The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1875-01-13
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEP,

Gentlemen Of the Senate and House of
/ Representatives.
In the inaugural address which I had
the honor to deliver before the general
assembly, 1 stated that, ''owing to the
want of the information to be obtained
from the reports of the various officers in
charge of the several departments of the
government and the public institutions, I"
ut would become my duty at subsequent
tune to present to you some additional
information and recommendations con-
cerning several important interests of the
State.
! In accordance with that announcement,
and in the discharge of the duty imposed
upon the governor by the constitution,
from time to time to give to the general
assembly information Of the condition of
the State, and to recommend to their
consideratlon such measures as he shall
Judge necessary or cxpedient," I call
attention to the serious public incon-
venience resulting from the delay on the
part of the officers from whom annual
reports are required in furnishing the
same. Even at this late day, nearly two
months and half after the close Of the
last fiscal year, and seven weeks after
the annual meeting of the general assem-
bly,: l have barely been able to obtain sew
eral OF the most important reports in time
to make brief and imperfect cxamina-
tion of their contents. My public duty
will, perhaps, be discharged 10y calling
your attention to the great detrimcnt there
BY. occasioned to the public service Ifsuch
delays arise from causes beyond the con-
trol of our public officers. then, if posi-
BILE, the general assembly should remove
those causes; but if they arise from other
causes: remedy ought to be devised and
Iapplicd.
STATE TREASURER'S REPORT
| The report of the state treasurer will,
think, be found to be q luminous and
complete exhibit of the operations of that
department. The observations of the
|state treasurer upon the several matters
discussed in his report will likewise de-
serve your careful consideration.
| APPROPRIATIONS AND RECEIPTS.
l desire especially to call attention to
the prime importance, as urged by the
state treasurer, of keeping the appropria-
tions within the receipts. This is mani
fest without argument. AL proper de-
ductions should be made from the gross
1amount Of the taxes to be levied, and a
rigid estimate, based Upon the results of
former lcvies, should be reached before
the rate of taxation is fixed. After this
has been done, the appropriations from
the proceeds of the levics made should
never be allowed to exceed, by single
dollar, the estimate of the amount of
such proceeds. As the state treasurer
Justly remarks: This is absolutely essen
itial to the restoration of the credit of the
State i :; and the success
and prosperity of our public institutions. +"
In this connection, call attention to
the. statement on page T. OF the comp
ltrollcr-gcncrals report Of the total taxa
BILE property of the State under the re-
cent assessment, and the amounts to be
realized theretrom under the specific levics
made by the ''act to raise supplies for the
fiscal year commencing November l.,
18Th" l am confident the estimates
there made are the highest limits which
will be reached under those levies. II
this be SO, it is absolutely necessary that
the appropriations to be made ut the
present session should in no instance OK
'ceed the amounts there specified. One
lpalpab!e departure from this rule has
ALREADY occurred in the legislative appro-
priation bill passed ut the present session,
and L trust no other similar departures
will receive the sanction of the general
assembly.
In this connection, I call attention to
the estimate of supplies for the support
of the State government" at page l0l of
the comptrollcr-gencral's report. The
whole amount required, according to that
Estimate, for Salaries and contingent
funds" Is no less than $2l2, ,45O; whereas
at page II, of the same report, the whole
amount to be realized from the levy made
for the same purpose is only $3.50, 1861.
If this estimate, therefore. is made the
basis of the appropriations, there will be
10 deficiency of Sci ,973.49. 1t is mani
fest that such result must be avoided,
and [ point it out in order that it may re-
ceive the attention which it demands
loVERDRAWN WARRANTS AND DRAFTS.
concur especially iii the views OK
pressed by the state treasurer upon the
evil and unjust practice which has pre-
vailed of drawing warrants or drafts on
:. the state treasurer in excess of the appro-
Ipriations from which they arc payable. |
think this evil should be checked by inn
mediate legislation. Towards those who,
i'm good faith, accept such overdrafts in
payment of dues from the State, such a
|practic,c may be properly denounced as