The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1885-12-02
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
BTNOPsfs OF THE SUGGESTIONS OF
OUR CHIEF MAGISTRATE.

synopsis OF II SUGGESTIONS OF
OUR CHIEF MAGISTRATE.
An Exhaustive Review OF tho Financial,
Educational aud Industrial Conditi IN OF
tho State--An Able and Interesting Paper.
On the first day of the present ses-
sion of the Legislature Governor
Thos,pson, submitted the customary
message to the General Assembly.
Tho first matter considered is
n PUBIC DEBT,
which is now Sc, 1896, 1873. 54, consisting
Of Brow n'consols, valid Green consols,
deficiency bonds, and agricultural land
scrip.
Fl REVENUES OF THE STATE.
The total revenues of the State and
counties for the fiscal year
ing November ], 1883, was about 3d.
OBS, 900, Of which about 81, 1886, 900 was
raised by taxation, and 1888, 600 from
phosphate royalty. Tho collection of
the taxes was Unusually full and salts
factory, nearly SO per cent. of the
assessed State tax having been collect.
ed, and nearly S6 per cent. having been
paid into tine treasury. The net re-
ceipt for each mill levied was S145, 900,
being an increase, of $4,000 over the
preceding year, and 1926 1000 over the
year 1879. The taxes for the fiscal
year 1Ss4-s5 are now being collected.
and the result cannot, therefore, be
reported. The levy amounts to a.
S3l,494, divided as follows: For State,
$S4l,526; for counties, SG77, 14S, and
Tor schools, $3l2,S20, not including
polls.
1t is Estimated that it will require
$4O3,O 600 TO meet the ordinary OK
penses Of the Government for the fiscal
year 1SSS5-80, and 1891, 900 to paw the
interest OIL the public debt. These
amounts will bc increased by such
additional appropriations as may be
required by Legislation, and will be
decreased by the phosphate royalty
II any surplus that may remain in
the treasury. AS these amounts are
contingent, and consequently unknown
he necessary levy can only be deter
mined when the General Assembly
prepares the annual supply bill.
THE PHOSPHATE ROYALTY.
Tho phosphate royalty for tho "a
ending 80 September, 1885, amount
ing to Sl76,244.4l, has been collected
In full-being the largest sum yet GOV.
cred into tho treasury from this source,
The yield for the year ending 80 Sep.
TENDER, 1886, will probably not exceed
$l50,00O.
SOLDIERS.
Commenting upon the recommends
ton ofthe Comptroller, that $50, 900 an
nually be appropriated for a pension
of $50 each to disabled soldiers, the
Governor says: '"Thc State can never
fully discharge her obligations to the
brave mon who. in obedience to her
CHI, hsvs Suffered pcrfaspent injury in
healtb or in limb; but she- Sioux cUif-
tribHte, if possible, to the alienation
OF the wants Of such of them as are
without the means Of support, and are
incapacitated for manual labor by
reason Of disabilities incurred in the
discharge Of duty. While those who
can claim this recognition OF services
TO the State diminish in number each
year, the inhrmities Of the survivors,
II their need for help, constantly in
crease"
THE TAX LAWS.
The Governor recommends n careful
revision Of the tax laws, with a view
to greater simplicity and efficiency.
THB PUBLIC SCHOOLS
continue to improve. The number of
pupils enrolled in the public schools
during the year just closed was 49,
US, OF which 78,i5s were white and
99,585 were colOred; the average at
tendance was 22,O93, of which SIS, 664
were white, and 66,429 were colored.
The number of teachers employed was
1918, being All increase or cighty-nine
over the number employed during the
preceding year; and the number OF
schools was 1862, being All increase of
eighty over the number in operation
during the year 1883-S4. The length
of the school term was three and a
half months, a decrease of half a
month. The total amount Of funds
available for school purposes during
the year 1S83-84, tho latest period for
which reports arc attainable, was
shte;;580.3S, of which BAL $685. was
COLLECTED during the year, and $73,-
98I. OF consisted. Of .pa35Tp5esn led o'hsll
ances brought forward from previous
wears. The total amount expended
was 1928 ,419.31.
The Governor urges the adoption of
some measure by which the school
fund may ''catch mp" for the s'lost
year,, and teachers be paid.
The various educational institutions
of the State arc in q fl%ourishing con
ton. M
The State Military Academy now
has four classes, the full number pro-
vided for in the course Of instruction,
and during the coming yoar it will
send forth it's first class Of graduates
since it's reorganization in October,
1882. There are now 206 students ut
the South Carolina College, and it is
likely that the numb. r will reach 23O
shortly. The presen1 attendance 10 the
largest since tho war. In concluding
his remarks on tho College, the Gov
ernor Says: "The leading States of
the Northwest and our sister Common
wealths of tho South are rapidly build
ing mp their institutions of higher
learning. North Carolina has recently