Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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since its foundation over 7,000 have been received since 1875, while 3,900 have been adiitted in, the last (eca(le. Ihie adlmiissions fr last year were 148, the largest annual nuiilber ever received. It ihAs 1og, been claimied that the institution is imposed lupon lby the1 class of patieits sent to it. [in other words, that the benefaction of the State is abused. In response to the question what classes 0f persons are adinitted to the lospital, the Regents state that "By the original law of 1828, idiots, lunatics and epileptivs. and to tllese have beenl added inebriates and the criminal insanie by legal pro visiol, while ani elastic interpretation of existing statutes has gradu ally eicluded all the un11desirable elcllelts of our c4illllullities: Iml beciles, incorrigibles. waifs, the blind, and Iay aged persons dotards, who properly belong to couitv almishouses." This state. lilent explainis ill soeic degree the rapid growth in the polation of the Hospital in the last twenty-five y.ears. So that, properly interpreted, these appalling figures do not necessarily imply sucl al enormous increase of cases of acute insanitv in our midst. The real fact being, according to statistics presented by Dr. Babcock, that recently occurring cases of tinacv are not increasing in our State out of proportion to the increase of population. A final analysis of the figures presented shows that about one personl per thousand of our population annually becomes a patient inl the In sane Hospital, and that the cost of khe support of such patients is about $too per cal)ita per year. In my last message I s-uggested that measures be taken by the General Assembly looking to the erection of Poor Houses in those Counties which had not provided them, and towards the improve mcnt of those already existing. The financial management of the Hospital, through the oversight and efficiency of \Ir. J. V. Bunch, the treasurer, is its best feature, ald will be the subject of a special report of a comnmittee appolited by tie General Assembly. Driig the past year the per capita has remained substantially the same as for several years. Upon a business basis the Regents of the IIospital ask for applio priations for these specific purposes and amounts Maintenance.. .. ................ ..$ioo,ooo Imlprovelients and Repairs.. .. ..o...... 10,000 Payment of Vallace debt.. .. .......... 4,120 Regents Account.. .. .............. 1,200 $115,320 I also take pleasure in commending the earnesi ess and efficiency of Dr. J. W. liabcock, the Superintendenit of this Institution. TIIE STATE PENITENTIARY. The annual report of the 3oard of Directors and Superintendent of the Penitentiary shows a most gratifying condition of affairs at this institution. While no money will be covered into the State Treasury this year, yet permanent iiliprovements have been made out of the iet earnings allounting, in round numbers, to $20,000, and there is still a cash balance on hand for current expesle of about $5,000. In addition to this, the farms have yielded corn and provisions suflicient to run the institution until the next crop is har vested. The number of convicts remains practically the same as one year ago. A modern prison. which was very much needed, is nearing completion, within the wvalls of the Penitentiary, at a cost of $14,500. In addition to being a safe prison, it is biuilt with a view to the health and comfort of the prisoners, and will be paid for out of the net earnings of the Penitentiary during the past year. At the last session of the Legislature provision was made for the erection of a Reformatory for youthful criminals. A neat and substantial frame structure for this purpose has been erected on the Lexington farm, in which will be kept all prisoners under 16 years of age. While it will be the purpose of the Superintendent to furnish them instruction in orals and, if possible, make better citizens of them when they are released, yct they wvill be required to labor as other p)risoners, but wvil1l)be kept enltirely sep)arate from the older anld more hlardenled criminals. At p)resenlt there are only fourteen prisoners under i6 years' of age, and these are all negroes. A good many nleeded and permanent imiprovemenlts hlave also been made on thle State farms, and everything there is no0w in good condhitionl. Thlere hlas beeni sonme discussion in regard to the ad v'isability of tile State owning and operating farms. A careful and thloughtful inv'estigation of the subject, I aim sure, wvill