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GOVERNOR'S AN His Recommendations t< of Repre EVIDENCES OF THE < The Public Institutions A Recomenmds Impn Schools and t Svsi Following is the substance of the annual message transmitted to the General Assembly of South Carolina by His Excellency. M. H MeSweenev at the opening session of that l>ody Tuesday at noon: Ccntlcmea of the General Assembly: Paring the past year the heavy han.l of affliction was laid upon the chief executive of the State, and the people were called to mourn the death of their Governor. After a long illness. Governor William H. FMlerbe died at his home in Marion County on June 2. ISOf). Young in years, full cf honors, and commanding the respect of his countrymen, he was gathered to his fathers. Holding the position of Lieutenant Governor, to which I had been elected, and obeying the Constitution. I took the oath of office as Governor on the 3rd day of June. 18b9, and immediately tlinr/ -.e-- Ixacrm Hir, ?1i?fhnr0',-> <?f the darties pertaining thereto. Since you last met there has benn very marked material progress in the State in almost every branch of industry. Tin husbandman has garnered the products of his fiedds with the assurance of good returns for his laltor. Manufacturing enterprises have gone forward with aJmo?; miraculous rapidity. and are furnishing lucrative employment for many of our people. Th- re has beer great activity in the building of railroads, the great developers of a country. Peace, happiness, and prosiw;i!.v prevail in every portion of the State. Factional bitterness and strife are things of the past, and the peopio are united for the upbuilding, progress, and development of the entire State. Death has no: thinned your ranks, and you come together to deliberate ana make laws for the people under most auspicious circumstances. 1 trust that in all your deliberations you may be guided by a single purpose .the welfare and happiness of the people whom yon have the honor to represent. How. ver, you may differ, as differ you will, your combined wisdom and high patriotism, am sore, will result in the pa-sige of such laws as will rebound to the good of all the people. In the aciomplishmend. of this purpose I stand ready and anxious to aid you and co-operate with you in .so far as my power and ability may go. EVIDENCES OK PROGRESS. In cotton manufacturing. South Carolina leads all of the Southern State*, and stands second only to Massachu - * * * nnH u.... seres in me uuuiun ?/i spiuurc^ ...... ?. onti to none in equipment. If the progress of the past year augurs anything for the future, we shall soon lead all others in this important Industry, and instead of furnishiug any of our staple crop for export to other places for manufacture, we will be large importers of cotton from other States to supply the local demand. During the past year eleven new mills have been organized and are in process of const ruction. representing a total capital of $.'> 275.000. Sixteen old mills have been enlarged. representing an increase of their capital stork o' $2,420,000. This hiot only means a large addition to the wealth of the State and an increase of the taxable property, but it means wealth put into active service and employment for many of our people. In railroad building, as I have already stated, there has !>een very decided activity. 237 mile.- have been completed and in actual process of con struttioci. Thi- represents an outlay 01 at least 52".too a mile, or nearly 50.OW.OOO. and when completed and returned for taxation even at a valuation of $10,000 a mil-0 will add $2..170.000 to the taxable property of the State. In cotton seed oil mills, the luroW 'jusmej.-, and other branches of industry, there has been von- marked activity. for the exaot figures in all of these now enterprises I beg to direct your attention to the full and exhaustive report of the Secretary of State. A study of these figures and a realization of the material progress upon which the State has entered, should he cause of sincere congratulation to every true Carolinian, and should move you as representatives of the people to do all that you can to foster and encourage this progress, and these institutions and industries, which mean so much for our State. I have thought proper thus briefly to direct ycur attention to these substantial evidences of progress and growth as an encouragement and an incentive to our people to the accomplishment of even greater things which lie easily within our grasp, if we will but put forth our hands aud lay hold