The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-12-02
Governor Shcpparti's Message.
Governor Sheppard's message is an

luuutu, dulOuitiuS, hhCi iutueo ~ y"
per cent. of their face value, to $2S5 900
of consols. In order to relieve the slug
gishness of holders in funding these
securities, the Governor recommends the
passage of an act providing that the
period in which these bonds and certiii,
Gates of stock may be rendered and
exchanged BIZ limited to October 81, 1889,
after which they shall be funded only
under special act of the General Assem-.
bly,.
A careful review of the assessment and
collection of taxes is submitted to the
Assembly, with important recommends
tions.
In this connection the Governor repeats
with emphasis the inequality and absurd
valuation of property in the State, and
also To the large amount of property,
personal and real, which escapes all tax,
alton whatsoever The provision of the
Constitution requires that property
should he assessed on its "actual ralua.
tior" is emphasized, and the Governor
shows pretty conclusivcly how the letter
and spirit of the Constitution is disre
garded in this important particular,
besides the large amount of property in
the State having no place whatever on
the tax books.
To meet these and other tax abuses
pointed out, the Governor recommends
that Section 253 of the tax act be amend.
ed so as to enlarge the powers and
increase the responsibilities of the Town.
ship Board of Assessors. 1t is maintain
ed that discreet and intelligent persons
filling these Township Boards can more
readily and accurately determine the
actual value of the property in the
townships than the County Board or the
County Auditor. 1t is recommended
that every owner, agent or other person
whose duty it is to return property tor
taxation shall make the return in person,
and should in person sign the oath
required to be made. The Auditor
should be authorized to PROFOUND any
inquiries that would enable him to obtain
full and honest returns of all property
subject to taxation. The Township
Board before entering on the discharge
of their duties, it is recommended, should
be required in addition to the usual oaths
of office, to swear that they will fairly
and impartially assess the value of prop.
ertv, and concluding their duties should
further swear that according to their
knowledge, Information and belief there
is no property in their township that is
omitted from assessment. It's contended
that if all property in the respective
townships is assessed at its actual value
there will be nothing for the County
Boards to equalize. The jurisdiction of
the County Boards, it is recommended,
should be appellate only, with right of
further appeal TO the Comptroller Gener-
al.
1t is recommended that the Township
Boards for the services thus rendered
should be paid such per diem as will
compensate them for the time spent in
discharging such duties. The State
Board Of Equalization, upon the authori-
tv of the Comptroller, the Governor
holds is an entirely inefficient body. AS
to the non.payment of taxes and property
forfeited therefor,athe Governor calls
attention to the utterly inefficient laws
now on the statute book, and recommends
herealt.. that this forfeiture be affected
by decree of court
The Trial Justice system isreyiewed and
its plain abuses pointed out. To relieve
the case it is recommended that there be
two classes of Trial Justices, viz, minis.
terial and judicial. That ministerial
justices SHOULD have the trial of civil
cases alone now within their jurisdiction,
and the power to commit offenders for
trial before the judicial justice or the
Circuit Court as the case may be. That
each County should have one judicial
Justice to set at the court house, and
before whom all criminal cases withou!
the Jurisdiction of the Court of Sessions
should be tried.
The Governor recommends q rccur
renee to the old summary process"
jurisdiction, so as to permit the Circuit
Judges to hear and determine, without a
Jury unless demanded by either party
under certain restrictions), all civil &C.
tions from Trial Justice Courts.
1t is also suggested that there should
be no appeal in such cases from the
QeClSlUU vi luC OllCQll SOull'
1t is advised that the fee bill be revised
and amended SO as to limit the number
of days for which costs may be taxed for
references"
1t is recommended that the practice of
swearing in open court witnesses appear
ing before grand juries be dispensed
with. and that the foreman or foreman
pro tenn of the grand jury be authorized,
by act, to administer such oaths.
Attention is called to an important
decision of the Supreme Court Of the
United States reversing the decision of
the Federal Circuit Court, and by which
the payment Of q claim of 81 500, 900 is
saved to the State, besides setting at rest
many other claims which would have
greatly embarrassed the administration
If the State government.
Tile condition of the public schools
and higher institutions of learning of
the State is reviewed with care, and the
institutions commended to the liberal
support of the Assembly. The Governor
SAYS that the enrolment of pupils in the
public schools amounted for the year to
lS3 ,066, and the average attendance to
126,G96, showing an increased average
attendance in the year of 4,G03.
Of the several State institutions We
are told the Institution for the Education
of the Deaf and Dumb shows an enroll
ment for the year of o.; ClaAin College
4O3; South Carolina College 209; Mill.
tary Academy showing an aggregate
of Sl2 students in the several Sale insti-
tutions
The remark of the Governor in refer
ence to South Carolina College, When he
says that the "liberal patronage of the
institution shows that the rehabliment
of the institution has met want rccog
nized aud felt is most strikingly appli-
cable to the whole round of the States
schools. What more triumphant en-.
dorsement Of the States educational
appropriations than per presence OF over
500 students in the several institutions of
learning?
The Governor, whilst commencing
South Carolina College to the liberal
support Of the Assembly, does not favor
free tuition.