davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

-;.h few remarks ss to the1sfa-
lions lions which ought to exist otsseen
the t Executive and the represen5saves
St Of the 2scpss pe3p!s pesnpsgn S tho fss' lines
lhern1v the 1GISd1 drawn, and I was elected IT. on
a aplatform which, among otnel lungs
demands i rigid economy IN ponlc
expenditures, the abolition OF useless
eApeni !eas reduction of salary and fees
OF of!eH'i al Offices. State and county, to
co conform to the increased pgrchaslng
uower Of money and the decreased
abilitv of the people to pay taxes;
that e nnblic officers be paid in preporz
t;on t;[S' +pptbe;r labor and responsibility. :"
''' An overwhelming majority OF both
YOUR honorable bodies was eleceeo ' on
the single issue as to whether s he You. you
endorsed this platform and us expo expo
nent. We are here to redeem tnese
3 pledges and it is yours to make z;I the
laws and mine to execute. Inc re-
sponsibility is squarely on US anoRe
cannot shirk it.
There are some minor matters to-
which I will direct your attention n
special messages from time to dne
The observations l have maze, sad
40 ' rocommendations 1 have offered
are for your consideration, Your du:g
is not discharged unless you SIT 8slt
amend, after and add to these sggs
gestions. anything which, IL your
Judgment, will perfect them, andsub5
5 serve re the object which alone snoad s
actuate US aiI-the public welfare.
have given you the best light s
have, but L am not infalhole and. and
have no pride of opinion. There z Is g.
fearful responsibility resting on:me
bv reason of the reliance upon my
leadership But you cannot avoldthe
responsibility resting on your own.
shoulders, and you will do wrong to
cast a single vote against your Juugg-
ment, no matter whence comes the:
recommendation. In the matter @ OF
appointments, I must rely almost
who'll lyon your advice and suggestion
whore the people have. left us any
choice.
THE JURY COMMISSIONER.
The most important appointiye
officer in each county is the jury
commissioner. The pressure brought
to bear on this. officer by friends and
attorneys and men indicted for mur- T
der is very strong, and unless he is.
incorruptible the jury gets 'fzeg
and Justice is cheated The oheeo
trial Justice is one of large power and
importance, and no man who ever
drinks to intoxication should hold It,
Only three weeks remain OF the
usual legislative session which has
been limited to Christmas by. un-
written law. You have to deal with
many matters of great Importance,
and whether you can perform these
duties properly in so short time
must depend on your diligence and
an absolute refusal to waste time on
silly, wildcat schemes and local and
special legislation which are the
curses of our time. Pledging you my
best efforts and hearty cooperation
in your arduous labors, and invoking
the guidance and blessings Of the
Father upon our labors in behalf OF
our beloved State and its people, l
am now ready to call Heaven to wit
ness, and take the oath of Office.
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

