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for later, or by legislative enactment. I regard it as essential that this sys? tem shall not be dependent upon the personality of any ono man. The un? certainty of lire and the certainty of death make this ull tho more im? portant. The act should bo amended no as ti. provide for appointment by j tho governor, by and with the ldvlce and consent of tho senate, of a Board of three Commissioners, with the State Commissioner Ott ex officio chairman, whose terms shall be for six years, ex? cept the first appointees, whose terms should be for two, four and six years, respectively, so that the majority of the board could not be displaced dur? ing any particular administration, ex? cept for neglect of duty or malfcus ancs in office. The Commissioner, with the spproval of the board, Should be authorised to make sales; but no sale should be permitted by him or them, Individually or as agent, without the grading and velghlng by licensed graders and weighers. "It Is generally believed that thero ans been, and continues to be, serious loss to the producers from inaccurate and undergradlng. In my judgment, it le advisable for the State to adopt the standard grading of the United States government "Uniformity in State legislation gov? erning commercial and financial transactions is desirable and import? ant. This Is true of laws governing storage. The Southern States should have uniform laws on warehousing of agricultural products; and an im? portant step towards this would be taken by the adoption of the Uniform Warehouse Receipt Act, and I urge upon you its adopt ion." I rerlew these recommendations, and urge the enactment of such laws that will strengthen the system and protect the State and those who bor? row or lend money on warehouse re? ceipts as collateral State Hospital for The Insane. The improvements that have been made In this institution, under Acte wisely passed by you, and under the able administration of the Board of Regents and its Superintendent, are patent' to the most casual Visitor. The management* is all that could b* desired. 1- trust that your body may visit this hospital and see for yourselves what has been accomplish? ed there, and what 1? still to be done. I cannot too strongly recommend and urge a continuance of your liberal policy towards that institution which has as its Inmate i those who are power I ass to help themselves, and who and the most liberal charity of the State. The policy of Its management is working steadily and effectively to tho accomplishment of a distinct purpose ?the safety, health and comfort of the patients, and the treatment of their mental and physical nc*. I shall communicate with you by special message on this subject later. Care for I\H>Jbk>Mtitded and Tubcr oulosts Patients. The first-hand studies made by rep? resentatives of the State Board of Charities and Corrections throughout the State have resulted in the discov? ery of many coses of human need, human degeneracy, and human incm clency und waste. These conditions have been found to be due funda? mentally to a lack of mental abillt.y on the part of the persona concerned to manage themselves and their af? fairs with ordinary and necessary prundence and so to make headwuy In our modern competitive life. South Carolina Is one of the fifteen States that h*ve made no Institution? al provision for the care of these un? fortunate people who present an eco? nomic, social* and humanitarian prob? lem of peculiar appeal. Neglect of it is no solution; neglect will not only be costly and unkind and, therefore, unworthy of the State, but wfll in? evitably result In larger and more complicate.] problems. This problem has commended itself to the think? ing peopl',- of the State as most se? rious and urgent. We cannot afford to neglect this problem. We should act now. Therefore, I recommend the pro? vision for a State institution for the core, custody and training of the feeble-minded; and that this tnstltu tion bo placed under the control of the Board of Regents of the sta e Hospital for the Insane, but that It be entirely separate from the Sta*.o Hospital in both location and man? agement. 1 commend to you the report of the Btato Board of Health. The value of good health cannot be eetlmuted Ig dollars and cents. The work of this board is bringing good results, ai d should be continued and amplified as far as it Is possible for the monp^ >i the State to permit. The good health of the public in noressury, not o for the happiness of our people, but must t?e considered In the light of :H importance ns an eeesjOgeJe ejttontlon, The resul'H. espei .allv in the ru: \l communities, have been moot eni factory, aad I trust that yon i provide for its continuance. " Clearly a case \\hri?? 