of the advantages and % opportunities ihat thickly surround us on every side. FINANCES. I tak* uleasure. also, in oongratulatI NIM iiftSSAGE. \ i i i I ) the Senate and House 1 > i; sentatives. i? j , t :tatf?c ddikdfpitv ! JiniLJ 1 IVV?JI Mill I : 1 i I I ( I J ' t 1 re All in Good Condition. j* ovements In Public ( he Dispensary iJ tern. J'j i ! , ing you on the condition nf the finances of the State. The State "Treasurer h is r roeen able to meet all of the obligations of the State promptly, and also the in- ' ten on the public: debt, without the 1 necessity of having to borrow any > money or overdraw his account, ami j' srill 'h ie; a balanr-e in the treasury. The Treasurer of the State has callr-d j my attention to 'the fact that there are ( a number of old bond.; which have * hitherto been reported as fundable, but f which under the Act of IS9(t are nov no longer. and among them are i.he : bonds claimed by the State liank (Blue ^ Ridge Railroad bonds of 1859) to the amount of $37.00b. The Act of 1S% referred to prohibits the State Treasurer from funding or paying any bonds after the expiration of twenty years from [the date of maturity. The bonds aoove mentioned matured on July 1st. 187(?, and the twenty years limitation expirt ed on July 1st. 1899. The State owes the.se bonds to some ! 1 I. _ !,.V, ?V.? f Uilt*. rt II'xl tilt- uujr( lil/u niuv i( oral Assembly has hitherto had to tlm J 'funding cf them has been, it is under- 1 'stood, tho fear that some one might -s still produce and present them to tho 1 i Treasurer, for fun ling under the fund- ; ing Act of the State, and that the State ! I might in this way have to pay them 1 twice. This objection seems now re- r moved, as no one but the receiver of r the Bank has tho right to ask to have : them funded, nl! other persons being 1 now barred by the Statutes from apply ing to the Treasurer fcr ihar purpose. :l TAXATION'. The Constitution says that "All tu?s { upon property, real and personal, shall ibe laid upon the a'tual value of the T " tl'" e.?mn c V* ? 11 l\n uc. i Tl) lilAt'i], a? uitr f^.nnr ouau ?/x uo <' rt::in?Mi by an assessment made fur . , 'be purpose of laying such tax." It also i.says the "General Assembly -hall provide by law for a uniform and equal rate of as.-r-.-nr'iii for taxation." It is a fact that very little if any property is assessed for taxation at its "actnil value." For if it were, the taxable prop- ( erty of the State would he a great ilea! v more than it is, and the rate of taxi- I tion could he considerably reduced. To T the taxpayer, that is not a matter of S very great concern, for a certain < | amount of money has to b? raised to r meet the expenses of government, and r while, if the valuation were high The 11 rate could be reduced, yet in the end it 1 I amounts to the same thing. The ques- 1 | tion that concerns the taxpayer is io 1 | have a uniform 4value of assessment f whether it 'be the actual value or ouc- a half the actual value. The burden or i taxation would then fall equally on all a i.ue taxpayers in proportion to tbo prop- o erty they own. "but if (me man's prop- z Jerty is assessed at its actual value and h | another man's at one-half its actual ti value, the one either contributes mow " {than his .share ro the support of tne t ,government. or the other does not t meaxire up to his duty in this matter, i : The main desideratum is to secure r such a mode of assessment as will give ( |a uniform valuation to all property a Mihjtct to taxation. Tha such results t | are not obtained now. I am sure, i Whether it is the fault of the law o> i iits administration. 1 am not prepar* ! u to say. We have Township Boards of "? i Assessors and County Boards of Equal- p jiaation. iutt the manner in which they, v as a rule, discharge their duties and 1 | the time tiiey allot to the discharge of these duties does not secure a uniform i valuation of property for the purpose 1 " * -* ---? 1 l I ~ . !or taxation. .\or. in<iceu. ruum met .m s it under the present plan If they gave j more time. They may secure an approx- ( imate uniformity for valuation in oath (, county. and. so far as county purposes ^ are concerned, that might suffice, hut . rhe average in the counties varies and s the burden of taxation does not fall r {equally on the several counties. I have t no fully matured plan to .submit for t !your consideration as a remedy for this (] evil, but I am persuaded that tf some , plan could be devised by which the e Constitution could be obeyed and all } property assessed at its actual value. the burden would bear more easily and s equitably upon all taxpayers. As the 'law now stands, the County Auditor is a remiired to go into each township and fi take returns of property, and then the tow nship boards meet aud go over th?