The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, November 30, 1892, Watchman and Southron Supplement, Image 7

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hi IBI. SUPPLEMENT. Of Governor . LT?lman To the General Assembly of South Carolina at the Begular Ses son, Navember 22, 1892. Tbe.following is the full text of Governor Ti 11 man's message, which was delivered to tho Legislature o:. Tuesday, Nov. 22,1892. : Gentlemen of the General Assembly : While the reports of the officers in charge of the different departments of the government will coavey to you full information as to the State and its various departments and insti tutions, it has been the custom for tbe Gov ernor to condense and marshal the most sal lent leatures o? these different reports, so asJ to give a bird's-eye view of the situation. As? the head of the government, with the duty1 imposed on him ot exercising a general su pervision of its entire machinery, it is proper that this should be done, the more so because tbe message of the Governor is given extend ed circulation through the newspapers, which , is not tbe case with the departmental reports. ! THE TREASURY. Notwithstanding the reduction in the tax ! levy by tbe preceding Legislature and a fur ther falling off in the phosphate royalty, ail claims against the State of every character have been promptly met and there is a small cash balance to the credit of the general lund. Tbe following tables from the report of the State Treasurer will indicate clearly the con dition of our finances : CASH LIABILITIES, 31 St OCTOBER, i$92. Interest due and not called for-5177,880.73 Interest from 1st January, 1880, to 1st July, 1892, on $268,2S$15 Brown Con sols liable to be issued for valid principal of and interest, on old bonds not yet consolidated : Balance ol appropriation therefor-.?S 88,572.78 Not specially appropriated- 112,643.33 - 201,216.11 Sinking Fund Commission?.- 36,801.34 Direct Tax Fund?.-. 60,623.70 Morrill .Fund..-. 66.000.00 Balance Appropriations Unpaid, say 70,O0O.0G Special Accounts-.? 8.80S.03 S621.3S9.91 CASH ASSETS, 31 St OCTOBER, 1S92. General Account-.-? 29,4?.S3 Sinking Fund Commission.- 36,861.34 Privilege Tax on Fer ti I izers. 320.00 Department Agriculture.-. 1,111.52 Redemption D?ficiences. 998.97 Escheated Estates (cash)?..-. 2.7:3.73 Downer Fund.-. S64.95 Direct Tax Fund........ 60,623.70 Morrill Fund_:.- 66,000.00 Clero son Bequest cash account- 2,779.80 ?2O1.74&90 Net cash liability 1st Nov. 1S92- $419,641.01 TOTAL LIABILITIES NOVEMBER 1st, 1S92. Liabilities other than cash (bond debt). Brown Consols.-$5.403,662.21 Green Consols, faee value-.- 528.627.00 Blue 4% per cents. 4 ,( ).00 Brown 4 per cents.?.?. 33,726.57 Agricultural College Scrip- 191.300 00 Deficiency Stock outstanding. 717.72 Bonds and stock (principal with in terest to 1st January, ISSO.) 8552, 584.45, fondable at50 per cent, in Brown Consols bearing interest ?rom 1st January, 1880, less esti mated invalidity, &c. 263,288.15 j 86,826,821.65 j Less ir. idity in the Green Con sols...._.~. 420,215.65 $6,106.60600 Cash Liabilities.?. ?21,389.91 $7,027.995.91 . Cash Assets November 1st, 1S92....... 20?,74S.90? Net Liabilities November 1st, 1892..S6,S26,247.oi j REVENUE AND RECEIPTS FOR YEAR ENDING j: OCTOBER 31St, 1892. j Taxes for 1890,1891, and back taxes...$743.S59.89 ! Phosphate royalty..-.152,286.40 ! Privilege tax on fertilizers. 36,108 9S j ; Sinking Fond Commissioners. 6,5?>0.0 Railroad assessments for railroad commissioners?.-. 7,837.86 j Fees of office of Secretary of Stale.... 1,406.34 i ? Insurance license fees.?.-. 5.650.00 Special Fund_. 19,149.45 Direct tax fund received ?rom Unit ed States Government.221,711.26 Morrill fund received from United States Government. 66.000.00 Other so arces_. 1,662.26 Total.?.#?62,172.44 Balance cash October 31, 1S91_ 64.615.u2 Totals._.$1,326,787.46 j EXPE^DTTURES FOR YEAR ENDING OCTOBER I 81S% 1S92. Legislatvie expenses_._S 42,538.1 o \] Public printing-. 31,530.8* j Educational, charitable, penai and sanitary institutions and expenses 197.855.13 j Clemson Agricultural College. 45,315 71 ? Pensiona-. 51,528.92 Sinking Fund Commission warrants 049.00 Interest on public debt and expenses 357,039.37 Befand taxes.~. $?338.61 t Maintaining militia 1890-91 ?fc 1891-92.. 20,0 001 Redemption Brown Consols expenses 8ls.'.'5? Direct tax claims, act 1S84. 5,650.50 Direct tax fund, including a warrant refunded.-.162.2S0.99 Department of Agriculture. 12.28 Contingent fnnds, stationery and stamps, executive officers. 6,671.23 Salaries. 149.767. i2 On other accounts. 44,920.46 Total.$1^25,038.56 Balance cash October 31, 1892. 2"1,748 94 Total.-.81.325.7S7.46 There is a large increase in the aggregate re ceipts for the fiscal year end ing October 31 by reason of the money paid into the treasury, by the United State Government on behaif of j the direct tax claimants and the Morril! fund. This fund coming trom the sa:ne sou ice, be longs to our agricultural colleges at Orange burg and Fort Hill,and tbe two constitute tbe bulk of tbe cash balance on hand. 1 would direct your attention, also, to the item of $177.880 for the past due interest which may be called for at any moment. It is altogether probable. and in tact almost certain, that this Interest w?i? have to be met during the com ing yearly reason of the refunding of the State debt. I cal! your attention to the mat ter because it will be necessary to make some provision therefor. We have been running the government for the last few years ou an i exceedingly narrow margin?too narrow for safety,and It will be risking a great detl to' continue in that line. In "regard to the re-' funding of the debt, which falls due next. Fuly, j nothing has been done under the present act, which allows the old bonds to be exchanged for new bonds bearing 4 per cent, interest ; Negotiations are now pending looking to an1 adjustment of the debt, and ? hope to be able to present during the next week a scheme1 which will meet your approval. THE INCREASE OF ASSESSMENTS. The State Railroad Board of Equalization last year increased the assessments of ine. railroads from $17905,014 to $26.063,890. This increase has been resisted by tbe roads and ; suits are now pending in the United .statesi Court to enforce the col lection of this increase j of taxes. The cases will be beaid in Jannary, and if, as we confidently expect, the justice of the State's action shail be sustained, mere j will be a sum amounting to about $35,000 go-1 ing to increase the money in the treasury. j THE COMPTROLLER S DIFFICULTIES. The report of the Comptroller Generali' shows the total valuationjof the Property ot the State to be $168,871,227, a very slight iu-!! crease over last year; and considering the de- !( pressed condition of our agricultural Interests ;! iiad tbe low price of our staple crop, this is a!' satisfactory showing. Tbe eflorls of the | Comptroller to have property In ttie State!1 listed and assessed in accordance with the ' laws have been largely frustra: ed by the ac-',1 tions of our courts, and I will call attention 11 to this matter in another place, some!* amendments to the statutes in regard t<> ihei' assessments and levying of taxes are needed, i1 and some declaratory statutes are suggested!* by tbe Attorney General, which 1 hope your ! 1 honorable bodies will consider favorably. The following table shows the assessment 1 for taxation during the last sixteen years.:' i3nce the white people have been in control : ?f TOTAL TA IJ LE PROPERTY OF SOI TU CARO LINA. 1576- 1S77.?135,85 ?,?09 1577- 1S7S... 135,284.04? < 1S7S-1S70. 129,314.7371 1879-l8S0. 123?019,000 1880-1884. 129,519.825] 1S81-1S82. l:i?.4S7,:;<;j 1SS2-1883. I45.442;292 ! K<3-1$$4. 150.609.394 j 1554- 1*5. 149.727.?09 1555- 1SS6. 144.5nl.iSl ; IS86-1SS7. 141,070,347 1?7-1SSS. 141,986,154 1SS^1SS9. 145.420,016 1SS9-1S90. 150,e02;451 1590-189?1.. 16S.262.669 1591-1S92. 168,871,227 It is not a good showing, and indicates that. we are a verv imi rovid?nt an<l non-progres Sive people/or else that there is large j amount of property which escapes taxation or is undervalued for taxation. Our lister! state of Georgia, during the same period, with a like climate and like soil and nogreat er natural advantages, shows an h.crease ot? assessed values of S2iS,000.00o. It was 8235,000, 000 in 1S77 and is now i;?>,000.00U No sane! man will claim ?hat the average South Caro lin* county is not as prosperous as the aver age Geor?la county, and that there has not been a ?be increase of wealth on this side o! I the Savannah river. The explanation is not) far to seek. We have a constitutional tax ol two mills for school purposes, and. while our! free schools are not supported as liberally as j they should be, the disinclination of thr peo pie to increase the free school fund, under present conditions, has kept property at a valuation of about, one-hall its selling price. DEMAND FOE INCREASED ASSESSMENT. The property of the State, if assessed accord ing to law, would approximate 8 ;0:>,0J0,000. This would double the school fund, and reduce the tax levy for the state from about ? mills to 2U mills.