.-pTck'out year. You will see from the rocommondation oi tho Board of Rogonts that an effort was made during the past year to pur ehaso tho Wallaco property, consisting of 108 acres of laud, adjacent to tho Hospital. The prieo agreed upon was $2^,000, which tho Rogotftfe oxpooted to pay out of tho sum appropriated for tho tnaiutonanoo of tho iustitutiou, ooveriug a period of oight years, i could not oouour in such an arrange ment, for tho reason that I bolievod it unwise to establish tho prooedflut whereby tho Board of any Statu in stitution could inorea^ tho publiodebt of tho Sttitn to such an amount without express authority from tho General Assembly. It tho Board can purchase suon an amount of property upon uo other authority than their own, they could to an unlimited amount involve tho State in debt. I doom it advisable to purchase this property ?t tho pres ent ti ?no for tho reason that it will bo absolutely necessary to tho neods of tho institution in future, and I am sat I i*ued to wait for that omorgonov would I ontail upon tho-Stato a \ considerable I amount of inoreaso in tho value bf tho property, which is within the city limits. I luivo suoh great Wpect foi the judgmout and ability of the Su I periiitondcnt and Treasurer of tho iu I stitntion as to unhesitatingly endorse their recomrooudations. The urgent necessity lor a briok building for the confinement of tho tfcolorod insane will, i am sure, imprest/ itself upon your judgment. It is unjust, and, to say the least, inhum me, to conUoo these uufortuutttes in a lire trap or plaoo of I torture, as the preaen? quarters now *eem to bo. The brick hav? been I manufactured and ovorything jy in < eadinoss for the builder. Dtiriog t(ie pist year a vacancy occurred- in the I ofKeo of Second Assistant Physician, oausod by the resignation of Dr. W. A. LiCirby. It inamafter of congratulation to tho State and to the institution tH,It I 1 was so fortunate in scouring the services oj Dr. Sarah Campboll Alleo to ij 11 the vaoauey. Dr. Allen is ? | th Carolina by birth, and the Able I manner in whioh she performs the dutiesof the position and the love borne. I tier by thb female inmates proves the I wisdom of plocing a woman physician I t i charge of these unfortunate patients [ of her own Bex. ? . ? I I commend to your oareful consid oration the carefully prepared and in structive report of the Superintendent I of this institution. DBAF A"D BIjIN'D ASYLUM. This instituion continues tj be ad* mirably conducted, and with lens com plaint tlmn any institution under our govorumout. Tlxo remarkable record as to tho honlth of tho students mad# by tho institution may be well Oonsia-' erod by the management of other- in stitutions in the State, tho cost per capita for medic**! attention, etc., I>cing only 30 ipento, -not a single case of serious illtfen* having occurred dur ing tho en two year. This i4 attributed in a large measure to tho kind atten tion aud motherly oaro given by the Matron of the institution. The Super intendent asks your honorablo body for the following appropriation: For support..;..* f 17, 500 For repairs..*. 1,000 For Insura.nco 874 Fof- cloctrlo light plant and laundry , machine 4.820 Building for colored pupils 8,000 As to the last two items, I am ? not prepared to recdmmend their appro priation. Tboicfcperience of other in stitutions ,in>fio State with eleotrio light pUnj*1nas been rather t a coster one, arid* see no necessity for such a plant in* this institution. The build* ing for colored pupils may be allowod to remain as it ia until the the finances of-tbe State can afford a new oi>o . I woald respectfully recommenxl the ^granting of the other approp^i&pij^r asked for. It will bo noted by ^ur honorablo body that tbo FncnltyVof the institution boa been enlarged dor-* log the yestafid tbo in*tltuUon gouer ally improved. . He then reviews the ?erk of the va rious colleges of the fltato. He closes this subject by the following from tho. Superi^teneen t of Eduo*Uon : ? son QOX4. Tbe annual report of tho Saparia Uadant of Education shows the public aehoufa ofthe^Ma to b? is aa ptoepar ? enrollment for tho year was 103,720 whiten, 119,203 colored, aggregating 223,021, ft doorcase from the previono year of 8,7-15. Of thia number, how ever, 3,010 wore in tho county oi Beaufort, which loftvoa tho averugo at tendance in tho other counties about tho same as it was for tho previous your. Tho paatv four years will be Known ftH tho groat oduoutional ora of State. There seems to bo a general enthusiasm among the people of all classes in this great work, 'lhero ha? neon a gradual inoreaae sinoo 1800 in tho leiiKth of thesohool term, and it i? confidently expected tlmt when tho new constitutional provisions are put into opotaliou tho school term will t>?v increased to atleastsix months. With this accomplished the oduoatioual sy? tem of South Carolina will bo as ooin i?lote and