The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-26
THE CoyERNoR,s MESSAGE.

I
tractvely-together with comments and
recomme ndati ions which viii command at
tention and excite discussion. Owing 70
It's length It is impossible, IN a brief re-
view Of H. 10 touch upon all of its fea-
lures. The most that can be done is to
call attention to some Of the more i'm
portant OF them
Considerable space Is given TO the law
lessness which has prevailed in the state
during the last year The Governor is of
the opinion that it was aggravated by the
meddlesome interference of fanatics in
the North who know nothing Of the con-
dtions which prevail in the South. but
who assume to be better informed IN re-
spect to them than the Southern people.
Notwithstanding this interference, how
ever, the better class of the blacks are
on excellent terms with the whites, and
are at an times willing 10 join them in
preserving order and UNFOLDING the law
In about every instance the beginning of
the lawlessness was criminal act Of
one or more worthless negroes. 1t is
probable that much of ii might have been
prevented if the sheriffs of the counties
in which the lawless acts occurred had in
every instance been equal to the perform
ance of the duties which their offices i'm
posed upon them. While the Governor
has words of praise for most Of these Of
ficers he calls attention to the fact that
some of the sheriffs were found wanting.
Evidently he has very little sympathy
with the effort that was made at the last
session of the Legislature TO limit the
payment of pensions to those ex-Confed-
crates and widows of ex-Coufederaies who
are actually in need of assistance. He is
of the opinion that if such a Limitation
were imposed the amount saved would be
so insignificant that it is hardly worth
while bothering with ii. In this matter
there are many people, apparently well
informed, who hold an entirely different
opinion. There is a pretty well grounded
belief that the amount the state is paying
in pensions, to persons well able to care for
themselves, is large. The great and rapid
increase in the number of pensioners and
the pension burden is sufficient to Justify
an investigation. No one wants an ex-
Confederate or the widow of an ex-Con-
federate who is deserving of pension de-
prived of It, but it is not just TO pay pen
sions to persons who are in more com
Portable circumstances than those who
are taxed to raise the pension money
The amount required for pensions has
risen from s1s5,OOO in 1890 to s67S, 600 in 1899
and there are hundreds of claims that are
awaiting adjustment 1t is not improb-
able that the amount required for pensions
win approach a million dollars within the
next five years.
Where is this money to come from? The
Governor does not say in so many words
that 1t must come from the school fund,
but in the discussion of the question of
retrenchment. he points out that the only
appropriation that can be cut without do
ing great injury TO some interest is that
for the schools. 1t was reduced last year
100000 and he suggests still further re-
duction of a similar amount. We feel
sure that his position in this matter will
meet with strong opposition. He seems
to have the Idea that much of the school
money Is applied TO teaching the dead
He must be mistaken. It is doubtful if
anything more than reading, writing and
arithmetic is taught in the country
schools Other things are taught in the
schools of the cities but the cities raise
money for that purpose. The Governor
| may be right in the opinion that so fan
as the negroes are concerned the decrease
of nliteracy among them has been ac-
| companied by an increase in crime, but
does he favor depriving the negroes of al
school advantages? That would seem t.
be the logical inference from what h,
| says.
| We cannot understand why the Gov
! ernor in hunting for ways of cutting dowr
| the expenses of the state, failed 10 men
ton that the people could get along very
well with one session of the Legislature
every two years. The main reason for
session every year seems to be TO give III,
politicians an opportunity to meet annual
ly at the state capitol and make politica
states. Better deprive the politicians o
this privilege than lessen the school priv
Heges of the children. There are two re
forms which the Governor strongly favors
ballot reform and tax reform. He want
an amendment submitted to the peopl
providing that the ballot shall be restrict
ed TO those who recognize the sanctity o
the ballot and realize the responsibilitie
of citizenship. In proposing this amend
ment The Governor is but following in tn
footsteps of other Southern states. j
South Carolina Mississippi and Louisiaut
the great majority of the negroes are no
permitted to vote, and ills probable tina
only small percentage Of them will hav
the privilege of voting in North Carolinj
after next August. It is undoubtedly tru
that the ignorant voters in the Southern
states are responsible for Elany evils Il
these states. In this state. for instance
in local and state elections the negro vot
is, to a great extent. purchaseable. Wha
that means Is well understood
1t is certain, however. that the propose
amendment will meet with a great dea