The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-15
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR EVANS.
HE RECOMMENDS THAT THERE BE
TAN On INCOMES.

" nat he mas To say ABOUT me SchOoA
Law-HOstIIe To the Southern Rail-
way-A Few Remarks About the
Dispe nsary-COmmends the PrOpOs-
ed Cotton Exposition in Chicago.
Columbia S. c.. Jan. 1.-THE general as
sembly of South Carolina met in annual
session to-day. with full attendance in
both houses. Very little was done save
TO read the annual message Of Gov. Evans.
which was very lengthy.
In the House the question was raised as
to whether the members should not take
ton Notwithstanding the old oath was
taken last year The judiciary committee
decided that it was unnecessary.
Speaker Jones made an address in the
House in which he pointed out the import
ant character of the work ahead. and
urged that it be done with the greatest
possible dispatch. consistent with thor
oughness. He said the gospel of hog and
hominy" had been successfully taught
in this state and all had plenty. He re-
ferred TO the war clouds hanging over the
nations of the world. and expressed the
belief that the two great English speaking
countries would quickly adjust their diff
ferences.
In his message the governor first
refers to the new suffrage law.
which must be enacted in accord
ance with the terms of the new con-
stitution. He recommends that the law
be enacted the first thing, because the
people are anxious TO know how and when
to register, and 1t is of great Importance
that full registration of voters he had
before the next election. He gives Senator
lrby and his friends quiet Jab, when he
says designing demagogues are already
at work filling the ears and heads of con-
hdlng constituents with false impressions
concerning the provision OF the constitu-
tion and there is no safer plan to set at
naught such falsehOOds than by allow
ing the people to see and read for them
selves. He reviews al some length the
necessary changes required in the various
departments of the government by reason
OF the constitution, and speaking of the
constitutional provision allowing the rep
resentatives of party lynched to obtain
damages against the county where the
crime was committed, he says: 1T is a
matter OF qualification TO the people of
the state that the constitutional cOnven-
ton in no uncertain terms reproba ted and
condemned this pernicious practice. There
has occurred during the past year four
cases OF, lynehing within the state, and no
one has been tried for the crime generally
regarded as 1uStifying such action. This
should convince any mird that if lynch
ing is to be condoned and tacftly encOur-
aged for any chime. like "A loathsome, con-
tagious disease it will spread over the en-
TIRE category of crime, when a dozen or
more trenzled persons feel that Justice
mas mlscarried until anarchy prevails and
our republican form of government is de-
stroyed.
TAX upon incomes and licenses on occupa-
lions and businesses. He calls attention
10 the TACT that school term of less than
SIX months is a farce almost and asks
the legislature to provide that they shall
run a least that time and points out how
II can be done with the taxation allowed
Dy the constitution. He recommends that
the office of school commissioner i'm the
counties either be abolished or such laws
passed. in reference to them as will Sc
cure competent men TO discharge the
duties of the office.
In the financial portion of the message
recommending the income tax the cover
nor says Under the law money invested
IN state and United States bonds is ex-
empt from taxation. The stock of banks
and corporation is exempt in proportion
to the amount of the capital invested in
state bonds. This was intended to en-
courage the banks to assist the state in
refunding her debt, and yet not one would
come to the rescue at the critical moment,
ana we were forced to sell our bonds in
foreign markets. Since that time, how
ever, the banks and investors of the state
have purchased them, paying large pre-
mlumS for them until now almost the en-
tire issue is owned in Charleston and 9TH
eI cities of the state. This capital can
only be reached by the income tax"
The recommendation is that the tax ap-
ply to all incomes of 81 900 or more.
In speaking of railroads the message
says: The Southern railway is a foreign
corporation and exactly what status It
has in the state l have not been able to
ascertain. 1t is becoming a most danger
GUS monopoly for the southern states 1t
owns and controls over 5000 miles of
road, and is grasping for competing rivals.
Under the laws and the constitution of
our state no foreign corporation can do
business or own and control other roads
IN the state. am satisfied that this COM
pany has no legal status in the state, and
| am determined to use every means with
in my power to prevent its further alb
sorption of our domestic corporations. 1
would urge the appointment of a commits
sion to examine into the status of the
necessary. to release the roads now under
it's control within the state. l would re-
Spectfully recommend that the charters
of all such roads be repealed. Several
years ago the charter of the Port Royal
and Augusta was repealed and the case
has been in the state and United States
court ever since, and / am satisfied are
kept there by some Interior motive. /
have conferred with the attorney general
and we have agreed upon line of policy
which will speedily terminate the case.
Owing to the Importance of the dispen-
sary, separate message will be written
on that subject during the session.
Referring to the proposed cotton EXPOSE
ton in Chicago, the governor says that
he is satisfied that it will prove of great
benefit to the south, and the state exhibit
at the Atlanta exposition has been or
dered sent to Chicago.
The governor recommends that a law be
passed to prevent banks charging usury
and suggests that the burden of proof BID
placed upon the plaintiff in every action
brought on note to show that uSuriouS
rates have not been charged.