The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-12-18

Repairs on the Lazaretto.. .....6U
Militia
IOrphanhouse.... ..........-........... ,Ou
School records. ........".....a.......6,97 ,97E
University repairs. ".............."".6,87 81
Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum.....l0, ,00(
Supreme Court library........."..."..l ,0Ol
Catawba Indians................. ....0Ol
Clothing for discharged convicts.....30f
Mesne Conveyance Office, Charles
ton.............e."..... ...". o,OOC
South Carolina University. ZOO
Civil contingent fund...............".l9,5 ,565
Expenses general election. ...:25, ,00o
Free sch Ooo
Total. l.................................$691, 1896
It will be seen that the school def.
cheney is very large one, namely,
three hundred thousand dollars, but
the treasurer reports that this def
cheney can be regarded as in some
what of different position from
Others, and states that not moro than
two thousand dollars Of this appro-
priation ever has been paid. When
lit was found impossible to obtain the
money which had been appropriated
for the conduct of the schools, the
State superintendent of education
very properly advised the several
county school commissioners to close
their schools, and thereby avoid on
expense which could not be met with
out additional legislative action. In
most Of the counties OF the State, this
advice was needed, and the schools
were closed, and hence it is believed
that not more than third, or one
half, Of the entire appropriation was
ever contracted for on account OF
services performed. The effort has
been made to obtain an account OF
the exact amount expended or con-
tracted for; but the superintendent
has been unable to obtain, from the
county school commissioners the nec'
essary information on this point in
time for the State treasurer to furnish
me with his report. The above items,
to which your attention has been
called comprise the only deficiencies
that exist under the general appro-
priation act. In addition to these,
however, there are certain claims
contracted during the past fiscal year,
which the treasurer states should be
paid out of the deficiency tax now
about to be levied, such as the claims
for printing, and the notes authorized
at the last session of the General AS
sembly and issued by the Treasurer,
and outstanding pay certificates. The
total amount of printing claims as es-
timated in the bills reported by the
committee on public printing in the
House of Representatives is 1926, 900.
This bill, I understand, is still before
the House. The amount of treasurer's
notes outstanding is $4,000. The
amount of pay certificates is about
$4,000. In round numbers, there
fore, it will be seen that the total
amount of both the Deficiencies and
claims are as follows:
Deficiency for schools. ,o0o
For other purposes. .:..............;". SSd ,oSo ,o
Treasurer's notes or bills payable. 2SO, OOo
Pay certificates. es...................... IO,Ooo
Printing claims. $40, ,oOo
Total. 81 ,1oo,ooo
have thus embodied In short
form the information I have derived
from the report of the State treasur.
or, and I commend these most impor-
tant matters to your earliest attention,
in order that the necessary tax levy
may be made without delay to meet
the current expenses Of the present
fiscal year, and to supply the defcien-
cies Of the fiscal year ending October
81, 1872. Allow me to suggest that
the rate of taxation should be deter
mined on the basis of as low an estl-
mated expenditure as will be consist,
ent with the proper maintenance OF
the various departments of the State
Government, and the payment OF the
Just and unquestioned obligations OF
the State. With q view to insure the
speedy payment of the taxes with the
least inconvenience to taxpayers, and
in order to encourage prompt pay
ment by the citizen of his dues to the
State, | recommend that provision be
made by law for the granting Of re-
bate of five per cent. under the pend
ing levy, on all taxes paid in on OF
before the fifteenth day Of January,
1873, and a rebate of fifteen per cent
On the penalty already attached, in
cases of delinquents, provided that
such taxes 90 are now delinquent are
paid in on or before the 10th OF Janu'
NV general message, based upon
the annual reports of the several
heads of the departments, will DC
transmitted at as early o period as
possible, for the consideration and &C
ton of your honorable bodies. All Of
these reports have not yet been re-
ceived, and I am unwilling to make
any recommendations that are not
founded upon specific data explicitly
stated. propose in that message tc
bring under review all the various
matters to which those reports relate
inclusive of the bonded debt of the
State, and invite your attention tc
such remedial measures as the neces
stiles of the State appear to demand
This duty of retrenchment and econ
omy is imposed upon the Executive
and Legislative branches of the gov
crnment by the expressed judgment
of the people, from whom they de
rive their powers It is also enforced