The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1904-01-13
FIRST ANNUAL MESSAGE
OF
Gov. d. c. HEYWARD.

10 the honorable, the Gentlemen of the General Assembly,
You are again assembled in annual session for the promotion of
the best interests of the people whom we serve, and / welcome you,
my co-workers, gladly and sincerely, to the thoughtful consideration
of the work that lies before us.
l am indeed grateful that you come together TODAY, undisturbed
by any fractional feeling, but animated with the sole purpose of
acting for the best interests of all the people of South Carolina.
You are the chosen representatives of the sovereign people of our
State and a such, grave responsibilities devolve upon you. 10
meet these responsibilities you come directly from the homes and
associations of those whom you have the honor to serve, and are
thus enabled to fully know and comprehend their needs. To rem
der faithful service is a sacred obligation, and its true and honest
performance will be to you, L feel sure, not only a pleasure, but a
privilege.
l cannot here go into details in refcrence: to the general progress
of our State during the past year, 1t is only necessary for me to
say that our development in all Observation-Disclosures indus
trial and commercial, and also including those higher interests which
must ever have their place in the welfare Of a peopler-has been
most encouraging and gratifying. Much of the continued pros
perity of the State depends upon you, and in dschagging your du-
ties you will, L am sure, bear in mind this fact. The providing for
every necessity of the people should be the chief province of gov
ernment. This should be done with proper regard for necessary
economy but the unwise eSpedient of seeking to be parsinonious
should be avoided, for the reason that the best laws may thus
be rendered Imperative, and the honest effort to execute them
powerless.
In this, the first Annual Message which I have the honor of send
ing to your body, l have discussed those subjects which 1 conceived
important, and have made such recommendations as deemed neces-
sary. In transmitting it to you wish to say that you will have
my earnest cooperation.
THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE STATE.
Wishing to present for your consideration N accurate statement
of the present financial condition of the State, l requested the Comp
troner-General to secure the necessary comparative figures for this
purpose. These figures cover the revenue and disbursements made
on account of the current receipts and disbursements commencing
with the fiscal year, beginning January Ist, 1897, and show the
actual revenue and disbursements for each fiscal year down to and
including 1902, with an estimate for 1908. This statement clearly
shows that while the States revenue has increased, the expenditures
nave increased a a greater rate. 1t appears that the total current
expenditures in 1897 were $S79,5o265; total current expenditures
in 1902 were $I,223o7I.2S showing an increase of expenditure
in 1902 over 1897 OF $3444oS63. In this connection the following
figures are also interesting:
In 1897 the revenue exceeded the expenditures BY. 100000 "a
In 1893 the revenue exceeded the expenditures by. E. IooIo s.
In 1899 the revenue exceeded the expenditures by. 5oo4S 90
In 1900 the expenditures exceeded the revenue by. e. Ioo45 AZ
In 1901 the expenditures exceeded the revenue by. =. 1924 20
In 1902 the expenditures exceeded the revenue by.. 2OS,7oS "a
In 1903 the revenuee exceeded the expenditures by. :. 56.3o4 go
If we take the surplus as above shown for 1897, 1893, 1900 and
1908 amounting to ~$2I7A72.56, from the excess expenditures over
revenue o. 1900 1901 and 1902 amounting to S2327o7.94 we have
a net deficiency of $I5,2o5.3S. In other words, the total revenue
received and applicable to each fiscal year from 1897 to, and in
Guiding, 1903, amounts to $6,o34725.33. The total expenditures
for this same period amount to $69soo2o7I, showing a deficit of
$15,2o538, as revealed above. The revenue for 1903, as above
stated, includes $99,I378o, received in settlement of claims against
the United States Government, as will be explained further on in
this message. Had not this amount been placed to the credit of
the general fund the deficiency would have been greater. 1t is thus
een that the finances of the State are not in such a dcplorable con-
dtion, but the fact that the Comproner-G General estimates that the
State must borrow during the year 1904, S425ooooo to promptly
meet current obligations until the tax levy of 1904 becomes avail
able shows the finances to be in an unhealthy condition, to say the
least. This situation should certainly be remedied and a sufficient
revenue should be provided to place the State upon a cash basis. AT
your last session you appointed a committee ito consider how best to
put. the State upon a cash basis, what additional sources of revenue
for the State are available, and what changes should be made in
existing laws for the assessment and collection of taxes" This
committee has completed its report, which will be transmitted to
you. This report is a most important one. 1t has been prepared
with great care by legislators experienced. in the fiscal affairs Of the
State, who have given much time and study to the preparation of
their report, and l commend it to your most earnest consideration.
The report came into my hands SC recently that | have not had
tme-on account OF other pressing duties-to give it the careful
thought and consideration its importance demands, and for this
reason am unable just at this time to make recommendations con-
corning it. However. in this connection, will say that some
change, with a view to raising more revenue, is imperative. The
complaint Of inequality in taxation is an old one, as we'll as a just
one, and if your honorable body could devise some law bv which
this evil could be rerneded, and corporations, a well as individuals
be compelled to return all property for taxation at its real value
as is required by the Constitution the present tax levy would
greatly exceed the necessities of the government. I invite your
q cpeS1 offanioo IN He ,La.o~ f III - 49,. -. ~,