The Horry herald. (Conway, S.C.) 1886-1923, January 21, 1897, Image 1
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VOL. XL
TtieGovernor'sfflessafie1
ififckA Review of the State's Con
v.
dition and Prospects.
The Retiring Governor Makes
a Fling at tlie Penitentiary
and the Farmer's
College.
His Farewell Address is
v Neither Graceful or
Timely.
Tlio following is tho principal portion
of the rncsaago of Governor Kvans,
relating to tho general affairs of tho
Stato :
FINANCK AND TAXATION.
The finances of our Slate arc in better
condition than over in our history.
Tho Stato debt is smaller and tho debt
per capita lias decreased from eleven
dollars to four. Tho following table,
taken from the Comptroller General's
report, gives an idea of the progress of
tho State:
185).")?Acres of land returned, IS.07070;
180(5?Acres of land returned, 18,105,122;
increase, 185)0, .'11,152.
Total value, real estate. 180(5, $100,070,705;
total value real estate, 1805,
$100,157,170: increase, 180(5, $810,020.
Value of personal property, 180(5,
$15,8158,(107; value of personal property,
1805, $11, 40 1,110; increase, 1800, $341,407.
Value of railroad property, 185)0, $23,010,1(52;
value of railroad property,
lw05, $23,797,(552; increase, 189(5, $1 12,510.
Total taxable property, 1890, $170,755.174;
total taxable property, 1805,
$109,148,941 : increase, 1800, $ Cm533.
Number of polls assesed, 180(5, 158 824
; number of polls assessed, 1805,
152,783; increase, 1890,(5.041.
Total Taxes, 1890?
State, $7<5S. 125 15; county, $5(51,919.70;
special county, $171,102.(55: road,
$35,538.0(5: special and local in counties,
$25,505.70; three mill school, $512,283.42;
special and local school, $81.
290.(57 ; poll, $158,824.00; total, $2,317,880.48
In making your supply bill for tho
past year, you estimated that tho dis
pensary wcmiu pay into tno Slate
Treasury $15)0,000 in round numbers.
The amount paid in was nob available
until October 1, 1800, and then only
$2o,000 per month. This, of course,
forced the Treasurer and Governor to
borrow an amount sulhcient to cover
the deficit until the dispensary funds
were available. We accordantly "borrowed
$100,000 from the bunks, but 1
am happy to inform you that the dispensary
has turned that amount into
the State Treasury and the notes have
boon paid promptly, as well as all other
obligations of the government. 1 leave
the Treasury to my successor unembarrassed
and not owing a dollar.
While wo have paid out $50,000 more
in pensions to our Confederate soldiers
than any previous administration and
met other extraordinary expenses, the
levy lias not been increased, but lowered.
The taxes on farms acd horses
and mules and farm products have been
lowered by reduced assessments. The
taxes on railroads have also been decreased
by lower assessments. The
ollicors of your government receive
less for salaries than ever in the history
of the State, and the interest on
the public debt has been decreased
$78,500 per annum.
I am embarrasscd somewhat in this
statement by reason of the State Treasurer
not being able to furnish me with
an abstract from his books, us in t>re
vious years. Ho claims that it is impossible
to do bo by reason of tha change
in the date of closing the tiscal year
from November .'list to January 1st,
giving only ton days for settlements
^itb county treasurers. His report
will be furnished you, 1 suppose, before
the session of your body closes, and i
ask your careful perusal of its details.
I desire to call your attention to the
Downer Eund, which has been lying
idle in the treasury for ten years. This
fund was placed in tho treasury by the
agent some years ago, and was made
up from tho sale of the Downer institute,
located at Beech Island, in Aiken
County. Tho object of Mr. Downer
was to educato the orphan children of
Aiken County, or that portion of old
Edgefield District now lying in Aiken
County. Tho interest on tho fund is
sutlicient to maintain two or throe boys
at one of tho colleges of tho State, and
?^it would be well to carry out tho will
of Mr. Downer in tins way.
A competitive examination could be
had in Aiken County for these scholarships
among the poor boys entitled to
Mr. Downer's benevolont fund, and I
trust it will be provided for.
Tho banking institutions of the State
arc in excellent condition, but one
failure having been recorded during
my administration, and that could
hardly bo called a failure, but a robbory.
The aggregate banking capital
of the State is $5,3(18,201, with tho
nf 4M WIT. r*tl\ I- I - ~ #
mil |iiun III U'l, II'III, l .>v?, llliirilll^ iV MHill Ul
Y $10,213,931. This is distributed dmonp
ninety-ono banks. The relations of
the Stato and tho banks havo been
most pleasant and mutually beneficial.