'an otmc prevention is worth a pound of c . ?c." This report on the trcihncat .?, IU ? bercular disease is of far-reaching im? portance, and the recommendation for the treatment of tubercular patients at the Stato Park is worthy of your careful scrutiny and investigation. A reduction in the number of tubercular patients shows that good work is be? ing done. We must aim at the exter? mination of this dread disease, and money will be well spent, in accom? plishing this purpose. It is a matter of public education, and if the pub? lic mind can be aroused, marvelous results can be accomplished. PENAL AND CHARITABLE INSTI? TUTIONS. I invite your attention to the re? ports of the penal and oharitablc in? stitutions of the State. State Hoard of Charities and Correc? tions. The work of this board abundantly justifies Ks creation. By its investiga? tions and suggestions, it is eading the way to enlightened, sane and humane treatment of those who come under their observation; and its recom? mendations deserve, and should have, most careful and thorough consider? ation at your hands and mine. Confederate Veterans. Tho number of Confederate Vet?:' ans is growing smaller and smaller. These men gave their services an<! risked their lives in defense of our homes and State. Their increased infirmities and needs make it incum? bent on the State to provide for their support and comfort in their declining years. I again call your attention to the i Increased comforts and better ca n given within the last two years to those in the Confederate Infirmary. I urge that liberal appropriations be made for their support and comfort. Insurance. The result of the passage of cer? tain insurance laws at the last session of the legislature has produced a con? dition which was not anticipated. In consequence, a large majority of the insurance companies have withdrawn from the State, and the result has been inadequate insurance, no reduc? tion In rates, but even an increase, and, in some cases, the kind of In? surance obtainable Is not a guarantee against loss. Realising the importance of this matter, I appointed* a commission with the State Insurance Commission? er as Chairman, to study the entire insurance situation with a view of recommending a complete revision of the insurance laws of the State. This commission has devoted tin e ?dd-atOdy W this sufrlect; hit* gained valuable Information, and will sub nut to your honorable body the result of Its work. I urge legislation which will adjust our difficulties, protect oiir interests, and be fair to all parties concerned. Salaries. I am well aware of tho impera? tive need for economy in the admin? istration of the State. I am equally aware df the necessity of the StatoVs being just with those who give their time and services. The salaries now provided for by law, of judges and some other Statt; officiuls, were fixed at a time wher. tho cost of living was very much lest? than now. I can speak on this sub? ject in an impersonal way, only as a matter of business and right and proper policy for theN State. It la a simple matter of justice that these salaries should be increased to meot the increased cost of living, and also to provide adequate compensation for those who are capable and efficient and qualified for the positions. I hope that your honorable body will look at this proposition with un? prejudiced minds, and that you will recognize tho justice of providing compensation that will be just for the services rendered. Finances. In Message No. 9, on February 1915, I called the attention of the General Assembly to the deficit in rev? enue over income for the years 1913 and 1914, as follows: "Pages 7 and 8 of part 2 of tho report of the Comptroller General to your honorable body at the present session, showing that there is an ex? isting delict of about $300,000.09 brought over from the years 1913 end 1014 to the year 1915, on account of the cstrnordlnary expenses made, at the > t:tt?> Park in 1913, and tho ap? propriation made at the extra session Of the General Assembly in October, 11II. "The General Assembly In 1914 Jailed to provide a tax for moetltl'f Hit ? e SSfSjmSa This situation inak is necessary that the State should borYOW, In anticipation of the collec? tion of taxes for the year 1915. about |7td(>ffd.ft instead of $4f*,0tO.OO, US I 1 ? ??rowed in 1914 to meet the cUr i *<M ppi oprtatlons, and this amount it im borrowed much earlier tin ? ii 1*14, Rome provision should muds '?v your honorable body to me< t this deficit, as well as the imotintH to be appropriated by you .it Iho present session. " gau Will not?> that it is * v vi by the Comptroller General on i ? s of his report, that the sstlmat i rt - enues of tbe State with 0-mill lc for all State purposes, together Wi i I license taxes and other revenue s Will I km Well, way back in 1901, after I had been in this bright, happy world for several days, I began to get worried like. I didn't have any name. Folks were calling me "it" and "the new one" and "whatdya-call-it." I didn't like it a bit. Then, one day I heard the Big Chief telephoning all his department heads to meet'in his office. Pretty soon they all came filing in. Tall chaps, short chaf>3, fat chaps and skinny chaps.. " Now that he. is here," said the Big Chief, "what will you name him?" and wrangled. You know, you have heard them argue whether He'd be called Jack or John or Jim before. Finally, one fellow spoke up and said: "Why not call him * SOVEREIGN*? His mother was a Virginian, his fether an aristocrat of the Carolinas. -lie.comes from the very best stock. He comes from the very sweetest, ripest, mellowest Vir? ginia and Carolina tobacco... He is.jbeing raised right in one,of the cleanest, wfntest> healthiest homes on earth. He is a South? erner born, a Southerner bred, a Southern; gentleman?the^king of them all?a real My? how therti^i^ and wrangled SOVEREIGN". the Folks of the South KNOW good blood. The Folks of the South KNOW good tobacco. SOVEREIGN?the best?is none too good a name." So I was named, friend, for I want you. as one of my friends, and it means a whole heap when I say? I am guaranteed by me. If