convince you that it wouldI not b)e good business judigmnent to dispose of these farms. It requires only 140 convicts to op)erate tile farms, and in this way corn andl provisions and othler thinlgs niecessary for the support of the convicts arc miade at less expense than, dicy could b)e purchased. It is argued by somei that thlese convicts could be worked uponi the public roads. I am as hleartily in favor of anything that wvould give us good roads as anlyone, but I do not see how tile State could unldertake tis work excep)t thlrough tIle ,Counties. It w~old b)e a goodl planu if those counties in wh'iich chlaingangs are mlaintamuedl would so arrange as to secure enoughl prsnr froml the State to keep up a good chaingang force all tile timle. Froml the hbest informlation available, and from those who hlave h1ad experienlce with chainganlgs, it is not profItable, even to the Counlty, to main tain a chaingang when tile numbe; falls belowv fifteen. In most of the counlties tIle average is belowv thlat number. ThIe farming out of convicts to inldhividuals shlouldI be dlisconitinlued. If this were done it wvould call in 475 convicts wvho aure nowv hired out to individuals anid that nuumbler put onl tihe roads in tile various counties inl the State wh'lere chlaingangs aure mIaintained would in a fewv years gueatly imlprove our public roads and at tile samel time not inlterfere withl the State farmls. The puresent systeml of chlainganlgs in most of the CountLies is a very exp)ensive luxury, but by tIle Corunties hirinlg a sufficienlt numbehl)r of convicts from th'e State, as suggestedl ab)ove, we could very soon hlave inl those Counties a 'good systeml of publlic roads, and nothinlg could b)e done that would add more to the coum for-t and conlvenienlce and1 saving to the people whio live in the rural (districts. A system of good roads would do very mulch to stop the flow of pop)ulation from tile countury to the towns. The Counties could not spend tile public mioney more wisely, or with greater benefit to tile public, than b)y mlainltainling a good chainganig in each County On permanent road bilding. Good roads wvouid bring chtu-ches, and schools, and townls closer to every country hlomle, in addition to tile saving whlich wouldI result from tIhe wvear anld tear upon stock and vehicles, an1d upon the~ peop)le thlemselves. And this can be d(oie b)y wise legislationl without interfering inl the least with tile mlanlagemlenlt or mlaintenlance of tile State farms. I subit hee wVithl a statleent showing the operations of tile State Penuitentiary for the past year. CO N VICTf STATEM ENT. Prisoners in conlnnement December 31, 1899.. .. .. ..80 F~rom1 COurts since thlat (late.. .. ............ .246 Recapturedl...............................- '- - -- 1. 257 1,058 Discharged.. .... ...... ........ ...........187 Pardonied,....... ...... ........ .............24 Escapedl.. .... .... ...... .................. ..22 KIked while tryinlg to escape.. .. .... .... .... .... Died.... .... .. ......... ...... ........ ..29-- 263 in prison Dec9mber: 31, 1000. ,. .. .. ,. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. ,.. o7 FI NANCES. iBalance calslh Oil lianld DeCc. 31, 1899.. . $ ),886.67 Total receipts for 1900. . ............ 65.')26.36 875.813.03 Total disbursements for 19w... 71,879.9 I Cash onl 1111d December 31. -1900 -- 3,933. To this should be added 328 bales cotton . . .3. 1 2o.oo Diue for oats and coivict hire . 2,962.o $20, 151 2 Speit for filuproveliclits- -- New prison. . . . . - - - - - -. .1,6.ho.oo Less amount still (lie cont ractor ,202.15 $ 9,416.55 Reformatory. .. . . 1,000.00 Artesiah wells.. .. ........................ 1,220.00 Barn.. .. ...................................,000.00 Gravel roof I losiery lill.. .... .....- -.--.50.0 New boiler. etc.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..o.........100.00 Recovering guards' qItarters. . ................... o110.00 M.owers, biiders, umles, etc. . . ,1.o00 $16,4685 5 This ailounit is included ill the total disbursements above mien tioned, and when added to the cash assets above named shows a net earning of tihe institution for tihe Past year of $36,483.67, and this does lot include the corn and other material on hand and grown on the farm the past year for the maintenance of tile institution this year, and neither is it incllded in the item of total receipts. In fact, the figures here given show the total receipts to have been $82,008 36. 