I desire to thank tho oillcers for the
kindnesses shown mo during my administration.
THK SINKING FUND.
Upon my induction into office a large
amount of the sinking fund was uninvested,
deposited in bank, drawing no
interest. It was impossible to purchase
tho securities required by law
for such investment without paying a
largo premium. In my last messago I
rocommcnded tho passage of an act
authorizing the Governor and tho
Treasurer to loan this fund upon the
socurity of tho valid bonds of the Stato
to be deposited in the Stato Treasury.
You accepted my recommendation and
passed the act desired. We have
loaned tho entire fund with the oxcop
t v
tion of $5,000 in the ordinary sinking
fund, which the Board decided to hold
for contingent expenses, etc., connootad
with its collection anu disbursement.
PHOSPHATES.
It will thus bo seou that wo have
realized four and one-half per cent.
noon the entice fund, ult.hnnah thn
loans havo not boon made for :i year.
If this policy is pursued by compounding
tho interest the State will bo made
to realize six and seven per cent, upon
the entire fund, and when tho bonded
debt of tho State matures this fund
will be more than sutlieient to retire it.
i n tho construction of the statute
regulating delinquent taxes, as to when
tho same bcoomo liable to be forfeited
to tho sinking fund, a dilToreneo of
opinion exists between tho Comptroller
General and tho Secretary of State, tho
agent of tho commission. Tho contention
between these two ollicors has been
a considerable annoyance to the commission,
in that tho Comptroller General
has refused to sign deeds required
to lie made by the commission. This
is a matter to bo settled by legislation
and your body should do something to
harmonize tho dllVorrnct a. It is not
the Oil r nose of the. KiiiWimr li'nnrt (Villi.
mission to sdzo tlio taxes which arc
levied for "the purpose*, of support of
State and comity governments, and the
agents of tiie commission should not
bo allowed to seize money in tho
bands of tho county treasurers. Tho
Comptroller General, f presume, will
present, his side of the ease to you at
length in his report, which is herewith
submitted.
I regret to say that this industry lias
never recovered from the storm of 1 SOU,
and J fear before the close of another
year it may become unprofitable to the
miners, and tho State will cease to receive
any income from this source.
Tho report of Phosphate Inspector
Jones shows tiio total number of tons
of rock mined tho year enJing August
31, J890, estimated 123,708 tons, as
against t.ho year ending August 31,
189"), 190,777 tons, a decrease for the
year of 73,009. The total number of
tons of rock shipped during tho year
ending August 31, 1890, was 1121.002,
anil for the same period of 1895, 171,100
showing a decrease from the year 1895
of 52,797 tons. Tho amount of tho
State's royalty for the year ending
August 31, $00,853.70, the amount for
1895, $87,200.13, showing a decrease
from the last phosphatie year of $20,310.37.
The amount of royalty actually
paid into the treasury from January 1
to December 31, 1890, was $51,310.03,
leaving a balance duo by tho phosphate
miners, $9,503 13. This deficit is due
by the Farmers Mining Company, Mr.
C. C. Pincknoy, president. This company
has been behind since the iirst
year of my administration.
When the matter was brought to my
attention I took immediate stops to collect
the amount duo, and succeeded in
doitiu SO. Soecisil i nst met inim u-r.no
given to the ollioors to sec that no
further extensions wore allowed, and
that this company be made to pay its
royalty as promptly as other miner-.
For some reason, inexplicable to me,
they again failed to pay the royalty,
and the matter was immediately called
to the attention of the Hoard of IM.osphato
Commissioners. The Hoard
gave an extension of time and accepted
notes of the company in paymentof the
royalty due. One of the notes has been
paid : but 1 am informed by Mr. l'inokney
that he will be unable to meet the
note of $r>,000 due the 1st of January.
The matter has been placed in tho
hands of tho Attorney General, and he
will no doubt take such steps as ho
dooms best to collect the amount duo.
Last March, in view of the depression
in this industry, tho I'hosphuto Inspector
and the Chairman of the Hoard determined
to visit the mines in the
State of Florida, with a view of ascertaining
the cost of mining in that State
as compared with that in our State,
and to useo.rtain the causes of depression,
We found the business in Florida
stagnated and in a moro depressed
condition, if possible, than in our State.
