Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-03

REVIEW OF THE CONDITION OF SOUTH
The STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, November "a, 1885.
Gentlemen of the General assembly: In
performance Of the duty imposed upon the
Governor by the Constitution OF the State
I have the honor to transmit the following
message:
PUBLIC DEBT.
The report of the comptroller-general
gives in full the character and condition OF
the public debt. The aggregate is practi-
cally the same as reported last year, $780,
1854, no bonds having been purchased by
the high premiums which they command
ed. Only $25,3OC of old bonds were funded
during the wear, although the amount out
standing is estimated at over $4OO, 900 and
of $963,372 of Green consols, only s29,Osl: 81
(s6,279.3S of which amount was invalid)
have been exchanged for Brown consols.
The debt is classified as follows: Funded
debt (all valid) $6,123, ,9O7.79 unfunded debt,
(partly invalid) estimated at 1895, $50: The
funded debt consists of Brown consols, So
AO,23O; valid Green consols, S24l All. 40 ;
deficiencies, $3.50, ,456.29; and agricultural
land script, s191,0OO.
The total revenue of the State and coun-
ties for the fiscal year commencing Novem-
ber /. 1888, was about S2,OS9, 600, of which
about 81 ,936, 900 was raised by taxation, and
sl53OOO from phosphate royalty. The COL
lection of the taxes was unusually full and
satisfactory, nearly SO per cent. Of the as
sessed State tax having been collected, and
nearly 96 per cent. having been paid into
the treasury. The net receipts for each mill
levied was$145, 200, being an increaseofS4, ,00O
over the preceding year, and $4,000 over
the wear ls78-79. The taxes for the fiscal
wear lSS4-S5 are now being collected, and the
result cannot, therefore, be reported. The
levy amounts to Sl,S01 ,494, divided as fol-
lows: For State, s841 ,526; for counties, s677, =
149, and for schools, S312, $40, not including
polls.
By the use of certain undraWn balances
which remain in the treasury temporarily
the necessity of borrowing money to pay
the interest on the public debt, in anticipa-
ton of the collection Of taxes, has been
avoided; but it is recommended that the
authority to effect such a loan, if necessary
be again given to the Governor and the
State treasurer The recommendations OF
the comptroller general that the counties be
authorized to borrow the necessary funds to
meet both county and school expenses, and
that some provision be made to recover the
lost tax year, are also earnestly called to
your attention.
tits estimated that it will require S4O3,O 900
to meet the ordinary expenses of the Gov
ernment for the fiscal year 1885, and
1891, 600 to pay interest on the public debt.
These amounts will be increased by such
additional appropriations as may be requIr-
ed by legislation, and will be decreased by
ko n nd fhQf
NAV remain in the treasury. AS these
amounts are contingent, and consequently
unknown, the necessary levy can only. be
determined when the general Assembly
prepares the annual supply bill.
PHOSPHATE ROYALTY.
All the phosphate royalty for the year
ending September 80, 1885, amounting to
$l76, ,244.4l, has been collected. This is the
largest amount ever paid into the treasury
from this source for one year. AS this yield
was probably exceptional, it would be best
in making estimates for the present fiscal
year to place the revenue from the phos-
phate royalty at sl5O,OOO.
DISABLED SOLDIERS.
The comptroller-general calls attention to
the Acts and the amendments thereto pro-
viding compensation for the soldiers OF this
State who have been permanently disabled
ceived in the civil war. Under the Acts re-
ferred to the sum fS46, 900 has already been
expended, and claims amounting to nearly
$4,000 are on file awaiting further appropri-
alton. By the terms of the Acts no one is
allowed compensation except for permanent
injury to a limb. Many applications for aid
have been received from soldiers who have
suffered injuries seriously affecting their
health, but for whose relief no provision is
made by law. The mptroller-general re-
commends that $50, 900 be appropriated an
nually for pensions to disabled soldiers and
sailors, each beneficiary to receive $50, un-
less the number exceeds one thousand, in
which case, the amount shall be equally di-
vided among them. / have no information
as to the number of soldiers and sailors who
would be entitled to receive this aid, and
am unable, therefore, to say whether the
sum proposed would be sufficient to afford
: any substantial relief; but the matter we'll
deserves consideration by the General AS
sembly. The State can never fully dis
charge her obligations to the brave men
who, in obedience to her call, have suffered
permanent injury in health or in limb; but
she should contribute, if possible, to the al
deviation of the wants OF such or them as
without the means of support, and are inca
pacitated for manual labor by reason of dis
abilities incurred in the discharge of duty.
While those who can claim this recognition
of services to the State diminish in number
each year, the infirmities of the survivors,
and their need for help, constantly increase.
TAX LAWS.
I would earnestly renew the recommen-
dations made in my first annual message for
such simplifcation of our present cumber-
some system of assessment and taxation as
shall relieve the unequal burdens caused by
lack of uniformity in the tax laws, and OF
effectiveness in their execution. The bill
reported by the commission appointed to
revise and simplify the tax laws, which
has not yet been acted on by the General
Assembly, proposes scheme of assessment
and taxation which, if adopted, will, in my
opinion, correct many of the evils of the
present system.
In connection with this subject, l would
call special attention to the report of the
Secretary of State to the sinking fund COM
mission, and to the suggestions therein made
as to amendments to the law by which lands
forfeited for non-payment of taxes can be
made to yield their proper revenues to the
State. The report shows that there are now
2,4O7, ,254 acres of land in the State not re-
ported for taxation, and 9I2, $40 acres on the
forfeited list, making in all 1920, ia acres
from which the State receives no revenue
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The report of the superintendent of edu
cation shows most gratifying progress lr
the work of the public schools and in the
healthy growth of popular sentiment or
the subject of education. Year by year the
friction that attended the operations OF the
free nublic school system in the earlier pc
rod of it's establishment has been reduced
80 =, III ,ort;ouIarS contrOllable bV the