Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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*r * . • ‘V AND PROGRESSIVE LEGISLATION *V • ■ , ' ' ANNUAL MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR REQUESTS PROVISION FOR ENFORCEMENT OF PROHIBITION-PRAISES EDUCA TIONAL LAW-WANTS LABOR LEGISLATION 1 PRESSURE OF LOBBYISTS MUST BE RESISTED; TOIMPROVE STATE WAREHOUSE SYSTEM / Tba Q«n«ral Assembly of the State of South Carolina Convened Tued^ day In Columbia. The Feature of This Session Will be the Message * v of Governor Manning to the State legislators Which Was Deliver ed Tuesday. The Views of Governor Manning and His Recommen dations for Legislation Carry Great Weight With Those to Whom “ • * . - r) V> TTiey are Addressed and the People of the State Attach Much Im- portance to His Opinion of the Various Laws Wlilch May be En acted- When Governor Manning Addresses the Two Houses He Will Make His Representations With Their Usual Force and Clearness, and We Print Below the Recommendations of Governor Manning. . , / • ' ' The constitution imposes upon the governor the duty “to Civ* to the General Assembly information of the condition of the State, and to recommend, for their consideration, sush measures as he shall Judge necessary or expedient.” Governor Manning avails himself of this privilege and calls to .the at tention of the General Assembly many matters which merit their deliberative action. The following are the chief topics of the message: DESIRES SPECIAL DEPUTIES TQ ENFORCE PROHIBITION; SAYS STATE’S PROGRESS MUST BE ECONOMICAL PROGRESS He asks special provision for that all appropriation* be scrutlnlxed the pay of special deputies whenever and wherever needed to enforce the law against the sale of alcoholic bev erages, declaring that the number of deputlee now provided by law will ao the sufficient to enable sheriffs, magistrates and other local authori ties to prevent the Illicit sale of II- guor. The governor again pledges bis best efforts to the administration and enforcement of law. He declares that the present condition . of the people it of paramount Importance and every Item carefully and them- ©uglily Investigated before being finally passed uptm. In considering thb needs of the Institutions and de- partments of the State also consider the sojirce of revenue from which these Meeds must be met—tne pock etbook of the taxpayer. The gov ernor most earnestly urges that the tax levy be held down to a mini mum. He declares that until as- sesaments and taxes shall be made mor* equal and just he shall oppose new and ex|tenslve undertakings, Ths state must progress, but it must be economical progress. ’ AGRICULTURAL INSTRUCTION IN RURAL SCHOOLS MIL BE FAVORED Bt GOVERNOR FOR ALL COUNTIES He declares that a personal in spection in^the rural Whools of Dar- lington fbuhty has so impressed him witlnthe desirability and practicabil ity of teaching agriculture in rural school3, that he does not hesitate to commend this matter to your favor able consideration, and advises that provision be made to extend this work In other counlies. I or ex&ggc ’ call It to lature, ADVISES TORRENS SYSTEM OF LAND REGISTRATION H_e declares that, no wiser ex penditure of public money for educa tional purposes can be made than to provide salaries for trained and effi cient teachers In agriculture In rural schooU. The importance of this work, In the opinion of tfye governor, can not be overstated or exaggerated, and he will earnestly call it to the atten tion of the legls GOVERNOR HAS PL AN TO EXTEND SHORT CREDITS He advises the enactment of the Torrens system of land registra tion, which Is Aspecessary prerequi site to a system of>ural credits. The {iina has arrived for definite action on this matter. He declares that some plan must be devised by which poor white tenants can be enabled to use the money which they now pay as refit towards the purchase of their farms. No one factor can contribute to this more than a system of rural credits. Inasmuch as the national government has under consideration a bill of this Kind It may be unnecessary for the General Assembly tb take any action in this mattAr . in this matter. H« refers to statements pub lished that allege excessive rates of interest for advances to farmers by certain banks and will deem it' of great importance that the State pro vide a plan for short term credits for farmers under which money can be borrowed at low rates of interest. He lias prepared a plan which will be submjtted to the 'Geberal Assembly in a later message. WILL SUGGEST IMPROVEMENT OF WAREHOUSE SYSTEM STATE COMMISSIONER WILL APPROVE SUGGESTIONS He invites attention to the State Warehouse System which aims to protect the owner of products against the conditions which deprive him of legitimate