It wou'd bo impossible for the mines
in Florida or Tennessee to compete
with the mines in South Carolina
under ordinary conditions. Tho mines
of Florida are in the interior, and in
most instances a large top burden of
sand has to be removed. It is then
placed on board oars an;, transported
to tho ports, whosy froight rates are
from forty to eighty cents higher per
ton than from Port lioyal and Charleston
ports. It will thus bo scon that
our miners have an advantage ri. ht
here over tho miners of Florida of
more than the royalty paid tho State.
Tho cause of tho depression is not from
competition with Florida and Tennessee,
but is tho result of a depression In
prices of agricultural products all over
the world. The phosphate miners
have petitioned tho Aoard for a reduction
in the royalty to 2.*> cents per ton.
Their petition accompanies the report
of tho commission, and is horcwith
submitted for your consideration. lam
satisfied that a reduction of this royalty
would in no wise tend to relievo tho
general depression, and I was assured
so by the attorney of one of tho largest
miners in the State. The truth of tho
business is tho phosphute territory no
longer affords rock of a sufficiently
high grade to make the industry profitable.
The territory has been mined,
too, in a manner that has materially
injured the deposits in the river. This
entire matter ean be dealt with by the
Phosphate Commission without legislation
on your part, and should be left
to their good judgment. Undo* the
bond aet the phosphato royalty to the
amount of *7.">,000 per annum is applicable
to the sinking fund. It has been
so applied, and I regret that the
amount this year fails short about
$15,000 of the required amount.
RAILROADS.
A report of the Railroad Commissioners
shows a bettor condition of tho
roadsof the State and a largo increase in
i all branches of business.Thocommlssion
put into elToct the rates on fertilizers
provided for in tho act passed at your
last session. Thero was a disposition
I on the part of the roads to contest the
validity of this aet and the right of tho
; commission to reduce ratos. An agree|
ment was finally had which resulted
in tho rates being placed into immediate
effect. A protest was filed by
Mr. Thomas, a minority of tho commission,
which is fully set forth in tho
report: but as the roads have acquiesced
and seoin dosirous of co-operating
with a majority of the commission
CONWAY S. C
I
I in the interest of tho people of the
State, I deem it unnecessary to call
further notice to tlio coutentiou of Mr.
Thomas.
It is unfortunate that there should
be this want of harmony among tho
commissioners, hut this is human nature
and a matter to ho dealt with as
you doom proper. In tho meantime
tho interests of the State are not suffering.
The Southern Uailwuy has
tiled its charter with tho Secretary of
State as provided in an act relating to
the same, and it is now a domestic corporation.
I had some doubt as to the
constitutionality of this act and tho
Attorney General was instructed to
make a test case before tho Supreme
Court. Tho court sustained tho constitutionality
of tho act, anil it is now
the sottled law of tho State.
There is a better feeling existing
between tho State and the railroads
than has been for tho past six voars.
und tho disposition to sott le uii differences
on tho part of tho roads in tin
amicublo way has boon fully mot by
tho administration. Tho assessments
for taxation have been equalized with
duo regard to the earning oapaoity of
tho several roads. Only two roads
show a doiict for tho past year, and
one of these can hardly bo called a
deficit, as tho amount expended lias
boon put in lasting improvements.
Tho total income of all tho roads for
1800 was $8,303,487.57, as compared
with $7,025,557 0.8 for tho year 1805,
showing an increase of $007,0115.80.
The operating expenses and taxes for
the year 1800 were$0.108,547.21, against
$0,320,150.02 in 1805, a decrease of
$127,012 11. The passenger earnings
in 1800 wore $2,750,321.70. against $2,303,074.24
in 1805, an increase of $302,047
40. Tho tonnage for 1800 was 4,155,057,
an increase of 573,580 tons. It
will thus bo seen that instead of bankrupting
tho roads the decrease in
passenger and fertilizer rates has
proved a benotit.
Two years ago nearly every railroad
in the State was in the hands of a receiver
; today, with one exception,
they arc in the hands of thoir owners
and managers.
Till'! P. H. & A.
I am happy to inform you that the
nugauon ovor this property in the
State and United Stated Courts, which
seemed to be for a long time interminable,
lias finally been brought to a
close. The property lias been sold and
purchased by Messrs. Thomas and
Kyan, of New York. They became
also the purchasers of the Knoxvillo
& Western Carolina Railroad, and
these two properties have been consolidated
under the name of the
Charleston Western Carolina Railroad.
Under the act which repealed
the charter of the l'ort Royal iV AuI
gusta Railway a commission was
formed, composed of the Governor, the
Attorney General and the chairman of
the Railroad Commission. Their duty
was to inquire as to the purchasers of
the property and their connection, if
any, with competing lines of railroads,
the intent of the Legislature being to
prevent the absorption of the property
iiy u corporation hostile to l'ort Royal
and this State.