* The elfort of the Comp troller to execute the laws governing assess ments have been largely paralyzed by the, fact that real est*te was assessed ou the present basis r?-?S??O and cannot be touched for reas sessment unt il P?H. un'ess the yenerat As sembly should authorize if. Had this been done last vear, as was advised by both the Comptroli?r-Genera? and myself, it would have greatly facilitated the rerundingoi the bonds; for one of the qu?tions asked by capitalists is as to the State's valuation for taxation; and the fact that during the pasi sixteen years there has been an apparent in crease of our property of only 813,iJli,21S has created false inmressions abroad as to tin thrift and prosperity of the state. In provid ing, as I hope will be done, a new system for the assessment of property. I trust that every species of property in the siate will be sub jected to : be same rule and every effort made io prevent lax dodging, which is now too pre valent. I wM repeat here what I had to say on this subject in my last annual message, as I have seen no reason to change the views set forth therein : TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT. "Theoffice of county commissioners should be aoolished, and in place of ita government by townships substituted. Three intelligent men ineach township, elected by the voters thereof, should be entrusted with the man agement of the roads and bridges, schools, and assessment of property in the same. Tne chairman of these heal boards should consti tute a county board to manage the county ? nances, audit accounts and order expendi tures. The salaries, if any, paid these town ship commissionets, or selectmen, can be de termined by the voters or fixed by law. The Constitution can be changed to abolish the of fice of county com m issioaer, and these changes will inevitably result in a great, saving to each county, while there will be a correspond ing increase in efficiency. -Property will be assessed at its real value, and millions now hidden will be made to pay their share of taxes. This county board should also consti tute the county board of equalization, instead being appointed ?.s at present by the auditor. "In this connection I suggest the propriety of requiring all notes, etc , to be stamped by the county auditor and placed on tax books to make them collectible by law. Make the note shaver or lender pay taxes as weil as the land owner whose property stands in his name, while he perhaps owes as much as it is worth." THE LUNATIC ASYLUM. The condition oT this Institution, as far as the conimi, of its afiairs is concerned, is all that couTube desired ; bu; I would agair. call your attention to the /act that there are changes needed in the laws governing the ad mission of patients, so as to prevent the State's charity from being abused. The Re gents have asked for an appropriation of 8-?0, CW? to enlarge the asylum so as to meet the de mands made upon it. The superintendent! calls attention to the overflowing condition of | the instTfUion and the necessity for either changing the laws governing admission or of | increasing the accommodations. Theasylum has a large number of patients who more properly belong to the county poor house, and the General Assembly has ihe choice of either makiug an appropriation for its en largement ora change in the law which would prevent this abu^-e. If each county be re quired to pay for its own patients and the Su perintendent be given the power to examine j into the fitness and needs of applicants for admission; this class of patients will be sent where they propeily belong. There will be no need for an increase ol buildings and the institution can amply provide for all who properly belong there for many years toc?me. The number of patients under treatment at present, is 764. The total income of the instl siitution from all sources has been 8115.3*5 57, and the expenditures have been $112,371.73. From p^roual inspection and familiarity with the asylum and its management, the State is to be congratulated upon having two such officers as Superintendent Babcock and Mr. J. W. Bunch, steward and treasurer ; and the regents have been untiring in their efforts ! to have the Institution reach the highest de-1 gree of efficiency' and economy. THE PENITENTIARY. The number of convicts in the penitentiary at presen l is 90y, an increase of 107 as compar ed with last year. A copy of the financia! statement is appended, showing the opera-j lions of the institution during the year. Statement of cash received and disbursed at South Carolina penitentiary during the period beginning November 1st, 1891,and ending October 31st, i>92. RECEIPTS. To cash balance on hand 31 St Octo tober, 1891. 8 ?.430.0.-> To amount received f<?r couvict hire. 39,081.83: Sales cotton and other farm prod ucts. 19326 10 ! Salei? sundries at prison. 2,340,14 Sundry fines, stoppages, <fcc. 1,841,40 i Visitors' fees. 459,20 S Transportation new e mvlcts. 2 > *5 731 S75,0S1 l? Assets: Cash on hand. 514,125.48j Due by sundry contractors for con vici hire. 2,823.7i Estimated value of unsold farm produce. 19.401.17 $36.350.33 DISBU RS EM EN TS. By amounts paid per itemized statements : Pay rolls?prison, farms and other camps,. ?14.372 20 Subsistence,. 17,169 87 Shoes. 2.647 4 ? Clothing. 2,334 93 j Board of Directors. 1,000 93 Hospital supp'ies. 3;s ?j< Transportation new convicts. 2,995 ~.;\ Transportation discharged con victs. gjo go Ctemson College pay rolls and ex penses. ;:221 21 Pay ment on DeSaussure larm. 5*000 00 j Sundry bills for DeSaussure farm? 2,812 0c 1891 guano account. l V,I G0-! Mineral and supplies for water wheel well. :J9? 20 Incidental expenses?wood, coal, etc. 5,7?? 97 Balance cash on hand. 14*125 4S ?7o,?Sl il i The expense of the DeSanssure farm have teen as above. S2.S12 07 In addition to which the vaine ol clothing, etc., sent there have been t?s") <;; Making a total cost of.. ?3,797 06 V ' While the yieid of cotton on the Stub- farm has been small and much of it lias been sold ata low price, an abut.dance of corn has been raised. The third installment has been paid on the stat<- farm, which was purcha-ed in , IS90, and is being rapidly put in a high state ot cultivation. The policy hitherto pursued ol working on shares in theCongaree bottoms i with Messrs. Seagers and others has ?is cont?nued, and the convicts are now being] hired out a; a fixed rate. The 500 hors? -power i which the state re>erved when i: donated the cana' to the city of Columbia has been devel- ! oped under lease to the Columbia Electric Light and Railway Company ut a rental o< per annum, with a reservation ol L001 horse-power for the use of th<- state win n< ver it may need it at a similar rate. EDUCATION. Tbereportof toe-Superintendent of Kduca-| tton shows that the free schools of ih-s al tre in as satisfactory condition as we can ever expect them to be uuder existing laws There aro some radical defects in thesvstem ' ?ndi: will bave to be remodeled and "an in creased amount of monev provided if th. schools are to answer the requirements and >ur children not grow up jn ignorance. M\ ' views on this subject are so well known, and ! be discussion of the matter has-been so gen .? ral. ihat I do not deem necessari to repeal them at any length here. I would only say bat, in tny judgment, the state can furni?h ducation ol a proper k ind and quality chea;.- ' than it can be done through private effort, nd w?owe it to ourselves to put forth everv nergy towards perfecting the svstem. The >resent system is a humbug, and totally in- ' idequate 'oribe purposes designed The re port of the sia?,- Superintendent of Educa ion, , ho is a painstaking and zea lous oilh-.-r 1 hows a decreased attendance of pupils last ear tus compared with ??> previous yearj1 amounting to 2.S10, hu*, trom extended and intimate association with the people in every ; county daring the ins; summer, I know that! there is widespread and deep interest on Uie : subject of education, and that the General Assembly will-merit and recei ve the appro- ! ballon of the masses in anything that they ! may do to give us better schools. The times are stringent and money very scare, but all along this fine all necessary increase of tax alion will be cheerfully t orno, provided tin schools are run sufficiently long and proper teachers provided. THE SOUTH CAROLINA COLLEGE. This institution, which has been in exist ence for neatly one hundred years, and has been the head of our educational system, is not in a satisfactory condition. The"attempt to make ita university some years ago had tailed dismally, although ther^ was an at tendance:?" 