*e j , returns and then they are gone over by c ithe County Board of Equalization. 1 (. jsu'jmit for your consideration the ad- j visibility of requiring that the Consli'tution 'be carried out and all property g j assessed at its actual value, and that q I the County Auditor take returns only p in the townships, and that the town- t jship boards be required to attend while \\ ; these returns are being made, and if c any question arises as to the valuation f of :he property, it could be settled by g :he Auditor, the Board cf Assessors,' ti md the owner of the property. These jvj ownship beards should he men cf abil- so ty and character, and should be in po- of dtion to determine the a.n; ] value of;02 he property. I believe that some suc'ijri dan. if properly carried out, would ma- C! .erially increase the taxable properly at troperty of the State and go far towards equalizing the burclpn of taxa- of ion. There is need for something to be fo lone along this line. , ft There is also some complaint of the m rregualaritv with which some County ifc r re jurors remit taxes collected i;> at hem to the State Treasurer. The lawjte ixes the times at which they shall re- {OA nit. but many of them do r4a?^observe fo t. I think i; would he advi?*>le to >luco them on salary. the same as bounty Auditors, and require monthly !a( statements from them, and withhold ' ^ heir salary until the statements were j; ereived. And also require them to j j,( submit with their monthly stall mem. j {0 i statement from the bank of deposit, showing the amount of money to their redit as Treasurer?. And some penalty 2I ihorld be provided for the failure to at urn ever funds and make i'p-jcc >orts as required by law. and power t,h tiven the Governor to suspend or re- vv nove such as persistently refuse or .;( '.egleet to obey the law. This subject cf taxation is one thai;j>( nore directly concerns the people thanj(.j my other with which you will have to'ar leal, and it deserves your most earnest; ^ or;si deration, and in whatever you do. pj on should endeavor to make the bur- 1 it n hear equally upon all the property Ui >f thf* State. . h By comparison of tin Usurer in the p; Tompfroller (teneral's report. you will ee that the taxable property for the m is-al year commencing January 1. 1 Sift. ;)f s $3,185,183 more than for the prec?e.l- w ng fisraJ year: ,-f Total taxable property for nc the fi.-cal year oraineni*- io itijr January 1st, 1899... $l7n. 122.:;^ f,Total taxable property for ':h the fiscal year eemmene- i0l' ;ng January 1st. ISPS... 173.237.10"> dc nt ~ io ics ic-i Increase ^o.loo.i > wi PENSION'S. . hi A generation has passed since the nt War Between the States." The South- m rn soldiers who fought for a cause at hey believe:! to i>e right laid their a!! tli pon the altar of their country. (ireater th acritiee and self-denial wrro nev- r p] note cheerfully made in ar.v cause or ,jr n any country than in this struggle by al lie Southern soldier. They displayed a 'th ortitu:le and a. hvoism that will fur-,so tish themes for the i>oet and the histo- ye Ian foi all time to come They lost in tc tattle np.'au-e 1*1 tJVt'i w UrilLKIl- ?? ? ; I>L >nrs and resources on tli? other side, w< I without repining laid down their ar vm- and returned to their homes and c um with a spirit of cheerfulness a:i urelv seen to remold their iost for- c.i tines. w< What we are able to give is but a p:-..mre, but i? h elps. and we should give t cheerfully. 1/ast year you appropri- th ted for pensions to Confederate sol- be ier-- and widows of soldiers the sum of t $100,000. i recommended ;? like an- m ropriation this year. iet DIRICCT TAX. th t'nder tlie provisions of t4?