Upon learning that Messrs. Thomas
and Ryan had become the purchasers,
I t.lu?
, ?..w ww..?.?huvt?w?i |?i vmah;ih;\i tU UAilliiilli)
them upon oath as to thoir relations
i with any hostile or competing linos.
The evidence taken hy the Commission
is on file in the olllee of tlio Secretary
of Statu, and I respectfully suggest that
it ho printed for theusoof your honorable
body. These gentlemen swear
positively and equivocally that they
have no iutcrcst in any competing line,
j and have hut one objeet: The development
of- Port lloyul and tho successful
operation of their railroad. The Commission
became convinced of the sincerity
ami honesty of purpose of the
purchasers and could make no further
opposition to the confirmation of the
sale. If at any time, however, a different
purpose is revealed the State
can intervene and again rescue the
property.
THK STATU PKNITKNTIAUY.
?..?niu eoii'iuucs in
ii healthy and bound condition. It was
to ho hoped from tho statement made
hint year that the Stato would roeolvo
a rovonuo from this institution of about
$25,000. I regret, however, wo are
doomed to disappointment. With reference
to tlie report of tho superintendent
it will 1)0 seen that tho institution
cominoneed last year with $15,029.87
in cash and supplies. Tho
institution makes a good showing on
paper, but unfortunately never covers
anything into tho State treasury. 1
feel satisfied, however, that tho policy
of tho hoard of directors is a good one
and if pursued for the next two years
will result much more satisfactorily,
so far as tho State treasury is concerned.
Tho policy of lousing convicts to
privato parties has been discouraged
by tho board and should be. Complaint
has boon made to mo twice during tho
year of parties leasing convicts, it being
stated that such convicts wore allowed
to roam at large in tho community day
and night. Tho attention of tho superintendent
was called to this and ho
has endeavored to correct the same.
This system has become obnoxious
wherever it has been tried,and tho board
should discontinue tho practice as soon
as possible. Tho farms authorized to
be purchased are in good condition
and have yielded according to tho report
of tho superintendent abundant
harvests. The report of receipts and
disbursements for tho fiscal year ending
Decoirtber 31, 1890, are as follows :
I ?W.? ~ on - . f .
i'in uu I 0UIUUIJ l/?, 'T'M.IXU.OO, lO WHICH
must he lidded hii|>|> 1 ies on hand and
comsumed, $15,(195 87; to which must
ho further added the amount received
from the State treasury for salaries,
$">,050, making a total of $84,.'1K>.70; receipts,
$1)2,120.17, deficit $2.1,191.55; to
this must bo added tho further sum of
$5,050, amount of salaries from tho
State treasury for tho yearn 1801 05, and
which the superintendent pledged the
Governor and Treasuror would bo
returned, but so far has not been covered
into tho State treasury. Under
the provision of tho appropriation for
that year theso salaries were to be
paid out of tho earnings of the penitentiary.
Thero being no earnings and
to save tho institution from embarrassment.
upon tho urgent request of tho
superintendent 1 withdrew any objections
to salaries being paid out of the
State treasury upon tho solemn promise.
however, that tho amount
would bo replaced beforo tho end
D. THURSDAY, J AN I
of tho fiscal your. Tho amount has not
yet boon returned. It will thus be seen
that the total deficit amounts to #27,2-11.33.
The superintendent reports
total liabilities $18,370.1)2, makintr
grand total $45,012.40. Assets reported,
cotton $22,020.00; amount due from
contractors and other sources, contingent
$5,108.40; 2,500 bushels of oats at
10 cents, contingent, $1,000; value of
products on hand not to he sold, for
consumption in prison $24,707. It would
be propc* under tho circumstances to
stand oil' tho products on hand for last
year and for this year as this year as
they will ho consumed. Tho superintendent
reports that ho will be able to
pay every dollar tho institution owes,
including the $0,000 for tho purchase
of the Ltocd farm bought last year, aud
pay cash for the next year's guano supplies,
which lias boou bought some
time ago at a very low prlco. This
cannot ho done if tho amount due the
State is refunded. It was the intention
of tho Legislature to requlro the
salaries of tho institution to lie paid
out of its earnings, and it can never
he said to tie self-supporting as long as
the people are taxed to pay such salaries,
no matter what showing is made
as to improvements. I am satisfied the
institution is in a better condition than
it lias ever been and I t.nwi. ilmi i?? n???
near future it will be a source of revenue
to the State.
TIIK COUNTY CHAIN UANUS.
