Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE GOVERNOR'S ANNUAL MESSAGE. He Shows the Financial aod General Condition of the State. THE DISPENSAS? LAW. Becommecds That it Shall be Applied to Counties as Tiley Vote. SUGGESTIONS ON OTHES STATS IKSTITJTIONS. Clemson's Expenses May be Cat Down. ?e&tlenten of tbe Generai Assembly: In accordance with the mandate of the Const iutiou, I have tba honor to present to yon thia my second anneal message. The finance? of the State are still in an unsatisfactory condition: Every , obligation of the State has been promptly met ; bot, to do this, the State treasurer has overdrawn, for sm si! amounts, opon varions banks In which State fonde have been de? posited. The State uf Sooth Caroli? na should always be in a position to meet current expenses without the Becesstty of overdrafts open banks. To do this, it ia evident that one of two things will have to be done : either the appropriation must be cut down or the tax levy raised. The total value cf the assets of the cumulative Phosphate Hoy al ty Sink -lng Fond is $296,492 04. Of this amount $105,592 75 is lent to coun? ties at a rate cf ?ve per cent, interest per annum. The sinking fund has permanently invested in the State ?tocks $35,728 56. There is invest? ed in temporary loans to banks, nader the act of February 25, 1896, and February 25, 1897, $28,484 22 This leaves a balance $127,322 51, which bas been deposited in banks, and which draws 4 per cent, payable monthly. Only $23,522 64 have Been paid during the year into the 8tate treas cry from the phosphate mining in? dustry. Mr. James Beid is doe the State $2,760.00 royalty on phosphate -rock which be has mined. The attorney general has instituted pro? ceedings against him, and all of bis persona! and real property has been attached The phosphate inspector estimates the value of the property attached to secare b's debt at $4, m 90. .^ftt?re last session of the general -aasembly, $500 were appropriated for ?the completion of the Confederate ?xoHs. Col. John P. Thomas, Confed? erate historian, reports that the rolls bave been completed, but the history bas not been written. Ooly eight States of the Union bold annual sessions of their legisla? te res, and iju seems a most desirabte policy for our owe State Each session of oar general assembly costs about fifty thousand dollars We# have too much legislation, and con? sequently too many laws Biennial sessions, limited to forty days, would fee ample for due consideration of ?ii .matter? pertaining to legislative business 1 therefore recommend that au amendment io the constitu? tion of the .State, looking to the establishment of biennial sessions of the general assembly, be submitted te tbe people There is a great necessity for leg? islative enactment to secsro method, uniformity and stability in the time, order and doration of our courts There is, at present, a demoralizing irregularity in this matter Perhaps the best method to ac ?coTipIish the desired results in this matter would be the appointment or tbe election of a standing commie sion, composed of tbe attorney gen era! and the circuit judges, w'.o should meet, for the direction and management of ail these matters not oftener than once in ave years. The colleges of the State are in Soe condition and are doing excellent work The oldest of them, the South Carolina college, has 180 students, ?sd as able a faculty as can be found in the South. The South Carolina Military acad ?my? as you will see from the report of its board, is doing efficiently the work expected of it. The State's newer institutions of learning-Clemson and Winthrop col? leges-are in flourishing condition. Their faculties are fall and their patronage is large The amounts asked for by these various colleges are reasonable and are necessary for for their efficient operation. I therefore recommend that the appropriations asked for by these various institutions be io each case appropriated by the general assembly. My views as to the necessity of converting all branches of our edu? cational system, as expressed in my | message of last session, have under? gone no change. The control of the State's educa tional institutions is now in t charge of sixty-two trustees T work could be better done if the were reduced to a minimum. I recommend that $30,000 of t privilege tax on fertilizers be appi priated to Clemson college and th $30,000 of the balance of said priv ege tax fund be appropriated Winthrop college ; provided, hoi ever, that provision be made to eu plement the appropriation to Wi tbrop college from the general trea ury, io case the amount received \ the State from the privilege tax < fertilizers is less than $60,000. During the past year the board trustees appropriated $12,000 to ere a building for a Textile Trainir school. This State is now paying out ai uually in pensions to Conf?d?ral soldiers the sum of $100,000 Our own system of