The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1903-01-14

present not utilized with any profit to
the State. The only argument that
! could possibly be advanced for the
| holding of this land. which Is now idle.
is the possibility Of the establishment
! of 4 University of South Carolina, in
: Guiding all the State institutions of
higher learning. in which event most
\ OF il might be utilized to advantages;
T but even in that event enough Of this
land could be set apart for Il home for
the governor without dctriincnt to the
proposed university.
South Carolina should have new
HON" for hcf CHIEF executive in keep
ing with the growth and progress OF
the state, ana | suggest that you ap-
point committee Of the senate and
Uf the house to look into the matter
ana report Il plan by which you may
arrange for the erection Of the man
sion.
SPECIAL COURTS.
The Legislature of 1900 passed an act
providing for special courts and the
manner Of obtaining them. The pay
OF the special judge was fixed. but no
fund Vas provided out Of which to pay
him. The attention Of the legislature
Of 1901 was called to this matter. The
Fer diem of these special judges had
been paid Oui Of the contingent fund of
the governor ard up TO the past year
this has been lone without cxhausting
q
the dcmrnd for special courts has been
so heavy that the contingent fund waa
exhausted ana claims for rewards and
! n'hcr ma: 1. rs 10 the amount Of S1.7Gl. 25
have not been paid. These Will be
placed before the committee on claims
an'l ask that you make provision for
their payment AS At Will not ybc right
| 10 charge them to the next contingent
i fund. In this list there arc claims for
; special judges amounting TO sl.2N1',
ANA have paid already for this pur-
pose $l,30j03. IL the law providing
! iOr special courts l.. to remain in force
q fund should bc provided for the pay
inent of the Judges. 1t seems to me.
however, that there arc cases in which
special courts are asked where there
Is no necessity for them, for | have OBJ
served that in some instances after
the special court had been held the reg
3 ular term WAS called off. IF. however,
] there is II demand for these extra
] courts. and the demand Is increasing.
1t would be better to increase the num-
4 ber of circuits and do away with tho
! call for extra courts. If lawyers and
litiSantS were always ready to 80 to
trial ana there were less delay in the
/ dispatch of the business before our
courts, the congestion which 1t Is now
/ Gained exists would be removed and
the present machinery could transact
! the business in less time than Is now
occupied. even with the aid OF extra
! courts. 1t should be remembered.
! however, that the State is increasing In
! population and in business. and IN pro-
! portion to this increase there will be
! additional litigation. In 1870 the popu-
lation OF the State was 705.0U0. Now 1T
! liz twice that number. In 1870 the
number OF circuits were eight the same
| number that we have now, and then
we had only thirty-onc counties, while
| now we have forty-one. The argu-
mcnt seems to he strongly in favor OF
! an increase of the number Of circuits.
! INSURANCE LICENSES.
! I trust you have examined the insur-
/ ance report Issued from the office OF the
! comptroller general and have read the
recommendations made by that officer.
There were 127 Insurance. companies in
Guiding one mortgage company, doing
business In this State in 1901. These
companies collected in premiums from
the people for the year 1901. $4,000. .7S9.47.
They paid back In losses for the same
time 81 .S37 64S.81. 1t will be seen from
these figures that the tax upon the
amount Of the State taxes. and yet no
one complains OF this burden. The
license fees paid by these insurance
companies amounted 10 $26.7l3.66 for
! the year 1901. In addition to this the
| gross premiums paid in each county
are the basis for assessments upon
! which taxes are paid. They also pay
n tax Of one-half OF one per cent. 60
! the State treasurer on the gross busi-
ness done. The comptroller general
suggests that in lieu of this tax Of
one-half Of one per cent. and State.
: county and school tax, that the COM
! panies he required to pay direct to the
| state treasurer two per cent. on the
gross premiums collected in South
Carolina. The suggestion Is good
one. and I commend 1t to your favor
able consideration. 1t will simplify
| the work of the insurance department
| Of the State and be at the same time
Il great convenience to the companies.
| The suggestion of the comptroller
general that each agent or representa-
| tive OF an insurance company be re-
| Quircd to secure n license before solicit
ing business in this State and that II
small sum be charged for this license
| should also receive favorable action at
| your hands. 1t would prove n protec-
| tion alike to the reputable agent and
/ to the people.
! The comptroller general also calls at
| tention to the fact that the insurance
unce companies organized in this State
| to furnish the insurance department
| with any evidence OF their standing or
! reliability. nor is any provision made
| for their examination. or any require
ment that they shall make annual
statements or returns. This defect
should be rcmedled so as TO protect our
people against unreliable insurance
companies.
PENSIONS.
That 1t is right and proper that the
State should do all 1t can to care for
the deserving and needy Confederate
soldier, no one will question. 1t should
be the patriotic concern Of MI true citi-
zens OF the State to see to 1t that no
| man who upheld the cause Of South
Carolina in the 1roublous times from
'61 to Go shall he sent to the county
home but that all who need the
| help Of the State have 1t sufficient
ly to make their declining years
free from worry and care and full OF