The county cluiin gangs arc worked
successfully In nearly all the counties
of the State and are adding materially
to the wealth of the people by alTording
good roads. In the county of Kiehland
over fifty lnilos of road have been
built and put in perfect condition and
a drive around the county utTords an
excellent object lesson of what will
soon bo the condition of the entire
State. In some counties they are embarrassed
by the restrictions of the law
which limits them to convicts whose
sentences do not exceed two years. It
is as easy to keep a ten-year convict on
the chain gang as it is a two-year convict
and tiio statute should be amended,
giving the court discretion, as more
depends upon the character of the
convict than the term of sentence.
CUKMSON COIiLKUK.
I am unable to give you a full insight
into the workings of this institution.
The governor is not a member of the
board of trustees and is dependent entirely
on the reports of the ollicers of
the institution and personal inspection
for what information ho may possess.
The reports of the ollicers have not
been furnished me, although request
has been made to the auditing com
-uiiaee w> iuriiisn rue mo unlit. What I
shall eay, thoreforo, in taken from
a newspaper report and my own knowledge
from visits to the institution.
Presidont Craighead, in his reports,
gives the following figures: Enrollment
.'115, of which 101) wore in the preparatory
or fitting school, leaving 174
in the college proper. It will thus he
seen that there has hoen a largo falling
off in the attendance upon the college,
hut why or wherefore is a matter for
you own speculation. 1'resident Craighead
comments upon the fact that onehalf
of his students are in the preparatory
department and assigns as his
reasons that boys cannot obtain at home
a good preparatory education. If this
cannot he done, each county or each
congressional district should have at
least one school where hoys and girls
could he littcd for college at a cost not
oxeeeding that at Clemson. The facts
will not bear out the president in this,
for there is not a county in the State
that has not a high school that could
not prepare boys to enter the junior
class at Clemson and upon terms equally
as reasonable as that all'ordod at
the college. The best evidence of this
is the fact that the South Carolina
college has a higher standard than
Clemson with no iitting school, and its
enrollment of students equals Clemson.
The Iitting school at Clemson should
bo aoolishcd, instead of coming in cumpotion
with the high schools of the
tltato. The State supports the free
common schools, and there is no roason
why the people should be taxed to
support a high school at tnis eollege.
Make the college what it ought) to be
?a high institution of learning?and
do not till it up with boys anxious to
don a uniform and be pluccd upon a
footing with college students, and I
believe the college will be more prosperous.
fho buildings and equipment
of this institution are the equal of any
in the South and the State has spared
no expense in making it a success. In
fact, it has been the idol of the Lleforiu
movement and the people have dealt
with it with a lavish hand, and if there
is any failure to fullill the expectations
of the people, the blame must rest
where it belongs?upon the shoulders
of those charged with its management.
The income of the college for
the past year was $1)1,024.55, made up
as follows :
Privilege tux . .. $51,273.37
hand scrip fund 6,764.00
( lemson bequest 3,612.30
balance on baud I,2i)1.7>
Morrill fund.... io,?2i.ot
Hatch I . 8. ntiliPAiirinllnn If.iutfWm
Convict labor value 4,272.00
Total $04,024.65
No account is given of tho value of
products from the farms and dairies
and no account given for tuition feus
from students. It is unfair to the
other institutions of tho State to compel
students to pay tuition and make
no etTort to enforce the same rule at
this institution. Something is wrong
somewhere, as with all theso advantages
the enrollment of students is
growing less every year. Tho whys
and wherefores you must discover.
This showing is made, not with a
view of prejudicing you against tho institution
but for tho purpose of preventing
its downfall before it is too
late. Find out tho trouble and eradicate
it and all will be well.
?The Itussiuns have a simple device
which is said to bo very t IT active
in chocking runaway horses. A tu.u
cord with a running nosse around the
neck of the horse is used, and when
the animal bolts tho cord is pulled.
Tho horse stops as soon as it feels the
pressure on the windpipe.
? "Benson, you know, went to Africa,
and th'-re met his death." " Poor follow
! But his body was brought home
and given a decent burial, wasn't it'/'
' Weil, they hanged the cannibal
and then brought home the body am
I buried it."
i ** '
JARY 21, 18<=>7.
GOVERNOR EVANS ON I HE DISPENSARY,
IIICT I' 111(114 .UI'.nBAVil'i IU I I I 1'.
hi<:<;isif/Vrriti<:.
Tlio Main Pari ?> I* tlio Mchniikii is
Devoted to a Discussion ?>l' the I>In<
pensnry Law -He Ik in Favor ol'
Agtcreiwivo Knforoemoiit ol' all its
i'rov IhIoiih.
