The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-12-04

the levteS prior TO the levy or 1887 due upon
lands then upon the forfeited lists to be col
lectel by the commissioners Of the sinking
fund.-" giving them an action as for debt as g
remedy with which to enforce such collection.
The secretary or State, rs agent OF the sinking
fund. iS now. by mere correspondence, collect
ing the dues on many Of the forfeitures and
turning over to the attorney general for suit,
If necessary, the names OF such owners as
neglect or refus, to settle. In nll these cases
SO placed In his hands, except In few In
stances where owners promise " pay soon, or
have not Yet been heard from, the attorney
general has been enabled to effect quick and
easy settlement. 4
After all erroneous torteitures shall have
been eliminated from these lists. there will
still remain a debt OF at least Two hundred
thousand dollars (s2oO. .00O) due the State on ac-
whlch can be gradually and inexpensively
collected by the sinking fund commission,
through the secretary OF State aud the attor- :
ney general. Il
Care should therefore he taken that there
shall be no legislation tending TO the aban-
comment or the neglect of the collection OF
these back taxes, NJ this would be emlnently
unjust to these taxpsysss who promptly pay
Government. the law Is, however, seriously
defective in requiring the levy OF 1857 and the
levles subsequent thereto. due the State on
lands then on the forfeited land list, to be col.
lected by county treasurers. as the experience
Of two years has shown that these officers,
without process OF distress. have been able to
collect he dues on very few Of these old for
feitures, the proportion In one county being
only seven In one Thousand, County treasur-
ers could not, with proper regard to the
States Interest, collect this levy by execution
and purchase by an outsider would wipe out
and destroy the States larger and more val
liable debt Of previous levies. .... At
To make these collections other than they
are now being nude by the sinking fund COM
mission. through the secretary OF State and
the attorney general. would likely prove
costly experiment to the State, for the evident
reason that county trea.uTers can only collect
would result in sumnarily placing upon the
market about six thousand parcels OF land.
The market being thus glutted. and the pub
lie being unncq unln lnted with and doubtful OF
the titles offered. few sales would be effected;
and the State. as the enforced purchaser OF the
land would be obliged to pay the heavy costs
A:rrulug TO county sheriffs and other county
otfi,:'ais under this process. for IL would mani
f.stly he oppressive and unfair to require
these officers 10 perform such service without
riequat. and reasonable compensation. The
magnitude OF this eSpHndI'ure Will b5 appre-
cialed when It - mnntioned that sheriffs
mi cage, but n single one out OF several ex-
pensive Items Of the bill OF costs. would ba
charged against each parcel or land. resulting
from n necessary and sometimes fruitless
search for the land under ineagre and insuf-
ficient description. .....
therefore recommend TO your earnest aud
favorable consideration II bill carefully pre-
commission and published in their report,
which charges that board with the collection
OF the levy OF 1887 az we'll as evies subsequent
ami prior thereto now due on forfeited lands,
and gives them At the same time two distinct
remedies TO enforce the collection, either or
both OF which may he cautiously applied by
them as their experience and Judgment may
dictate. n this bill becomes law, am Suits
fed that all taxes due on forfeited lands will
be collected at comparatively little expense
without recourse 70 legal process, except In
rare instances, and generally by correspond
ence only. ... ..
The sinking fund commission, the secretary
Of State and the attorney general receive net-
ther fees nor commission Tor services render
ed in this collection.
ABANDONED LANDS.
recommend to your careful consideration
the comprene nensive report Of the secretary Of
State. ~ agent OF the sinking fund commits.
sion, published in the commiss'on's report0
upon the subject Of abandoned lands. AS this
class OF lund Is upon neither the tax duplicate
nor the forfeited lists. II is contributing no
revenue to the State, and, In most instances,
cannot b0 acquired by individuals for Inn
are generally unknown and inaccessible.
This subject needs your attention.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The elementary education of our peop!e de-
serves and demands our most careful consid-
Grafton. The pubic SCHOOL Is the principal
training ground OF the masses. 1t furnishes
the only opportunity for the average child.
The dictates of religion and philanthropy call
for wise legislation in this field. To these
high motives iS added the safety or the Com
with the most Ssrupu.Uus fidelity in the exc
cution OF all laws enacted. The citizen Is ben
rrited not go much by the perfection Of writ
ten constitutions ana statutes as oy their
eo uitable nd dminlst atou. The State has up
oi paper body OF simple and compact laws
for the training Of our CHILDREN, which can be
,treny Then ed annually by amendment, as ex.
perience demonstrates us defects.
One OF the most ealutary and progressive
Of the House OF Represe ntatives at
,h, last session whS tha appointment OF q
standing committee to guard and develop this
~ oretns question. l am pleased to believe
hat the agents in ;he Held. school officers and
,edchers, as body, are more efficient and
earnest in the discharge OF duty than ever be-
ore. .,
m the schools will very soon become the fac
,ors in our social and political life. 1t Is our
;upreme duty 10 give them every advantage
within our means. Tne State undertakes to
,lac., the seal OF its approval upon every
,e ,cher who receives public money. 1tshould
hen o. course, be inexorible in its require
mis- high work. The teacher Is q mind and
character builder, aud teaching the most ex.
.ciing Of all duties. Only those. therefore,
hould be endorsed by the state who are thor
The length OF our school term should be ex-
ended, rs soon as practicable, To the mini
num- of six months required Uy the Constitu-
ion. Our training schools should be foStered
nd their operations supervised by commit.
ee appointed by the State. The superinten-
lent OF education well says that mo mere ex-
'licio relation should satisfy the people"
We should be liberal to theseinstitutions, and
h0uld follow our appropriations with the
nost faithful and int. .ligent inspection of the
york done. Your honorable bodies we'll un-
erstaud that we endOw these Institutions to
levale the children and build up the State.
he teacher receives individual benefit, but
he basal idea is the safety Of the Common.
7ealth. Institutes In county and State, and
ormal schools. are u vital part OF any efh-
lent system OF common schools. desire
lost earnestly to invoke your patient and
peral consideration Of all measures that Will
xtend the school term, elevate the teachers,
nd make more efficient and helpful the
,hools that are the principle agencies to
rain the children of South Carolina in the
ements Of knowledge.
The report OF the superintendent OF educa-
on shows that during the scholastic year
ndiug August 81, 1859. there were enrolled In
le public schools S9,76l white pupils, and lei,.
q colored pupils, making total enrolment
r1nt 0os fnH fbao