Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1882-12-07
to make the frst semi annual payment

w IudAe tue uise DELLA nuuun1 pay tno"
of taxes compulsory, and then for on
year to increase the tax levy sufi
ciently to raise the sum for which, IL
the experience of the Treasury, j
has been found necessary to mak
over drafts upon the banks. We ar
experiencing period Of exceptiona
prosperity, and there will be no bet
ter time to accomplish this desirable
end. If the measure commends it
self to your honorable body, the ad
dltional sum to be raised this yeal
will be about 100000 and will ne
cessitate the addition of s 10 mlll'
previously estimated. The whole
tax levy will TIN be 4 4-l0 mills
The levy Tor last year was 4s mills
II will still be necessary for one yeal
longer to authorize the temporary
loan, because the first payment Of In
terest for 1884 will occur before any
part Of the tar you now authorize
is collected, and will have to be met
out Of funds now in the Treasury
which are not sufficient for the pur
pose, and st the same time to carry
! on the government until the taxes o.
1883 are collected.
pENITENTIARY.
On the lss November, 1881, there
were 900 convicts IN the PeDitentia
ry. At the same date this year the
number was 1924. Of these IT'S were
colored and IS ~hite. Of the 1924
convicts, 224 were leased upon phos
phate work l2l were leased upon
railroads; Is upo, the Seegers farm
and asa within the walls of the pris
on. OF those within the prison 81
we're at work with a contractor in
making shoes, l2O at work on the
Columbia canal, and the remainder
in various employments.
The convicts under lease are sub
jected to rigid surveillance by the
authorities of the Penitentiary, and
1 am satisfied that during the year,
both within and without the prison'
they have been well fed, properly
cared for, and their sentences Of penal
ssrvitude humanely executed.
A large amount Of work has been
done by convict labor upon impro We
ments and extension Of the Peni ten
tiary itself. A number Of hands
have been worked OIL the Columbi a
canal, and an examination Of the Su
perintendent's Report exhibits the
following transactions A balance in
hand at the beginning Of the fiscal
year. of $2l,l99; earnings for the
year, $94, 4,236; expenses proper of
.A~ oe.:.e.l.:.ey, $40 oaoy POI d;an,
aud MILEAGE of Board of Directors,
$l,267; paid on canal, $8.096; paid
into State Treasury. $4,000; and re.
naming in hands Of SUP erintendent,
$l49 9O1. This last amount is in cash
and bsnkable notes given for con
vict labor; its disposition awaits your
direction.
This exhibit contrasts favorably
with the management Of the Peuiten
t,ary in the period from 1868 to 1876.
Then. beslde the earnings Of the con
victs. it required an annual average
appropriation of $62,Soo from the
State Treasury to support the insti.
tuition. In the health, general ap'
pearance and judicious discipline
of the convicts, a like improvement
appears.
IUEATIc ASYLUM.
nuring the year there have been
uuder treatment in the Asylum 755
patients. There are now present $50
white and 222 colored, making to
til Of $50. OF these 525 are supported
by the State as INDECENT poor and 20
by themselves or friends. The laws
establishing and regulating this in
stitution contemplate that those re
ceiving its benefits who are able to
pay in whole or In part should do so,
and that the pauper alone should
receive the bounty Of the State. That
supposed abuse in this particular eI
lsts has been heretofore brought to
the attention of the General Assem-
bly,, and at its last session additional
Legislation was provided to correct
it. These laws are either not e1ecu
ted or are insufficient. Fewer pa
tients pay now than before. 1t is not
iu the power Of the Trustees and off,
ce to supervise this matter. The
power and responsibility rests with
the authorities in the Counties WHO
give the papers Of commitment. 1t
may be that popular sentiment de-
mands that unfnrtunates OF this class,
without regard to their means, should
be supported by the State. If this
is so, the laws should be changed and
pay received from none. In 1876
there were 293 patients in the Asy-
lum; now the number is nearly
doubled. Your attention is called tc
The report OF the Superintendent. in
which the increased demand for the
| IL