profit. It is in evitable that a system, which aims at revolutionizing the marketing of our great money crop, should not be perfected in its initial stage. Our aim should be to perfect the system, to operate It on sound business prin ciples, to protect It against possible abuses and to throw around it every possible safeguard. He will suggest that the liability of the state under the Warehouse Sys tem be clearly defined, and that the requirements of the Federal Reserve Hank should be met, because it is our chief source of borrowed money, and also because they are reasonable and tend to attract greateMsttentlon to the receipts as collateral by invest or*. ... » «*i He will regard it as essential that the Warehouse System shall not be dependent upon the personality of one man, because of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death. and accordingly suggest that the act be amended so as to provide for ap pointment by the governor of a board of three commissioners, with the State Commissioner as ex officio chairman, so that the commissioner, with the approval of the board, can make sales, but neither he nor them, as individuals or agents, shall sell without the grading and weighing by licensed graders and weighers r He calls attention to the ques tion of ownership—the manager of tht warehouse issuing negotiable re ceipts should be a disinterested party and not the owner of the .cotton stor ed, on which the receipts are issued. The State commissioner has gone over these matters with the governor and is entirely in accord with the recommendations made. He urges the adoption of the Uniform Warehouse Receipt Act which will be an important step to wards the securing of uniformity in legislation governing commercial and financial transaction. The Southern States should have uniform laws on warehousing agricultural products. SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS U PON WHICH GOVERNOR MANNING WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO TAKE ACTION He declares that the near ap- ernor will state his belief that It will proach of the boll weevil, which is: lie of great benefit in the rural dls- now within one hundred and forty-1 trlcta. in our towns and cities, and in PRACTICES OF LOBBYISTS INSULTS THE LEGISLATORS; HIRED TO DRUM UP SPECIAL PRIVILEGES FOR FEW He direct* the attention of the leglaUtor* to the practice of lobby ist*. Public hearings are very prop arly accorded those interested In vm- liotta legislative matters, but he calls attention tq the other side of the matter, which is generally known as "lobbying*'. The governor now particular!) •traaa this evil to the member* of the General Asaembly, aaaurlng them that they have been elected because of the confidence of their constituent* in them, and that they ■mat answer to them for their rotes la the House and the Hen- ale, and not to the hirelings of those who would have them legis late special privileges for the few at the expense of the many. He denounces the Hfsctice of lobbying as an Insult to the tntelil gence of the members and declares T^at It questions their ability to think for themselves upon questions affect Ing the welfare and general Inter ests of the people. The work of the professional lobbyist consumes the legislator's time, Is a nuisance and an Indirect attempt to silence the voice of the people who are pleading for action that will result In the greatest good to the greatest num ber. He then pleads with the members of the General Assembly to give heed to the voice of the people. WILL ASK PASSAGE OF WORKMAN’S COMPENSATION ACT; BOARD OF CONCILIATION TO SETTLE LABOR DISPUTES He refer* to labor trouble* In Greenville and Andereon counties, saying that the s'tuatlon shows we should provide some legal machinery to investigate strikes and mediate be tween employees and employers. He recommends the creation of a board of conciliation which shall have the power to investigate strikes, by summoning witnesses, compelling testimony, and requiring the produc tion of books and papers. In order that this board shall be free from partisanship he suggests that it consist of three members, to serve for one year; one to be appointed by the governor, one by the'Supreme Court and one by the Commissioner of Agriculture. me- T He calls particular attention to the necessity of legislation for the benefit of workers, especially women, fn large industries, who are som times cruelly oppressed. This qu tlon is of vital importance to the ture of our race. If the present laws are insufficient they should be amended so that the conditions of the work of these people may be improv ed without delay. He recommends (he adoption of a Workmen's Compensation Act, pro viding for the payment for injuries received by an employee on such a basis thatjthe