- Act of 'ongress. August 1801. a direct tax a ia> imposed upon th*; circus of the niced States, and a part of if was ap- "" portioned to and assessed upon -he tato of South Carolina. Direct Tax 'ommis-siouers were appointed to de- 31 noustrate this law. hut at that ti^" no ir! art of the State of South Carolina was f'' inder Federal control, fa November. tsJ S61, the whole of the parish of Si. 0; leiena, and all of that portion of St. z<> yoke's which was composed of islands, mj til into the hands of Federal forces, -vc nd the Direct Tax Commissioners es- :l a-blished themselves at that point, and :n inder the administration of the law ail M' if the property belonging to the cit - - - TM ens of those two parties was sola ana . r" ought by the United States, and resold .;l aider the provisions of that Act. and of j 1 ther Acts amendatory thereto, and aj1 lies? citizens were entirely divested :>f heir property. Later. upon the termi- ' " lation of the war.a portion of the died tax assessed to the State of South '' 'arolina was collet-ted in Charleston ,n" nd in some other lower counties of iP he State. The proceeds arising from . J* he sale of the lands in Beaufort w. u-l nto tlip Treasury of the Unite.! States s" inder different laws relating thereto, n;l have .ieen disposed,of by the lTn:t- V. d States Government in aocordan-e nth those laws. 'KNAL AND CHARITABLE IXST!-;J? 11/ rilJAO. M The Constitiitjcn of the State itnpo.-cs s; ipon us the duty of caring for the ;r.- ev ane. blinti. deaf and dumb, and the br toor. and says that institutions for this mrpose shall hp fostered and supportd. < n IT ATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE ta. While we all deplore the fjet that we rh hould have amongst lis tho^e who are an oeuta.lly afflicted, we should not only all onsider ir a duty, but we should es- if eom it a pleasure to care for them. I th lesire to call your special attention to th he full and complete report of your as fficient Superintendent of the State ; w.i fospital for the Insane. Dr. .1. W. Bab- Ca cck. and to ask for it your careful con- no ideraticn. It is a sad fact that the pop- Sr. ilati-ou at this institution is,gradually tit nri constantly increasing, the average wt aily population 'oeing J.000. The total ta lumber bping c ared for at this time :s th .002. an increase over las: year of 36 he >f this number. 590 are white, and 407 th olored. The number admitted during a iie year closing December 31. was 415, The Board of Regents desires to sug- jse est for your consideration the better th evelopment of the system of county in: coor houses and the consideration o.' to he matter of "settlement." by which!on t would be better established who may yo laim beneficiary support in the Slate So iospital. ?)ur law should also be more . cu necific in dealing with inebriates and 'So id al?:> to the report of the special 1 tmmitree. That committee performed ( ie duties laid upon it efficiently and;, ell. as yon will see from an examin.i- ' on of their work. The present Superintendent of th? Enilejitiary. Capt. L). J. Griffith. took targe on the loth of March. An ex j niriation of his report will show that ie affairs of the Penitentiary have en managed in a very satisfactory anner. and the finances of the instirion are in a very healthy conditicn. ? found it necessary to do much retiring cn th? buildings at the institu- , an and on the farm, and there is i ueh more work that is necessary to , ' denp. When he took charge there : as turned over to him by his prcde- ; "tor $114.35 in cash, and he found it cos ary to commence buying pro vis ns to support the inmates at once, and j out March loth to the havruing of J e new corn crop, he was compelled to | iy 3.38S bushels of corn and meal. It , tes not appear to me to he good busi- j >ss judgment, with the fat.us that are;] orked by the State, to In: forced to < iv ft) large a quantity of torn and ] eal. when they could and ought to be < j ie tin the farms. I am glad to be ; ile to state that the superintendent j inks his supply of corn made during < o pas: year will be sufficient to sup- j y the institution during this year ; :til the new crop conies in. There was,] so a large crop of oars made, some-ij ing over 4.U00 bushels having been Id. The StA rintendent says: "The . ar. agriculturally. has been satisla.'- i ry. considering the late start and j her disadvantages under which 'he,] rk was done." The cotton crop will i j nount to nearly fiOO bales. j] There ha.s been no serious sickness < ncngsr the prisoners except a few'j .-?s of meningitis, from which there;, re several deaths. j EDUCATION*. i Along with the material progress., at has come to our State, there has; | c-n a lively interest in the education ) our youth. Not only has this been ( anlfest in our higher institutions of , am ing. but the country st-hools and , e primary schools throughout the j ate have been greatly improved. In , government like ours the education ( Our youth is of paramount import- ; ice. Any legislation that will foster | id encourage our common schools : onld receive your hearty approval | id endorsement, for you may foster , id build colleges as yen plevase. the | c-t remains that a vast majority of f r ' hikiren can never avail themselves , a college training. Intelligent citl- ( ns make intelligent voters. Educated ( others rear intelligent citizens. When >ii put money in education you invest', ... _i.._ '. mtai inai win give vim <-?