The following is u portion of Governor
Kvans' message relating to the
IMsponsary.
Two years ago 1 was elected Governor
to succeed a loader of a revolution
who, to use his own language,
was the " worst hated and best loved
man " who has ever entered the polities
of our State. The policy that 1
should pursue was already formed by
tho people and the only issue made
was tho enforcement of the dispensary
law, whether it should be aggr.osslvc
with a view to destroying tho illicit,
trallle in liquor or whether it should he
of a milk and cider form as our enemies
would have it with tho hope of
its iinal repeal. My nomination and
election meant tho former and I have
endeavored to be true to that policy.
It would have been an easy matter
for mo to have placated my enemies
anil tho enemies of t.hi> Ifnfni'm nm?n.
ment by giving our to tho overtures of
the whiskey olcmont and thoir allies
in tho cities of tiie State, and tho dally
[tress. Those people who slandered
and vilified tho frumors of the dispensary
law have continued their stubborn
warfare to an extent that would
barely ho tolerated by a less conservative
people. They have not boon content
to express their contempt of the
law, but have attempted to drag down
by lying and slander every ofllcial
connected with the administration of
the law. Kvory error in bookkeeping
of an inexperienced dispenser has been
magnified into n:i embezzlement.
Kvory arrest of an illicit dealer in liquor
by a constable lias boon characterized
as vilest oppression of innocent
and law abiding citizons. If perchance
an olTcndor is killed while resisting
tho oUlcers and carrying on his damnable
trallio, it is classetl as a murder
most foul. These reports are sent out
to the world as truths when as a matter
of fact they are brazen falsehoods.
It is a disgraceful spectacle that South
Carolinians should descend so low as
to slander their own government from
[ political malice.
The dispensary law is stronger today
than at any time since its enactment
and is better enforced, as will
appear from tho statistics later on. At
the last sossion of your honorable body
I recommended a change in the law
setting forth my reasons fully at the
time for so doing. I showed to you
bow it was impossible for tho old boar J
of control composod of -State ollieers
to control and how unjust it was to
force tho Governor and chairman of
the board to approve and sign warrants
about which be had no information.
I knew that if any irregularity
occurred the enemies would at once
cry corruption and in their elTorts to
make capital against the law would
charge every olllcer from tho chief executive
to tho constables with wrong
doing. Such lias been tho case and
the wisdom of my advice and your subsequent
passage of the present law is
fully proved.
This is the most important matter
with which you will have to doal and
I would respectfully call your attention
to the excellent report of the
board of control, with the request
that you study it and think well bolore
making any changes in the present
system.
Til 13 DISPENSARY AS A MUSINESS.
Up to the time of my induction into
ollice as Governor the dispensary bad
been in m?P.i'JLt.inn lilimit. nlcrlitnnn
months. Tho Govornor was charged
not only with the enforcement of the
law, hut as business manager in the
capacity of chairman of the board of
control. The business had continually
increased until it reached over a $1,000,000
annually. Realizing that as a
business it was tentative and that it
had not been placed upon what could
truly bo called a business plane, and
that it was burdened with crudities of
which it must be divested before it
could reach tho expectations of the
public us a moral reformations and a
business success, my llrst olllcial act
was to give its former management a
thorough investigation in order to
ascertain its linuncial status as well as
its weak points. I was mot by many
ditllculties, political as well as business.
To commence tho business the General
Assembly of 1H!)2 voted an appropriation
of $50,000. Kor tho llrst eighteen
months of its existence the dispensary
experienced many vicissitudes
and when it was placed in my hands I
found it still embarrassed and hardly
able to stand alone. It had not paid a
>llar Into the State treasury In net
learnings and tho $50,000 appropriation
v\ as still unliquidated. The statements
of its growth and progress as published
from time to time by the former
commissioner were unsatisfactory to
the public for the reason that the
system of bookkeeping was a Chinese
pu/.zlo and no one could tell exactly
tho truo status of tho business. This
fact gavo color to tho ad verso criticisms
of the administration of the, law and
invited the terrific accusations that
were made against those charged with
its management.
The last statement of the assets and
liabilities and profits which the former
i;wm in inoiiiuui iiuiiir w?3 l??r bile <| liarber
ending January 31st, 1895. In that
statement the profits claimed to have
accrued to date amounted "lo $151,259.51.
A Bookkeeper of experience
could not cipher this out and claim*
wore made that the profit* woro fictitious.
