The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-18

Cudo oAOOIo COALDCuO ellCu w 0ASII ACA
low citizens.
The States newer institutions Of
learning, Clemson and Winthrop Col,
leges, are in hourishing condition; theil
faculties are full, and their patronage is
large. These colleges are justifying the
wisdom of their establishment by meet.
ing need not met by any other educa'
tional institution in the State. They
are giving practical and to some extent
liberal education to large number Of
boys and girls who would hardly be
found in the halls of the other colleges
in the State. Their patronage seems tc
be up to their capacity Of accommoda.
ton and instruction.
The amounts asked for by these vari.
Gus colleges are reasonable, and are
necessary for their efficient operation.
/ therefore recommend that the appro.
priations asked for by these various in.
stitutions be in each case appropriated
by the General Assembly.
lam informed by the State Superin.
tendent Of Education that the public
school system Of our State has shown
steady growth and improvement during
the past year. There has been marked
increase in the professional spirit Of
teachers, deeper interest on the part
Of the public in the welfare Of the
schools, and greater activity in pro-
viding better school accommodations.
These are hopeful indications.
The Governor recommends that $780,
900 of the Privilege Tax on Fertilizers
be appropriated to Clemson College,
and that 100000 of the balance of said
privilege tax fund be appropriated to
Winthrop College; provided, however,
that provision be made to supplement
the appropriation to Winthrop College
from the general treasury, in case the
amount received by the State from the
Privilege Tax on Fertilizers is less than
$60,000.
PENSIONS.
This State is now paying out annual
ly in pensions to Confederate soldiers
the sum Of 100000. No amount that
the people could afford would be too
much to dispense to worthy and needy
men who risked all for the cause they
held sacred and became by this service
incapacitated for self-support. But
the greatest care should be taken that
such funds be properly distributed. and
that the State do not attempt more in
this direction than is absolutely de-
manded by the exigencies Of the case.
We have notable object-lesson in the
abuses of the national system Of pen
sions to warn US to use the utmost Cir
cumspection.
Our own system of pensions is in
need CT changes and reforms. It is ex-
pensive and cumbersome, and too open
to those solicitations Of influence and
faYoritism that invite abuses and en-
courage extravaganza. The system
should be simplifed, and its regulations
and restrictions be made strict and even
rigorous. The township and county
boards should be abolished and applica-
ton for pensions made to the State
Board. The sum now expended in this
way, $100, 900, is more than the State
can afford, and more than is required to
satisfy the just demands upon this
fund. This money is now being tho in
dlscriminately distributed, with loss to
the State and with Injustice to some
benefciaries and favoritism to others.
Many undeserving people are drawing
pensions from the State, and many
needy and deserving veterans are forced
to 90 without. The pension lists of
this State should be purged and every
beneficiary cut off from them who does
not show that he il so incapaeitated to
provide for himself and so dependent
on his own labor as to be evidently a
worthy object Of this public charity.
If these necessary measures are
taken, $50, 900 will do more real good
than 100000 are now doing. and the
State will be saved wasteful expense,
while the needy and the worthy will
reap, as they were intended to do, the
benefits of this fund.
! recommend that the pension list be
purged, that $4,000 only be appropri.
ated fo1 pensions the coming year, and
that steps be taken to insure the proper
distribution of this amount.
HOSPITAL FOB THE INSANE.
The Governor says unless the General
Assembly shall at once take measures
to purge the hospital Of idiots, imbe-
Giles, and harmless patients who should
be in the poor houses, and unless they
shall also correct the abuse of the
States charity by persons now taking
advantage Of the loose administration
OF the laws governing the admission OF
patients to the hospital, it will immedi-
ately become necessary to make further
provisionin in the way Of accommodations,
appliances and nurses and physicians
for the increasing number of patients
now crowding to the hospital. If, how
ever, you will, by stringent enactments,
prevent the further commitment Of per-
sons not entitled to treatment in the
hospital, and will order the discharge
Of those now there who are not legally
entitled to this aid, the present build
ings and force will afford accommoda-
ton and attention for some years to
come for all who should be received
into the institution.
JUVENILE REFoRMAToRY.
At the last session Of the General
Assembly, resolution was passed au-
thorizing the Governor to appoint
commission, composed of FIVE members,
to investigate and report on the prac-
ticability and advisability Of the States
establishing Reformatory for Youth
full Criminals. In obedience to this
resolution, have appointed commits
sion, consisting Of the following gentle
men: Messrs. L. D. Childs, Z. g.
Brown, Richard Carroll, John Kershaw
and R. Means Davis. This commission,
after sending one Of their number, Rev.