you don't like me return me to your dealer and get your money back. I have said it. A Southern gentleman is known the world over for keeping his word, and I have given you mine. oven FOR THE GENTLEMAN OP THE SOUTH "JOrvp of fm&m, act" 'be $2,130,633.29. Any amount Appro ' priated in excess of this estimated I revenue, will not only leave the dedoit ; brought over from last year unpro ! vided for, but will further increase it. j *'l therefore call these matters to your attention in order that you may take such action as you deem wise. 1 I The General Assembly in 3 915 in? creased the tax levy to 7 mills, which produced st>7,720.G4 over the current expenses of 1915, but not sufficient i funds to pay the delimit brought over , iron, the years 1913 and 1914] rc , erred to in my message. In 1910 the appropriations by tho ! legislature carted $2,590,109.08. The revenue for 1916 for taxes, if collect? ed in full, will amount to $2,323,281. 39, showing a deficit for the year Of $294,887.78. In addition to this, In 1918, there was a loan made to tho state Park Commission of $175, 000.no, which has never been provld >d for by Appropriation. [, there? fore, call your attention to the ne cesalty <>f your making appropriation for the payment to the Sinking Fund for the state Park loan In 1913, of 1178,999.09; the deficit of 1916 oC $294,964.43, less surplus of revenue over expenses ot' 1915 of $66,761.87) making $228,202.56, which should be provided for In vom- levy for 1917. You win observe from the foregoing that the State levy in past years, ex? cept in 1916, has been Inadequate lo nieel I he expenditures, Hood busho- s 11 luirca ?.hat. ear revenue should atj I least equal our expenditures. The Constitution makes this mandatory. We must, therefore( increase our rovenues or decrease our expendi- I tures,' 1 sincerely trust that you will permit Die to urge you to consider this question with businesslike tirm nose, to prevent hereafter any deticits, and to be able to put tho State on a cash basis. Our revenues now are insufficient from the money collected from taxes for one year, to carry us j OVer to the time when taxes are col? lected for the next year, necessitating ! the borrowing- each year of a large ?nun of money to meet these extgen ; des. j ' I again call your attention to the State Income Tax Law. The means of enforcing this law are Inadequate. The collection of this tax is a farce, i rs matters now stand. A ridiculously, small amount is collected from this source, and what is collected Is abso? lutely Unfair, because it is paid by an absurdly small number of con-; SCientlou8 Cltlsens, while those less scrupulous arc escaping the lax. Tho law should e ither be made effective, or should be repealed. 1 will recommend the enactment of an Inheritance Tax Law. i believe that such a law would be jus;, it would add additional revenue t<? the Stalte from property which >therwl?0 escapes taxation. South Carolina, Florida and New .Mexico are, 1 be Heve, the Olli) Slates which have no such law. I Economy. Tho financial needs of tlie State institutions and the different depart i meats of government will be present- , i ' ; ed for your consideration through their annual reports. It is of the greatest importance that all' appropriations be closely scrutinized and every item carefully and thoroughly investigated before being finally passed upon. We must consider the needs of our various de? partments and institutions. We must , also consider the sources of revenue from which these needs must be met. The pocket book of the tax payer Is sensitive. The people's money must be spent judiciously, and the burden of taxes kept down to the minimum which is consistent with efficiency. Ttet we must realise that money has to be spent if we are to progress. We cannot compare conditions now v Ith past years, because the demands up? on the State are greater, and increas? ing each year. I am confident that your honorab1 body will pay particular attention to tins question, and see to it that ex? travagance and waste arc avoided. Rconomy and efficiency must go to? gether. l will, from time to time, transmit for your consideration other matters affecting tho Interests, welfare and progress of the State. In conclusion. 1 pray for God's blessings upon your labors, and thai }ou maj be guided aright in all I things. J RICHARD L MANNING, ' Governor. Lynehburg. Jan. 6.?At 6 p. m. De? cember 19th, at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. S. Kennedy, Miss Mamie Kennedy and Mr. McWillie White were united in holy wedlock by thoir pastor, the Rev. G. B. Goodman. The wedding march was played by Miss 13. E. Deas of Columbia. After the ceremony refreshments of ice crei-n and rake were served. A license to marry has been issued t' Varies U Paker and Miss Lottie v. Watts of Sumter. Mr. Murray Craven left this morn? ing for Charlotte, N. c, to assume the duties of his new position there. During his stay in Sumter as clerk at the Imperial Hotel, he has made many acquaintances and friends, and carries with him from every one who Knew him. best wishes for his wel? fare and success in his new work. Mr. Craven is succeded at the Im* portal by Mr. Carson Jenkins, who is already well known in Sumter. Capt. P. 1?. Finn, lire inspector of Rumter, has started out ??n his anw nual inspection ot the premises of citizens throughout the town in or? der to make his report to the insur? ance commissioner by the middle of Pebruan.