payment will be cer tain and prompt, and at the same time. Just and fair to both employer and employee. I0VERN0R WANTS EDUCATION FOR RURAL POPULATION; COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAW HAS PROVED SUCCESS He declares that the training and education of the large body of our rural population, which must be given in the common schools, must he provided for as a work of para mount importance. School buildings, efficient teachers, and a minimum term of seven months must be kept as objects earnestly to be realized. He commends the report of the State Superintendent of Education to the gpeclal consideration of the law- makers. The reports show clearly a greater interests in the education of the people, which is evidenced,by in creased enrollments, Increased aver age attendance, longer terms, better qulpment, more and better school houses and'a lafger number of school districts with special taxes. Xhe pol icy of building up the weakest units of the school administration by in creased State aid, should naturally follow from the increase in local sup port. He |M>intN out the fact thatyfhO compulsory attendance law, vvnsely adopted at the last session oUthe leg islature, has already pnyvtm its wis dom, and alth ugh Imperfect and de ficient in many respwts. he will not advise inii>ortanjt / amendments to it at the present^time. We must deal with this question in a practical way and not,req u ira.attendanee where the law jHtn not'^e obeyed by reason of deficiency In equipment and facilities DEEPLY INTERESTED IN WOULD PROVIDE ARE OF THE PEOPLE; SCHOOLS AND EFFICIENT TEACHERS He declares that is the aim. in the mill schooWpf thfi, State, to p$ace them omatparity with the work, in the hign schools, rutal graded schoo^s^and other schools so that It ''increase self-reliance on the part patrons' of these mill schools, who are entitled to the same con sideration by the State that belongs to every other citizen. He strongly u rges the passage of a bill now before the House which will rala* the age limit of children working in factories, mines and tex tile establishments from twelve to fourteen yean, ao that the school dlatiicts, which bay* hitherto refused may no longer have this as a deter rent to their favorable action. He /urges a special provision for a / one-year ' course for training teachers in a limited number of high schools in the State. It is all impor tant that the public schools be given adequate support and sufficient ap propriations* to meet the urgent de mands that are Increasing yearly. The Nicholson bill, which provides State Board, will be recommended for passage. He requests the legislature to give their careful -and thoughtful coBaidaration to the reporta of the to adopt th* eompulaory attendance, State institutions of higher learning % < tow bnaanao th* mlnimem age limit sc aa to better know their work and ad too otoUl labor law la twahr* year* Mean. six miles of South Carolina, renders certain Its appearance in our fields within a short time. When It comes It will produce financial and agricul tural disaster, unless we prepare for It by diversification of crops, proper seed selection of early varieties, by raising food crops, cattle and stock. To change a large part of our acre age from cotton to other rrope will require education In farming which will give better method* than now obtain. Xecceolty of State Good Road*. He urge* upon the legi*lators the necessity of good road* through out the State, declaring that many thousands of dollars annually want ed In Ill-judged rom*ruction_an<l al most negligible maintendhee. He directs attention to the plan of Mr. Reid Whitford, of Charleston, a* a basis for consideration, commending to the consideration of the lawmak ers the matter of a state tax upon automobiles. He will communicate with the General Assembly in a later message upon the subject of the needs of the National Guard. He commends the creation of the State Board of Charities and Cor- improvlng the health our mill villages. conditions In Cattle Tick Fight Continue*. He earnestly urges that the appropriation of thirty thousand do) lars requested for the purpose of eradicating the cattle tick be made, ao that the effective work which is being done in clearing our territory of this hindrance to cattle raising can be pushed aggressively and car ried on to completion. He brings to the attention of the legislature the report of the Comptroller General, which shows that the revenues of the State for 1915 exceeded the expenditures by aixty-two thousand dollars. He will transmit further recommendations on this subject to the General Assembly In a later message. He will transmit a later message In reference to the State Hospital for the Insane. I/ever Agricultural Extension. He urges the