1 congratulate Vou I tihe excellent 111.maagenC0t of this institultionl. INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THi DEAF AND THi-' lLIN). The Fiftv-second Annual Report of tle South Carolina I list itutiion for the Edtucation of the Deaf and the Blind shows ai average at tendance of 157 pupils, which is the largest in the history of the School. Thirty-six Counties are represented. The expenlditures have been kept within the appropriation. The per capita cost re mains about the same. The building for colored pupils, for which the Legislature made an appropriation at the last session, is in process of erection, and -will be ready for occupancy by the be ginning of the next school term. The Superintendent will ask for an ap)rop)riation of $20,ooo for support and $20,000 for the erection of a school building and $4,500 for other imlProvellents an1d repairs which are needed. The appropriation for support which is asked this year is tile same as was made by the last Legislature, and the Superintendent says that the institution cannot be run on a less amount with the present number of pupils. inl his annual relport it is stated, "The time has come in the history of the institution when it will be necessary to limit the number of pupils admitted or to arrange for the accommodation of a greater number." The new building which it is proposed to erect for the sumi of $20,000 is for recitation rooms, with a chapel, or auditorium. The Constitution says: "Institutions for the care of the insane, blind, deaf and dumb and the poor shall always be fostered and supported by this State." It is for you to determine whether or not provision shall be made for the increased number oi these unfortunates who are seeking ad mission to this institution. For a detailed statement of the work andl needs of the institution you are respectfLlly referred to the report of the superintendent. TAXATION. GovL)er1nment has no right to take more from the peop.e than is absolutelv necessary for a wise and economical admulinistration of the affairs of the State, amnd it should be so taken that the burden will bear evenly on1 all proplerty. It is the dluty of every citizen to con tribute his portion to tile supp)ort of tile government in prop)ortion1 to his ability. This is the standard laid dlownl in our* Constitution. That taxation (does not b)ear evenly upon all property is p)atenlt to every thoughtful p)ersonl. I you c an in your wvisdomi dev'ise any p)lanl by wvhich the assessmlenlt of prop)erty for taxation can be more equitab)ly made andl all the property of tile State can b)e placedl on the tax books you wvill have contributed much to lighten the burden on that clas:, of property which inl its nlature canniot escape taAdtion. In somel of the States tax inquisitors are provided to discover property that is omitted from the tax list. There is nio doubt that a great (deal of p)roper-ty escapes taxation whlich shouldl be on the books and made to b)ear its portion of the b)urden, and some plan shiould be devised by which this property can be reachled. Missouri has adopted a lawv which provides for the taxation of mlortgages, anld the man wvho owns the prop)erty has it assessed at the value of tile prop)erty, less the value of tIle mortgage, andl the owner of tile mortgage is required to pay tax upon01 the value of his mortgage. Sonmc such provision in oulr laws wouild b)e just and equitable, for it is not right for the owvner of the property to pay taxes upon01 tile full value when in reality his owvnershiip is 0only tihe value of the property less the value of tile mortgage. It would not b)e right to tax the prop)erty at its full value and thenl tax tihe mortgage, for that would be paying taxes upon01 tihe same p)rop)erty twvice. This quiestion of taxation is worthy of your attention, for it is one of vital importance to all of our peop)le. R.\ILROADl.S. The Twenty--second( Annual Report of the Iboard of Railroad Comnmission. s contains a very full exhibit of the operat ions of the roads within tile State for the past fiscal y'ear. Anl examination of the report wvill familiarize you wvith thme dutties of this very important department of our State govern menlt. You iil doubtless be gratifiedl 'to note that the general prosperity of the year has benefited the railroad interest, anid that tihe roads as a whlold are in goodl condlition, bothl nmaterially and financially. There is a gradual improvemnent in the roadways ; the trestles andl b)ridlges have b)een strengthencued, as requiredl by the increased cap)ac ity' of the rollitig stock and the large increase of the tonnage. There has b)eenl conIsiderable imp11rovemlenit in tihe deplot acconi modations. sonic newv ones constructedl, anid mnany' old