226students in IS89-?K). Th? last Legislature ordered Hie discontinuance of me school as a university, and the organization, instead, ol a tirsi class literary: classic and scientific college. It was natural, and expect ed, that the transition would cause a falling off in the attendance, and at the close of the collegiate >ear in June, ls'.J2. the number had decreased to ninety-eight. It was hoped and expected by the trustees that with the open ing of the college in September there would be an.increase ?f students, but we have been disappointed, and lind that there are now only seventy in attendance. There are sev eral causes which have produced this result, and I will briefly outline some of them. There is a great iinaucial stringency among our people by reason of the low price of cot ton, and theioabitity to bear toe expense has caused a fa.ling ort' in tue patronage of all the colleges. But the small attendance at this college ma;-' be ascribed almost wholly to the political and social antagonisms which exist in the State. The college is located at the capital, the people ot which are bitterly op posed to the present administration, though ;t was put in office by an overwhelming ma jority on issues, the principal of which was what should constitute our system of nigtier education. Th? old idea was in favor of liter ary and classical culture, at an expense too gr?at for any but rich men's sons. The new idea ks to provide eh? aply a thorough English education, with a practical know ledge and ap plication ot >cience to agriculture and the me chanic arts along industrial lines. There is need of both, and room for both schemes. Ciemson college embodies the one and the South Carolina college the other. They will not compete with each other, and there should be no antagonism between them ; and certainly, Clemsou not having yet opened, there is no .'ailing off in the attendance at the South Carolina college on that account. Bat the adherents of the old regime have largely withdrawn their patronage from the college because they could not have tbeir way in con trolling it. and the county ot Charleston, which has always supported the college zeal ously, has at this time no student within its walls. The adherents of the new order o? things, while paying taxes to maintain the school cheerfully, and indicating their inten tion and ourpose, in no uncertain manner, to sustain it liberally, have felt no inclination to patronize it because of the inhospitable at mosphere surrounding it. Another thing: there is com petit ion between the college and the denominational institutions at Green ville, Spartan burg, New berry and Due West, to which schools the reformers of the State "are sending their sons in preference to send ing them here ; and this will continue as long as the present conditions ol social an i politi cal antagonisms exist in Columbia. The wealthier class of boys from both political ele ments are being sent ojt of the state to Har vard, Vale, Princeton and the University of Virginia. The competition and consequent unfriendliness ol the denominationa. colleges to the South Carolina college can be gotten rid of in only one way, and that is to make this college so much better and higher in its requirements and facilities for teaching, thai theii students will seek its walls to complete their education, and wnen this is done the in centive for young men to go abroad wlil no longer exist. Factional feeling must sooner iOr later pass away or it will wear itself out. if the good sense and community of interest of our people do not frown upon and destroy it The broad and patriotic view. then, to take of the situation, is to give the schoolall the money It needs, and leave time, the physi cian, to restore it to health and vigor. The pledges given by the March convention of 1S90 must be sacredly kept,and the friends of Ciemson college continue to give a cheerfu' support to the South Carolina Cohere. The trustees are keenly alive to the responsibility resting on them, and. with your co-operation, we confidently expect to see the college, ere long, occupying its wonted placo in the affec tion and confidence of every Carolinian, be cause it lurnishes an education such as no other college in the State can give. CLEMSON COLLEGE. As a member of the board of trustees, un der the wiil of Mr. Ciemson. I am thoroughly informed as to the condition and prospects ?f Clemsou College. The origiual purpose of the trustees was to build and equip a college for not exceeding250students, but the popularity of the idea'oi industrial training caused such a large number of applications :o be made for admission that the board felt constrained to enlarge the whole plant, and we are prepar ing room for cW. The claim was made by my self and otners, and It was generally under stood by the people, that with the privilege lax, formerly expended by the. Agricultural Department: and with the funds donated by the Tuned states Government, known as the Hatch, the Morrill and the land scrip funds; the college could be built and run without taxation. The expectation of the board was that this could be done in two year*-, and I so stated in my last message: but at ttie end of the second year we hud ourselves constrained to ask the help of the Legi.-ln? - for money to complete the buildings a\j g. . e us a par tial equipment so a* to open ?>j college next spring. A! 1er careful and thorough investiga tion into the kind of work remaining to be done, and of the needs of the institution, ? am of tbe opinion that if the Legislature will give us forty thousand dolbus the school can be opened by the first Of May, and there would be sufficient funds to run it the balance of the year. The boa*d of trustees a*k for fifty th ?usanddollars, and I am free to admit thai if .the sum is appropriated* the equip ment would be much more commensurate with the requirements of the Institution. As an explanation of the failure on the part of the board to redeem its promise that the school would be completed in two years with out tax ition, I would direct attention to the fact that this year there was a falling off In the amount received trotn the privilege tax oj S20.000. It was estimateli that the sale of Agricuiturri Hall would add to its revenues, but the property las not been sold. The low est estimate placed on that property w.is S20.0t>0,and the two together made a deli?it of 510.000 in our Income. The board, therefore, has not deceived the people, for their promises would have been ?cept had this money been available. In asking the state to make it up to us. we only have at heart the best interests of the institution and of the lart:e number ol boys and young men, nearly a thousand, who are awaiting the opening ol its portals. The report of tbe president ot the board will give full details as to tbe progress of the work and tbe scope of the institution. THE CITAOEL ACADEMY, On the 1 Uli day of Marcii last the central or main building of the Citadel Academy was almost wholly destroyed by tire. The proper ty was fully insure.', and the question which presented itselt to me was whether it should be lettili this condition,subject to furl her in jury by reason ol exposure to the weather, or I shou:d arrange for its being restored. I de cided at once, both in the interest of the school and asa matter of economy, in the preservation of the State's property. tinit it was better to rebuild without waning tili ac tion could be had by tue General Assembly. Had the insurance money been paid into the treasury there was no authority o? law to use it, and besides I did not ?ke to assume the re sponsibility of deciding how much Ol the in surance money was due the State. Tin- [usur ane- companies then proposed to restore the building rather than pay th- whole ot the in surance, and the matter was adjusted on this basis. Desiring to see that the work was thor oughly done. I appointed as the ?geni o? the stale to supervise the contract Maj/C S. Uads den, a resident member ol the board.oi visi tors. There was no fund out of which to pay him joi this servie", bin he cheerfully under took it is a labor o? love, and gave much val nahle Mine to tin' work. Advantage was taken of the opportunity offered, as tar as it could be done, to modernize and add many new a;- l valuable features to the reconstruct ed building; and the institution is now in perfect condition and far better adapted to the purposes ol tiieschool than it was befbre tin- fire. M??j. Gadsden's report ison tile in my oh. ?.-. together with ail the vouchers and papers connected with the matter,?md ;? af fords me pleasure lo testify to the thorough ano bu tness-like way in which he discharged the responsibh dui;, ini posed on him. ? he ;> [tendance at the school is sa' i.