The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-02-09
Governor EIIHrbe Strikes for Economy.
THE DANGERS OF A DEPLETED
TREASURY.
n Deficit That Must BE Met by Re-
trenchment-IncOm and License
Taxes are Suggested.


observation-disclosures and Licens,
Taxes arc Suggested.
Gentlemen of the General Assembly:
After thorough investigation | int
that tho finances of the State are no
in very favorable condition, and
deem 1T my duty to call your attention
to the following facts
There was in the State treasury or
January 26th, 1897, $413, 95S.34. Bal
ance due the State on general account
1872, 900; insurance license fees (esti
mated) $4,000; fees Of the Secretary OF
states office, $1,000; uncollected taxes
(estlmatedD $50, 900; making $GO5. 95S 81
The above is all the revenue Of the
| State available for current expenses
for the fiscal year 1897.
! Estimating the current expenses OF
the State at $30, 900 per month for ten
months, beginning January 1st, 1897,
and ecding November LIST, 1897, we
nave current expenses, $500 600; legis-
lative expenses. (estimatcd) $i5, 600
special appropriations for militia, SIO,-
600; pensions, 100000; miscellaneous,
10000: public printing, $40, 900; total,
S64O,O making deficiency in the
general fund OF S34,O4166 unprovided
for.
have counted the expenses to No
vember lst because the books are not
opened for the collection OF taxes until
October 10Th and tho State Treasurer
VIII not receive rcmittar Co.'S from the
county treasurers until November 18th
We estimate the expenses at $3O, 600
per month, on the basis of the last
years appropriations. OF course, if
any OF the appropriations be increased
or additional ones are made for special
purposes, the deficiency will be in
creased in proportion.
Inc trustees OF the Winthrop Normal
and Industrial College have asked for
an additional appropriation of $50, 900
to build another dormitory. They now
have room for 240 students, while the
attendance at the college Is 403, l63 hav-
Ing to board in the town. 1t would be in
hnitely better for all the students to
board in the college, and if we knew
That the attendance would remain as
large as 1T is now you would take no
risk in making the appropriation, but
as we can have no guarantee of this,
after tho ephemeral favor which gen
orally bubbles up and around new
college subsidies, we may have here as
we had at Clemson a decrease in the
number Of students.
When Clemson College was first
without serious purposes, rushed in
and there was not sufficient room to
accommodate them, but after running
year or two the attendance, as might
have been expected, dwindled down TO
normal numbers and the dormitory is
large enough for present use.
Should you decide to build another
dormitory for Winthrop, | would re-
spectfully suggest, owing to the vari-
able condition Of the States finances
and the financial condition of our peo-
PIE, that you have all the brick neces-
sary for the construction of the DOR
mitory made by the convicts of the
ponitentiary. This could be done in
the summer after the crops on the
State farm have been laid by and be-
could then afford at the next session OF
the General Assembly to make small
appropriation to have the work COM
pleted.
The deficiency that / have called
your attention to should be provided
for and the question for you to decide
Is whether it should be dono by in
creasing the levy.or by increasing by
some other means the revenue of the
State. This can be done by gradu-
ated income tax and q graduated IL
CCn6O TAX.
Every legislator should be commend
ed for his efforts to give the people
low rate of taxation. 1t is unwise and
unbusincss like to levy a tax INSULT
cient to meet the current expenses of
the government, thereby incurring
debt. | believe in tho principle OF
paying as you go.
In my opinion, there Is extravaganza
In the management of county affairs
which should be thoroughly investi.
gated. The county government act is
objected to by many on the ground that
it is too cumbersome, and that the
work of the chain.gang costs moro than
it is worth.
| would recommend that you exam
inc those matters thoroughly before
making any radical changes in the
laws. w. II. ELLERBE,
Governor.