The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-11-25

the Stale could make at least Il respectable
exhibit: and whatever other economies IN
public expenditures the General .AsSemblS
may determine upon, lin all of which | shall
hertily join.D | desire TO soy in all earnest
ness that a failure to have the State properly
represented at Chicago would be- an act OF
parsimony that would cause us 10 blush. ]
would, therefore, urge the election Or ap'
pointment OF Il proper Commission to take
charge of the matter and see that South Car
olina shall occupy her proper place among
her sisters.
Miscellaneous.
now beg to call your attention to some
matters of m iuor Importance: as briefly as !
can 10 give you clear Information.
THE DIRECT TAX.
The United States Congress, by Acto March
9. 1891; has refunded the direct tax collected
from some OF our citizens during and !mfne-
diately after the war. The amount involved
is about S222,000, which is to I've received by
the State in trust for the parties who paid IT..
II will he necessary for legislation on the part
of the General Assembly, to accept the trust;
and that some provision be made for its
speedy and proper distribution. After careful
investigation, and consultation with an attor-
ney who is familiar with the matter, II Bill
has heen prepared providing for the appoint
ment OF a special referee or com missioner,
who shall obtain the necessary information
from the archives at Washington and act as
the States agent in paying all claimants h
can present the necessary proofs. The Bill
has been carefully drawn and appears TO cover
all the points.
REINFORCEMENT.
The United States census of 1890 having
been completed as far as the tables OF populu-
ton are concerned. 1t will be necessary 10
pass n law reapportioning representation in
the House of Representatives. In this con-
nection I desire 10 call attention to the mat
ter of redistricting the Congressional Dis
tricts. Our State has been held up 10 scorn in
the National CONGRESS because or what IS
known as the black district" This gerry
mander, by which a district was formed com
posed almost entirely of black voters-a dis
trict the like of which was never seen before.
and which should never be seen again-can
have no excuse for longer existence. We
have no reason to dread a return Of negro or
is now no reason. If there ever existed any,
why our Congressional Districts should not
be arranged in reasonably compact shape.
MEDICAL EXAMINERS.
Bill was passed at your last session abol-
ishing State Boards OF Medical Examiners,
aud substituting therefor County Boards,
which were authorized to give certificates TO
applicants TO practice under certain ~restrtc-
tions. The Bill appears to have been hastily
drawn, and had 1t attracted my attention l
should have vetoed 1t. This Act has given
great dissatisfaction TO the medical fraternity,
and in several Of the Counties the physicians
have refused TO recommend for the appoint.
ment OF the County Boards, and in one (after
appointment) they have refused to serve.
The trouble Is, that very little discretion Is
given tosthe examining Board, and under Its
provisions almost any charlatan who can OBJ
tain q diploma from a SO called reputable
medical college" can be turned loose upon the
community 10 commit legal murder by mall
practice. In the learned professions an igno-
ramuS. or mountebank who attempted 10
practice law or enter the pulpit would neces-
sarily expose himself at once. In medicine
1t Is Just the reverse. The doctor rarely has q
consulting nhyEician- pSDpciallv in the COun-
try, and the people are at his mercy, only as
they protect themselves after they find out
his incapacity, and often only after the death
OF some loved one.
In a matter involving life it is a duty socie-
ty owes TO itself to see that every safeguard Is
thrown around admission to the medical pro.
fesSion. We look after the welfare OF our
souls by admitting only good and pure men
to our pulpits; we protect our property by the
assistance OF able lawyers; but the indiffer-
ence which we show, and the carelessn"SS
with which we permit quacks TO inflict pain
and murder our bodies, is astonishing.
Whether II is best to enlarge the powers OF
the County Boards, and then throw addition
al restrictions around the practice OF medl-
cine, or to have one central Board, is for your
wisdom to determine. The latter would be
the least expensive and cumbersome, and
probably prove more satisfactory In the end.
! do not think any person should be allowed
to practice medicine who has not taken at
least a three years course, and who cannot
stand an examination before a competent
" VI u
A County Board is Objectionable because In
small area 1t might be accused OF rejecting
applicants from jealousy or a desire to cut OF
competition. This objection could not hold
against u State Board. and | therefore recon-
mend the re-enactment of the old law with
such notifications as will prevent abuses or
tyrannical reflections.
OF CONFEDERATE ROLLS.
In the report Of the Adjutant and Inspector
General, he suggests that a small fund be pro.
vlded Tor the publication, in pamphlet form,
OF the rolls OF such companies and regiments
as are not complete. The purpose is that
these may be distributed III the territory from
which the men were enlisted. so that The sur
vivors may have some data 10 be guided by
In supplying the missing names. H. should
be q matter OF State pride, and OF justice to
the dead and living alike, that everything
reasonable be done 10 put on record in the
archives OF the government at least the name
of every man who wore the gray. / there
fore urge consideration OF the :Adjulant Cen
Gratis commendation He Is q Jealous and
efficient officer; and, being a gallant Confeder-
ate soldier himself, will use every reasonable
effort to finish this necessary work.
LIQUOR LICENSES
I desire to direct your attention to a ques-
ton OF great importance. with which the well
fare of society and the economical admins
tration OF the government are closely con-
nected. 1t is the matter of licensing the sale
OF liquor. Without entering into any discus,
sion OF the prohibition question, / will Gail
your attention to u gross inequality and In.
justice to a part OF our citizens, entaued by
the present system. Section 1882 of the Gen
eral Statutes reads mo license for the sale
OF Intoxicating liquor shall be granted by any
municipal authority IN any city. town or vii
!age IN this State, except upon the payment
by the person applying for the same to the
Treasurer OF the County in which said city or
town Is situated the sum of SlC0 In addition TO
the license charged by such city, town or vii.
lage, for the use OF Said County. TO be applied
IN tho ordinary pNnpnS 1S nf the Comfy "
II will be seen that, by this provision OF
law. only a small proportion of the tax deriv-
ed from the sale Of liquor goes to the general
fund. Now, while 1 do not believe that it is
absolute prohibition of the sale of liquor in
this State, no sensible man will deny that
one-half or three-fourths of the crimes COM
mitted in the State are traceabie directly 10
the drinking Of whiskey. In order TO punish
these crimes, the machinery OF the law Is set
in motion.
The Courts are supported by general tax.
alton, and largely by the country people, and
yet the State permits municipal corporations
to maintain or license what many men re-
gard as nuisanceS and breeders OF crime,
while two-thirds or three-fourthS of The mon
ey a~ccruing thereirom Is retained by the cor.
%porations. The anomalous condition is pre-
scented then Ola community allowing itsel!
to be unjustly taxed as Il whole for the sup
preston of a crime produced by the action OF
q part. The liquor tax Is largely for Local
benefit. while the abuse Is general. The PEG.
pie in the country not only pay tribute to
those who sell liQpOr,-by means of which
they pay tax for the suppression OF crime pro-
duced by the maintenance OF these bar rooms.
1t is unjust and unequal, and ought to be
stopped. ! therefore strongly RECOMMENDED
thai ali municipal corporations be prohib.
tied from levying any license at all. and that
all tax derivable from the sale OF whiSkey
60 into the State and County treasures, leav-
Ing the matter Of local option as at present;
and If anV nnnipiDal pnrDnrltlOn desires 10