pensions is i need of changes and reforms. It expensive and cumbersome, and tc opeo to those solicitations of infli ence and favoritism that invil abases and encourage extravagance j The system should be simplified, an ! ito regulations and restrictions b made strict and even rigorous Th township and county boards shoal be abolished and application fo pensions made to the State board The sum DOW expended ia this way $100,000, is more than the State ca afford, aod more than is required t satisfy the just demands upoo thi fend. This money is DOW being to< indiscriminately distributed, wit! loss to the State aod with injustice ti some beneficiaries aod favoritism t< others. I recommend that the pension Iis be purged, aod that $50,000 only b< appropriated for pensions the coming year, aod that steps be taken tc iosdre the proper distribution of thif amount. At the last session of the genera assembly, a resolution was passed authorizing the governor to appoinl a commission, composed of five members, to investigate and report OD the practicability aod advisability of the State's establishing a Reforma? tory for youthful criminals. In obe? dience to this resolution/ I have appointed a commission, consisting of the following gentlemen : Messrs. L,D. Childs, O. C. Bro wo, Richard Carroll, John Kershaw aod R Meaos Davis. This commission, after send? ing ooe of their Dumber, Rev. 0. C. BrowD, to visit the reformatory, sub mit the following repoirt : * ' * * "Therefore, we heartily recommend that steps be taken by the legislature at its next session to set op in this State a reformatory for youthful negro criminals Our committee is in pos? session of many facts and arguments to support us io our recommendation, but we cannot give them io this paper without making i: tedious. However, it would give us pleasure to appear before anybody of gentlemen appointed to bear us, and we believe an interview would result in making them converts to our position." Such a reformatory might well be located upoo lands belonging to the State. This could be done with but little expense to taxpayers, by using convict labor to make brick and to erect the necessary buildings. The planta tioo owoed by the State, known as the "Lissington Farm," containing 400 acres, about five miles from Columbia, affords a suitable site for the location . of such a reformatory. Nothing connected with the adminis? tration of the State government at this time ia of so much interest and im por tance as the dispensary law. This method of controlling tho liquor traffic has now been in force for five and a half years, and the protracted aod bitter struggle between its friends and its foes bas reaohed a critical stage. It must be firmly and permanently established or completely done away with. The demoralization produced by the various causes mentioned can be readily overcome in time, and the law will work more successfully and be obeyed more williogiy as time goes by. Oar efforts sh ula be especially directed to perfect? ing the system in its administrative features There are a great many people who will never be friendly to the dispensary system, or to aoy like regulation. Many men are opposed to it on principle, some as extreme prohibitionists, and some as extreme advocates of liquor trafile. These two widely separated camps meei on common ground io their hostility to the dispensary ; others are infiaenoed by political considerations, and even by past political prejudices, now happily beiog fast dissipated Tbe dispensary law ought to be judged by its fruits rather than by motives of politioal prejudioe or self-interest. If these fruits have not been hitherto altogether of the kind or quality that its friends still hope to see it bear, there is yet snfiuieot promise to ask that this tree which bas been almost uprooted aod blasted by the blight of judicial inter? ference, shall now be given opportunity to show what it cao bring forth under fostering and friendly influences. I beg to remind you that at the beginning of my term as governor, I recommend? ed and urged this policy, and I bave seen no reason to change my opinion j The law has never bad a chance j hitherto show what it oao do, but new, since there is no longer any question as to legal limitations or powers, we are ! j free to address ourselves to perfecting and improving the system. The large vote received by tho prohibition candi? date for governor io the second primary | of the late election cannot be considered entirely an endorsement of prohibition, ' for there is excellent reason to ooocla that the prohibition candidate poll the foli prohibition vote io the Si primary, while in the second he poll the vote of the antagonists of the di pensary system, from whatever caa that antagonism arose, and, in additic the strength of ail the "sore-headt and disgruntled offioe-seekers at politicians of both factions. Tl eleotion io Charleston is a