The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-19

neo hoe ycC Uten tOliecLcQ. Inc mat
ter has been referred to the Attorney
General and he is using proper efforts
to collect the money due the State.
The royalty now paid the State by
che miners is only twenty-five certs
per ton, and I believe that ratl Z
than make greater concessions it would
be better if mining operations on the
States rights be discontinued. Il
seems unwise and unbusinesslike on
che part Of the State 20 sacrifice these
valuable deposits, while prices arc 40
low and business is 80 depressed. On
account OF the great quantity mined
the price cf rock is now ts!c~ the
cost Of production. The supply OF
rock is exhaustible, and in q few
years the demand will probably be
greater. than the supply; then We may
resume mining ct profit both to the
miners aud TO the State.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for the
saiasy anl e4p1uscs ufs the phosphate
inspector is too much to pay, consid-
ering the small return to the State
from this source. recommend that
she Office of phosphate inspector be
abolished and that the Comptroller
General be charged with the collec-
tior Of the revenue from phosphate
mining. ~
PUBLIC PRINTING.
During the year the Office Of public
printer having been declared vacant,
the committee provided for by law,
consisting OF the Governor and the
ehairmen OF the, committee on print.
ing Of your honorable bodies, met and
elected Mr, Charlea B. Calve, public
printer. This committee thought the
State might have been saved several
thousand dollars had the Act provided
FOR, or permitted competitive bids.
The price to be paid for the work is
fixed in the. Act and the committee
found itselfscompelled, under the pro-
visions OF the law TO make the appoint.
nent. I recommend that the Act be
repealed and that q committee from
each Of your honorable bodies be se-
lected to let the contract for public
printing at competitive prices. I fur
ther recommend that the Act fix the
maximum price to be paid for the
work go as not to exceed the price now
being paid under the present law.
DIRECT TAX.
There are SO, ,13O.7v in the State
treasury to the credit Of che direc5
tax fund, which, under an Ac. 4r-'
proved Path December, 1891, is ayail-
able 3or public purposes. I recom-
mend that you pass joint resolution
authorizing the State Treasurer to
transfer this account to the general
account.
SPECIAL LEGISLATION.
The number Of special statates
should be reduced by the enactment
OF general laws, embodying ample pro-
visions and remedies for the relief of
persOns, corporations and communi-
ties, relative to subjects OF general
character and to put an cad to the
present iood Of speciai legislation.
AS is is easier and in some cases
cheaper to apply TO the General AS
eembly for RELIEF rather. than to the
Courts or other tribunals provided by
general lew. the Legislature is being,
upon various excuses, subjected to
constant pressure 20 enact special
laws for the relief Of individuals. In
deed, even, constitutional provisions
intended to limit such special legisla-
tion have often been evaded under
the guise Of SO called general law. In
che Constitution Of 1896 there are ex-
press provisions prohibiting special
~ local Legislation by the General
assembly. Prior. TO 1895, during
each legislative session, great deal
Of slime was consumed in the consider
alton Of such special legislation, at
great expense to the State. It was to
check this growing evil that these
prohibiting provisions were intro
duoed into the Constitution. It is.
natural and may be praiseworthy Tor
;a1;v;dnel ync;aI.tnra ~ .,ot- 4a
vance the intaresta Of their localities
Jsas -as .=SisC:s-, 1u1 hi ;a
ests should be subordinated to the
general public good, and such. epecial2
and local legislation ia evidently in-,
furious to the public veal. Too much.
legislation. both general and special,
has undoubtedly characterized South
Carolina for the past thirtysyeaas.,f
Such special and losal enactments,
besides being species of class legis-