The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, January 13, 1917, Image 3
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.