The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-01
Wednesday, Dec. /, 1875.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE.
The annual message of Gov. Cham.
bcrlain was read in both houses of the
General Assembly on Wednesday Of
the past week. 1t is an elaborate docu
mcnt, presenting an elaborate survey
Of all the departments Of the State
administration, and urging upon the
Legislature those principle Of wise
administration and just economy which
have formed tic staple Of ali of Gov.
Chamberlain public addresses.
| CONGRATULATIONS AND APPEALS.
He congratulatrs the country upon
prevailing good health. the lrssenlng
discomfort, and the increasing prosper
| itv, and calls upon the Legislature so TO
act that the hOnOrS and cmUluElcnts OF
office shall be only incidental to its du-
ties and responsibilities. ii" promises
his own Jealous corporation in the
work OF reform, economy, and good adj
miniStrati0n, and trusts that the way
will be made clear before him by the
chosen representatives Of the people.
! ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
Upon the important subject of taxa
ton and cxpend iturc, the Governor
makes various interesting statements
and wise recommendations The assess
ment of real estate in 1874 gives the
total value at $50, O,095 ,407; of PERSONAL
property in 1875 ut S46.79l ,0O6; and Of
an aggregate tax for the past year of
81 500, ,3O7.6S. Only Sl2,5I9.l7 have been
returned nuliN 6On0-a result highly
cre,ltablc to the people and the tax
officers.
REDUCTION or EXPENDITURES.
In the way of reduced expenditures
much prOgrcss las been made during
the past year. The appropriation for
Legislative expenses for the present fis-
cal year was Sl50000, against Sl9U,OOo
for the preceding year, whilst tho aver
aye cost of a regular session from 1868 to
1873. was S31U, ,4OJ.l6 and in the
matter Of executive and legislative con-
tingrnt expenses, there has been de-
crease Of about siXty-fve per cent. in
favor Of the last fiscal year. Fuel and
stationery are now paid for out of the
phosphate royalties, and hence the ap-
propriations in the general appropra-
ton act are to be reduced. In this con-
necton the Governor urges that all
claims against the State should be en-
dorscd by the Comptroller -Gencral, and
the vouchers kept on file in his office,
no money being drawn from the treas
ury except upon his warrant.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The public printing has been reduced
from the annual average of the past
I TO ln
| $50, coo for the present year.
THE AMOUNT OF TAX LEVY.
The Governor urges upon the Legisla-
,ure, as Il Constitutional duty, the levy
of a tax sufficient to pay the estimated
expenses of the State for the present
year, and to make good the deficiency
of the preceding year-this last being
S3O3, ,S722l5, including the loss by the
South Carolina Bank and Trust Compa-
ny; and OF this amount he recommends
that the sum of S2i9, ,S722.29 be provided
for in the levy of the present year.
! He does not discuss the causes of the
failure of the Bank, but recommends to
| the Legislature the necessity Of enacting
additional provisions to secure the pub
| lie funds.
PUBLIC DEBT.
The entire amount of Consolidation
| Bonds issued is S3,6lS, ,290.S2, being
about seven-tenths of the whole amount
| of bond and stock made eXchangcable
under the act. The Governor recon-
menGs some action in the way Of paying
off the floating Indebtedness of the State,
and urges a proper auditing of all ac-
counts, and gradual payment to Tighten
the burden of taxation.
| COUNTY FUNDS.
In the matter of County finances, he
notes gradual change for the better,
and recommends that the County Conn
missioncrs be required to make specific
cvics, as required by the Statute.
| STATE OFFICERS.
He compliments the State officers
upon their prUmptncsS in making their
reports, and commends their suggestions
to the attention of the Legislature.
STATE CENSUS.
III the report of the Secretary Of State,
he calls attention to the returns Of the
State census, given at I223 Al as the
whole population, which is a reported
| increase of the United States census OF
1870 of 2l6,S4l, which is maniicstly
erroneous; and also to tEc interesting
and valuable industrial statistics.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Tie Governor gives q favorable report
of the improved condition Of the public
schools, and estimates the amount nee
cssary to keep them open torsi months
at 5000, 900, and urges the establishment
of high school in each County, and
calls attention TO the State University,
the State Normal School, the Agricul-
tural College, and the Deaf and Dumb
Asylum.
| THE MILITIA.
! The State Militia is described as being
in dcplorable condition, and the Gov
ernor adopts the suggestion of the
Adjutant and Inspector General, that
the organization of the militia be con-
fined to the larger cities and towns,
where arsenal and other facilities can
bc secured.
THE LUNATIC ASYLUM AND PENlTEN-
ITALY.