*-? , ;< return and can neither lie lost nor', pandered. To secure : fficiency in our,, nv.non schools three things are of . ra mount importance: First, you must j ivc the means with which to operate f em. Second, you must have educated , id consecrated teachers. Third, yon | uii intelligent and efficient County f iperintendents of Education. 15nfortunately, with toe money which j e State is able to exjiend for coat- , on school education, the overage j ligth of the terms of the public;, hcol tax is not supplemented, is only . >m rhr^e to four months. It is impos- j ale to secure that efficiency thor- } ghness which we should have unless!: e school- could run longer. Since the are has undertaken this matter.-the ^ ty is that she is not able to do it'. ore thoroughly and completely. The , ea: blessing that could come to this ' ate would be a first class common , iiool open for the full school year in " ery countiy community within h'-r -rders. ' J HKIHEK IXSTNTTIOXS. Whatever may have been the diffe"cc of opinion as to the wisdom of cs- ( Wishing State Colleges. the policy of . e !>tate in this matter has been fixed. d these institutions ate here and are 1 I doing a good work for the State. and judged hv the enrolment o' student.-*. ^ ere is a demand for them. To puil |1 em down or fo give tiiem niggardly ' sistance would he a backward step!' lioh I feel that no true son of South irolina would he willing to \tke. ft is 1 i l' i longer a question whether or no: rne ' ate should engage in higher eriiic.i- [ >n. That has heen settled. To makej' ir cn these State institutions is to r?- ? rd the progress and development of ( e State. There should be no conflict ' tween the denominational college and ' e State < ollege. They are both doing!' good work. 1 1 would like to take up each college , parately an 1 call to your attention c e work done and the needs of these '1 stitutions, but I can do no more than jf refer you to their reports and. ree-M nmendations. apd conrmepd them to air favorable consideration. The: mth Carolina College. Cle-mscn Agri- r Mural and Mechanical College, the c nth Carolina Military Academy. Win * ie criminal insane. During the preilanee of an epidemic dissase, it is al- '< recommended that fcr the protection. patients in the Hospital the right j .V. i infin'orl fUT- ! 4U.II amine <aguiu?% iut tcry be entrusted to trie Governor, the. : hairman of the State Board of Health.!1 id the President c.' the Regents. The growth of the institution has J en so great that the necessary repairs ; r ordinary wear and tear have he- J me a considerable drain upon the 1 aintenance fund. The Bcar.1 estimates 1 tat in order to keep up these repairs I :;i make some of ih? improvements j emmended will require about $lo, ) ' i0. An itemized statement will be.1 nnd in the Superintendent's re-port. |( PENITENTIARY. At your last session, a resolution was' iopted ordering ail investigation into 1 ic affairs of the Stat? Penitentiarv. hat investigation was had and a re- 1 irt of the committee was submitted me. as directed by the resolution. I 1 ive submitted in a separate message ] le action taken by me on this report, i i hoi- rn direct vonr attention to it.. V V' throp Normal and Industrial College, and the Colored College at Orangeburg will all submit to you through the heads of these institutions detailed statements of their condition and needs, and these deserve your careful attention. You should be as economical in "he expenditure o' money as is consistent with the efficient conduct of these institutions, but to withhold more than is necessary for their proper maintenance would not be wise economy. I Fool cur.-> rhov u.-il! .ir?r >sir fnr extrava- t\ ;ant or unnecessary appropriations, and fl? I. therefore. confidently rcmmend *o you a careful study cf their nerds and demands as rat forth in the reports that will he submitted to you. RAILROADS. The twenty-first annual report cf the State Railroad Commission will be laid before you. It is gratifying to note that the gpneral condition of the railroad business of the State is prosper ous. Railroads properly conducted aie public benefactors. They are in one sense citizens and large taxpayers t:; the State. It should be gratifying tc every citizen of the State to know that the business of all railroads the past h -a a Haamn crrwiri fnr it illlUPaLPS that there has been activity in every line cf industry. THK DISPENSARY. There is no question that will engage your attention at this session that will demand more careful thought and in which there is more interest manifested than that of the control .of liquor. Von will no doubt have several propo sitions presented to you by different members of your body for your consideration. If. is important that you should take hr''' r' the question in a positive and dir.".