strikic evidence of this. It will hardly I disputed that, if the people of Charle ton want prohibition, as their vot would seem to show, it is because thc feel sore that under that system thei will be practically no restraint on tl sale of whiskey. Turning now to the praotioal oonsic erattoo of the dispensary, I do not thia whiskey should be sold in any eon ul where the majority of the people fav< prohibition. I therefore recommend tb submission of the liquor question to th qualified eleotors of each county, tbi each county may Tote as it prefer? Any county, however, that votes fe prohibition should be made to bear a expenses of eoforoing the prohib? tor law ; and such should not receive an of the profits from the dispensar} Under the constitution, the profits ac oruing from the sale of liquor go to tb support of our free schools* Now tb county of Marlboro, wbieh never bad dispensary, and wbioh is now under tb most rigid from of prohibition, witl no posibility of legal liquor traffih with in its borders, receives its proportionat share of dispensary profits, while at th same rime the State is charged witl maintaining constables io that count; to enforce the law aud prevent the sah of liquor. I submit that this is unfai. to the other counties. The same thine obtaios in the county of York where thc only dispensary, the one at Tirzah, hu been discontinued, leaving the count} without any place where liquor oao be legally bought^^&DU will call to minc that these two counties are close to the North Carolin? boundry, and it is well known that there is a large influx ol whiskey from distilleries across the line, by wagons and other conveyances. Of course, these eounties may have liquor imported for personal use with? out restriction, but it can not be sold legally. I believe that it is but right ?md just for those counties which have prohibition, or may hereafter adopt it ?s the means of controling the liquor iraffic, to be taxed to enforce such laws, :?or should they receive any part of the profits arising from the sale of liquor io .be other counties, to add to their school funds If the county officers, nagistrates and sheriffs, enforce the aw, well and good-there will be no teed for constables ; bot if they ?to not, he governor should be given the au bority, upon petition setting forth snob riolotion, to appoint constables, and to equire a levy in suoh counties sufficient br their maintenance. Now let us consider matters concern ng the administration of the law other han those mentioned as dealing with te violations. When the dispensary y s tem was first in ange ra ted, the State )uard was composed of the governor, be comptroller general, and the attor? ney general, ex-offieio, and in these vas vested the power to appoint the Jute commissioner and the eounty ward of oontrol, and to exercise gener? al supervision over the working of the lispeo8ary in the whole State. After he retirement of Governor Tillman, in be middle of Governor Evans' term, be legislature changed this provision, ind created a new State board of con roi, consisting of five members to be sleeted by itself. The governor was eft without official connection with the lispensary, except the right to appoint ind control the constables. This sys em has now been in force three years, ind, in my opinion, it bas failed to ac? complish the purposes of its advocates. Thc idea was to divorce the dispensary system from politics and to put it un 1er a strictly business managment. So such result has followed It is no :oriou5 that the dispensary is as much Dr more in politics than it ever was. ?.S governor, I have had little cr no authority io connection with the ad? ministration of the law, and no power jf restraint or direction over it ; and yet I have been held responsible by the people at large, and by my enemies in particular, for the mistakes and short soming8 of its management. Responsi? bility without authority is a most un? pleasant and a Dj cst burden ; and while [ do cot seek additional responsibilities io connection with the dispensary, I submit that justice and fairness make it necessary either to relieve the gov? ernor absolutely of all connection with this institution, or else give him some potential voice and influence in its af? fairs. The legislature itself, last session, by a particulary unanimous resolution, deprecated and almost forbade the granting of beer and hotel privileges, bot the State board of oontrol paid no attention to this expression of opinion from tbe law-making body, and I bad to use, the eontabolary to suppress the nuisances in the form of open barrooms, wbieh resulted from ihe granting of these privileges. Thia brought me into antagonism with the State board of oontrol-an antagonism which might have been avoided had these genlemen paid any heed to my suggestion or consulted me as to the beet policy to be pursued. As ioog as the origioal package stores were run? ning