ellloiout as that of 'any Stato in tho Union. Tho total amount ex pended during tho last fiscal year upon tho oommou sohools was 8503,713. Gt>, vwhioh is aB much as any Htato iu the Union in proportion to wealth. Tho average length of tho sossiou is four and throe tenths months, or nearly twice as long as tho averago length for 1888. Eighty-eight speoial school dis tricts have iuoroased tho tax levy for school purposes, and in most, if uot <?U of these, the school term is over ?ix mouths. You ftro respectfully referred to t.h<' excellent roport of tho Superintendent of Education for tho details in refer ence to thi? department, which is lioro with transmitted to you. TUE MILITIA. The milita ot tho State is iu bolter condition than it over has boon since tho war. This is duo iu a largo mens are to tho Enlistment Aot paused by your body at its lat>t sossiou. Under tho order of my predecessor several commands of tho State were suspended for reasons fully set forth to your body. [ havo restored several of these oom puuies to their origiual status, upon iirst n quiring, however, that no sold ier who refused to obey tho orders of his captaiu or commanding oftleer dur ing the Darlington riot* Should be al to\Vod to onliHt. I had oooasion four .times during my administration to order out tho militia iu different parts of tho Stato. They havd\? invopably rospoudod promptly and havo per formed their duty as booemes well-or ganized militiamen. I havo, in com pliance with the law, romunoratod them for their servico out of the Gov ernor's oontingont fund. The neces sity for a well organized and equipped militia is apparent to every one, and I would respectfully reoom mend that the usual appropriation bo made for tho maintenance of the samo. Your atten tion is called to tho suggestion made by tho Adjutant and Inspoctor-Gon eral, which I trust will havo your en dorsement. A military convention *as held iu this city on September 16th lant, at which a full attemfance ot officers was had. A full report of their proceedings is published in tho report of the Adjutant, arid Inspector-General, and I respeotfully oall your attention to the same. fiTATE BOABD OF HEALTH. The State Board of Health presents an interesting report in rofer<j,pdo to the sanitary condition of the common jails and prisons of tho Stato. There is no doubt of the fact that this mat ter needs your attention. ' JailtJT'fts a general rule, are for the confinement of culpritB and not for their puuish ment. Orten the oflTSOTB ATS~KCtnirted by r desire to make money out of dieting prisoners, >aud havo little oonsidera tion for Uieir health or oomfort. ~ .1. WOlJil. .oommend this report to your earnest consideration, ana auk for the continued appropriation of the small amount asked for. I attended oue of the meetings of the Board.in Charleston, and person ally iospeoted-the Qmumotino Station on James Iulaud. It is admirably Equipped, and Dr. Lobby, the physi oian in charge, is to bo congratulated upon tho excel tout conditio u in c? eiy imrtioular of the Btation. 'IUILBOAPS. The railroad situation in the Stats has been changed and greatly im proved by tho reorganization of all roads in tbo.haifds of receivers and tho reloano from the actual guardianship of tho United States Court. Tho entiro mileage of the State may bo divided np among three corporations, as the minor lines aro either owned or con trolled by them. They aro tho South ern Railway, tho Atlantic Qoast Line, and tho Seaboard Air Lino. These threo may be said to be rivals for tho control of tho interests in Sonth Caro lina. Tho greatest and most powerful among'thein is the Southern Railway. This is h foreign corporation, and ex actly what its status is as to this Stato or tho United States "I have nover been able yet to ascertain. This much is certain, however: that it is fast be coming a most dauger6us monopoly for the Sontbern States. It owns and controls ovor 5.000 qailes of roads, and it is still grasping for competing rivals. JUnder the laws and Conatitur tion of our State no foreign corpora tion can do business or own or control other railroads in the State without Aral becoming a corporation in this SUte. I am satisfied that this com pany has no legal status witlgn the ^Sute, and I am determined to nse ovary means within my power to pre* Vent its further abeoiptioU of our do mestio corporations. My attention has been ealled' to-tbe reeeet sale of the Port Royal and . Western Carolina Rail way Company and its probable absorp tion by the Southern oetopns. The time baa sot yet arrived when I can take a band in the natter. If, bow State, nnd, if necessary to roleoso tho roads now ymdor thoir control within this Stato, and I would rospoetlnlly recommend Mint tho ohartera of nil such road* bo immediately repealed, l ho iuvofetiKutiwtm wf such committee tiho.ild not bo Ot^nQfl'ed to this corpora tiuh alone, but to nny foreign