able franchise. Their plant, which
has been obtained from the surplus
profits, is valued at S75O,OOO or
over, and in the meantime, by fabu-
lous dividends, the original capital
of 275,000 has been returned to the
stockholders, as I have heard, over
and over again.
When you are told that the out
puts of this company this year has
been 100000 tons, worth 81 per ton
+. o. b., and that the cost of mining
this rock, including royalty, cannot
exceed s4.25 per ton and is believed
by many to be much less, the margin
of profit exceeds 100 per cent on the
original investment. The total royal
ty secured by the State from its
phosphate has been over S2,OOO,O0O,
and of this amount over half has
been paid by the Coosaw Company.
These facts are mentioned as they
will be the basis of the recommends
tions I am going to make as to the
management OF the States phosphate
territory. The expiration OF the
Coosaw lease in March next makes it
possible, in my judgment, to double
the income of the State from the
phosphate royalty without injuring
the industry, in interfering unduly
with any vested right. We come
into Office upon platform demand
ing survey of the phosphate terri
tory and its lease at auction to the
highest bidder, after a minimum
royalty has been fixed by the board
of control upon each districtsurveyed.
So the people have in manner
taken the question from the domain
of debate and we must determine
what shall be the scope and extent of
such work. Anything less than a
thorough and reliable survey would
be waste of time and money, and
this will take a good deal of both:
But cost what it may, it will we'll
repay it's cost, and, until we have the
data which alone can be thus OBJ
tanned, we: cannot legislate intelli-
gently or derive the benefits from
this valuable property that we ought.
This year the royalty has been S237,-
600, and all of it except $4,000 was
paid by six large mining corpora
tions, whose field of operations is
confined to territory within twenty
miles of Beaufort. You will be told
by: some that. this indicates an ex-
/ haustion of the deposits; but I am
| sure it only means that good rock is
more plentiful or more cheaply mined
there than elsewhere. A survey alone
can demonstrate the truth or falsify
Of this belief which is based upon the
assurances ofexperts, who themselves
|. have mined in other waters Of the
State. As the reliance Of capitalists
upon an estimate of the value of any
given deposit of phosphates will de-
pend largely upon the character of
the man making the survey, I have
thought it best to obtain the help of
the United States Government if pos
sible, and ask the detail of an officer
Of the navy or coast survey to do the
work, I think, upon inquiry, as ap-
preparation of $4,000 will be suff
Gent to start with, and by the time
the General Assembly meets year
hence it will have something definite
to go upon, and can continue the
work or not as it may deem best. In
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

the meantime, by means OF this sur
vey and the opportunity for further
Investigation to which all my spare
time shall be devoted, a clearer
understanding as to the best system
OF management of this important in
dustry can be obtained and the Gene
raj Assembly can then act intelligent
ly. We do not want TO ''kill the goose
that lays these golden eggs"; we only
want the state to get her just share
of them. In the meantime, as soon
as the Coosaw lease expires, lst
March next, let US open that river to
all miners who choose to enter 1t,
allow the board of control to parcel
out the territory among them so as
to prevent conflict.
RAISE THE ROYALTY TO 81 PER TON,
and place one or more inspectors on
the ground to supervise the work and
weigh the rock when shipped Give
enlarged powers to the Executive
and his compeers on the board as to
requiring a minimum amount OF
rock to be mined, and leave it to
their discretion after examination to
raise the royalty outside of Coosaw
River to such miners as do not choose
to relinquish their present ground
If the Coosaw Company goes to law,
give the power to shut down their
works, and thus force this giant
monopoly to relinquish its hold on a
property whose value is unknown,
but which is estimated by experts as
worth millions. Any halfway meas
ures will not do, and this tle-fsh
must be grasped with mailed hand.
The State owes the company moth
ing, and it will fight much longer
and harder if it is met timidly.
All the river rock mined in South
Carolina is exported to Europe, and
last year the demand was so great as
to necessitate the expectation of 49,
900 tons of land rock, while the price
has steadily increased since 1887.
Suppose the doubling of the royalty
should lessen the output of river rock
one-half, the price would 60 still up
ward and the State have the same
income as now, with $4,000 tons
more rock on hand in her rivers. for
future use. Then, if the litigation
forced, the cessation of work by the
Coosaw Company, and the State
should hesitate to open Coosaw
River to other miners without the
increase of royalty, the income OF the
State will be only half of what it has
been this year. The Coosaw Com
pany when confronted with. the al
Tentative of going to law to'retain its
imaginary rights and having its
works closed, or of acknowledging
that its lease has expired and asking
for generous treatment with its large
investment would warrant its receiv-
ing, will doubtless choose the latter,
but T must insist that the. General
Assembly should take any risk there
may be and open Coosaw River to
other miners after March 1. I am
equally emphatic in the belief that
the rock in that river can pay two
dollars royalty at this time.
THE CREDIT OF THE STATE
And what other. benefits may be
reasonably .expected--aye, are sure
to follow-a just and: equitable as:
sessment of property, and a reliable
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

