The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-23
other industrial corporations tho law


will be complete.
s. TO incorporate district schools.
This 1s covered by statute.
.. 10 authorize the adoption or
legitimation of children.
This power should be vested ir, the
probate judge, who is the public guar
dian.
7. 10 provide for tho protection of
game.
This is covered by general statute.
3. TO provide for the age at which
citizens shall bc subject to road or
public duty.
This is fully covered by statute.
8. 10 fix the amount Of compensa-
tion to be paid to any county officer,
etc.
This will require an act to grade tho
salaries of the county officers accord.
ing to the proportion of poulation and
the necessary service required.
Some are now on salaries and some
on fees. The constitution contem-
plates all to be on an equal footing.
n all cases whore u general law
can be made applicable, no special law
shall be enacted"
Let me commend this section to
your careful consideration. If you
heed 1t, there is no reason why your
deliberations should be prolonged
beyond the heretofore ordinary session.
The curse OF the State has been special
Legislation.
1T Is your duty to enact laws limit
ing the number Of acres OF land which
any alien or any corporation controlled
by aliens may own within this State.
havo recently visited the coast sec
tion OF our State and its fertility and
susceptibility of Improvement by drain
age surprised and astonishcd me. 1t
is az fertile as the valley Of tho Nile,
tho soil in some places being five feet
in depth. AS our State Incl cases in
wealth and population this section is
bound to be the garden spot of tho
country. The decentralization and
paralysis OF energy caused by tho re-
suits of tho war drove the owners of
these plantations to the cities and
other States to engage in other pur-
suits, aid they have been abandoned
to the deer and wild turkey and free
negro, only to be bought up, however,
and converted into hunting preserves
by rich capitalists of the North, who
now grow fat upon our misfortunes.
Over one hundred thousand acres Of
these rich lands are now owned by
hunting clubs of foreign citizens with
not an acre under cultivation. If this
w WI ohhuS OuCSc pISSCTNCS SnOulQ
be taxed In pl oportion to their ability
to produce crops and not deer and wild
game. If millionaire buys q rail
road and converts it to the sole use of
transporting himself and friends with
out revenue, the State would continue
to tax it upon its true value to the pub
lie, and SO it should bo with the game
preserve. If it amounts TO breaking
them up, well and good, the State
loses nothing, but, on the contrary re-
claims what belongs to her indus trious
citizen q home and fertile fields. I
trust this provision of tho constitution
VIII be thoroughly enforced by suit
able legislation.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
1t Is within your province to provide
the executive with u board of pardons
to whom the Governor may refer every
petition for pardon. which board shall
hear all such petitions, under such
rules and regulations as the general
assembly may provide.
The Governor may adopt such re-
Communications Or reject them but in
case of rejection he shall present his
reasons to the general assembly. AS
you will observe, there is nothing COM
pulsory in the matter, and, after all,
the entirc responsibility is placed up
L
therefore, for such board. But the
matter is left entirely to your wisdom
and good Judgment. If q board is pro-
vided, allow me to suggest that it pc
composed of outside citizcns, and not
office-h oldcrs and politicians, who may
possibly have "aXcs to grind"
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT..
The supreme court of the State will
hereafter consist of a chief justice and
three associate Justices. This will
necessitate tho election by you at this
session of an additional associate
justice. | would suggest that this
election be hold as soon as practicable,
rs the court is now in session aud the
services OF the ustico are required. |
have found in my experience with the
legislature that elections are the
greatest drawbacks to expedition in
your work, and | would respectfully
recommend that all Of your elections
be had during the first week of the
session.
The constitution has also provided
another appellate Tribunal for the de-
termination OF grave constitutional
questions, consisting Of the members
OF the supreme court and n, circuit
Judges. 1t will be ncccss.-iE for you
TO provide means for ChC rAymcnt Of
the expenses Of the circuit judges
when called to site in tNiS appellate
court 1t would be unjust to make
them pay their own expenses. would
suggest that the Governors cOntin-
tient funo be increased to an amount
sufficient il. YOUR Judgment 20 meet
this additional "vnGnsn I'D that the
Governor be authorized to pay the
same therefrom. This is the law now
as to judges who sit upon the supreme
court when one OF the Justices is dis
qualified from any cause. The people
have Il right in future to expect all
appeals to be speedily heard and de-
termined. A wide discretion is allow
cd your honorable body for providing
courts for the speedy administration
of justice. The laws delay has been
q trite phrase for centuries, and |
trust You will find some plan for af-
fording tho people relief from the
heavy burdens Of court expenses oc-
casioned by the confirmation OF causes,
which often amounts to 81 denial OF
Justice and brings the courts into dis,
rcputc, Thoro is 81 general demand
1