corpora tion ooudug$iug or oxoroisiug uiioou *titutional powers or buKinosu within this State. *' Sevorol years ago tho General As sembly ropculod tho Charter of tho I'ort lioyfcl mill AugUKbi Railway Com pnnv for tho reason that tho tamo was owned anil operated by foreign cor poration* opaiost tho interests of tho people of thiB Stato. The cose has hoon in tho State and United States Courts ovor einoo, and I am satinflod that ulterior motivos aro keeping it there. I have conferred with tho AUornoy-Gonoral and agreed upon a lino of policy which I hope will Penult, in a speedy determination of thoonuKo and tho restoration of this important artery of trado to our own people. Hie Kailioad OominisHiou has rocontly made an elTort to relieve tho people of tho uujust and exorbitant rato chat-trod upon fertilizers by tho roads in tliis Stuto. Thoy havo been governod by a h.?u?o of equity and justico to both parties nn'd have ft sod a rate no lower than that in other States whioh ship Iops thou South Carolina, I regret to w e the old disposition on tho part of tho rulroada breakout afresh and an oflort to dofy tho Htato authorities by ?u appeal to their old friend uud ally, tho Unitod States Cqurt. ,) udgo Simon ton has recently issued on order of in junction restraining tho Commissioners from enforcing tho order. I am sttis lied that tho position of tho Com mis "ion will bo sustained, and this litiga tion is purely vexations and intended tho provent tho people from obtaining tho benefits of tho reduction until the fertilizer season is ovor. Wo will push the case with as much zoal as lios withiu our power. I Would 10 commCnd that you onact the rate Vs t oldish ed by tho Commission into a statute, prescribing sovoro pouultios and forfeiture of chortor of tho com panies failing to cstaldiKh thoin. T would suggest to tho Commission that in future their roports bo condensed. I seo 110 nood of republishing from year to yoar matter that has already heeu published in tho General Statutes, nor.gjQan I eeo tho uooensity for pub lishing tho correspondeuoo of tho Commission iii full. I oommond to your caroful consideration this volu minous dooument, horowith transmit tod to you. * THE DISPENSARY. , On account of the great demands made upon me for information and statistic) in reference to the Diapon* sary law, coming not only from our onto State, but from oil parts of tho world, I hove concluded to treat thi> matter in a separate message, which will bo duly transmitted to your hon orable body in time for yoar careful consideration, . COUNTY GOVERNMENT. 1 The system of County government which was inaugurated in , the yeor 18U4 was regarded as an eiperimont, and in order to soo with *gMt sucoobs ' tfb law hod mot I hod prepared and forwarded to tho various Counties of the State the following circular letter, the answers to which are herewith given for your information. Tho following questions were sont to I oaoh of_the County Supervisors: \ 1 . By what system" arePTfie "pafbjfir roads of your County worked, convict, controct or otherwise? 2. What is the condition of yoar highways, bridges, etc., as compared totho old system ? How doosthe oost" compare? 8, On on average, how many con- 1 yicts do you work? i. Does the chain gong tend to decrease crime? j 5. Aro tho public fnnds as econ omically and as satisfactorily Expended under the County government Jaw as iinder tiie old pesstt*?**, give statistics. ^ 0. Are county affairs in gonoral satisfactorily administered undar this low? 7. Have you any suggestions tending to strengthen and perfect the system? Tho following answere were received' from tho ( npervisors of the counties en ii mo rated: The replies from each oountj are then given. S* ' A Convention of the Connty Super visors was held in this city last snmmer, otid oertain amendments Wore suggest/ od to- tho law, which will be presented] to your body, and I trust will receive' *nch consideration as you deem, advis able. The law has been a great suc cess, and I am satisfied, with * few amendments unnecessary to bo oalled to your attention, cannot bo improved upon. OlIICK AMATTG A COMHTSSlON. Under and by authority of tbe Act npprqyod December 22d, 1994, to selects designs, etc. , for the monu ments proposed to bo erected on the battlefield of Chiasm sug* by tlrr State to her soldiers who took pert in that memorable strangle, I appointed Gen. 0. I.. Walker, Col. J. D. MeLnoasand Col. C. K. Henderson as soeh commit* sioo. No appropriation was made .to carry out the object of {fee Act, but these gentlemen, with ortnmendable seal and patriotism, hare at theirowo expense performed' tbe duties required of tbem. The Commisafcra met in Co lombia on NoreasWrHJh, I*W5, tor tbe purpose of opeutng bids, for wfefatf they bad>M?rio?4y advertised aad innt^J/ FronaHboee eubeaitlai they seJ^TESt of foe BMdooa Moon ment Company, ffljOfaariUsr Jit asks for an appropriation of $10,000 with wbioh to erect the monument and other oxponsos oounooted with the Commission. Nearly nil of the States having troops ongaged iu thia memor* able buttle have properly marked the places where they fought una died, with suitablo monuments. South Carolina enn ill niYord to do loss, as her heroes wore most promiuent and dar ing in the conflict^ Tho report of the Commission will l>o transmitted lor your oousidoratiou. CONFEDERATE nEOORDS. Undor a reso.ution of the General Assembly, I appointed General Hugh U Furlcy to fill tho position of Hi#tor* inn made vacant by tho death of Gen* oral Kershaw. 