- fac'??rv, ::i7 students having matricula!< dal .he begin ning oi the presemi se Sion. There Is consid erable complaint ol favoritism and *bu>e ol the purpose .>: the school as Intended tot poor boys o?Jy; and though toe b >ard ol visitors! appear to have exercised every precaution. ! such things are inseparable from an institu tion ol ibis kind a nei their prevention almost ; i m possi <?>!? . Owing to the better advantages, offered o boys living in or near lowus oi lln State in attending good schools, the country | boys 'at a disadvantage in a competitive j xamination, and the prize o| a cauN tship in this i stitut?on. which is worth ?1,?U. rarely I ' ? them !l w. old appear too, that loi broaden the school and lo increase its useful ness it would be better to double Ihe umbri ol beneficiaries, allowing for each a \ e.-i r instead o? --.?'..-nid by reducing, il possible; the cosi pei capita, enable a greater number! to reo ive .?- advantages o? > bis noble beneli cence, and delicti tob- paid ny the students themselves. Tuen if, as J h,, .?, tbc public li?e schools shall attain that d<-gree ol excellence which ah.m-wiil entitle them lo long exist ence, these cadets hi-ps could be open to poor' bo;, as prizes to bo contended for,and award ed under the auspices ol the county teachers associations. The ambition teachers and Students both would thus ?.? stimulated'-, the ! r,oys to gel the place and the teachers to bave \ their students i<> gei them. And we would certainly be rid ol the cotnpbiiuts now com ing Irorn many quai ters thai the town s. bool ! boys are receiving nearly all th< benefit oij I this charity, and that, too, when they are not : entitled to it. It is not always the brightest hoy or the one ' callable of the greatest mental cultivation ? who answers the Questions best at the exami- ; nations, for it is frequently only a difference : of opportunity. It a certificate, under oath of the three! township assessors where the applicant re-! sides were required,of the inability of the boy or his relatives to pay tor his education, it ? would largely do away with the complaints which are made about boys who are able to! pay their way getting tlie appointments.! ? What the State wants, and what was contem plated when the Citadel was founded, was to ; : take the brightest youths among the poorer; ? classes and gire them a practical education, i The welfare and popularity of the school will j ! depend on this scheme being honestly carried out and the elimination o? the abuses which ! i now certainly exist. If these recommenda-, j fions meet your approval, in the counties where no teachers associations exist, the con- ', duct of the examinations and the investiga- ; lion as to property, etc., could be placed in ? I charge of the members of the Cenerai Assent?- j j oly, who, for political reasons, if lor no other, would endeavor to see the law properly en i forced. Tit WINTHROP SCHOOL. j This institution, which is still being con- ' j ducted in the city of Columbia, is in a most | nourishing and satisfactory condition and do -ing admirable^work. Th? act passed at the 'last session ol the Generai Assembly found-' ing an industrial college for girls inconjunc ! tion with a normal school has resulted in j I nothing up to this time. The cit of Ander-: ? son was the highest bidder and offered ?75,400; j j Before issuingand delivering the bonds it was found that this debt, in addition to what the city owed, exceeded by a small amount tiie ? j per cent, limit prescribed by the constitution; ? and lo leave no shadow on the validity of lie I bonds a friendly law suit was begun and ar I gued last April in the Supreme Court to have ! the questions involved passed upon. The de j cisi?n of that tribunal has just been made public, and. as it is against the validity, the board of trustees will "have to reopen the bids for I he location of the college. Had the court favored us with its decision sooner, which we had a right to expect in so important a mat ter, the school would have been thrown open to competition of other places and at this time would have been far ou the way to com pletion. The Hon. Robr-rt C. Winthrop, president o? the Peabody Board, whose honored name the school beats, has always taken the deepest in terest in its welfare. Un his account."as well j as because we have a well founded hope that I when the Peabody Fund is distributed this school wi?l receive a large endowment, it is a ! matter of deep concern to every person inter I es ico in Iemale education and in normal training, that this important branch of our j educational system shall have a permanent ?and suitable foundation of us own; and we -will hope that when your honorable body again assembles this will have been accom plished. THE INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF, THE DUMB AND THE BLIND. There is yetanotherState institution which while itdoes not furnish highereducation. oc cupies an important place in oar school sys tem, and appeals strongly to the sympathy and kindly feeling of every citizen. It is the institute at Cedar spring, Spartanburg coun ty, wheie those unfortunate children, who are deficient in oue or more of the'senses, receive I their trainine. I always recall with pleasure J my visit to this school fast year, when I made a thorough inspection of if. and became satis I tied that, under the admii ab^e management j of the superintendent, Mr. X. F. Walker, and I his noble wife, the money that had been given ? was made to accomplish wonders, ami" that there is nothing to be desired mthatdirec tion. While the ordinary supposition would be that it wasa gloomy and sad place. I found it in reality a "home, fu:l of bright faces and happy hearts. The increase in the number of students has been considerable, requiring a corresponding increase in the maintenance fund, and I feel that I can confidently rely on ! the General Assembly to give all that is ask I ed, for its past management is a guarantee of the money being spent to the very best ad van tage. CLAFLIN UNIVERSITY. Last but not least among the State's institu tions of higher education is Clatlin College, i situated at Oiangeburg. This is conceded to i he one of the best colored colleges in the ! South. There are over 60G students in attend I ance, and the colored youths of both sexes are I being trained here in almost every industrial i and mechanic art, while receivinga good Eug ? lish education. The trustees of the South Uar iolina University, of which this school is a I branch, at the request of Dr. Dunton, its pres ; ident, have appropriated a large part of the !one-haifoi the Morrill fund, which belongs ! to this college, to an increase in the force of ? teacher* and the purchase of much needed , machinery and other things necessary for its j better f quiprnent. Owing' to the accumula tion of four installments of this fund, caused j by the obstinacy of the Secretary of the Inte rior a! Washington, who refused to pay the i money to the state until forced todo so by j Congress, and the fact that another install ' ment 80,500 will be coming toClafiin on the : 1st o? July next, there is more money in sight than the school can economically us* in one year. Butas the donation of the Morrill fund j depends upon the state's continuing out of j its own funds to give it support, there must be j an appropriation of some amount. THE ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY. ! The questions of the assessment of prnpem and the proper control of railroads and other corporations are ol deep concern to the peo ple; and these questions have excited much [ thought and interest by reason of the litiga tion which has been forced on the State dur ; ing the last two years. The power to levy and collect taxes lies al the very root of govern ment: so much so, that the very existence of : constitutional government may be said to de ; pend upon it. Hence, in all written constitu tions and statutes this power is conferred and I its exercise jealously guarded, j Inali free govern men ist he object is to make i the taxes equal and to have till species of prop erty share aiike in bearing the burden ; and our laws have wisely and properly provided adequate remedies, equally for the state or for any of its citizens when injt* tice has been ; done, or inequality shown. But. as the duty i of collecting taxes is imposed on the execu tive department, there isa strict prohibition against interierence by the Judiciary, except i under plain limilationsand in clearly defined ; ways. THE COURTS INTERFERE. ! The legislative branch of the government enacts; the judiciary interprets; the execu tive enforces and carries out the laws. They j are co-ordinate ?nd co-equal ; but iL was never , con tern plated that the judiciarv- should annul ;a law simply by a decision which