Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-12-02

ses for the fiscal year was S15O, ,005. The appro-
priation under this head for the preceding fiscal
year was Sl90, ,000 while the average cost OF reg
ular session of the General Assembly from 1868
to 1873, inclusive was $500 05 l6 the cost of the
regular session of lS7l-72 reaching as high an
amount az $6l7, ,234 In honorable contrast with
former years, it should also be mentioned that no
obligations have been issued or incurred by the
officers of the General Assembly during the past
year. in excess of the appropriations made.
The intolerable abuses Of former years in con-
nection with contingent funds have also been IN
great degree removed The entire amount ap-
proprated during the past year for the contingent
funds ofall the Executive officers, including the
contingent fund Of the Supreme Court and the
special litigation fund of The encouragement or
81, ,5OO was Sl5,25O The entire appropriation for
legislative contingent expenses was $l3, OOO. The
corresponding appropriations for the fiscal year
1874 were, respectively, $F. 100 and S32,5OO,
showing decrease in the aggregate OF about SIX
ty-tive per cent. in favor ofthe last fiscal year.
But the gain to public morality and economy is
still greater when we consider the fact that all
Executive contingent funds have been drawn
during the past year on vouchers approved by
and filed with the ptroller-general. Accoun-
liability and publicity, the two chief safeguards OF
official integrity, have thus been secured. For
the last fiscal year the Governors contingent fund
was reduced from the previous annual average OF
$25, 600 to $780, and at the end of the year the
sum of $247 OF remained undrawn. I herewith
transmit to the General Assembly detailed state
ment of the disbursement of this fund, in accord
dance with the requirements Of Section of the
last general appropriation act.
Provision having been made at the last session
by All act entitled An act relative to contracts for
the Executive departments of the State govern
ment, and for the General Assembly, (acts or
1S74-75 page $751; for supplying the Executive
departments and the General Assembly with fuel
and stationery, to be paid for by an appropriation
from the phosphate royalties, it is obvious that
the appropriations for contingent expenses to be
made by the general appropriation act of the pres
ent year should be greatly reduced.
LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES.
On the subject of legislative expenses, the mes
sage urges short session, (which would be OF
ducng the expenses ofthe legislative department,
but in the wholesome and long-needed example
it would furnish
PUBLIC PRINTING.
The public printing has been reduced during
the past year from the annual average OF SlSl 3O9.
95 during the three preceding years, to the sum OF
$4,000 a year. This branch of the public. work
should be hereafter thrown open to the lowest
bidder under such regulations as will secure fall
and genuine competition and the faithful perform.
ance of the proposals thus received.
REDUCTION OF OFFICERS AND SALARIES.
In prosecuting the work Of retrenchment the
number Of salaried officers, and the amounts o.
the salaries paid, will require strict examination
At the last session of the General Assembly, 8
bill upon this subject was matured and passed by
the House of Representatives, which was long
step in the right direction. This bill is now upon
the calendar of the Senate, and most heartily
urge its immediate enactment into law.
APPROPRIATIONS AND DEFICIENCIES.
The total amount of deficiencies for the last fis
cal year. including the loss in the Sonth Caroline
Bank and Trust Company, is S3O8, ST. 10, OF whlcf
it should be said that $l27, ,72403 are the result O.
Company.
Of this amount the sum of 3249, 1920 las have
pointed out in detail in my message of this date
returning the Tax Act Of the last SESSION. shoulC
be provided for in the levy for the present year
If the General Assembly shall perform its duty
in this respect, we shall, during the present year
witness the prompt and regular payment of sala
ries and appropriations for public institutions
and consequent restoration OF our State credit
together with the increased efficiency Of every
branch of the public SERVICE The ultimate bur
den of taxation will not thereby be increased
while in the absence of extraordinary causes tht
entire item Of deficiencies will be eliminated from
| the next annual tax levy. Such results vii! fol
low the simple discharge of our constitutional OBJ
legations, and do not permit myself to believe
that the General Assembly will fail to secure them
| FAILURE OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA BANK AM
TRUST COMPANY.
The failure OF the abOve-nanied institution Is
next alluded to. The amount of funds belonging
to the State in the bank at the time OF its suspen
sion, is stated by the Governor to 52O5, 1919,
which amount 3l06, 5000 belonged to the funds
for the payment of the interest Oh the public debt
and the remainder, $9S,924.49 belonged to the
general appropriations for the last fiscal year
Regarding the amount likely to be realized from
the assets of the bank, the Governor says: What
amount the State will finally receive in the distri
button of the property Of the bank, on account o.
its deposit, it is now impossible to determine even W
approximately. The nominal amount OF the liza
bilities of the bank is reported by the receiver h
be S36S 400 w, and the nominal assets S3l4, 1863 "a
OF the assets of the bank, it may, in general, be
said that they are to the last degree
ry and uncertain in value, as well as unavailable
for present conversion into money. The evil ef'
fects Of this failure have not been limited to the
State, but the funds Of several of the counties
have also been lost. The management of this
bank, the causes Of its failure and the RESPONSE
bility therefor, do not deem it my province tc
discuss at this time. The property and assets o.
the bank being in the hands Of the court, all lega
questions involved i'll the failure must be deter
mined by the court. The circumstances attend
ing the deposit Of the State funds in this bank as
we'll as the motives of the several members of thu
board having the selection of the banks of depos
it for State funds, have already been made known
to the public. II the General Assembly shall de-
sire further information respecting these matters
shall be ready to furnish all information within
nv power; or if it shall hereafter seem incum
bent on me to discuss these matters further.
shall make special communication to the Gener
al Assembly. In this connection, the Governor
recommends legislative enactment to ensure th'
safest method of keeping the State deposits in th'
future.
THE PUBLIC DEBT.
Since November, lst, 1874, $2,6 ,7O6 80 of th'
bonds and stock authorized by the consolidation
act of December %, 1873, have been issued. Tht
entire amount ofthis class of our public securI
ties issued up to that date is 50, ,6ls, ,29082 Abou
| seven -tenths of all the bonds and stock made ex
clangeable under that act have thus been ex
changed. The great disaster OF the failure of the
South Carolina Bank and Trust Company has beer
most severely felt in its influence on this great
public interest 1t gave shock to the growing
confidence in the good faith of the State toward
the public creditors, depressing the market value
ofthe public securities and checking for time
the process of exchange.
| Since the lst July 1875, about $500, 600 OF CON
solilation bonds and stock have been issued, the
coupons ofwhich, from July l., 1874, remain un'
paid. I recommend that a tax be included in the
annual levy now to be made for the deficiencies o
the last fiscal year, to pay this amount OF out
| standing interest, amounting to S30, 900.
The vital necessity of faithfully adhering to the
contracts and obligations incurred by the present
settlement of our public debt, trust, needs no
enforcement 1t is essential to the general pros
perty ofte State to the interests OF her credi.
tors. If good faith and unflinching honesty shall
be observed, the year on which we have entered
will witness the complete exchange of the ID debt
of the State a result which will be seccrd to no
other result of efforts to restore the honor and
welfare of the State. I recommend that such ac-
ton be taken as will fully meet the just demands
of the public creditors under the consolidation
act and remove all doubts respecting our intention
to make that the point Of departure for new ca
reer of faith and honor, which shall help to hide
the errors and failing ofour recent history.
COUNTY FINANCES.