The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-18
THE NJ MESSAGE.
Gov. EIlerbe Gives His Views
on Various Matters.
WANTS BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
The Governor Recommends Sew
eral Things that the Legis-
lature Ought to Adopt as
They Are Right.

Cove rnor Ellerbe's annual message
was read to the general assembly last
week. The following is synopsis Of
the more important matters treated in
the message:
FINANCES.
The Governor says the finances Of
the State are still in an unsatisfactory
condition. Every obligation Of the
State has been promptly met; but, TO
do this, the State Treasurer has over
drawn, for small amounts, upon various
banks in which State funds have been
deposited. The State of South Caro-
lima should always be in a position to
meet current expenses without the ne
cessity of overdrafts upon banks. To
do this, it is evident that one of two
things will have to be done: either the
appropriations will have to be cut down,
or the tax levy raised.
Only S23, 522.64 have been paid du-
ring the year into the State Treasury
from the phosphate mining industry.
Mr.. James Reid is due the State
s2,960.0O royalty on phosphate rock
which he has mined. The Attorney
General has instituted proceedings
against him, and all Of his personal and
real property has been attached.
CONFEDERATE RECORDS.
At the last session Of the General
Assembly, $500 were appropriated for
the completion Of the Confederate rolls.
Col. Jvnu P. Thomas, Confederate His
torian reports that the rolls have been
completed, but the history has not been
written. In my last Message I made
the following recommendation.
1T is the duty Of the State to pre-
pare an historical account Of the part
taken by the commands from this State
in the great civil war, and to complete
the rolls. I, therefore, urge that pro-
vision be made for carrying on this
work. To insure completion, | recon-
mend that sum be appropriated suf-
fcient for carrying out this undertaking,
and [ suggest, as an inducement to its
completion. that while sufficient money
may be allowed monthly for current
expenses, the major portion be paid
only upon the completion and accep-
tance Of the work as now mapped out.
If this recommendation had been
adopted, the entire work might have
been ompleted, for the Historian could
easily have written the history and col
lected the missing rolls, if he had been
authorized or required to do so.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
Only eight States Of the Union hold
annual sessions Of their Legislatures,
and it seems most desirable policy for
our own State. Each session Of our
General Assembly cost about fifty thou
sand dollars. We have too much legis
lation, and consequently too many laws.
Biennial sessions, limited to forty days,
would be ample for due consideration
Of all matters pertaining to legislative
business. | therefore recommend that
an amendment to the Constitution of
the State, looking to the establishment
of biennial sessions of the General As
sembly, be submitted to the people.
Members Of the Legislature would then
be selected for term of four years.
This very desirable action on the part
Of the voters would result in saving
Of twenty-five thousand dollars a year,
and this and other good reasons will
commend the measure to the people Of
the State.
After some suggestions as to election
of officers by the Legislature and the
holding Of courts the Governor takes up
the subject Of