'Tho work ia progrew ing with satisfaction to mo and to the ( onfodornto veterans of tho St>?t?. ' Geuorai Farley has rooontly beo'u elected Historian to tho Order of United Coufcdorato Veterans, and I Inmpouk for him tho hoarty co-opera tion of every hero who woro tho gray. This is an ityportaut work, and it is necessary that it bo done aoourately and earofully. I am satisfied that Gonoral Farley is fully competent to do both. Hi* report is herewith sub mittod. ? / v \ Tili ATLANTA EXPOSITION. In September last tho Cotton State? and Industrial Exposition was oponed m tho oityf of Atlauta and closed on tho 1st otV. . Jaunary, 1890. Tho hut session cii th^ General Assembly failed ito consider this matter and no appro-^ priation was made for having the in? dustrios and roaouroes of thia State properly represented. The exposition was, you might say, purely a Southern enterprise. Being an adjoining 3t*to, and ono with whom our relations have heretofore boon so cordial, I deemed, it of tho utmost importance that our State should bo creditably represented. I perfected an orgauizatiou in every 0?>unty in the Stato and oudeavored to raise funds from popular subscriptions. T found this, howovor, on herculean and fruitless task. A mass meeting of citizens of tho Piedmont sootiou of tho State was hold at B*>lton, in Anderson County aud resolutions, posted petitioning meto borrow raouey and securo for our State a propor placo in this piotuTc of the rcsoarscs aud industrial developments of the South. Armed c^vith ^b1s authority, and upon tho request of; mauy meuw bers of your $ody, State Treasurer. Bates and I stJooeodod in raising six thousand dollars from tjbie Farmer?' Bank upon/iur individual note, wbiolj the bank cawfod without interest. W# umployt}4^ur. E. L. Roche, an expert suoiy^fnatters, tocolloot aud sqonre ler oxhibit of tho Statue *g* Inminbobted to Capt^W. lark and Mr. J. C. Hemphill and urwur members of the State board' lot active and hearty cooperation^ iftaorv out ing the exhibit. I am Satisfied that those of you whd attended' the Atlnnta Exposition on Sonth Carolina ' day were not ashamed of the State or its exhibit. I am happy to inform . you that the State was awaiMad a gold modal for havifig the moat comprehen sive State exhibit. I feel wwwtiiit;; the SUte the investment: and judging from the letters of inquiry received by me dur ing and einoe tho close 1 of ;tM exposition concerning tho xttWJT resources of onr State, ? we stave , already been repaid. The State Treas urer and 1 feel that yon will not hesi tate to endorse our action aa being for the best intereate of the Stale and assume the obligation. A movement ?, is on foot by the oitizena, of Chicago te." hold an exposition Tn that city Vjn 4eptombeiv .Ig^jto^known y the Chicago and Southern States 0ow%; Exposition. The object of the ex position is to ahow to the West tha extent of the development of manufac- ; turing in the South and the natural advantages possessed by the Sonth ft** further development in thia line, the?#* by encouraging direct trade between the South and tho West and a nnioi^jof , "tueiie" " kV aacjjftnw -jfafc mutual preservation. I am satiated the success of such an enterprleo WOnM mean a good deal 'for the South, attd especially South Carolina, which now leads in *the manufacture of cotton goods. -.Jo this end I have directed a our exhibit to be shipped .to Chicago, with a hope that it will be bttta nucleus iof a grander exhibit to our entire ??* \aources. I wonld suggest that f ?ita? - Ido resolutions be passed by yonr Ai ody assuring the peopfo ?'. Chicago of your appreciation of their effort* to unite the two eections and of your ht-nrty cooperation in their work. . Efforts ha/ebeen made to obtfin oft* exhibit tof be placcd iu PhUadelpM*-. und New xvork, but I can see aofitoof results to (fome from this oourae. Tho interest of this section ia ao ant nistic to ours, and their greed bonds so great,, that I fear* wo " exoect nothing save flooneinl [OVM. - c V?rion? compWlito bwr to mo during the pestyeef if too factories working thei*. loader.: town _fk?J #t?itnte. Tb ?eofc)*??, ed ? special olftwr ta facts, and if w?ttMl P?ftjr. The repf?rt the opoyetiTee tben etorra houre * not UoMd th* plfcB&bedi* tk* oaniMtfcftfc^"1 ee to require.