I determined to change the
business management and to adopt a
full and satisfactory system of account\
ing. An expert bookkeeper was erai
ployed and it was ascertained that the
i profit claimed hud not accrued, but
that the accrued profit to that dato
i was forty odd thousand dollars less
than the amount. This was simply a
, mistake in bookkeeping and in credit.
Ing to the profit account what had not
> accruod, but what was expected to
' have accrued In tho hands of coun,
ty dispensers. After a thorough disl
section of accounts it was ascertained
that the profits had not reached $110,
Highest of all in Leavening IV
? ? wp? I I -k?- MA ?
00(). Tho entire assets Including earth,
merchandise, teams ami wagons and
personal accounts amounted In round
numbers to $108,000. Tho liabilities
amounted in round numbers to $8(1,000.
Tho total assets being subsequently
alTected to the amount of $2,000 in a
final chocking and adjustment of accounts.
Tho liabilities wore as follows
: To State appropriation. $"?<),0(H);
to sundry pi rsons for liquors, $110,000 ;
total indebtedness, $80,(KM). Cash on
hand $ l.">,f> 18.10 or $10, lol .00 loss than
amount necessary to liquidate the indebtedness.
This Is simply a rough statement of
the status of the dispensary when 1
took charge of tho business. I am
happy to state that I turned it over to
my successor healthy and in good condition
and as sound financially as any
business institution of the country. It
has been taken out of politics and
placed in tho hands of a board of control
composed of farmers, bankers and
business men of ability whose reputation
for honesty and integrity can not
bo impugned. Tho purchasing power,
such a temptation) to some men, has
been taken from the hands of trie commissioner
and given to this board.
They have exercised it judiciously and
in a manner to command tho respect
of all oarties. The dulii'snf ?.ln? ? /???
missioner are now exercised by the
chairman of iho board and superlntendont,
and the ollloo of commissioner
could bo abolished by your body.
If this power in over again placed in
the hands of one man ho would al
onco become an object of vituperation,
misrepresentation, abuse and slander
of all the enemies of the dispensary
and every pt*nnj a liner without any
moral or social responsibility.
The experience of the past year
should be enough to convince your
body of the truth of all that I have said
and predicted, and while I am sure
that you will he advised and importuned
to change this law and return to
the old system, you will lind by investigation
tiiat such propositions come
from lean and hungry politicians with
itching palms. You will be told that
the operations of the present Hoard
are a failure. Judge them by their
acts and the results and not by hearsay.
The subjoined comparative statement,
of sales to county dispensers has
been furnished mo by the bookkeeper
and is subject to your examination and
verification :
Sales tocountydispensers
Feb. 1st to Dec. 31st,
1805 $ 800,120 17
Sales to county dispensers
for tiie year 1800 1,300,012 01
increase $ 410,402 74
Sales by county dispensers
Feb. 1st to Doe. 31st,
1803 $ 1,070,003 05
Sales by county dispensers
for 1800 (estimated) 1,500,000 00
increase $ I.'12,030 25
PROFITS STATK DISPKNSARY.
Net accrued profit State
dispensary from l''ob.
1st to Doc. 21st, 181)5... * 122,107 77
Not accrued profit State
dispensary for 181)0 200,000 00
PROFITS COUNTY DISPKNSAK1 KS.
Net profits to towns and
counties from Feb. 1st
to Dec. 21st, 1805 $ 100,121 28
Net profits to towns and
counties 1800 (estimated)
122,005 05
The not profit that has acorued to
the State for the past year is in round
numbers $200,000. The net amount
accrued to the towns and counties for
the same period $122,000, making a
total accrued profit to the State, towns
and counties $222,000. Adding $57,052.05
unearned profits on goods in the'
hands of local dispensers 1st of January,
1807, swells tho total of earned
and unearned profits to the State and
towns and counties for the past year to
tho amount of $271),052.05. The net
profit accruing the past administration
for eighteen months was $110,348,80.
1 Net profits for 1805 $123,407.71). Net
I profits for 181)0 $200,000, making a
total net accrued profit to the State to
date $113,810.57. Add to this net accrued
profit the outstanding unearned
profit $37,052 05 makes a total earned
and unearned profit to dato of $.301 ,400.22.
