The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-02
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
A Review of the Situation in South Caro-
lima.
EXECUTIVE. DEPARTMENT,

A Review of the Situation In South Caro-
lima.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov. %, $780,.
Gentlemen of the Generul assembly: At
the last regular session of the General
Assembly Of this State w. D. Simpson
MAS elected Chief Justice of the Supreme
Couft of South Carolina; and on the 1st
of September last he resigned the Office
of Governor of the State of South Caro-.
lima. The Chief Magistracy of the
State having thus, under tho provisions
Of the Constitution, devolved upon me as
President pro tempore Of the Senate, l
Immediately assumed the duties BY
taking the oath of Office.
It now becomes my duty, under the
Constitution, to give you information Ct
the condition of the State, and recon-
mend for your consideration such meas
ures as seem to me necessary or expe-
dient,
I have not had time or opportunity to
become sufficiently acquainted with the
departments of the State or the wants
and necessities of the people to be able
to give such full and satisfactory recon.
mendations as am sure my distinguished
predecessor would have made had he
continued in Office.
I congratulate you, as the representa-
fYes of the people, upon the greIs I'M
provement which has been effected in the
affairs of South Carolina by the admin
istrations which have had charge of the
State Government for the last four years.
The cloud of dependency and gloom
which came of proaigate, reckless and,
corrupt legislation is being gradually
cleared away, and the Lope of a pros
porous future invites us to renewed efforts.
Every interest, material and educational,
is being surely and constantly improved.
Agriculture, the principal occupation OF
our people and the chief source of all
wealth, is remuuerative, whilst land is
being gradually enhanced not only in
price. but in real value. Commerce is
extending and adding her stores to the
wealth Of the country. Cotton manu-
factories have been increased in power
and number, and whilst in many por-
tions of the world such enterprises have
been run on short time or closed tempo
larily, in South Carolina they have been
proftably run on full time.
The sessions of the Legislature have
been reduced from duration of several
months to about one month. The credit
of the State is fast rising to the high
position it had before the war. The rail-
roads have been improved In condition,
and .are doing an increased business,
which indicates, as surely as anything,
the growing prosperity of the country.
The success of the Jetties in deepening
THE BAR OF CHARLESTON
barbor, which is now regarded certain,
will ll.develop prosperous future for the
city, and yet verify the wisdom of those
who in former days selected Charleston
rs The Southern terminus of the road
from the Northwest to the ocean. AL
ready the increased number of vessels
seeking that port, and the much larger
receipts of cotton than at the same time
last year, indicate the approaching wave
of prosperity. Before many years the
crest trade of the West will require
port on the Atlantic most accessible to
the trade of the West Indies and South
America, and none will be found COM
bining the advantages Of Charleston.
We have just passed through one of
our
EXCITING oUADRENNIAL ELECTIONS,
in which so much is done to derange the
business of the country, disorganize labor
and excite the worst passions of the peo-
pie, especially the most ignorant I be-
lieye it would be better for all the inter-
ests of the State if We had State elections
but once in four years, and then at O time
different from that on which United
States elections are held. If persons
held office for four years they would be-
come better qualified for their duties, and
the State is more interested in having an
Office we'll filled than in finding berths
for nntried aspirants. To show what
progress has been made in the way of
REFORM AND ECONOMY
Under the Democratic administration of
the State Government, which went into
power four years ago, ask your atteu.
ton to the expenses Of the State for last
year as compared with similar expendi-
lures for the State while the Legislature
was in the entire control of the Radical
party. Taking the average annual ex-
penditures of the State Government for
the six successive years beginning De-
cember 1st, 1868: For these six years
there were paid and appropriated for
contingent funds $376,832.74, or an an
nual amount of S62,S05.4S. Contingent
fund for last year $6,820.l7. Difference
s55,9S5.31.
The cost of the session and expenses
of the General Assembly for the same
period were s2,147, ,43O.97, and besides
this amount there we're outstanding bills
payable issued on account Of legislative
expenses for the same period s192, ,275.15,
the average cost of each regular session
being abou: 1920, ,405.16. Legislative ex--
penses last year S40,5O4.32. Difference
S279,9O0.S4. The average expenditures
for each regular session for six years for
attaches and contingent expenses have
been about S25S, ,424.65. Let it be borne
in mind that this sum represents only the
actual payments made. There was q
large amount of unpaid claims in the
form of legislative pay certificates, esti-.
mated at not less than S500,000. The
corresponding amour of last year, in
cluding expenses of pay officers of the
General Assembly, was S12,776.35. Diff
ference S245,64S.30.
During three years ending November
l, 1874, the cost to the State of perma.
nent and current printing, and Of print.
ing the laws in the newspapers, was
$9lS,629S6. Deducting from this
amount all such items as may be called
extraordinary, amounting to $375,0OO,
there remains as the cost of printing for
three years the sum'of $543.629S6, or an
average annual cost of :S181 ,20995. Pub
lie printing last year S12,2l1.40; differ
ence S16S,998.55. There was collected
from the people in the years 1873, 1874
and 1875 the sum of S4,349, ,46l. Of this
amount treasurers were paid commissions
n-n