The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-12-03
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
a Review Of the Condition Of South Caro-
lima.

The STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER,
COLUMBIA, November "a, 1885.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly,: In
the performance of the duty imposed
upon the Governor by the Constitution
of the State, have the honor to transmit
the following message:
PUBLIC DEBT.
The report of the Comptroller-G General
gives in full the character and condition
of the public debt. The aggregate is
practically the same as reported last
year, Sc, ,522, 1854, no bonds having been
purchased by the sinking fund commits
sion ON account of the high premium
which they commanded. Only s25, 300
of old bonds were funded during the
year, although the amount outstanding
is estimated at over 100000; and of
ss63, 3,372 of Green consols, only S29, ,081.3 .3S
$6,279.38 of which amount was invalid)
have been exchanged for Brown consols.
The debt is classified as follows: Funded
debt (all valid) Sc, l23,907.79; unfunded
debt partly invalid) estimated at $685.
2SO. The funded debt consists of Brown
consols, S. ,24O, ,230; valid Green consols,
$241 ,42l. 40; deficiencies, $3.50, ,456.29 /;
and agricultural land scrip, sl91 300.
REVENUES OF THE STATE.
The total revenues Of the State and
counties for the fiscal year commencing
November l, 1888, was about 32,089, 900,
of which about 81, ,996, 900 was raised by
taxation, and sl53,O00 from phosphate
royalty. The collection of the taxes was
unusually full and satisfactory, nearly SO
per cent. of the assessed State tax having
been collected, and nearly 96 per cent.
having been paid into the treasury. The
net receipt for each mill levied was $l45,
600, being an increase of $4,000 over the
preceding year, and $25,000 over the
year 1S78-79. The taxes for the fiscal
year 18S4-85 are nov being collected,
and the result cannot, therefore, be re.
ported. The levy amounts to 81 ,S3l ,494,
divided as follows: For State, $841 ,52G /;
for counties, $677, ,14S, and for schools,
S312,S20, not including polls.
By the use oflcertain undrawn balances
which remain the treasury temporarily
the necessity of borrowing money to pay
the interest on the public debt, in antic-
ipation of the collection of taxes, has
been avoided but it is recommended
that the authority to effect such loan, if
necessary, be again given to the Governor
and the State Treasurer. The recon.
mendaticng of the Comptroller-G General
that the counties be authorized to borrow
the necessary funds to meet both county
and school expenses, and that some pro-
vision be- made to recover the lost tax
year, are also earne.tly called to your at
tention.
EXPENSES OF 1856.
It Is estimated that it will require
$40S, 900 to meet the ordinary expenses
of the Government for the fiscal year
1SS5-S6, and 1891 900 to pay the interest
on the public debt. These amounts will
be increased by such additional appro-
priations as may be required by legisla.
tion, and will be decreased by the phos-
phate royalty and any surplus that may
remain in the treasury. AS these
amounts are contingent, and consequent
" unknown, the necessary levy can only
be determined when the General Assem-
bly, prepares the annual supply bill.
PHOSPHATE ROYALTY.
All of the phosphate royalty foe the
year ending September 80, 1885, amount
ing 10 S176,244.4l, has been collected.
This is the largest amount ever paid into
the treasury from this source for one
year. AS this yield was probably excep-
tional, it would be best in making esti'
mates for the present fiscal year to place
the revenue from the phosphate royalty
at $150,0OO.
DISABLED SOLDIERS.
The Comptroller General calls atten-
ton to the Acts and the amendments
thereto providing compensation for the
soldiers of this State who have been per-
manently disabled in any limb in conse.
auence of wounds received in the civil
war. Under the Acts referred to the
sum of $4,000 has already been expend-
ed, and claims amounting to nearly
$4,000 are on file awaiting further appro.
priatiou. BY the terms of the Acts no
one is allowed compensation except for
permanent injury to limb. Many ap.
plications 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 Comptroller General recommends
that 100000 be appropriated annually
for pensions to disabled soldiers and
sailors, each beneficiary to receive $50,
unless the number exceeds ono thousand,
in which case the amount shall be di.
vided equally among them. have no
information as to the number of soldiers
and sailors who would be entitled to re-
ceive this aid, and I am unable, therefore,
to say whether the sum proposed would
be sufficient to afford any substantial re-
lief; but the matter we'll deserves coa-
sideration by the General Assembly.
The State can never fully discharge her
obligations to the brave men who, in
obedience to her call, have suffered per.
manent injury in health or in limb; but
she should contribute, 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 dis
charge of duty. While those who can
claim this recognition Of services to the
State diminish in number each year, the
inhrmities of the survivors, and their
need for help, constantly increase.
TAX LAWS.
would earnestly renew The recon-
mendations made in my first annual mes.
sage for such a simpli6cation of our
present cumbersome 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 sirl.
plify the tax laws, which has not yet
been acted on by the General Assembly,
proposes scheme of assessment and tax.
alton which, if adopted, will, in my
opinion, correct many of the evils of the
present system.
In connection with this subject,
would call special attention to the report
of the Secretary of State to the sinking
fund commission, and to the suggestions
therein made as to the 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
roport shows thot there Nre now I07 25a