is clearly wrong, or override the executive branch by usurpation of authority which is forbidden. They have their separate places and func I lions, and should be kept in them. The Leg islature can protect itself from encroachment: but the executive has no remedy other than ; appeal to the representatives of the people. : While it is to be supposed that ail branches j ol the government will labor in concert fosee I that the laws are properly interpreted and ex ecuted, it is natural that there should bedif j feie'iceof opinion in these matters: and it is ? not impossible that favoritism and prejudice [ may exist in some of the departments. But. : alter the legislative brauch ot the government i has ordered a levy ami given plain instruc tions as to the methods of assessment, and ; the executive branch has loyally and in good . faith set in motion the machinery provided for the collection of taxes, the judiciary is sternly forbidden to interfere by summary process, and the only remedy for improper or : undue assessment is that the lax-payer shall pay under protect and then recover by a suit i al law. I do not deem it necessary to quote at I length from our statutes to show the correct ! n> ss of this s> nopsis, hut will give brief ex-, I tracts when necessary. DIFFICULTIES IN ASSESSING PROPERTY. I j ; In the discharge of bis duty, as the State's! fiscal officer, the Comptroller*General issut d ! general instructions to the Auditors in regard ito the assessment ol property last year, call-] ! ing attention specially tu the qndements of i the statutes, that "all property shall be valued ? lor taxation al its true value in money,"; j which isdeeared to be **f be usual selling price on the usual terms id similar property at ad- : j ministrators or executors sales:" and. in the j , case of real est ate at "sales i >r partition und r tin- order of the courl " is efforts were di-: reeled towards having all property honestly ! assessed as thtiseJearly provided; hut noreas-j ! sessment of real estate b-dng possible under ; the law uti: ? he four > ears had expired since . the last ass- -smellt?in Is'mi- and knowing1 that it won d bea laboi ol years to have this statute en forced as to ad species of pi open y. when it cam.' t<> the Comptroller GenerjiiVj knowledge 'hat some ol the banl:s*w*ere not returning their surplus, and that other prop-: eriy w.-.s uol assessed in accordance with ? ? these provisions. /. /?.. the usual sellini: price ?.?- re: value, the attention <>i the auditors was catted to Section ?"9. G. S.. which I will quoi e in full : IMI. LAW IN REFERENCE TO RETURNS. '.-Ye; m-i 2:* I the county auditor shall suspect " ' informed that any person or persons, corporation or company, has evaded! making a return, or made a false return, oi j in-, her or their property lor taxation, oi have, or has, no? mad a full return, or that f be. va tua lion returned Isles- than iL should j have been.according to the rales prescribed by this chapter, it sitali Pe hi- duty a! an) Mme bi fore the settjeniei.il u in. the rea surer? j for the year, to notify such r?art> to appear bef< >re him at h is office a I a time fixed :i said ; ??lice, together with such other person oi persons a- -aid auditor may desire to exa mine, and the party, together with any wit-, ness called, shall be examined by -aid andi-l tor under oath (which ria! h said audlloi i- au lliorized to administer) touching tue pi rsonal property and the value I tiereol of such party j and everything which may lend to evince tlie true amount such pai ty Should have returned for laxa! ion." W If AT ! If :: JUDGES ! In the county of Newberry the andito", un der Iheauthority ol this >e. tion, mised the assessment of the Bank oJ Newberry, whiehj: musa J the sworn report of its officers shewed to he] won h 8309.000, and had been returned at S150,- ! 000, to 824O.00?. But the auditor neglected to ; comply with the provisions of the law which ' required him to summon the parties in inter est and take testi mony under oath. Alter the bonks were made up, the laxes entered and the duplicate in the hands of the treasurer, application was made to a Circuit Judge for a maridamva to require the auditor to restore the assessment to the original figures as pars ed on by the equalization board, and this writ was granted. In the con ty of Marlboro a similar case oc curred?except that in that county every re quirement of the statute had been met, testi mony taken, and the property assessed at its "true value in money/'as shown by that tes timony. Here again the court was appealed to and a similar writ issued by the same judge. The case were appealed to the.Su preme Court and thai court sustained the Circuit Judge in the exercise of the power ot issuing summary process, the Supreme Court holding that our statutes on taxation mast be con strued as a whole, and that after the equaliza tion boaid had passed upon the return of pro perty the Comptroller General and auditor are de-barred from any fui ther action. Now Section 23[>, quoted above, expressly pros ides that "the auditor, at any time before the set tlement with the treasurer for the year,''shah have power to hunt, ud property that has evaded taxation or been assessed too low. And Section 20S provides how parties, who conceive that they have been unjustly or Il legally taxed, shall make payment under pro test and bring an action in the Court of Com mon Fleas against the treasurer for recovery. And Section 2(59 expressly, and in peremptory language, forbade the judge, in the first in stance, to issue such writ, aud declares what is the only remedy under these circumstances. That section reads as follows : MORE LAW. j "Section 269. There shall be no other reme dy in any case ol the illegal or wrongtul col ! lection ot taxes or attempt to collect taxes * I * * than that herein provided; * * * land no writ, order or process of any kind ! whatsoever slaying or preventing any officer ! of the State charged with a duty in the col ! lection ol taxes from any step or proceeding ! in the collection of any tax, wheihersuch tax j is legally due or not. shall in any case be i uranted by any court or the judge of any ! court ; but in all cases whatsoever the person j against whom any taxes shall stand charged upon the books of the county treasurer shall be required to pay the same in such hinds fand moneys as the said county treasurer shall ! be authorized to receive by the act of the Gen j eral Assembly levying the said taxes in man ' ner and form as above provided, and there upon shall have his remedy under the provi j sions of the next preceding section." .SHALL TUE .?l*ne;ES INTERFERE WITH A CO 1 ORDINATE JiRANCH OF GOVERNMENT? ? Further: Section 171 declares that "the col lection of taxes shall not be stayed or pre ! vented by any injunction, writ or order issu ! ed by any court or judge thereof." Now, the : question presented to you is not whether there was any inequality or injustice in the ' action e>f the auditors in the?e two cases. It I is not whether the Comptroller-General has ; transcended his power, butit is whether the ; judges of South Carolina shall interiere with ! a co-ordinate branch of the government, when they are strictly prohibited by law from so doing. It is idle to deny the proposition that the Comptroller-General, the Auditor !nnd the Treasurer are all "officers of the . state charged with a duty in the collection ol taxes," as set lorth in Section 20*>. There can ; be no collection until the property is assessed ! and the duplicates made up by the Auditor, and to quibble and split hairs and exercise i power forbidden, upon the ground that the Auditor is not "an officer charged with a duty ': in the collection of taxes," is merely trilling with the common sense of the people. The ; banks had their remedy, namely, paying un I der protest and recovering by suit; and tbe methods which they successfully adopted tc evade an appeal to a jury only emphasizes the danger, which is becoming to be recog ' nized throughout this Union, from corpora : tions and the power cf money ; and the fur ther danger which lies in the gradual absorp tion and usurpation of power by the judici ary. Sb?te and Federa!. It isa notorious fact I ihat the claims set up, and exercised, unques tioned by the judges of the United States Courts, and the protection thrown around corporations by those courts, are to-day the greatest, menace to American liberty. The executive and legislative branches of the United States Government are powerless tc i resist these encroachments except by im : peachment, and that is a remedy so difficult and well nigh impossible of successful appli cation that it is rarely restored to. Unuer ? the construction given to Federal Statutes by the Federal Judges, the reserved rights of the : States are one by one being disallowed : and ? when plutocracy shall fiud itself pble to bu ; the House of Representatives as it has once ; bought the Presidency and the Senate, the last nail will be driven into the coffin ol boasted American free lorn. Kut. while W? ? are powerless to resist this engine of Federal oppression, we can at least apply a remedy te I its counterpart in South Carolina. What I that remedy may oe is for your wisdom to de ; cide. It does not appear worth while to rsHk* the law any plainer than it is now. though J I elsewhere advise you to declare what the law j is. j DANOER FKOM INTERMEDDLING JUDICIARY I will only say that the people of tht State who desire reform aDd who feel tlie in :equalitv of the administration of the law I may elect Governors and Legislatures time ; and again to do their bidding, butas long as 1 the judiciary misinterpret the law, override it, or indulge in judicial legislation, our ef forts to secure equality in taxation, the pro tection of life and property and a fair and im partial ad ' inisttatioa will be in vain. I .our courts are allowed to exercise a powei which they arc forbidden to exercise, and il goes unchallenged, how long will it be bet?re other usurpations will follow? If interfer ence with the auditor is allowed, if these man damuses are to continue, the judges can I block the wheels of government, and destroy . it even. Suppose every taxpayer were to ap ply for a writ and a judge granted it, how j would we be able to conduct the State's af fairs? It is impossible lor the government te ; calculate with any certainty upon its revenue j If the collection of taxes is subject to be a - rested In any instance in which a taxpa.er should make out a j>/-ima facie case; and the interference by summary process is therefore positively forbidden. WHAT THE SUPREME COURT HAS D0-*?. Every government claims, and must have. [a certain and speedy method of collecting taxes. In an absolute monarchy it is a very simple process, and used in the past to great ly oppress the people; and, therefore, in a constitutional government there is an at ; tempt to balance the prerogative of the s< ver ' eign and the right of the taxpayer. The board of equalization and assessment direct ly represent the indi vidual taxpayer; theof : ricers elected by the people represent the State. When the assesment of property is too high the board of assessors can reduce it. This is the safeguard of the taxpayer. In section 239 the correlative right is given the : State to increase wheu the assessment is too low, and this not upon the personal know ledge or subject to the whim of the auditor, ! but. upon sworn testimony. The tax acts must he construed as a whole ami as tbrming [asystem designed to secure uniformity and ! equality and affording" equal protection to ; sovereign and subject. You cannot, without ! disarranging its nicely balanced machinery, ! grant the taxpayer a remedy when tbe assess* I ment is too high" and deny the correlative re I lief to the State when it is too low. Yet this is exactly what the decision of the Supreme Court has elone. Very few men. however, believe that any private citizen would have received the con sideration given the banks; and though I stund ready to accord all corporations equali ty before the law. I cannot remain silent while the laws are tra m oled nieder foot, anil see them accorded privileges which a private citizen feels he cannot obtain. I'ltOJl 1 . For some years there has been more or less agittit ion on the subject of prohibition, and there have have been contests at the polls in municipalities and c-ountics to de-cide wheth er or not liquor should be sold therein. At the last session of the General Assembly a prohibition bill passed the House, but failed m the Senate. Atthereceni Democratic pri mary the question was submitted to the peo ple as an abstract proposition, without any definite legisb'Mon being indicated, and re ceived a majo, .y of the votes e-ast ou that subject, although not a majority of the total vote cast. This won ht indicate a wish on the part of a iarge number ol our people that there should be some restrictive legislation in regard to the liquor traffic. This question did not enter into the issues ol the campaign. It was not discussed by the candidates, and the decision at the polls cannot be considered as a conclusive test of the popular will. Knowing, however. Unit some l?gislation is likely tobe had. 1 Irci called on to point out some ol tin- obstacles and difficulties in the way oi enforcing!! law ol ibis character; and Hu- probable cost ot a prohibition bill as indi cating a necessity (or increased taxation on other lines ; rather, a- a matter of intornia no!) il.un us showing any anragonistic views on my p o t. nie of the most common among modern sayings is thai 'prohibition docs not prohi bit,'* and experience as wed as observation teaches u- thai certainly most ot the prohibi tory legislation ha- resulted m partial or complete failure to acerornplish tin- end sought, namely, the ab sed Ute prevention of ihe .-? 1 'ing and drt ki ng ot liqour. Town af ter town :n the Stale ha- tied It, and. ti no ing th e ? d verse sen ti m eu l so strong and he cva sion oi the lau .?-o rom?non, they returned m disguest ! >? license system. And it may as well he understood that no law which may hi- pa-st d on this subject will enn 'ret- it sel!', or .e allowed to he carried intoefleet. without strenuous opp ?sitioh and many cun ning devices h' iiii; brought li.to play to evade h. e trouble is. that when public opinion does notgeuerally so-fain a law. Its enforce ment becomes almost impossible,-'?nd what is eve-rybody*s ousiness is nobody's business. Meti dislike to play tue spy on their neigh bors and incur the od i to oi lodging informa non or taking oui a warrant. When iuelict aieuts arc brought, juries are diyided, con vic iions are difficult or impossible lo obtain, and society, divided against itself, finds such re striciive legislation very difficult of enforce ment, i All classes, men and women alike, fee1.at times, the need of stimulants, and many who are never guilty of excess in the:r use resent j any law infringing upon personal liberty. Then, many who rarely indulge, iu intox teat . mg liquor are strongly opposed to any su m pi - uary legislation; Every thinking an lobserv- j ant persou sees and ackn >wie Iges theevil, ; and. iu some undefined way, wishes to se-; its [abatement. It is weh understood ani ac knowledged that liquor drinking is toe cause, I directly or indirectly, of rao-t of the crimes [ committed in our country. It also produces I much of the poverty and misery amoug cer I tain classes ; but the human family cannot ?be legislated into morality any more th-tn it j can be made honest and truthful by legisla tive enactment lean readily conceive and i believe that with a strict law. rigidly emorc j ed, great good would follow. I can just as readily see that it will require astern head, : with many eyes and far reaching bauds, to : carry it into effect. ! As an example of the difficulty of con trolling the selling and drinking of liquor. 1 i would call attention to the impunity with which existing laws are disregarded. We j have a statute which forbids und?r a penalty the putting up of screens in barrooms and the I selling of whiskey to minors, and there is hardly a barroom in the State which obeys it. j Our soliciiors, our judges, our juries, sworn officers of the law, see and know these things, j and yet they do nothing. The trouble arises. I think, from the fact tnat there are officers of the State and county, while liquor under ex isting statutes is sold under license granted by municipal corporations. Thepol-.ee con nive at and are blind to these infiingements of the law by the bar-keepers, under instruc tions, doubless, from the authorities, and the people generally become educated and accus tomed to seeing the law despised. Another thing : The pronibition sentiment, as opposed by the wish to license the sale of liquor, is found largely in the country?the liquor men living in the towns. They make money selling the liquor; the towns make money; the country suffers; the countrv pays for it; the country has iucreesed taxes for it; hence the division. But with a major ity of the people in the towns in favor of sell ing whiskey, the prohibitionists in the coun try will find themselves handicapped aud their efforts rendered nugatory in attempting to control the nuisance. The people ot this State are already sadly divided along this very line of town agaiust country and the wisdom of further division is questionable. 