If to tiiis sum we add tho
amount of tho not accrued profits to
the towns and counties for the years
181)5 and 181)0 of $228,131.28 we have a
grand total of earned and unearned
profits to State, towns arid counties to
date of $729,000 60. The, amount that
has heen actually paid to the State,
county and town treasurers from the
net earnings from tho State and county
dispensaries is as follows :
1'aid into the State treasury
\ n I X<ir? * I An AAA
... . 'V
Paid into the State treasury
in 1890 100,000
Total $ 200,000
Paid to towns and counties
1895 $100,151 00
Paid to towns and counties
1890 122,000 00
Total $228,131 23
Grand total net profits paid
in from all sources $438,131 28
It will thus bo scon that as a business
its sueeoss can not be denied. To
wiu ttoovo estimates trio sum or !foU,UUU
per annum, tho average cost of maintaining
the dispensary constables,
should be added. It has not been tho
object of tho Statu administration to
conduct this business for tho solo purpose
of profit, but tho price of liquors
has been fixed with a view to make
them cheap enough to prevent extortion
from those wtio should have liJ
quors and at tho same time high
enough to prevent those who should
?
<?> mf mn
>is.
'
,?
<
NO 22.
wcr.? Latest U.S. Gov't Report
I Baking
Powder
NEK.V PUKE
I not liavo thorn from so easily satisfying
| their thirst. It has boon contended by
extreme advocates of the dispensary
law that the profit feature should be
abolished. There is no profit except
for the pjrposes 1 have stated and if
su;li ideas should prevail and liquors
supplied to the public with only the
I cost of administering the law added to
tho original cost price we have a state
of affairs bordering on to free whiskey.
After the present year, all profits
arising from the sale of liquors will be
applied to the supplementary school
fund. If this is blood money to what
better uses could It bo applied then to
healing the wound inllictod upon the
hearts of the wives and children of intemperate
drinkers by giving to such
children the only true safe guard
against intemperance?education and
culture ?
KNKOIU'K.MENT OK TI1K LAW.
The enforcement of tho dispensary
law luvs boon the buna of the whiskoy
dealer, the terror of the illicit distiller,
the pitiful excuse for the opposition of
hypocrites und crunks unu tlie platform
of disgruntled politicians catering
to local inlluonces, good or bad.
It is the duty under the law of all the
executive ollleers of the State, counties
and town to enforce this law and
such ollicers are compelled to take an
oath prbscrlbodby your honorable body
to faithfully onforce the law when they
assume their olllelul duties. The Governor
is nuthori/.od to employ constables
and throe Stut-o detectives whoso
especial duty it is to enforce tiie law.
i have employed on an average about
lifty constables during my term of
ollico and one State detective and they
have been zealous and faithful in their
eHurts to suppress the illicit tratlic und
i am satisfied, and I am sure the people
of the State are, at the results obtain- *
ed.
During tiie past year llfty-live regular
commissioned constables including
the two chief State constables have
been regulurly employed. The Stato
is divided into two divisions known as
tiie "upper "and tiie "lower." The
upper division is in charge of Chief
Kant and the lower in eliarge of Chief
Holloy. Tiie salaries and expense, including
one detective and the clerk in
my olliee, amounted to $47,720.01. ,
Thirty-one constables are assigned to
tiie upper and twenty-four to tiie
lower division. The upper division
has .boon^mueh harder to handle by
reason of the proximity of North Carolina
and the mountain distilleries.
The amount of whiskey and brandy
seized in the upper division for the
past year was gallons, ninety
barrels of boor, H,070 gallons of cider
and boor in bottles, twelve vehicles
and sixteen lieud of mules and horses,
and ten illicit distilleries were destroyed.
in the lower division there were
seized and confiscated 0,090 gallons of
whiskey, wine and brandy, thirty-nine
barrels of beer, twenty-two hundred
and lifty-iive gallons of beer and cider
in koi/s. three vnhlnl??? ?nii
of mules and horses, one Illicit distillery
was destroyed. The rcsistunco to
the law In the upper tier of the counties
udjoining the North Carolina lino
and in the county of Charleston lias
hcon most stubborn. In the remaining
counties of the Htato a healthy condition
exists and the citizens are almost
unanimous in support of the law, and
I am triad to report that the law is
being bettor enforced throughout tho
State at largo as is shown by tho scales
of the dispensaries and the numbor of
convictions of illicit dealers in the
State and municipal courts.
The violations reported to my ofllce
show a largo decrease and the daily
reports of tho constables show a better
state of feeling throughout the State
at large. In the counties of Oconee,
Greonvillo and Chestertiold uilliculties
have been had with trailers coming
from North Carolina. These desperadoes
invariably go armed to the teeth
with a determination to resist the
otlicers to tho extent of losing thoir
lives if nocessary. in Oconee a dastardly
attempt was made to assassinate
tho constables almost at tho doors
(continued on fourth page.)
tuc orcT
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