Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-01-17

Governor Evans,s annual message to
the legislature was read in the house
and senate last Tuesday. 1t is a
lengthy paper but contains no sensa-
tions, and but little that is of striking
interest to the public. 1t is devoted
mainly to the legislative requirements
ofthe new constitution, and a brief
synopsis of it will be found in the fol-
lowing
1t is suggested that the first business
of the legislature should be to pass a
registration law. He recommends
the adoption of the old statute, except
where it is inconsistent with the pro-
visions of the new constitution, and
suggests that the severest punishment
should be provided for fraudulent reg
istration. The present eight box sys-
tenn is approved, and its re-enactment
is recommended for the reason that a
Golf might overturn the constitution
of the State, and there should be
something to fall back on until an un'
favorable decision could be reversed.
Under the new law, every incorpora-
ted town will have to be made poll
ing precinct, for the reason that no
man can be registered to vote IN a
municipal election, except upon the
production of certificate allowing
him to vote in county election, and
both certificates should call for the
same precinct. This, the governor
reminds the legislature, will have to
be provided for by general law.
The subjects on which the new con-
stitution requires the passage of gen.
eral laws are enumerated, and recon-
mendation is made in regrad to each.
1t is suggested that the changing OF
the names of persons or places, be left
to the court of common pleas. The
power to lay out or work public high
ways should be left to the county
boards of commissioners. The power
to incorporate towns, cities, school
districts, etc., are already provided for
by statute. The adoption and the le-
gitimation of children, should be left to
the discretion of the probate judge,
The fixing of the compensation Of
county officers could be accomplished
by an act that would grade cemRen.
sation in proportion to wealth and
population. =,
Attention is called to the fact that it
is the duty of the legislature to pass an
act limiting the number of acres OF
land that can be owned by an alien or
corporation under alien control. In
the lower portion Of the State, there
are hundreds of thousands of acres OF
land which, by proper drainage, could
be made as fertile as the delta of the
Nile. This land was once owned and
cultivated. The owners, ruined by
the war, had to move away and the
land became the home of the wild tur-
key and deer, Over 100000 acres OF
it is now owned by rich Northerners
who hold it as game preserve. The
land should be of more use to the State,
and, under the circumstances, should
be taxed in proportion TO the value oi
the crops that could be raised on it,
rather than in proportion to the num-
Der of turkeys and deer that make ii
their home.
Attention is called to the fact that
the constitution provides that the legis'
lature shall elect another associate JUS
tice, and the governor recommends
that the election take place without
delay. The vexations of the laws de-
Law are suggested, and under the con-
stitution there are two remedies. One
is to provide for the establishment ol
county courts, and the other is to create
two new circuit judges. The govern,
or thinks that the county courts will
be rather too expensive, and suggests
the creation of the judges, which, he
saws, can be done at an annual cost oil
only s222.22 to each county.
Several columns are devoted to com
ments on various other features of the
new constitution but none of these
seem to be of striking Importance. A
condensed statement is given of the
receipts and disbursements of the State
treasurer, and the finances of the State
are discussed at length. Attention is
called to the heavy decrease in the
phosphate royalties, and among the
reasons assigned for the decrease, is
the past unfavorable season and the
competition that has been furnished by
the discovery of phosphate rock else
where.
The report of the superintendent
and board of penitentiary directors is
quoted from at length, and the peni'
Tertiary is represented as being in
good condition; but in Difference to
the unfavorable minority report recent
ly submitted by Director Willoughby,
the governor recommends the appoint
ment of committee to investigate the
entire management of the penitentiary
thoroughly.
Considerable space is given to com
ments on the various higher institu-