know other land that is assessed for
more than it will bring in the mar
ket.
The phosphate miners protected by
the Constitution, return land bought
at enormous prices at the price of
agricultural land and either put
down no output or return it at about
one-ffth of its selling price. The
sworn returns of such land mines as
I have been able to get show that
while the gross output of land rock
in the State is about S3,O0O,O0O, less
than 100000 is returned for taxes.
The Halle Gold mining Company,
of Lancaster, whose output, as | am
reliably informed, is at least $4,000
per annum, returns nothing but ma
chinery, etc, and land. Here IS the
exhibit of
THE CHARLESTON BANKS
as given me by the auditor of that
country.
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

survey of the phosphate territory:
The States credit will be strength
ened abroad and at home, and our
bonds can be placed at low rate OF
interest, so that the debt which ma
lures in 1893 can be paid promptly
and easily, dollar for dollar. We
know that the property of the State
is worth at least double what it IS
now returned at. Suppose a capl-
talist is looking for bonds in which
to invest? He finds South Carolina
bonds cheap as compared with others
bearing the same interest, and ne
asks about the State, its wealth, gov
eminent, etc., and is told its property
is assessed at s150,000,00O. He
shakes his head and buys some other
securities. Let US suppose that the
answer was made. The property OF
the State is assessed at s30O,OO0,OO0,
and, besides, the State owns Phos-
phate deposit estimated at -tons'
worth $, from which she annu-
ally receives $, more than the
total interest on her debt" then let
it be seen that the bonds contained a
provision hypothecating this phos,.
phate deposit as security for the bond
itself, while the royalty is pledged
for the interest, and it can readily be
supposed that such bonds will com
mand prices as high as any on the
market and be foated at as low rate
of interest as any. We are in duty
bound then to press the matter OF
securing fair and honest assess
ment of property, both to secure
equality among our own citizens and
for the sake of the States credit.
And we are equally bound to lezsn
what is the extent and value OF our
phosphate territory SO as to foster it,
to guard it from injury by mlsman-
agement, too much of which has al
ready been had, and to derive every
dollar of income. it can be made. to
Weld to lessen the burden of the tax
payers; and lastly, as a sure mesns
Of placing the States credit as high
as the highest. ---..;
STATE BANKS AND INSURANCE ceN-
PANIEs. -. = :
There is some further legislation
which will tend to make our bonds
command more readysale at home.
First. By requiring State banks OF
deposit to place with the State Trea-
surer as security State bonds to the
amount of the average deposits OF
I State funds with such banks.
Second That every bank chartered
by the State be required to invest a
part of it's capital stock, say ~ per
cent, in State bonds.
Thi l. That all insurance compa-
nie d5ing business in South Carroll
na be required to deposit $4,000 in
South Carolina bonds with-the State
Treasurer, as a guarantee cof solven-
cy, and as fund that can be attached
if the company does not pay its losses
promptly. The State is being flooded
by these companies, Some OF them
are utterly worthless. Such a require:
ment can work no harm to solvent
companies, while it will protect our
people. against swindlers.
THE -GoyERNoR :. AND GHE-PEoPLE.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House
of Representatives: I must apologize
for the time l have consumed in dis
cussing these important matters, aid
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

