The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-04
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Governor Thompson's message is
very lengthy, and our space will only
permit Of a brief synopsis Of It
THE PUBLIC DEET.


four years st least Sl,2O0.000, 4 sure
indication OF the progress and pros
perity vi the State The interest on
the State debt Las been regularly and
promptly metaOd valid claims msprompt-
ly settled, establishing the credit OF
the STATE beyond question, and pro-
ducing confidence IN her ability and
willingness to meet her obligations,
and placing her bonds at q premium
in the market. The attention Of the
General Assembly is called to that
portion Of the Comptroller-G eneral's
Report which refers to the year,which
was lost in the collection Of taxes. in
consequence Of which loans nave to
be obtained from the banks in order
TO meet the necessities Of the govern
ment. The pressure in the money
market during the last summer forced
the Comptrolier-Gencral TO suspend
for q time the issuing OF warrants to
all charitable institutions and gene
raj claimants. compelling them to,
discount their claims and thus entail
ing upon them losses which should
properly belong to the State. ..H
REVENUE AND EXPENSES.
It is estimated that il will require
S372.l95 to meet the ordinary eXEen-
ses Of the government for the fiscal
year lSS4-5. and S39l, ,337 to pay the
interest on the public deht. The phos-
phate royalty should yield $4,000,
and there will be in the treasury an
estimated surplus Of Sl24,255, leav-
ing but S4S9,276 to be raised by tax
alton, and requiring levy Of 81
mills. This amount will probably be
increased by appropriations not in
clnded in the estimate for cTrrent ex-
penseS. but the rat" Of taxation need
not exceed that of last year. Amount
Of property returned for taxation in
1884:
Real Estate SS7,5j9.53S
Personal Property 4G.9O4,7O5
Railroad Property l5.2G3,3GG
Total $I49.727.6O9
4 loss OF $SSl.C93 on return OF
1883. Personal property having fall
cm Gil $l.345,23t. while real estate
las gained $42S.l37, and railroad pro
perty 35,402. The increase in real
estate is altogether in cities and
towns. That in country having allen
Of 800, 900. Real estate is assessed
at IS per cent Of its value and per-
sonal property about one-third The
Comptroller-General estimates that
there are 2 0O0,0OG acres OF land in
the State not upon tile tax-books. The
value Of taxable property OF the State
nay fairly be etimated a $295,00O,-
900 instead OF $l50,000,000. as as
scssed.
There are SS56,292 gcres of land
nolninajly in the custody Of the Sink
ing Fund Commission representing q
valuation of $2.503,331 upon which
there are due the State accumulated
taxes and penalties amounting to
$3l5,S66. u hen it is remembered
that not one acre Of this laHd pays
taxes, and that it IS nominslly in
possession Of the State. while the
owners remain undisturbedin the en-
ioyment uf the revenues t!ie:Jrcom,
the necessity of decisive Legislation
on The su' ject is apparent. "
TAX LAWS.
The repor, Of ,hc Co,nptrollcE-Gtn
er:.l is referred 10. Il is recommend
ed that the time Of taking returns and
collecting taxes be changed.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS. ...
The Report OF the Superintendent
of Education. Slows marked improve.
ment in the general condition Of the
public schools. There were enrolled
during the last year 84,n2S white an'
lO!.a9! cn!rred pupils, making q To-
tel Of 1883. an increase OF 1924
pupils over last year This enroll
ment is found to be s. per Gent Of
the total school population S23 per
cent Of the white. J6 l.9 per CENT Of
he colored Gl!i!:;Fan were enrolled.
!ncgeasa,!a nu'absr Of teachers, 1919;
number OF SCHOOLS. 2i3. Total ayai!a-
lie school fund for 1882 , was S5i7:
931.27. The en.'ctmcnt nl = Jaw gi@
my. n::.!c:. cei;.sla RESTRICTIONS. tie
power 70 c!iias. L!~ns aHa Incofpor:::
ted VILLAGES 10 levy local saxt y sE|p.
port patlic schools, is recommended
One o the pressing wants i'll our
schoo! system is ior good high schools.
The only plan suggested by WHICH
such schools can. be supplied is o
supplement the Stat seil0pl tas h;'
local leylcs:
TIL; i'Nir EEsilf or SOUTH CAROLINA.
THIS includes the Clafil;n University
O.: Orangehurg for the coloret', t:a
Citadel AcadeEny o: Charleston, aud
lie Scati1 Car";ipa Coicgc II -ol"h;-
bis AS to ali 1!se$e an*esDor Thonip-
son earnestly recommends that such
appropriations he made as may be
NECESSARY o maintain their useful
ness amd ~ r7Dm"te and increase
their efficiency:
The Directors h;r The Institution
f, the deaf and dumb and blind ask
for 5he following appropriations,
whici, tie G"yernor recnnmenHs.
VIC: For tie support cF the iasE;fu-
ton. $4,000; for repairs: 500; fnr
comp ttjuy and Furnishing vest sing.
SG.Utih; for inaarsnee. sGH5; tnc col.
ored department. 500. The Cavern
or recommends the speedy compile
r;ol OF tie Columbia canal. also tic