necessary appro priation by the State In order to continue the work being don£ in the Agricultural Extension Department of Clqmson College, under the Lever Act, and to obtain the increased rection and urges the continuance of amount of money which comes in the the appropriation fot' their work, which Is necessary for the better and more enlightened treatment of crim inals and unfortunates. Board of Health's Work. . He approves of the appropria tion for the State Board of Health, especially pointing out that the ty phoid death rate in this State is three hundred and sixteen to the one hundred thousand while in some cities it has been reduced to twenty to the one hundred thousand. The board asks for an appropriatiqn of four thousand six hundred and eighty-seven dollars and fifty cents for community work, and the [gov- shope of Federal appropriations. Two TIiouKand Dollar* Iteturned. He announces that the *um of 1 two thousand dollars appropriated without liis request by the last legis lature for special legal advice, ha* been untouched by the governor, and that the same has been returned to the State treasury. In conclusion the governor in voke the blessing of God upon the labors of the General Assembly and will pray that wisdom and under standing may be, vouchsafed to meet and deal with the responsibilities which the individual nlembers have resting upon them. WORST GRIP EPIDEMIC YET RUSSIANS WIN VICTORIES ig From Coast to Coast jand < - 1 ■ Taking'Ijtrge Toll in IJves. Influenza is spreading over the United fitates from coast to coast in the most serious epidemic ever known, taking a large toll in lives and causing economic loss by inca pacitating workers In all walks of life. : # ! Reports from public health service officers made public by Surgeofl Gen eral Blue show that already the'dis- ease has created a grt^ve problem for many of the larger 'cities, and is spreading to the rural communities. New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Cleve land, and Detroit reported the dis ease widely prevalent. Cleveland and Detroit eacht have probably ono hun dred thousand cases. Of the larger cities Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, San Diego, Dallas and Mobile report ed no signs of an epidemic. There is practically nothing the federal government can do toward aiding ip suppression of the epidemic. It must be dealt with by local au thorities, and they, in turn, it is ex plained, are almost helpless without co-operatiofi of the public. Surgeon General Blue- said he had called for for the certification of teachers hr » -vaporM from all parts of the country «« fi* X. _ . . ~ that miHlinitv wntiln with the hope that publicity would tend to stimulate this co-opqratlon. K. D. Smith Succeeds Himself. Senator Ellison D. Smith of South Carolina, absent when eonfraas con vened In December, took th* oath of offie* Jn *he Banal* Tuesday. fiondon Says I're-i.sure Will Prevent Mi - Invasion of Egypt, London declares the area^of Rus sian successes over the Austro-Ger man forces- in the east continues to widen. Although the situation around Cznerowitz has not yet been cleared up officially, it appears from advicqs from 1 - Russian sources that the Austrians are hard pressed over a long line of defence and are throw ing huge reinforcements into the dis trict, The Russians here are expect ed to.strike at the Kolomea-Stanis- lau-Halicz line, where powerful de fensive works have been in prepara tion for some time by the Austro- Germans.' v . Meanwhile the Russian position two hundred and fifty mile* farther north on the Middle Styr River has been greatly strengthened by suc cessful operations in the region of the great marshes; where the Rus sians are beginning to emerge from the marshes, with prospects of being able to use the roads leading, either northwest, west or southwest. Their advance here has not been the result of an isolated battle, but of a series of engagements, lasting over a con slderable period. In the capitals of the Entente allies th,e opinion is ex pressed that the Russian offensive has completely upset the plans of the central power* far an invasion of Salonikl and Egypt Senator Shafroth says Japan la not our enemy hot the report 1* that ah* la building some navy; mostly aa yo* won't nolle* It MESS0F0TAMIA SCENE OF VICTORY, SAT THE TURKS ^ r* ~ , , » , Constantinople Says 10,000 Soldiers Left to Cover Retreat of Army : l, ' ■ V ' ’ f 1 ' £ are Surrounded. Berlin reports Monday by wireless: The Britisli army at Kut El Amara in Messopbtamia has been surround ed completely- by the Turks, accord ing to Constantinople advices given put by the Overseas News Agency. It is said the Turks have advanced to the main defenses of the British. The main British aripy in Messopo- tamia, according to these