1 j Granting the possibility of doing something towards abating the nuisance of barrooms, I would call your attention to the law now in force at Athens, Ga.. by which a dispensary for the sale of liquor is provided, and which, after trial, is pronounced a success by the prohibitionists themselves, who, in despair at the failure of the prohibitory laws, bad it en acted by the Georgia Legislature. I would further direct your attention the following ta ble, showing the number of barrooms in this State, the revenue derived from them by the counties, and the revenue for the towns: Counties. Number of Bar-r'ms. Abbeville Ai ken Anderson Barn well Beaufort Berkeley Charleston Chester Chesterfield Clarendon Colieton Darlington Edgefleld Fairfteld Florence Georgetown Greenville Hampton Horry Kershaw Lancaster Laurens Lexington Marlon Marlboro N'ewberry fOconee Orangeburg Piekens Bich land Spartanburg su ra ter Cnion Wi?liamsburg fVork 5 16 7 ?2 38 30 2S5 5 31 10 4 7 S ? 16 26 3.3 11 13 Amount Paid by Bar- r'ms to County. " ? 500 1.600 700 2.200 9,000 11.400 2*,5?)0 500 300 300 S,:i00 1,000 400 "00 800 60;) 1.600 TOO 600 000 400 300 800 2,600 3.S00 1,100 1,300 ?00 Amount Paid by Bar-rms to Towns S 2,500 - 4,51)0 4,200 *5,550 2.362 3.400 28,500 4,0: 900 1.800 1,500 5,000 1.600 2,900 4.000 3.000 1.6000 3,750 2,500 ?500 2,800 600 400 7,S00 7.600 10,010 1,300 SOO Totals 613 SSI,100 134,327 For thirteen bar-rooms; no report as to bar-rooms at Barnwell Court House. ?Xo report. THE SALE OF XIQUOR LEGALIZED BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT IS IN IT. When attention is thns directed to the fact that most of our municipalities are relieved altogether of taxation for municipal purpos es by the money derived from the cale of li quor, it will be seen why so many towns which have tried the non-licensing system, when they found liquor sold anyway and their municipal tares drawn from property. The nuisance without the benefit caused a revulsion of sentiment, and however reluc ?an ly. the sale of liquor was again lega izedand taxed. WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO?THE WAY TO ABATE THE WHISKEY NUISANCE. In my last annual message. I called at tention to the injustice of h I lowing the towns to license the nuisance and derive therefrom an income at the expense of the county and state; and urged, as a step looking to tne practical suppression of the liquor traffic. 11 that all money derived from this source should go Into the county and State treasur "t ies. while leaving the question as to the i>su ing of licenses to a vote o: the municipality just as it is now. I have seen no reason to change my opinion as to tli is being the sim plest and most practicable way to accomplish the end desired. When it is known that no benefit will accrue to the towns by the li censing of bar-rooms, public sentiment In them will rise in arms to suppress the nui sance which incieases municipal taxes, and , avery man will be mor?* or less interested in j seeing t he law enforced. Tt?e people of m^se , towns will not he at the additional expense i of a police force to maintain order or repress disorder produced by drunken men who ob tained their liquor surreptitiously, un the ot her hand, you -eetha; tne absolute refusal to license the ?ale of iiquor win can*e an in crease in the taxes of ? ne con ies amounting to one half mill : and it may as we' he un derstood now that unless the prohibitionists themselves organize some detective agency to take out warrants and prosecute tho.-e who break the law, the State '.self will have to provide something of the kind or the law wi M be a dead letter. All th:s will increase raxes, and taxpaj'ers had just as weU under stand if. If the promiscuous and improper use of liquor can be stopped there will bea revi notion in the number of crimes commit ted and a decrease in the court expense. THE NEGRO AS A BALANCE OF POWER." Another danger, which we cannot be blind io. will be the probability ?l a desperate pol itical st; ui:gle between the prohibitionists and the anti-prohibitionists twoyears hence, with an ppea: to ttie negro as the balance of power; tor in every tow u and county where this question has been fought out at the polls, that has been the effect, and when applied to tne state we may look for a like result. Having thus discharged my duty frankly and without bias, and presented the question as it appears to me, I leave it. with you. and will cheerfully approve any law you may enact. BARROOMS UNDER THE GUISE OK CLUBS. Before dismissing this subject I would call your attention to the effect of the decision of , the supreme Court in regard to the sale of li I quor by so-called "social and literary" clubs, I it having been decided by that court, in the case Of the Columbia Club, that a license for the sale of liquor was not necessary for such associations. The result has been that char ters have been granted by the Secretary of State in several instances for the organiza tion of such clubs; ami it is generally under stood that they are barrooms in the guise or I under the name of clubs, and are maintained ! against the will of the communities in which : they are located. i WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH HAMBURG. There are a few complaints in regard to the ; infringement of the law prohibiting the sale ! of liquor on Sunday, and notably in the town of Hamburg, opposite the city of Augusta, which abuse became so great and notorious that, after repeated complaints. I com m 1s ! sioned aState constable to investigate the mat ; ter. and sever al arrests were made. This place (Hamburg) while nothing more than tbeghOft its former self, with a very small population. Isti H retains itcharterof incorporation. The ; remedy against such abuses, which ate not ' likelv to be restrained by public opinion, would be to repeal the charter, and this I I recoin mend. AGRICl TURAI. HALL, AC. 1 have already alluded to the fact that the property known as the "Agricultural Hull" has not been sold,and I deem it my duty to set forth the reasons why a sale has noi been consummated. The property was put up at auction on the flrstday of February, lSIi,and was knocked! down to W. II. Lyles, bsq., as attorney, fo: jlii.lii*'. The name of the real purchaser was not disclosed at the sale. On the next day. at j a meeting of the commissioners of the s'nk-i iiig fund, ? deed was presented them forsig-l natures without the name of t he purchaser : j Mr. M? ans the elei k of ihe board, reporting to : us that Mr. Lyles was not prepared to com municate the name, and had requested him to ? have the deed signed iti blank. This was con-j trary to our custom, but. as we were not ex pecting fraud, the commissioners present at the meeting, five in number, complied with the request. Several days later Mr. Lyles gave to the Sec- : retaryoi Slate the nameof the purchaser.one J. U". Alexander, of North Carolina, and sub-1 mined for approval the mortgage required ! under the terms of the sale to secure the ? red it portion (two-thirds) ot the purchase money. | This paper was no: correctly drawn,and the malter was postponed. Ou the 16th day of February, Mr. Lyles. accompanied by Mr. vi Her,"came to the State Hotfse.and, Mr.Tin , Secretary of State, b:-ir.g absent from the y. lie presented tbe niorigage to the State easur er, and.after persuading him to receive t, loge liier w Ith a check for the cash portion if the parchase money, got possession of the deed to the property. He also obtained an or der from Mr. Mean-, a clerk in the office of the Secretili y of State, directing the State's tenant in possession fot the building to surrender Use possession to Mfr. Lyles as attorney of the pur chaser. Mr. Lyles and Mr. J.S. Mailer, claim ing to be attorneys for the purchaser, then re tired from the treasurer's office tora moment, bat immediately returned and made to the State treasurer a tendero'' what is known as 'Revenue Bond Scrip" in payment of the credit p.?rth>a of the purchase money. In the terms of sal?? it was stipulated that the pur chaser would be allowed to anticipate tbe payment of- this credit portion if ne so de Sired. The tender was, of course, refused by the Slate treasurer, and then Mr. Lyles drew from his pocket a writteu notification of the tender aud tils intention to refuse to pay the balance or interest thereon. Being promptly informed of this transac I tion, I saw at once that a conspiracy had been I formed by these attorneys, and others inter ? ested in "'Revenue Bond Scrip,'' prior tc the oJirchaseof the property : and that the pur I chase Ind .been made in bad faith and lode iraud the State and force her into the court, to test he validity of the 'Scrip." In this emer gency, the< Secretary of State and the Attor ney General being absent from the city, I act ed promptly; instructed Mr. Means to rescind the order for possession, aud, in behalf of the Secretary of State, to see to it that the proper ty be betonanti! the Secretary of State, the cus todian, should return to the city. ThisduTy was entnested to J. W. Coulliette, then