The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-12-01
The GOV ERNOR'S MESSAGE
AN EXHAUSTIVE PAPER ON OUR
STATE AFFAIRS.

Several Public Institutions---su
., tions to the Gensral Assembly.
Governor Tillman sent in his annual
message to the Legislature on the first
day OF the current S .ssion. 1t is an ex-
haustiVe document, touching upon all
matters OF interest to the people, Be-
low will be found Il synopsis of its
statements ald Recommendations.
I 80. FINANCES.
The cash liabilities of the State on
October 81, amOuni ed to $G21 ,389 OIL
this sum including unpaid appropria-
tions, together with accrued interest
on the public debt. The cash assets, on
the same date amounted to $S41964IO OIL.
The valid debt Of the State amounts to
$6,4O6,6O6. The revenues for the last
fisca ye2r exclusive of moneys arising
frC m county, school and special taxes,
amounted to 81 1862, ,172 ID, and the ex-
penditures, fol public debt and State
purposes, were SLIPS, ,03856. The bal
ance in the treasury, October 81, 1891,
was 1854 ,6l5.O2. The balauce on Octo-
ber 81, 1892, was $20l, ,74894.
The debt maturing next July has not
yet been refunded, but negotiations are
now pending tor an adjustment Of the
debt-which The Governor will submit
to the General Assembly early during
the present 81 ssion.
"The State Railroad Board Of Equal
ization last year increased the assess
ments of the railroads from SIT ,9O5 Ola
to $2G,O65, $50. This increase has been
resisted by the roads and suits are now
pending i'll the Uni ed States Court to
enforce the collection of this increase
of taxes. The cases will be heard in
January, and if, as we confidently ex-
pect, the justice OF the States action
shall be sustained, there will be a sum
amounting TO about $35, 900 going to
increase the money In the Treasury.
"The Report Of the ComptrollerGen-
eral shows the total valuation Of the
property of the STATE to be $168,S7 ,227,
very slight increase over last year;
and, considering the depressed condi-
tion OF our agricultural interests and
the low price OF Our staple crop, this is
a satisfactory showing. The efforts OF
the Comptroller to have property in the
State listed and assGSsed in accordance
with the laws have been largely frus-
trated by the action Of our courts, and
will call attention: to this matter in
another place. Some amendments to
the Statutes in regard to tho assess
ments and levying Of taxes are needed,
and some declaratory Statutes are sug-
gested by the Attorney. General, which
hope your honorable bodies will con-
slider favorablY."
The total taxable property Of the
State is $1GS, ,227-an increase OF
$808,55 over that Of the fiscal year
189O-1891. The Governor thinks that
our taxable property would be about
$500, 900 ,OOO, If all The property were
subjected to taxation and assessed at
yo1, In nIn
of q system which shall prevent tax.
lodging, and enforce the assessment of
all property at its true value. He re-
peats the following recommendations
made in mis- :l.nua' message OF 1871:
"The office Of County Commissioners
should be abolished, and in place OF it
a government by to wnships substitute
ed. Three intelligent men in each
township, elected by the voters thereof,
should be entrusted with the manage
ment of the roads and bridges, schools,
and assessment OF property in the
same. The chairmen OF these local
boards should constitute q county
Board to manage the County finances,
audit account and order expenditures.
The salaries, il any, paid these town
ship commissioners, or select men, can
be determined by the voters or fixed by
to abolish the Office of County School
Commissioner, and these changes will
inevitably result in a great saving to
each county, while there will be a cor
responding increase in efficiency. Pro
perty will be assessed at its real value,
and millions now hidden will be made
to pay their share of taxes. This coun-
ty board should also constitute the
county board OF equalization, instead
Of being appointed as at present by the
Auditor.
"In this connection 1 suggest the pro-
priety of requiring all notes, &c. to be
stamped by the County Auditor and
placed on tax looks to make them col
lectible by law. Make the note shaver
or lender pay taxes rs we'll as Tho land
owner whose property stands in his
name, while he perhaps owes as much
as it is worth
THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS.
The lunatlc asylum Is ina Satisfac.
tory condition.. The Governor urges
some legislation winch will better reg
ulate admissions to the institution
now very much crowded. The numbt
Of patients under treatment ut present
Is 1854. The total income Of the lnstitu-
ton from all sources has been : Is, 1885,,
81, and the expenditures have been
s112,87l73.
The peniten'iary now contains SOC
convicts-an Increase of 107 over last
year. While the yield of cotton on the
State farms has been small and much
Of it has been sold at low price, an
abundance OF corn has been raised
The third iDstailment has been paid OH
the state farm. which was purchased
in 1890. and As being rapidly put into a
hi iah state Of cultivation. The policy
hitherto pursued of working on shares
In the Congaree ho;tom with Messrs
Seegers and others has been discon-
tin1ed, and the convicts arc now being
hired out at fixed rate. The bOC
horsepower which the State reserved
when It donated the canal to the city OF
Columbia has been developed under
lease to the Columbia Electrict Light
and Railway Company at rental OF
$500 per anaum, with a reservation
of 100 horsepower for the use Of the
State whenever it may need 1T at 8
similar rate.
EDUCATION.
The Governor considers the FREE
school system 80 defective as to be It;
humbug and totally Inadequate for tn,
n,,rnococ Sooi,ynoh rrh. ..I