- manner and rae?t the issue squarely. I'n-der the Constitution of th? State there are only three modes allowed for dealing with this question. 'The General Assembly may license persons or corporations to manufacture and sell and retail alcoholic liquors or heveragP3 within the State, for the General Assembly may prohibit the manufacture and sale and retail of alcoholic liquors and bpverages within the ?itate:" or it "may authorize and empower State, county and municipal officers, all or either, under the authority ind in the name of the State, to buy in any market and retail within the State liquors and beverages in such packages and quantities, under such rules and regulations as it deems expedient." And in no case shall it be sold in less quantities than one-half pint or between sun-down and s-mn-rise. and it shall not be drunjt 011 the premises.N'eithor ran the General Assembly "delegate to any municipal corporation the power to issue lincenses to sell the >ame." Under the bsc alternative the Dispensary Law is in force. At the present time and in view of the era of material progress and development upon which the State has entered. 1 do not believe it would be wise or good business judgment to refer this question to 1 popular election. Not that, there is any ineasiness or unwillingness n> trust the people, hut it would have a tendeny to renew strifes and bitterness ana jj mgender bad feeling and I blieve M would retard the progress of the State fl n its material developmnt. It seems to ne that it would be good judgment to ake held of the present law and amend md improve it. Prohibition is very nice n theory, but in existing circumstances 9M| ind conditions I do net believe it would je practicable. Local option would be >ven worse than prohibition. To have SH[ prohibition in one county, a license system in ;ui adjoining county, and the Itepensary in another, would create no V >nd of confusion arid trouble throughmt the State. 1 would recommend for your consideration the abolition of the State and bounty Boards of Control and that the iuties of these officers be devolved ipon other officials. You should elect i State Commissioner o? high eharac:er and good business judgment, and live him sufficient compensation to oinuund the services of such a man. le should be given more authority and liscretion. and required to give a good ind sufficient bond and be subject to emoval by the Governor. As an adrisary board to the State Commissioner would suggest the Comptroller General. the State Treasurer and the State superintendent of Kducation. with such rowers and duties ?.s in your wisdom rou may think proper to confer upon hem In place of the County Boards I votilri suggest that the County Supervisor. the County Auditor, and the Mayor of the county seat town, if a lispensary "ne located there, if not the Mayor or Intendunt of some town in h?' county in which there is a dispenary, constitute the Ccunty Board, and hat fhev serve without extra conip'nation. These changes are suggested not only ><H-anse in ray judgment they wouid t nip rove, the administration of t'ne law. tut on the ground of economy. I would also suggest that th? law be o amended as to bring violations withit the jurisdiction cf the Magistrates, o tit;.: all cases might be promptly in.! summarily adjudicated. J I am glad t:> be able to state that clu- i ins? my rrrrti of off ire with but one ex- I eption there has been no conflict be- N M wen the constables and citizens, and 11 this exception one constable w is ' M ;i!le<l and another wounded and oni itizen was killed. This unrortnnate^-^^^ rouble cannot any more be charged to ^ he Dispensary Daw than could a slmiar difficulty in the enforcement of any it her l..w be argued against it. The annual report cf the State Board ?f Control for the fiscal year ending )ec mber ill, 1S99, will be submitted or your information as soon as it can le made up. UY'SI ivrv In our roast counties the oyster buslless could be made an Important inlustry if proper and wise legislation vcre enacted to protect the oyster beds.