the watchmanW the State House and grounds, to whom I issued an appointment as chief State constable. ?n this matter I acted as Governor of tbe State and ex officio chairmau of the Board of Commissioners of theSinking Fund, deeming it my duty, if possible, to thwart this conspiracy, the parties to which had dis closed their purpose from the beginning of tue tran-action to practice a iraud on the peo ple of the State. This, the facts abundantly prove. On the same day possession of the property I was demanded by Mr. Lyles, as attorney, and refused oy Mr. Coulliette. Some correspond ence theu followed, and copies of the letters are here given : Columbia, S. C, February 17th, 1S92. To His Excellency B. K. Tillman, Governor State of South Carolina: Sir: On yesterday, as attorney for Mr. J. W. Alexander, of Lincolnton, . C, I com pleted the purchase of the building and lot adjoining, situated on the west side of Rich ardson street in this city, between Gervais and Lady streets, known as the "Agricultural Hall," r.nd to-day I called at the building, still acting as attorney for Mr. Alexander, and found it locked. Upon knocking at the door Mr. J. \V. Cjulliette opened it from within and. upon ray stating that I had come to tak~ possession of the building, informed -ue that he had orders from you to prevent my enter ing and to re'fQse to surrender possession of the building to me. I demanded to see his au thority if it was in writing. He handed me a commission, executed by jourseif as Gover nor of th i State, to him to hold during your pleasure, but it did not state for what purpose he was appointed, and I write to know if he was correct in his statement that you bad in structed him to refuse the possession of the building to me. About the close of the con versation between Mr. Coulliette aud myself, Mr. David C. Means, the clerk of the Board of Comrobsionersof theSinkingFund.came up, and upon my exhibiting to Mr. Coulliette the orders given on yesterday to the occupants of the building to recognize me. as the represen ts, ve of Mr. Alexander, as their landlord, he ( ? . Means) informed me that, in pursuance of instructions from you..be had revoked toe orders. 1 beg to know if he was correct in making tdis statement. Respectfully, W. H. Lyles, . Attorney for J. VV. Alexander. Dictated?A. State of South Carolina, Executive Chamber. Columb'a, S. C. February 17th, 1892. W. H. Lyles, Esq , Attorney, Columbia, S. C. : Sir: In reply to your letter of this date, asking whet her or not Mr. Coulliette had been instructed by me to refuse possession of tbe building known as Agricultural Hall to you, I reply, yes; he is Instructed to hold posses sion for the State against anyone claiming the property. And Mr. Means was also in structed to evoke the order to the tenants in the nui Id ing to recognize you or any one as owner except the State. Kespectiudy, B. R. Tillman. Governor. Columbia, S. C. February 17th, IS92. To His Excellency B. R. Till man. Governor of South Carolina: Sir: Your letter ot this date stating that Mr. Coulliette and Mr. Means were acting un der you.' instructions in tue matter rererred to in my letter of tnis date nas been handed to me. On behalf of Mr. Alexander. I desi-e to no tiiy you thai he considers your action unwar ranted by your official position, ar.d wiil con sider you individually liable for any damages that ue may suffer mereby, and wid proceed accordingly. Respect :uliy. Win. H. Lyles. State of South Carolina, Executive chamber. Co:umbia, s. C.. February 17Oi, 1S92. W. H. Lvles, Esq., Attorney : Si;: Your let ter Of this date informingme that yo?j consider my action in refusing to surrender possession of Agricultural Hull "unwarranted by my official position and will consider me individually liaote for dam ages." received. I desire to notify you that I, as Governor, am chairman of the Sinking Fund Commission, aud that, acting lor the commission, I have refused to consummate the sale of the property or deliver it to you in my dtai capacity. I am resisting an attempt to swindle the State out of $10,o00of deferred payments aud to prevent litigation. No one knows better than yourself that the Revenue Bond Scrip which \ ou tendered for the balance due is worthless; and if my action in resisting the initiatory step to bring in question tbe settle ment of the State's debt by the Bond Court and saddle several millions of illegal Radical bonds on the taxpayers is "unwarranted by my official position," I cheerfully assume the responsibility and all individual liability,and will leave the question to be decided by the courts. Respectfully, B. R. Tillman, Governor. On the 20th of February the Commission of the Sinking Fund held a special meeting, ap proved the action which had been taken, and instructed the Secretary of State to retain the custody of the property. Suit has been brought by J. W. Alexander against me and Mr. Coulliette, as individuals, in the United States Court, and litigation is now pending for the possession of the proper ly, for damages, and "for the value of the use and occupation thereof." Whatever may be the results of this suit to me personally, I am confident that tbeconrt and jury will not award to these conspirators possession of property that belongs to the State, and of which I am not. and have never been, in possession, or force tbe State to en gage In a tedious aud vexatious controversy in the United States Court to test the validity of the "Reveuue Bond Scrip." The State is not a party to this suit, and can not be made a party to any suit without its consent, and the "Revenue Bond Scrip" has been passed upon by our own court, which declared inval id this debt created by the infamous Radical government in South Carolina. the direct tax. Last Aj :il there was paid into the State treasury S221.71L26 of direct tax collected ?rom our peop.e just after the warand for the dis tribution of which an act was passed at the last session of the Legislature. I appointed the Hon. T. J. Kirkland, of Camden, commis sioner, to copy the records at Washington and to prepare duplicate schedules for the use of th' masters at Beaufort and Charleston. The task was dfficult and laborious, requiring pa tient research and pains-taking care. With what diligence and accuracy he executed the work is shown by the fact that, althoughlhere were m<>re than ?,000 names, taxes, costs and ualtiestobe copied, but one mistake has tieen called to my attention thus far. Of this amount'2.010 claims, amounting to $102.28099. up to October .SI, have been paid. The lanor imposed upon the master in equity of Charles ton, Mr. M des, has been very heavy, and a corresponding amount of work was done by my private secretary and the clerks in the of fices of the comptroller gem ral and treasurer, requiring the employment of extra clerical assistance, for which I have paid out of the fund. One per cent, of the amount returned to the claimants have been withheld for the payment of the expenses of disbursement. The compensation, S?OO, authorized to be paid to Mr. Miles Is totally inadequate, and I rec ommend that he be given $."*K? more. Mr. irk laud's research among the records at Washington disclosed the fact that mere was due an additional amount of nearly $20, iKK)ot interest, costs and penalties. But the authorities declined to pay it to him, and I made a trip to Washington for the purpose of inducing the secretary of the Treasury to comply with the law. He refused, and it whs my purpose to commence suit in the Court of (" aims, but since then the Attorney General of the United States has filed an oponion that the money must be paid. As soon as this was known I instructed Mr. Kirkland to return to Washington and set about making up the accounts, and he is now engaged on this work. The? m unt ;; id him tor his work last spring was $400 underthe act?much less than it was worth -and I recommend that he be given an additional sun;, of $1,000 out of the interest, that he shall obtain. The o alance in the treasury to the credit of this fund oelongs to two classes of claimants. Many ol tue items, several thoustand in num ber, are too small to make it worth while to bother with their collection, and there will likely be a considerable amount which will never be lid ouL After six years this will belong to the Siate. The other class is being subjected to an outrageous scheme of robbery on behalf of the heirs of J. B. Campbell and a law firm In Washington, who, under agree ment made with tbe claimants more than twenty years ago for 30 per cent, o? all sums recovered, now step forward and claim this in per cen'.. although directly barred by the Uw, granting this money which they never did anything to earn. Upon the flimsiest lechan leal grounds an appeal was taken from the decision of the Master, and the case be>ard Continued on next pitffe.