The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-01-20

obtaining license from the
county treasurer. Thus seems 70
he a general statute, but in the
thfrd section of the act it is provided
that the act shall apply to no counties
in tine State except Colleton and Berke-
lev. This disregard of constitutional
provisions if not checked will open the
way to an increasing mass of this kind
of legislation, and must result in the
practical defeat of the objects Of the
constitutional inhibition.
PROMPT action should be taken by
your honorable bodies to enforce OBJ
seryance of the provisions of the con-
st1tution on this subject, and to confine
Hesitation IS nearly as practicable
within the limits prescribed by the con-
stitntion. would respectfully recon-
mend for your earnest consideration the
creation, by joint resolution, Of o joint
committee of the two houses who shall
be specially charged with the duty of
Supervising ell bills introduced, and re-
porting such as come within the propri-
etory provisions of the constitution, re-
lating to local and special legislation.
With such a safeguard the General As
sembly can successfully avoid the en-
actment of laws forbidden by the con-
stitution and insure the faithful OBJ
servance Of its wise and salutary pro-
visions.
State Colleges.
The attendance at the State colleges
is fully mp TO the average. They all APP
pear to he doing satisfactory and careful
work. During the past year DR.. Fra-k
C. Woodward was elected president Of
the Souto Carolina College, and Prof.
Henry s. Hartzog president Of Clemson
College. They were elected to fill va
cancies occasioned by the designations
Of DR.. James Woodrow, president of
the South Carolina College, and Prof.
E. B. Craishead, president of Clemson
College. Results are proving the wis
dom of the trustees in making these ex-
cellent selections.
Phosphate Industry.
Only $40, eco. % have been paid dur.
ing the year into the State treasury
from the phosphate mining industry.
This amount, under the law. must be
devoted to sinking fluid for tho re-
Gemption of State bonds. Yon may ex-
pect still smaller revenue from this
source next year Competition with Al
siers and Florida has SO reduced the
price of phosphate rock that some OF
our miners have been forced to suspend
operations. Those who are engaged IN
the business are mining at loss, not
withstanding the fact that the board OF
phosphate commissioners reduced the
royalty from 50 cents to % cents per
ton.
The Sinking Fund Commission.
The total yslue of the assets of the
cumulative phosphate royalty sinking
fund is Sa6S, CO.'S Of this amount
Ss7, So. 90 was loaned to counties at
rate of per cent. interest per annum.
The sinking fund has permanently in
vested in State stocks S35, 72S. IS. There
is invested in temporary loans, under
the act Of February 25. 1896, and Feb
ruary 25, 1891, SIS, 4S4 q. This leaves
q balance of S13l. .262. IS, which has
been deposited in bank. bearing 4
per cent. payable monthly. You can
see from the above statement that
under the act of 1897 only small
amount was lent to counties; while the
greater part OF the fund has been de-
posted in banks and is unsecured, e1-
cept by the credit Of these. banks. 1t
will also be seen that on the 31st OF
December, 1896, there was then loaned
to the banks at A per cent. interest,
and secured by deposit with the State
treasurer as collateral security Of State
Brown IL per cent stock, SlG3, 9S4. 22s
leaving only Sc, SI6. 03 cash deposited IN
bank.
Confederate Records.
II has been particularly unfortunate
that the Office of State historian has
been made vacant by the death Of two
worthy incumbents. Since the ad-
journment of the General Assembly
the grand old Confederate soldier,
General Hugh L. Farley. has passed
away, before he had completed the
work to which he had been assigned.
I appointed Col. John 2. Thomas Con-
federste historian, to carry on the
task. You will find in the report OF
Colorel Thomas detailed statement
OF the work alrealy done. together
Nnak IOnhAuo w DO AaA1hSNt
especially as to the completion Of the
Confederate rolls. 1t is the duty OF
the State to prepare an historical ac-
count Of the part taken by the COM
mands from this State in the great
civil war and to complete the rolls. l
therefore urge that provision be made
for carrying ON this work. To insure
completion recommend that sum
be appropriated sufficient for carrying
out this undertaking.; and l suggest as
au inducement TO its early completion
that while sufficient money be allowed
monthly for current expenses, the
major portion be paid only upon the
completion aud acceptance OF tine work
as now mapped ont.
County Government.
The General Assembly should give
careful consideration to the matter OF
expenditures by county governmental.
The system now In force Is very cum
bersome, and in many counties leads TO
extraragauce. From the representa-
tion by townships arises . tendency to
reciprocate fayors, and this leads to
useless expenditures which, If there
were no opportunity for these mutually
heneficial exchanges. would be avoided