ones repaired. There has been constructedl and received for public business since the last re. port ab)out 200 miles of newv road within the State. Thle gross earn ings of tihe roads h1ave ab)out reached the $Io,ooo,ooo mark. The entire op)erating expenses and taxes amount to about $7,ooo,oo0 leaving a balance wvith wvhich, in a large mieasuire, to liquidate tile interest on tihe b)onded indebtedness. Some fewv roads have paidl a small dhividend on their stock. Tile report shows some of the vecxed questions that wvere brought to the attentionl of tile Board, amid a full statement is made of the disposition of the same, demnonstrating the fact that tile Commission hlas endeav'ored to adjust all differenices between thle public and tihe roads ill a juist and reasonable manner. 'The prosperity of tile rail roads of a State is a good index to the general prmosperity of the people. PENSIONS. For several years the State huas beenl doinig what she could for- the few remaining old .Confederatc moldiers ans' Ih. widowe of se... vlo ar-c inl ieed of its aid. It shouild be a matter of congratulation to every patriotic So Il that ve have been able I t 1co ) what we have, and a source of regret that we are not abl.' to do llore. The troule witi our pension laws is tle tendencv to abuse them. ald inl many cases those who are really dleserving go without the assistance they need, and to which they a. lititled: but better that a hun111dred who are not entitled to it sitold receive aid thani that mie deserving ol s0dier Should sifler inl his ol .e ftir the want of such help as the State and ill peqple he served sot well are lustly due him. .\t the last sessit-n )f tilth I.g;lature a new pension law was enl acted. which has lol vet been1 tested. Thie new law is intended to) redce the numbi rif pesinteslt n1 on thei roll, and to have on te list only thitse \\ho1 are wrtyl, and to) give thei a Sil slificient. to ie a real help to theiml. In order to carry out the purpose of this law a ne1w set (f blanks have be" sent mut. and the roll for this year will be comilpletely revised. ll view of this fact, it would be well to give thc rese I pension law a fair trial, and to inuake such ain appro priation for the i)I soldiers as the (General Assembly mInay in its wislom feel that the State is "ble to Spend for this piurpose. I .ast Year illhe api>rpriati,n was ia.. o. ani there were on the pay-rol! 7.707 1ien1sitltOeis, of who)i 4.57. were soldiers ant 3.1p Were widows tif sldiers. I recoiniiend that there he i 'eductiol inl the appropriati'n for this wvrth catuse. S'TATF.\ . Al TIA. I)uri Iliy a<hministration several iccasiols have arisen in which tie civil a uthoit ies have called upon m11e as Con i iiander-i n1 - Cl ief for the assistance if the .\lilitia to preserve the peace and avert riot and bloodshed inl tle State. lin each and every case the volunteer troops have resInlded to m irers with alacrity and entisiasm, and in every instance, by their PrtImPtness amnd ctioliiess, law and order were enforced withilt Itiss of life or priprty. Inl the recent threateled riot at Georgetowni, caused by tihe killing tif an officer inl the dis charge t)f his duty, bv a negro, it is attested by .laVor Mo'organ and the best citizens of that city that but for the tiiely presence of tle volunteer troops the civil authorities would have been overwhelmied, and the city red.ced to riot and bloodshedl, and proAbly dtestructiou of property. With tile rapid progress tIlt State is Imaking-the cen treing of Ipimis industrial activities liere .11d there allI over the State-tHIe ever pCsellt probleim if another distinct race in our illidst mi4ay warn 11s that we are ever liable it) such t'1eiurrenlces as the ;'Corgetown riot. and to meet such cimditins, and to protect the lives and property of oIli eitizens, the State has liother appeal, no (ltier means so adequate or reliable, nothing else so satisfying to the people as tlel' presence of a well (rganlized, thorruiglyC) e(iipped body of soldiers. Therefore, if the I\lilitia is a necessity when calai itv thrcatenls the peace and good order of society it is the botmidell duity of the State to Iimake liberal provision in the linc of wise economy to foster and maintain it, for tinder the genius of ou, svsteii oIf govermlillent the Militia. or citizen soldiery, is, and must always remain, the court of last resort in the maintenance and enl forceient of law and order. Aside from iy personal knowledge and observation, as Commandt-r-in-( 'iief, it gives me plcasure to note the expressions of satisfaction that constantly reach ie in praise of the progress and improveimint of ur \lMilitia systemI under the able con trol and direction of that department. and I do not hesitate in ad vising the Geceral AssvlyI to pvidelly as lv l our mieanS Will allow for the maintenance and advancement of the \l ilitia, feeling, as I do, that every dollar appropriated will be wisel v and economlicall e disbursed inl the interest and steady improvemierit of the service. I respectfully refer y.oi tto tle Adjutant ( ;Ceneral's report, which covers in detail the entire operations of the Adjutant ( cieral's Department for the last fiscal year inl a llt satisf.ict I Iiannler-. H ICIXK.