in open competition witb the dis? pensary, and iilicit sales were also uochecked, there was, perhaps, some excuse for tbe State board of controi to continue that policy ; but after the supreme court of the United States had confirmed the validity of the dispen? sary law, and forbade Judge Simon ton's support of the State's competitors, leaving the dispensary law in fall pos? session of the field, I did not think there was any excuse for tbe continu? ance of tbe policy opioid by tbe State board ; for I believed the former law, and I believe the present law, sboold be administered as a temperance meas? ure with no regard whatever to the matter of profit or to anything other than to teach the people to use whiskey without abusing it, and to minimise, as tar as possible, the evils insepara? bly connected with its traffic and use. Moreover, under the preseut system, the State commissioner is a mere figure head, without power and almost with? out duties. The State board of control have absorted nearly all of his func? tions. i submit what seems to me to be the best plan of organization : The details of the business should be turned over to the State commissioner while the board of control should have authority to purchase liquor and to exercise gener? al supervision over the whole system. The board of control should be apoioted by the governor, with the advioe and consent of the senate, and the ooosta bles should be appointed by the board ofoontroland state commissioner If objection is made it may be pointed out that the regents of the Hospital for the Insane are appointed by the governor, and the management of the institution is excellent. Note, also, the members of the present board of control are not even required to give bond for the faith? ful performrooe of du.ty, yet they have absolute control of an institutioc doiog annually a million 'and a half dollar business. The county boards of oontrol should be abolished aod two or three inspectors sttfuid be appointed to look after the dispensers' books and the breakage This would be a m nob more economical method than the one now pursued. This system of organization, together with the soper vision of the grand juries, would reduce peculation and embezzlement to the smallest amount possible. The State commissioner might be either appointed by the State board or elected by the general assem bly. We have both systems now in force io the State The superintendent of the Hospital for the Insane, -/he is giviog perfect satisfaction, is appointed ; the superintendent of the penitentiary, in equally efficient officer, is elected by the general assembly. But there sboold be vested somewhere the power by which both State commissioner aod sonoty dispensers might be suspended, ind, if necessary, be removed for sause. . "I suggest, also, what seems to me a needed improvement, and that is a .hange in the manner of purobasiog iquors. Whiskey is as much a staple irticle as corn or flour, though it varies n quality and prioe, according to age ind the methods of distillation and saoipoiation. The large bolk of iquor consumed by the people is ob .amable io absolutely pure form and >f good quality without the necessity )f recourse to chemical analysis, for it .an be bought directly from government warehouses without passing through the lauds of manipulators, who are almost iure to adulterate it for the sake of profit. I think that the law should provide that purchases should be made, mder annual contracts, with parties abo would agree to furnish liquors from .he bonded warehouses of the United States, of the required age and strength ipon the most reasonable terms. These jon tracts should be let in such a way as io preclude ali possibility of collusion )r traod. If blended or rectified whis? keys are bought, as is now the case, ;here is absolutely no safe test by which idulteration can be shown, unless the iquor is so bad as not to be fittodriok. Fnese remarks apply to the X and XX whiskeys, or liquors of the first quality, numerating from the lowest to the highest, as has been the rule in the State. I do not believe it is reputable, in the State's business, that there should be a swarm of whiskey drum? mers meeting at Columbia once a month to sell the required supply io driblets. Arrangements should be made under contract for the purchase, as I have indicated, and the orders for additional supplies would go forward with as muoh assurance of being honestly filled as if salt or bacon were bought. The special brands and wines required could be purchased ia the same way, aod as these constitute only a small part of the business, no change need be made in the present modes of buying them. There is another matter that appears worthy of mention. With the experi? ence gained by the employes in bottliog and packing and shipping of liquors, there ought to be practically no break? age, if tbe bottles were of good quality, and