Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-12-04

over and above the amount necessary for
the support and maintenance of the insti-
tuition, and to employ the services of POO
able bodied cOnvicts. Of the amount au-
thorized to be expended, but S13,OS0.29 was
spent last year. In consequence of sickness
prevailing in some of the convict camps,
the contractors declined to accept the full
number of cOnvicts to which they were en-
titled, and the revenue of the Penitentiary
for the hire of cOnvicts was SO reduced as to
make it impossible, with proper regard to
all interests of the institution, to eXpend
on the canal the full amount authorized by
law. a daily average Of 1872 hands was en-
plOyed on the work. The message notes
the fact that the canal furnishes employ
ment to q large number Of convicts who
would otherwise be comparatively idle, and
urges the completion of the work as rap
idly as the finances of the State will permit.
The Adjutant and Inspector General re-
ports that he has made a personal inspec-
tion Of all the companies in the State eX-
cept three. Notwithstanding the ditiicul.
ties with which they have to contend, and
the insutficiency of the means provided for
sustaining these organizations, he has found
that in nearly every instance, they have
increased in efficiency. There has been a
decrease on the rolls, as compared with last
year, of 520 officers and men, while the
number present at inspection was 352 less
than last year. The Adjutant and 1nSpec-
tor General expresses much qualification at
the prospect of the increased appropriation
for the militia for the present year, as was
provided for by the last Legislature, though
even that appropriation will still be made
quate provision for the maintenance of a
we'll organized body of militia.
The report Of the Railroad Commission
furnishes full statements Of the operations
during the last year of the railroads in this
State and of the workings of the Commits
sion. The carefully prepared tables, which
form part of the report, give in condensed
form much valuable information Of the con-
dition of the different railroads. The re-
port makes no recommendation as to any
changes in the law prescribing the powers
and duties of the Commission. The Com
missioners report that there is ''less discrim-
natiOn, more stability in rates, fewer COM
plants and greater harmony between the
railroads and the people than at any time
during the administration Of the present
board, or of their predecessor"
A portion of the message is devoted to the
Department of Agriculture, reviewing its
operations for the past year; also, the State
Agricultural and Mechanical Society, and
the State Board of Health; and after refer
ring to the present condition of the State
House, for which it is estimated that it will
cost S739 ,475 to complete the building accor-
ding to the original design, the Governor
says that while the completion of the work
may we'll be postponed for the future, he de-
sires to repeat the recommendation made to
the last General Assembly that steps be
taken to preserve the property and prevent
further damage to the offices and their con-
tents from the elements.
AS requested by the concurrent resolution
of November 30, 1888, l authorized the At
torney- General "to defend all persons prose-
cuted in the United States Courts for any
charges that may be preferred against them
while in the discharge of their duties under
the State election laws"
The Attorney General, in his Report to
the General Assembly, gives q full state
ment of the trial and result of these cases.
Ten thousand dollars, if so much be neces-
sary, was appropriated for the purpose of
paying the expenses incurred in the elec-
ton trials in the United States Courts, to be
paid on the warrant Of the Comptroller Gen
eral on orders Of the Governor. From this
appropriation | have paid for the trans
pOrtatiOn, board and expenses of defend
ants and witnesses and other necessary
expenses incurred in the trials, the sum
.......................S 2,554 20
For fees OF the three general cOun-
sci, representing all the defend
Total. S4,G54 90
Vouchers for these expenditures are on
file in the office Of the Comptroller General.
In this connection it is proper to say that
very valuable services were rendered by
the learned local counsel for the different
counties, who represented the several de-
PENDANTS, but did not feel authorized, un-
der the terms of the appropriation, to make
any compensation for their services out of
this fund. The unexpended balance Of the
fund now in the Treasury is S5,945.SO.
In July last l received from the Hon.
w. II. Trescot, a draft of the Treasury OF the
United States for SG0,375.9S, which amount
had been appropriated by the General De-
fciency Appropriation Act of Congress OF
1884, "for the payment to the Governor nor OF OF
the State of South Carolina of one-fOurth OF
the proceeds Of leases and sales Of land in
the said State under the Act of Congress of
June I, 1862, according to the amount stated
by the Commissioner Of Internal Revenue,
under the direction of the Secretary of the
Treasury" This amount was collected and
received by Mr.. TrescOt as one of the Com
missiOnerS of the State of South Carolina,
appointed in 1876 under the authority of a
concurrent resolution Of the Legislature,
passed in 1875; the late Hon. James Is.
Campbell being the other Commissioner.
The compensation of Messrs. Campell and
Trescot for the services then rendered and
thereafter to be rendered in the discharge
of the duties imposed upon them was fixed
in 1888 by Commission which was author
lied to agree upon the same by the Act Of
Assembly approved December 81, 1882, Us
Statutes at Large, page 81 The compensa-
ton was fixed ut ten QU per cent. for ex-
penses and twenty-five (25) per cent for
fees, "tO be paid out of such moneys as they
may recover and in no other way" Under
this agreement the fees of the Commission
ers, thirty-fve (35) per cent. Of the amount
received, viz, S2l, ,l31.59, were paid by
me. The balance remaining, S30, 244.30, was
deposited with the State Treasurer, subject
to the order and direction of the Governor.
The money so appropriated by Congress,
SGO, 1888, is one fourth Of the amount real
lied by the United States from sales ana
leases of lands bought in by the United
States at tax sales for want of bidders, in
excess of amount due for taxes on said lands,
and is "for the purpose of reimburslng the
loyal citizens Of the State, or such other
purpose as the State may direct" (Act of
Congress 7th June, 1862, Section II, II Stat
utes, 3 Brightly's Digest Laws Of United
States, 1s57-G5, page 422, Section 59.)
| invite your consideration of this sub
iect, that appropriate legislation may be
had directing the disposition of the amount,
S39, 80, which is now in the State Treas
ury subject to the order of the Governor.
it is provided in Article II, Section !, of
the Constitution, that the enumeration OF
the inhabitants of the State for the purpose
of the apportionment Of the Representa-
tives be made in the year 1879, and IN the