The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-16
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

Governor McSwccnry' last annual
message, which was presented to the
General Assembly on Tuesday was
| given to our readers in a special edition
| of The Herald and News issued early
Tuesday afternoon.
On all the important questions now
before the people of South Carolina for
consideration and decision the Cover
nor takes a decided and unmistakable
position. He stands SQuarcly for what
| he believes to br for the best interests
| OF the state and the material advance
| ment and the mental and moral up
hitting OF all the people. In the first
| instance the Gov. notes with gratitica-
ton 1.-THE good feeling which prevails
throughout the State. and the absence
OF tactional bitterness which at one
time divided our people," This is en-
inently true. and to this very desirable
end, Governor McSweeney during his
administration Of nearly four wears,
has very largely contributed. The
Democratic party in South Carolina
once more presents a solid front, nor
are there any factional chickering's in
the ranks. No longer is a man chosen
for office because he happens to belong
to dominant faction. Once again the
merits of the man and the causes which
he champions are taken into considera-
ton and make the decision which is
rendered at the ballot box. 1t has
been less than decade when such was
not the case. but, as noted by the Gov
ernor, the wounds then made have
!! largely healed and now in the Demo-
cratic ranks there is but one party,
and that party is working for the ad-
vancement of South Carolina.
The Governor calls attention to the
tact that the State was forced to bor-
row the full amount of the $500, 600 au-
thoriZcd by the last legislature, in or
| der to meet current expenses. This
was made necessary on account of the
fact that the appropriation bill carried
with it more than was realized by the
levy for State purposes. The Cover
nor S suggestion that the appropriations
be kept within the limit allowed by the
levy or that the levy be raised to meet
the appropriations, is timely and wise.
lherc Is nothing to be gained and di-
rect loss incurred, by the States con-
tlnuing to borrow money to meet cur
rent expenses.
The plan for equalizing the assess
ment OF property for the purposes of
taxation set forth in the last MESSAGE
IS again presented. That the County
Auditor shall take returns in each
township while present in the township,
and that he, with the township board.
while present in the township, be re-
qulred to assess the property. That
the chairmen Of these township boards,
which boards shall be appointed by the
Auditor, shall constitute the county
board of equalization, which shall 90
| over with the Auditor the returns for
the county and hear complaints and APP
peals, their decision to be subject to
appeal to the State Board. That the
| Auditor shall not be allowed to 90 into
primary but shall be appointed di-
rectly by the Governor. The Governor
also strongly urges that the mandate
OF the constitution be followed and that
property be assessed at its true value,
instead of at 60 or rs or 80 per cent. as
Is now the case in di tfercnt counties.
In no other way will taxes bear evenly
upon all the peopla
A property tax is recommended for
the permanent improvement of the
public highways. The permanent i'm
provement Of our roads Is by far the