the packing were well done, for tbe cars are loaded alongside the State dis? pensary building, and there is hardly ever a transfer from one road tc anoth? er. This matter of breakage has been the main reason for continuing the county boards of control. It cac be readily seen what a saving would follow if these boards were abolished, and it caa be safely asserted that the preven? tion of breakage would make these boards no longer necessary. There is one other matter to which I invite the careful attention of the gen? eral assembly : it is with regard to thc importation of whiskey for persooai use. Tbe protection given by the supreme court to these who desire to exercise this right io good faith is io no sense objectionable. Tbe ?State does not need, nor does it wish, to restrict its citizens in this right ; but the abuse of it gives a loophole for illicit dealers to obtain their supplies, under the pre tense that it is for personal use. The provisions of the law which was deolared unconstitutional io this respect I think oan be amended so an to make the im? portation of such i'quors come within the terms of the court's decree. But for the opportuoi?y ibas afforded to evade the law, by importing liquor under the pretense that it is for per? sonal use, there would soon be small need for constables I earnestly urge that the judiciary committee consider the subject carefully io the light of Justice White's opioioo, a ad see if some provision for inspection cannot be en? acted, that, whiie imposing oo oner? ous burdens on the citizen who imports for his own use, will yet insure the importation of pure liquors, and limit, as far as possible, the abuse of this right for the purpose of sale. Let the law define fully ' and clearly the methods to be followed in such oases. I have already pointed out bow we may purchase, for the dispensary, liquors that are pure ; some provis? ions requiring bonded warehouse stamps on liquors consumed in South Carolina, it seems tc me, would answer the purpose ; but I only throw out the suggestion for what it is worth, and call attention to the subject because of its importance 1 call attention to the report of the adjutant and inspector general. The militia of the State needs to be reor? ganized. The present disorganized condition is caused by a large num ber of the State militia entering the service of the United States in obe? dience to the president's cai! for volunteers. I recommend that all persons sell? ing cotton seed meal in the State, either as cattle food or as fertilizer, be required to pay the privilege taz. The finances of the penitentiary are in a healthful condition. The low price of cotton' has decreased the profits from the State farm, but the institution is more than self-sustain? ing and will pay $10,000 into the State treasury. The White is king of Sewing Machines* Cow Feed for sale at W. B. Boyles Stables. Case of_Poisomng Hood's Sarsaparilla Drives the Poi? son from the System, Quiets the Nerves, Relieves Dyspepsia and Catarrh. " While in the army I was poisoned in? wardly with poison oak, and I did not get well for 15 years. My blood became so affected that I was taken with a hacking cough, and I was thought to be going into consumption. I took many different medicines without avail, and finally re? solved to try Hood's Sarsaparilla. When I had finished taking the first bottle the pimples began to disappear from my body, and after I had taken three bottles I was well. I have also suffered with ca? tarrh in the head and have been taking Hood's Sarsaparilla for this trouble, and it helps me. In fact I take it for all ail? ments and believe it has no equal as a blood purifier. It quiets the nerves and gives refreshing sleep. It has relieved me of dyspepsia and built me up." J. L HoTiTiTDAY, Williamston, South Carolina. Hood's Sarsaparilla Is the best-in fact the One True Blood Purifier Sold by all druggists. $1 ; six for $5. Hnrul'c Pille cure Liver I1?S: easy 10 i luuu ? sr ina take, easy to operate. 25c Order Your PROVISIONS AND GROCERIES FROM I. f. STEFFENS & Wholesale Agents, Charleston, S C -Agents for MOTT'S CIDER RED SEAL CIGARS, AND DOV'S HAMS it I The session of 1899 will 'begin April 7 and end Julj 7. The School famishes the oppor? tunity for students and post-graduates to continue their studies and receive clinical instruction during the recess of the regular medical college. Unrivalled opportunities for practical instruction in the special branch? es are a feature of this institution. For fur? ther information addre-s DR C. M REES, Secretary, Wentworth Street, C?nrleston, S. C Dec 7-3m WAR! WAR! WAR! But the "White" is vitcori ous. We are now selling sew? ing machines from ten dollars up. We have a few machines that are slightly used that we will sell cheap. We also have a nice line of Organs that we will sell on eas}' terms. We are head quarters for'Sewing Machines and supplies. Old machines taken in exchange for new ones. M. B. HANDLE, Manager, Sumter Music House. SUMTER, S. C. Rc UURES WriERE ALL ELSE FAILS. : Coush Syrup. Tastes Good. Usc fS\ in time. Sold by dnicjrists. CON S UMPTiON I "Pitts'- I I Carminative ? ? LAMAR & RANKIN DRUG CO.? % 9 I caa not recommend Pitts' Car- ? ? minative too strongly. I must say, ^ 9 I owe my baby's life to it. ? ? I earnestly ask all mothers who ? j^j have sickly or delicate children just J J to try oii-s bottle and see what the ? ? result will be. Respectfully, ? 