advices, is in retreat, 10,000 men having been left in Kut Er Amara to cover the movement. London reports: The Turks in Mes- so potamia were in full retreat on January 9 with the British pursuing them, it was announced in the House of Commons Monday by J. Austen Chamberlain, secretary for India. •Recent, inspatches have IndiCRited that the British expedition in Messo- potamia was confronted by‘T<irkish forces of superior size and that it would have difficulty in maintaining itself at Kut El Amara. ' The de fenses ol the city in fact were at tacked by the Turks some time ago, resulting in severe fighting, but the British were unable to repulse the assaults. The retreat from Kut El Amara— assuming the correctness of'the un official advices from Berlin—spiral* ently means the abandonment by the British of any attempt fl for the pres ent at least, of an offensive campaign in Messopotamia. • — It was in November of 1914 that an Anglo-Indian forces, starting from the Persia gulf, began marching north and west over the desert, fol lowing the Tigris and Euphrates rivers wherever ( possible. < The fight ing was evxhausting but the British pushed northward steadily until in September of 1915 they reached Kut El Amara. which is 230 miles north west of the head of the Persia gulf. They defeated the Turks there and advancing to Ctesiphon, 18 miles be low Bagdad. The Turks sent up large forces to save Bagdad and aftqf an initial de feat, again attacked and when a vic tory over the invaders. The British fell back on Kut El Amara, 105 miles southeast of Bagdad, but there has been no previous intimation that they intended to abandon this point. GERMANY WILL INDEMNIFY timsofthelusit GIVES NEW ASSURA ^ v _ Von Berastorff Sees Lansing Friday and Says That German Subs Re spects United States' Demands to Mediterranean as Well as In the North Sea. Count von Bernstorff, the Ger man ambassador, presented to Sec retary Lansing Friday p proposal to pay indemnity for Americana lost In the Lusitania disaster and thereby conclude that controversy and In addition, give assurances that any German submarine In the Mediterranean would not attack non-combatant ship* of any char acter without warning, qr destroy them without opportunity fot non- combatants to reach a place of safety. While offering Indemnity in the Lusitania case, Germany makes the reservation that it is Mono without admission of wrong doing. No offi cial Indication was given as to the acceptability of the proposal, but one set of American officials took the view that it would end jlje contro versy. The assurances regarding subma rine warfare ^in the Mediterranean are of broader scope than those given after the Arabic disaster and cover ing the warfare in the North Sea. The latter guaranteed only the safety of "lines.’’ Those for the Mediter ranean cover all non-combatant shi RECEIVED NO WARNING AND SAW NO SUBMARINE .^drices Received at Washington Fri day From U. S. Consul Garrels at Alexandria. • Consul - Garrels at Alexandria. Egypt. Friday .advised the state de partment that hb had obtained affi davits from twenty-one survivors of the Persia. Irfeludlng Charles H. Grant, an American citizen, and Uiat all Monfirmed previous statements that "no warning was given and no vessel was seen.” The Austr -Hungarian government was without information concerning the sinking of the Persia, according to & dispatch received Friday by the state department from Ambassador Penfltld at Vienna. Officers and crew of the Persia, the consul advised, have left Alex andria for England, where their affl davits probably will be obtained upon arrival. Consul Garrels has been in structed to forward summaries of the affidavits he has obtained. Ambassador Ugnfleld's dispatch was dated Thursday and contained only informal information in response to his Inquiry as to whether the Aus tro-Hungarian government had knowledge of the sllfkltfg of the Persia, and If so. what the circum stances were. REACH NEW YORK SAFELY Passenger* of Wrecked Greek Steam ship Find a Haven. The passengers w ho were forced to abandon the sinking Greek steamship Thessaloniki at sea arrived in New York Friday on the steamship Patris of the same line, and gave vivid de scriptions of the hardships they had suffered during fhe five weeks that the Thessaloniki w-s battered by a series of terrific galesi On December 25, Christmas Day, passengers said, the supply of meat on th.e Thessaloniki was exhausted, only a few gallons of water were left, and the ship’s officers beganjto pox- tion offt short rations of the’msagre supply of food which remained. The Thessaloniki 'first sprang a leak when she encountered a hurri cane which raged for twelve bourse on December 21. The boiler and en gine rooms were partly flooded and the steamer sent out calls