for acquiring correct information has
been neglected. But the octopus
which seized on the industry twenty
one years ago has kept the water
turbid with it's inky fluid, and, while
those Oh the inside have, many OF
them, grown rich, the taxpayers and
their representatives know very little
about it and every effort has been
made to keep the facts from the pub
lie.
It would consume too much time
to go into the matter exhaustively,
and T will confne myself to a brief
statement OF facts, merely asking
those who want to study the question
thoroughly to read Attorney General
Conner's report to the General AS:
sembly in 1877, and the reports OF
the commissioner Of agriculture, to-
gether with the testimony taken by
the phospate commission in 1887.
THE coosAw coMPANYs GRANT.
In 1870 the Radical Legislature
granted privileges to corporation
known as the River and Marine Com
panv to mine work in the navigable
waters of the State for twenty -one
wears. The State received nothing
for this valuable franchise, but it is
believed that it was secured by bri-
berry, and this belief is strengthened
bv the fact that it was passed over
the veto of Governor Scott. The
Coosaw Mining Company obtained
from the original grantors exclusive
right to mine in Coosaw River, and
with paid up capital of S275,OOO
commenced operations.
In 1875 the General Assembly
passed an act confirming the exclu-
sive right of the Coosaw Company to
mine that river for the item of TWEEN
ty-one years at a fixed royalty OF 81
per ton, and this lease will expire on
the first of March, 1891. The Act of
1876, as I have been informed, was
drawn by the attorney Of the Coosaw
Company and SO adroitly worded as
to give color to the claim that the
grant to that river was perpetual, $50
long as that company shall make true
returns" etc, and under this the
company, as I was informed by a
local stockholder, claims that ITS
tenure is not a lease expiring in 1881,
but contract running for all time.
This claim is preposterous in my
opinion on that admirable report OF
Gen. James Connor, which has been
already mentioned. I state further
that this opinion is held by the re-
tiring Attorney General, Joseph Il.
Earle, and his successor, Gen. Y. D..
Pope. So, while we may expect the
Coosaw Company to appeal to the
Courts to sustain their claim, we have
the opinion of three distinguished
lawyers as against its validity, and
this General Assembly must not hesl-
tate to move forward and act as
promptly and decisively as though
no such litigation was threatened.
WHAT THE coosAw HAS MADE.
The Coosaw River to which this
company lays claim is perhaps, the
best phosphate field in the world
The lease under which it has been
made for twenty one years has made
every stockholder wealthy, and they
gave the State nothing for this 7alu-
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

are appointed by the Governor,
seelr work is supervised by the
soiIer General. In addition
eop.se se county and State boards of
rsEatlon by whom the work is
The auditors appoint the
lE s OF the county board, and
armen of the respective boards
ste the State board. Assess
are made, under oath,'' of
Ely at its 'sreal market value.'
This is the system, and how has it
Eed? 1t is an absolute and pitt
failure, and both the law and
eople are to blame; and as the
utive is the fountain head pro-
to analyze it and point out
grave defects so that I may es-
blame if nothing is done by the
sral Assembly. While the Offices
treasurer and auditor are ap-
tive, and are properly so with
ystem OF county governments, the
pie OF most Of the counties have,
# aeir own accord, by primary cleo
selected men to be recommend
for these positions, and the Gov
or, as a matter of course, is glad
sc relieved of the responsibility. 7
sve in self-govenment and in the
5ple selecting their own officers,
sef-go7ernment BY counties is,
nd has always been, a failure, and
specially SO in large counties,
3 The same argument which has
been used against the present
management of the asylum ap-
plies to the assessment of prop
erty by county official, and es-
pecially one elected by the people.
The resultin both casesis carelessness,
neglect of duty and often collision,
as I have shown of the Asylum, and
] will now show of assessments. The
duty Of jealous assessor is that of
9 spy on the lookout for property
which seeks to evade taxation alto
,sether; or in being returned below
its marketable value" When,
an auditor is assessing
property and the taxpayer is voter
to pass upon his claim for re-elec-
tion,-it is asking too much of poor
humanity to expect him to offend his
friends and constituents by prying
into their affairs too closely.
Hence we find that tax payers by
the thousand not only fail to return
all their property, as the law requires,
but tthey sign the oath that they have
returned all their property at its true
aVsllue, when they know and the audi
tor knows the returns are absolutely
false. The auditor does not care be-
cause he gets salary, and he does
not like to offend the man who has
Tote, while the Governor does not
care because he appointed the choice
Of the people. The local equaliza-
ten board appointed by the auditor
Tor political effect and getting no
pay goes through the returns hur-
ried1y and maks some slight changes
and the country board does likewise,
and nobody except the tax dodger is
satisfied I know land in Edge6eld
which sells readily for S25 to $40
per acre and it is assessed at an
average of IS or less. I know other
land, and it is very plentiful, that
sells at S6 and $S per acre and is
assessed at an average of 81; and l
The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-11

