The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-01-19

Without further preliminary proceed
to discharge one of the most important
duties imposed upon the Chief Execu-
tive by the constitution.
The finances of the State are IN very
unsatisfactory condition. During the
session of the General Assembly, for
1886, a levy OF four and half mills was
laid to meet the current expenses OF the
fiscal year, beginning January 1st, 1897,
and ending December 31st, 1897. The
sum raised by this levy proved INSULT
cient to meet the expenses, and we
have, therefore, a deficit of 800, 900 to
be provided for. By using every dollar
from every available source and by
overdrawing in small amounts upon
banksin which large sums of the States
funds have been deposited, we have
met promptly all current obligations
without borrowing dollar. The books
were opened for the collection of taxes,
October 10th, and since that time We
khaye used money thus collected to pay
kcurrent expenses. This money now be-
ing collected, however, belongs legiti-
mately to the current appropriations
for 1898. By refusing to borrow $780,
600, as is often done, though have not
saved tie State any great amount in the
way of interest charges. ] have re-
fused to sanction what appears to me- to
be bad policy-the policy of borrow
ing money at interest.
The levy for State purposes will be
high, but you must remember that We
have deficit of 800, ,00O-not of your
making-to be provided for, and that
the State viii no longer receive any
revenue for current expenses from the
dispensary profits, for under the pro-
J visions Of the constitution all profits
Eirom the dispensary must hereafter
&c to the school fund. During the
past year the general fund has been
augmented by $92, 00received from the
dispensary; the year previous this
augmentation amounted to 500, 900.
I have endeavored to secure state
msnt OF the finances of the State from
the treasurer. But as his books were
not balanced up to the time of COM
piet:on of my message, [ beg to refer
you to the treasurer's report
The Dispensary.
The most difficult problem that con-
fronts YOU is the regulation OF the
licuor trafic-and it is your duty, as
the trusted representatives. Of the
people, to use your best efforts in salts
factoriIy solving this question.
In my inaugural address / asked that
no material change be made in the dis
pensary law until it could be given a
fair trial. This it had never had. Upon
nv recommendation the law remained
as it was, with the exception of few
unimportant amendments. On assum-
ing the duties of Governor I undertook
the enforcement of the law, endeavor-
ing to do with as little friction as posi-
BILE. At first, my efforts were encour-
agingly successful, but this success was
hindered by disagreements among the
members of the State board of control.
The mismanaGement of the State dis
pensarv and the chickering's and dis
sensions in the State board disgusted
some of the warmest supporters OF the
law, and caused great many to lose
faith in the system. But by reorgani-
zasiop of the force this mismanagement
was corrected, and the board has since
worked ID harmony. Be it said to their
credit, the dispensary is now conducted
IN more DuSlnSSS-Ilh6 way tQau ever
before. Had it not been for the inter
vention of the Federal Courts [ do not
hesitate to say that the dispensary
would today have very little opposi-
tion, and would have already proved,
both financially and morally, a great
success.
The Federal Courts have seriously
crippled the law and rendered futile all
nv efforts for its enforcement, hold
ing in the case of Donald VS.. Scott that
citizens of the State have q right to i'm
port whiskey for personal use. A great
many who were engaged IN the Illicit
trafic in whiskey took advantage of
this decision to import whiskey for
sale; it thus became very difficult for
the State constables to tell when 1t was
imported for personal use only. The
State coustables, under my lnstruc-
tions, seized quantities of whiskey
where there were suspicious circum-
stances connected with the importation;
but upon application to Judge Simon
ton nearly all the whiskey seized was
released.
Beginning with this decision the
State has been involved IL continuous
litigation. In the case of Ez. fa:te