for assist ance. After the hurricane subsided, however, the flooded portions of the ship were pumped out and the steam er proceeded on her voyage. KINGSTREE LAD INJURED Harold Steele, Hit by Automobile, Badly Hurt. Harold Steele, the twelve-year-old sop of Mrs. J. B. Steele of Kingstree, was seriously if not fatally injured Friday afternoon, when • he was struck by an automobile in front of his home on East Main street. The machine was being driven by Mr. W. Ff. Carr, and it seems that the dead lights failed to work. He was returning to town from the country and In front of the Steele residence a wagon load of coal was standing on the side of the road and heading Into the Steele yard. The load was too heavy for the team to pull up the embankment and Harold was at one of the rear wbeela, whep the car ran Into him. mashing the little fellow between the wagon and the automobile. The night Was vary dark and stormy and with no light* on his machine It was impos sible for Mr. Carr to see the wagon, and he Is greatly distressed over the I Proposals which the German ernment believes will end tne'' troversy over th© Lusitania dl*Si in a manner satisfactory to the U ed States were received in Washing ton Friday from Berlin. Count von Bernstorff had an appointment to confer with Secretary Lansing Fri day afternoon. Germany is believed to have agreed to pay an indemnity for the Ameri cans when the lined was torpedoed; Hit the same time basing a reserva tion of any wrong doing upon the contention that the destruction of the vessel was so set of reprlssl In re- tallstlon for the British blockade of Germany. Germany also Is understood to be ready to give assurances that her submarine commanders operating in the Mediterranean will not torpedx without warning privately-owned ves sels of any description. Including liners, freighters and tramp steam- GertnaA assurances in regard to- submarine warfare in the North. See ipclude only liners In passenger ser vice. It was also stated with authority that Germany virtually agreed with the position of the United State* In regard to small boats not being.s. under all conditions, a place of safety for passengers sltosrd a ship about to- be destroyed. These last concessions are understood to have been contain ed In the Iasi note from Germany re garding the sinking of the ship Wil liam P. Frye. The romntunlralion reached the- state department several weeks ago but has been withheld from publica tion on the ground that it had a cer tain bearing upon the Lusitania nego tiations. Germany is understood to- have fully agreed with the American point of view. The assurance* regarding the con duct of Hubmarine warfare in the Mediterranean convey live first infor mation that German Nubmarine* were operating there. In excluding all ships except liners frona the assur ances covering submarine warfare in the North Sea. the German govern ment was represented t. \ considering that no Americans could possibly be aboard ships other than liners iji regular passenger carrying service,, " It has been known for someTl that Count von Bernstorff had de^ vised a plan whirh he believe^would satisfactorily end the Lusitania con troversy. He was understood to have submitted the proposition to the Ber lin foreign office before Christmas. There was some delay because of the adverse sentiment created by the re quest for the dismissal of the Ger man naval knd military attaches,’and tho. demands in the first American note to Austria-Hungary on,the sink ing of the Italian liner Ancona.- -s As for the disavowal asked by the United States, the German govern ment was represented as considering that the most 'effective form of dis avowal was assurances that such acts should not be committed in the future. The assurances regarding the conduct of German submarines in the Mediterranean wei*e under stood to be, nearly identical with those contained in Austria's reply to the last American note on the Ancona, j i ' mm COUNTER OFFER Sir Edward Grey Submits an Investi gation of All Atrocities. i A British official statement says: Sir Edward Grey', secretary of for eign affairs, has answered the com plaint by-the Germans through the American embassies regarding' the destruction off.the coast of Ireland of a German submarine apd crew by the British auxiliary Baralong, by toferring to ‘various. .German out-— rages 7"Sir Edward Grey offers to submit such incidents. Including the Baralong* case, to an impartial tri- bunal composed, say. of officers o* ' the United States naVy.' i ^ The BriUih patrol boat BaraYong nJ5?« r l in I t0 ,* eTeral muleteers oir th* British steamer Nlcosln. which arriV- ed In Saw Orleans early in October ■ask a German submarine August 19 T J“ muleteera aatd that Baralon * killed the captala and ten men of the crew of