people of that township are willing
to pay out of their own pockets, as
voted il township meeting and If
public spirit does not make men do
the work for nothing the people will
pay what is necessary to have it done,
and well done, and no more. When
the auditor comes around to assess
property let these supervisors be
present and put prices on land,
stock, etc, etc, under oath and should
any taxpayer neglect to make return,
let the supervisors find out and as
sess his property, receiving therefor
one dollar from each taxpayer who
neglects to meet the auditor.
Let the chairman OF these town
ship boards of supervisors constitute
a county board of finance to audit &C
counts, order expenditures and do
all the duties now performed so IN
satisfactorily by the county commls-
sioners. When our county govern
ments are controlled by men who
are successful business men, who are
the best of their class, and the
money in the Office became secondary
to the honor and the public welfare,
we shall see the extravaganza and
waste, the speculation and peculation
now going on in many counties
brought to an end, and taxes reduc-
ed, while the affairs of the county
will be conducted in far more salts
factory way.
In the matter of assessments and
equalizing taxes, this county board
of finance could act as an equalizlng
board to whom the auditor should re-
port anything he may discover wrong
on the part of township boards or indi-
viduals. The auditor should be al
together free from political inAu-
ences, and be appointed, as now, on
the recommendation Of the county
board of finance rather than by the
primary system. For as long as he
is hunting votes, he cannot and will
not discharge his fearlessly. If the
law is strengthened by making it a
crime, punishment with fine and i'm
prisonment, to fall to return all prop
erty liable, to taxation, everything
will be done that is possible to make
all property bear its just share OF
the burdens of government.
The best of laws are Of no avail
unless they are properly administer
ed, and while its is not claimed that
this system is perfect it is submitted
to you as embodying the essence OF
self-government, and experience has
demonstrated that just in proportion
as the Government is conducted on
the same principle that our private
affairs are conducted, is it economi-
cal and efficient.
The people will not waste their
own substance or permit neglect of
their local affairs if allowed to con-
troll them.
THE PHOSPHATE INDUSTRY.
The next subject to which I beg to
call your attention is the manage
ment of IT, State phosphate beds.
Nothing with which this Legislature
has to deal can equal this in impor-
tance and value to the taxpayer. l
am only sorry that I know so little
about it. For five years much OF
my time has been directed to a study
of this question, and no opportunity
The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-03

CUMMONS-N THE DISTRICT COURT OF
. the First Judicial District Of thu
Territory Of Montana in and for the county Of
Lewis and Clarke
Charles Thompson, plaintiff, VS.. Matte Turner
Thompson. defendant
The State Of Montana sends greeting to the
above named defendants:
You are hereby required 70 appear In An ac-
ton brought against you by the above named
plaintiff In the district court of the First judicial
district of the stale Of Montana. in and tor tn
county Of Lewis and Clarke and to answer tho
complaint filed therein. within ten days (exclus-
i've Of the day of eervice after the service you
of this summons, if served within this county; or
if served ont Of this county but within this dis
trict. within twenty days; otherwise within forty
days, or judgment by default will be taken
against you according to the prayer OF said COM
plant
The said action is brought to obtain . decree Of
divorce from you by said plaintiff, on the grounds
that you hive wilfully ahsented yourself from
your husband the said plaintiff, without any rea-
sOnable cause for the space of one year.
And you are hereby notified that If you fail to
appear and answer the said complaint, as above
required. the said plaintiff will apply to the court
for the relief demanded in the complaint.
Given under my hand and the eeel OF the Dis
rict Court of the First judicial District OF the
Htata of Montana in and Tor the county Of
Lewis and Clarke, this oad day OF Ma-, in
the rear Of our Lord one thousand eight hundred
and ninsty.
ISEALl JOHN BEAN. Clerk. T:
L. z CRUTCHER. Attorney for Plaintiff.