\IAL' ;A l.\TT LEhll I I . At the last sessioni of the Legislaturie Sito,ooo was appirop)riated. for the~ pttrpose of ere'cting~ a monum1 lienit to the Sothtl Carolina soldli rs oni the Chiickamiauga I attlefield. The G!ov'ernmor was athorizedl t>' ap)poinit a Commiilissionl, consisting of three Conifederate soldiers, with the Governmor' as Chiairmian, to hiavc charge of the ercetion of this miontumen t. I appoinited as miembilers of that Commnissionl Geni. C. .. W.\alker, Col. J.Iare Wlsoni, Capt. C. 1K. 1Ilenderson. The Comi ision v'isited( the hat tlield andt selected the localtion of tile various nmarkers, (designiatinig the posit ions of the South Carolina troops. Thecy also selected the location for the large mnoinment for all Southl Carolinians who fought and wvho fell oni that historic battlelield. TIhe Conunission called for' designls and( bids. Several plans and( bids were submiittedI, andl, after' carefully considering alt of themi, the conitriact w~as awardedl to the Stewart Sitine Company, of Columbia, S. C.>, as their designs impr)lessedI the commiiiissioni as the imost suit able, and they also offered to dho thle work at the lowest price. The total cost for markers andl pavemlenlt ar'oundt the nmonumnent, and( for the mnonuiment itself, is $9,450. Tfhe work on the miarker's has becn dlone, anld that on the miontument is nearly completed. The monu nmnt is 32 feet high, and( will be a hanldsomie shaft, made of South Carolina graniite, suirmiotmted1 by a bronze palmetto tree emblemat ic of our State, and flanked on two( sides b)y two b)ronze statues, each of a Confederate infantryman and artilleryman, thlese figures rep)resenit ing the only arms of the service fronm South Carolina oii that battle It is p)rop)osed to imve2il thec 111 monument in Jutly, 1901 , that beinig the time of the reunion of the U7nited Co nfetderate Veter'ans at Mempjhis, Tenn. This timie has been selected so t hat many veterans and our people generally miay have an opplorttunity (If attending the cere monies02 while Oil their way to the Uniited Confeder'ate Veterans' Re union, and thus be able to secture the advantages of the low rates of tare given on that occasion. Theli Commission feels t hat it would be very appropriate for thie entir'e L.egislaturie to be present at the dedication of this memorial which they have causedh to be erectedh to the gallant soins of the Stat.e woon this sacred spot offer- dh their hives withi dlistinlguished gal lantry for their beloved country. The sp)ot selected for the monu11 ment is one held by the intrep)id counrage (If the brave men of Kecr shaw's trigade as they v'icto(riously swept towvard Sino(dgrass Range, andI everyv miarker shiows thle spot where SouithI Camrolina valor w~as (displayedl. In iiy last Anniual Message to the Legislature I called attention to1 lie iimportan:ce of secturing the rep)ort miadle by Mr. John A. Black ti the Legislature in i1858 inl regard to the claim of the State against the General Gov'ernment oii account of the Rev'olutionary War, and suig gested the importance of p)rovision being made for search for this report, wvhich w~as stuppiosed to be in omie of the old rubbish rooms of the State Hotuse. Tlhe Legislature made an ahppropriationl and di rected the Governor and the State Treasurer to employ sonme one to go thirotugh this ruibbishi room to1 see if this repor't cotuld be found. Thle report 'was unearthed amionigst this (old rubbish and hats been forwvarded to Senator TFilhlman along with other papers and doctu ments bearing on this subject. I will stibmit toI yotu a Special Mes sage coverinig ti mnatter. S PEC IA L COU RT1S. At the last session oif the General Assembly there was an Act passed providing for Special Courts, and( stating hiow they should be obhtained't, and1( also liximng the salary oif thle sp)ecial judge. In fixing his salary, hotwev er, the G eneiral Assemblhy faihed to prov'ide any Lund out of which it shouldh be Vaid. Durinia the opa oe fome