5 M xs. LIZZIE MURRAY. ? a johnson's Station, Ga. ^ I Pitts9 Carminative ? ? ia sold by Bli Druggist: ? ? PSUQE, 23 G Eft TS. J COUGH^CROUP ?EXPECTORANT Is Highly Eecom- s mended for COUGHS, I COLDS,HOARSENESS, H SORE THBOAT,BBO>-- S CHITIS, ASTHMA, S WHOOPING COUGH, S and All Diseases of ? S the Throat, Lungs and Bronchial '.Tubes, s : - ft POSITIVE SPECIFIC FOE CROUP, S ?iiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiittiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiniiiiiiiii? OSBORNE'S Angaata, Ga. Actual Business. No Test Books. Short time. Cheap board. Scad for Catalogue. TAX REIMS FOR 1899. OFFICE OF COUNTY AUDITOR SUMTER COUNTY. SUMTER, S. C., Nov. 30, 1898. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that I will attend, in persoo or by deputy, at tbe following places on the days indicated re? spectively, for the purpose of receiving re? turns of Personal Property, and Poll Taxes for the fiscal year commencing January 1st, 1899 : At office Sumter, S. C., at all other times ap to Feb. 20th, 1899, inclusive. Tiodals, Tuesday, January 3. Privateer, (Jenkins Store,) Wed? nesday, January 4. Manchester, (R. I. Mannings,) Thursday, January 5. Wedgefield, Friday, January 6. Statesburg, Saturday, January 7 Hagood, Monday, January 9. Remberts Store, Tuesday, Jaauary 10 Gaillards X Roads, Wednesday Jae* nary ill. Boesards, Thursday, January 12. Gotdoo's Mill, Saturday, January 14. Mayesville, Monday, January 16. Scotville, (J. M. McElveen,) Tues? day, January 17. Shiloh, Wednesday, January 18. Norwood's X Roads, Thursday, January 19. Lynchburg, Friday, January 20. Magnolia, Saturday, January 21. Reid's Mill, Monday, January 23. Bis bop ville, Tuesday and Wednesday, January 24 and 25. Mannaville, Thursday, January 26. Smithville, Friday, January 27. The law requires that all persons owning property or in anywise having charge of such property, either as agent, husband, guardias, trustee, executor, administrator, etc , return the same under oath to the Audi? tor, who requests all persons to be prompt in making tbeir returns and save the 50 per cent, penalty which will be added tc the property valuation of all persons who fail to make returns within the time prescribed by law. Taxpayers return wbat they own on the first day of January. 1899. Assessors and taxpayers will enter the first gi veo natue of the taxpayer in full, also make a separate return for eacb Towosbip where the property ia located and also in each and every case the No. of the School District mast be given. Every male citizen between the age of twenty-oce and sixty years on the first day of January, 1899, except those incapable of earning a support from being maimed or from other causes, are deemed taxable Polls, and except Confederate Soldiers 50 years of age, on January 1st, 1899 AU returns must be made os or before the 20th day of February next. I cannot take returns after that date and all returns made after the 20tb day of February are subject to a penalty of 50 per cent. The appointments hereby made for points ia Lee Cou8ty will be filled by the Auditor of that County if be has qoalified at the time indicated, otherwise, by mvself or my deputy. J. DIGGS WILDER, Dec 7 Auditor Sumter Connty. State of South Carolina. COUNTY OF SUMTER. IN THE COURT O? COMMON PLEAS. COPY SUMMONS FOR RELIEF. (Complaint Served ) Elizabeth Oliver, assignee, plaintiff against Colin C. Manning, defendant. To the Defendant, Colin C. Manning : You are hereby summoned and required to answer the complaint in this action, of which a copy is herewith served upon you. (The original complaint having been filed in the office cf the Clerk of said Court on December 13th, 1896, ) and to serve a copy of your answer to the said complaint oo the subscriber at his office in the city ot Sumter, Sumter, S. C., within twenty days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service ; and if you fail to answer th*? complaint within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff in this action will apply to the Court for the relief demanded in this complaint. Dared December 7th, A. D., 1898. L. D. JENNINGS, Dec 14 6 Plaintiffs Attorney. BOARDINGT ?TATING TAKEN the House on Main JL Street second door south of the Nixon house, I am prepared to accommodate a tew aepular boarders, and a so lodging and meals tc transient customers. Terms reasonable. Mas. W. B. SMITH. Sept. 8- *