The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1893-12-08
MESSAGE
GOV. B. r.. TILLMAN.

Il
have had the honor to send to your homo n
bic body, matters of the deepest interest and
most vital significance are presented for
your consideration, and to the discussion OF
two OF the most important questions, the
Railroad Receiverships and the Dispepsary
Law, much time and thought has been given
The space which has been required to pre-
sent these subjects fully has left little room
for the usual presentation Of the condition
of the various public institutions and de-
partmonts. You will have t. depend on the
Reports of the respective officers of these
departments and institutions, which are full
and conn lete, for those details which | have
found 1t necessary to omit. l make exception
of the Trea>urer's Rerort, and give an at-
srGct of the operations Of that department
of the Stale government.
The year has been one of intense finnn-
cial stringeucy, and the maintenance of the
States credit, the refunding of the five and
quarter millions Brown Consols maturing
July lst, last, and The meeting Of our cur
rent obligations promptly, have caused the
S'ate Treasurer, Dr. Bste', AID myself deep
ankle y ana concern at times, bu' the
Treasury weathered the sto, III, aud | cIn
congratulate you upon the satisfactory con-
dition now existing i'll regard to our finan-
ccs.
The new a., Per Cent Brown Conso's
the Baltimore Trms and Guaran ee Company.
All OF the old bonds lave been redeemed
except 500, ,l45, which have not yet been
presented for payment: but the money is in
the treasury to meet them when the holders
shall come forward and ask it,
Before dismissing this subject it is well
to remind you of The painful fac, that the
large revenue which would have been de-
rived next year f, ON the phosphate royalty,
and which has enabled us to make such n
fine showing, will be totally lacking for the
next fiscal year. Tic disastrous storm, a
full account of Which is given in tho Report
OF the Phosphate Commission, completely
broke up and partially lcs royed the Phos-
Phatc Mining Industry, so much so that the
commission fe't constrained 10 make such
Jetforts for its relief by The reduction Of the
I royaty, etc, as will leave 6sincome next
4 year ether than the $4,000, which under
the law must be devoted to q Sinking Fund
for the new Al per cent bonds. l mention
THIS because 1t will be necessary to take il
" into consideration in making your estimates
and arranging the annual fax levy.
RAILROAD TAXEs AND RECEIvERsHIPs
Durlng the year a question of vita! impor.
tancc, and one more far reaching in its
consequences to the States than any that
has arisen since the celebrated Virginia
Coupon Cases, has been Jassed upon by
the Federal Courts and decilcd in a manner
that must excite the alarm and resentment
Of every lover of liberty and justice. The
issue involved the sovereignty of the State
and the equality of all tex payers before the
law; and by the decision rendered by tho
Circuit Court in Charleston AMI susiains sd
ny the United States Supreme Court that
sovereignty has been d'srcgardcd and, in
effect, destroyed AMI ~ preferred class OF
taxpayers created with special privileges
MT vouchsafed TO o'her citizens.
Here follows detailed reiterat:on Of the
troubles between the State officials and
the railr onds, the arguments and d tails OF
which have been published in full in the
newspapers. and therefore wculd,be Of little
interest or information to our readers.-ED I
HoV. Tillman, however, closes This branch
OF his message by suggesting that the legis.
iaiure
REPEAL THE CHARTERS
OF every Railroad in the hands of a Receiver
In the following forcible, if not statesman.
like and dignifed language:
The South Gsrolna Rail~.~ l .'~~""',
.--,'.' i"ih anu Slmonton, for four years
an" there is no knowing how much longer il
Is 10 remain there. True, an order of Court
i"r lis sale has just been file !. hut that sort
vi hocuspocus has been going OH for over q
year. The Richmond and Danyille Railroad
corporation unknown TO our laws. hut
"hlch has absorbed by lease or purchase
seven railroads chartered by the State, has
!eGen'iy gone into the hands of another
Juu'cla' syndicate, of which Judge Simon
ton Is member. If nothing is done the
Judges and their "servants." the rcceixors
arc hkeiy to retain possession of that fat
carcass Tor many years, and we may Judge
'he lulurc Dy the past as to the intolcr,ble
co"ui'ion u which we shall be subjected hy
'nese judicial usurpa,ions. These creatures,
.nese corporations. ho!dng their cxis,cncc
i'om the States b .uuty and under IFS laws
IKE 'he monster Frankensrein, have grown
s'e''cr man their crcror. They a'reaiy
owe In the ne ehboroud of two hundroI
fhnae"ua do lars to the d,tiereot tox f,nIs
ol The State. Ttey are In opcn rebel.
f8ah ft05mmiiission, and are hend;na ov"r, ,s"r,
energy to aid tn ,se who womlJ smua,,i,
Wniskey into the State and coptinuc 1ts
ilhclt sale There is nothing left the Stte
'"er the circumstances since the ,ecis;on
'"" supreme Court, but to reoe,l tho
chariers OF every railroad in the hand of, q,
r'ce'Ver and destroy these creatures. which
hNe grown - insoient that they trample
otr t"s under foot under the protection of
I"'' rederal Judge, aod laugh TO scorn the
res'r'c'oos which all citizens and other Cor
poratlons must obey. IL is n ho,sh an,
~ ''euie, "h'ch would be whylly I'M
".r!an'ea u"der any other circumstances.
''t IL Is the last desperate remelv. Tne
"hhoiy y ar'iagc between the "iipni,v ",
"t .he Federal Court and these harlo, corno
rations must be amulet, and the owners of
me oonds made to understand that there ixo
point beyond which the patience of the Stat
Wi'l not permit them to 60. The Federal
aouft VIII. of course, CAIN that the pror-
cry is In its possession and attempt to ad
munster 1t; but if there !. any regard for
iIw Ieh' such course will force tie prop
erV 70 sale and wind up the existence of
these roads as at pre-. cent oroon;ypd onh
owned. After. that i, ACCOMPLISHED or
while rit is being accom- mpshed, provision
can oe made for giving them n new life upon
such cohdltlous rs the Legislature NAV de-
n'ne' Care should ne taken in granting
al future charters to prevent the absorvton
or competing lines by any railroad svod;ca,.