The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-01-18

i Clarge OF 6iXty-tW0 TRUSTEES iu'
work could be better done if these
were reduced to a minimum.
/ / recommend that $4,000 of ths
privilege tax on fertilizers be appro
priated to Clemson college and ths
I $50, 900 of the balance of said privil
ege tax fund be appropriated t
Winthrop college provided. how
ever, that provision be made to sup
plement the appropriation to Win
throp college from the general treas
ury. in case the amount received by
the State from the privilege tax OF
fertilizers is less than 100000.
| During she past year the board o
trustees appropriated $4,000 to erec'
3 building for a Textile Training
school.
This State is now paying out an
nually in pensions to Confederate
soldiers the sum of 100000
Our own system Of pensions is in
need Of changes and reforms. It is
lexpensive aud cumbersome, and toe
open to those solicitasioHs of infu
ence and favoritism that invite
abuses and encourage extravaganza
The system should be simplifad, and
lis regulations and restrictions be
| made strict and even rigorous The
township and county boards should
be abolished and application for
pensions made to the State board
The sum now expended in this way,
500, 900, is more than the State can
afford, and more than is required to
safety the just demands upon this
fund. This money is now being too
| Unfortunately distributed. with
loss to the State and with injustice to
some benefciaries and favoritism to
others.
recommend that the pension list
be purged, and that $4,000 only be
appropriated for pensions the coming
year, and that steps be taken to
insure the proper distribution of this
amount.
At the last session of the general
assembly, a resolution was passed
authorizing the governor to appoint
a commission, composed of Eve
members, to Investigate aud report
on Che practicability and advisability
of the State establishing Reforma.
tory for youthful criminals. In obe-
dience to this resolution, have
appointed a commission, consisting
Of che following gentlemen Messrs
Id Childs, e. c. Brown, Richard
Carol, John Kershaw and r Means
Davis. This commission. after send.
ing one of their numher, Rev. Z. G.
Brown, to visit the reformatory, sub
nit the following report: <
Therefore. We heartily recommend
that steps be taken BY the legislature
at It's next session to set up in this
State reformasory for youthful negro
criminais Our COMMITTEES is 10 pos.
session of many facts aod arguments to
support ns in our Recommendation. but
We cannot give them in this paper
without making i: tedious However.
is would give us pleasure TO appear
before anybody OF gentlemen appointed
TO hear us. and We believe ao interview
would result ip making then, converts
to our posi.ion."
Such q reformatory might we'll be
located upon lands belonging to the
State. This could be done With but
little expense to taxpayers, by using
convict labor to make brick and to erect
the necessary buildings. The piausa
tion owned by the State. known as the
Lexington Farm" containing 400
acres, about Eve miles from Columbia.
affords a suitable site for the location
Of such a reformatory
Nothing connected with the admins.
tra,ion OF the State government st this
time ls OF so much interest an6 impor
.ancs as the diapensary Law. This
method of controlling the liquor traffic
has DOW been in force for Eve aud
half years. and the protracted and
bitter struggle between its friends and
its foes has reached q critical stage.
Il must be firmly and pernsoeotly
established OF completely done away
With.
The demoraliza,iou produced by the
various causes mentioned can be readily
overcome in time, and the Law will work
more successfully and be obeyed more
willingly as time goes by. Our efforts
sh uld be especially directed to perfecs-
log the system in its administrative
features
There are grea: many people who
will never be friendly TO the d'speosary
system. or to aoy like regulation. Macy
meo are opposed to it on principle.
GONE as extreme psobibisionisss, and
f