Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.

GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Summary Of What His ExesIIsney Said
to tho General Assembly.
Governor Heyward's first annual
message was read In the house and
senate last Tuesday. It Is a straight
forward business like paper Of about
10000 words. and rather too lengthy
for reproduction in THE ENQUIRER in
full. The following summary, how
ever, is comprehensive. and will likely
satisfy most Of our readers:
Financial Condition OF the ststs. Z
It is pointed out that, according to
the figures Of the comptroller general,
the receipts Of the state are not in
creasing proportionately to the reve-
nues, the diverging ratios have grown
yearly greater since 1887. Since the
latter year the total expenditures have
exceeded the receipts by $15,2s6.SS. the
figures being, respectively, 3s,Ss4.726.ss
and $e,950.020.71. The fact that the
comptroller general estimates that the
state must borrow during the year
1904, $425,0OO to promptly meet current
obligations until the tax lexy Of 1904
becomes available, shows the finances
to be in an unhealthy condition, to say
the least. This situation should GER
tainly be remedied and sufficient rev.
enue should be provided to place the
state upon a cash basis.
1.-THE question resolves itself into
this, that expenditures must be cur
Jailed, or more revenue raised. The
former, I fear. is impracticable, and
the latter can only be done in one of
three ways: First, by requiring the
county authorities, upon whom de-
volve the duty of ascertaining and
placing upon the tax books all prop
erty, to exercise rigid supervision OF
tax returns, and forcing them to re-
quire proper listing Of property here
.ofore escaping taxation. Second, by
license tax as suggested by yoar COM
mittee; or third, by increasing the tax
levy. which is undesirable. as 1t will
only place additional burdens upon the
honest taxpayers, while the tax dod-
ger still escapes"
Insurance Licenses.
Present laws are condemned as be-
Ing defective and inadequate and rec
ommends changes In license laws, reg
ulating fees to be paid, and increasing
revenue from its source to 3127,6oo.
Bonded Debt.
Decreased during year 1903 by $125.eo0
by surrender Of state capital bonds by
United States, and by surrender OF
$4,000 Blue Ridge railroad bonds ac-
cording to acts Of general assembly.
Total bonded debt Of state Jan. 1, 1904,
Is given at $6.6s4,SS2.7s.
Assets of cumulative sinking fund
for payment Of South Carolina Brown
Al per cent bonds now aggregate
s4ss,277.2s.
Assets Of insurance sinking fund are
S11,s51.25, Of which $4,000 Is loaned at
s per cent interest.
About the settlement Of claims grow
ing out Of the war Of 1872, the fol-
lowing extract from q letter OF Sena-
tor Tillman Is given:
1T affords me great qualification to
hand you herewith warrants Nos. 674S
and STAT on the United States treas
urer for $Ss,137.86, together with re-
ceipt from the Southern Express COM
pany for s125.0O0 coupon bonds OF the
state of South Carolina, with coupons
attached aggregating principal and In
terest, $24S,750, making total IN cash
and bonds Of 1897, 7,s87.S6."
An appropriation of $1,000 is recon-
mended as remuneration for services OF
Mr.. James M. Baker, Of Lowndesville,
assistant senate librarian, for assist
ance rendered in obtaining this money
from the government. The above
mentioned warrants have been deposit
ted to the credit Of the general fund.
Education and SehooI9
BY far the lengthiest caption in the
message Is devoted to this subject.
After a general preamble, the common
schools are extolled; the necessity en-
phasized of having competent teachers,
full-length terms and school buildings
not onIy neat and comfortable, but at
tractive as well.
Conditions Of country schools de-
mand attention. Scholastic year OF
(average lengthy 112 days. too short.
Average teachers pay Of $2os!04. too
small. Awakening to these Facts,
noted and commented upon.
Rural school libraries recommended.
Consolidation Of rural schools urged.
Expenditures for schools. $1,o46,-
1880; average attendance, 206,S25 pu-
pills; per capita cost, 35.Os; total en-
rollment, 2S8,332-134,330 white and
154,0O2 colored. excess Of colored pu-
pills. 1862.
Manual training and night schools
are strongly urged as among the states
greatest needs.
High schools and colleges are prais-
ed, sectarian as we'll as lay.
South Carolina College-Appropria-
tions recommended Of $500 for con-
servation Of pupils health, s2s,4o0 for
current expenses. $500 for centenary
celebration.
Winthrop Normal and Industrial
Work Of institution highly praised.
recommended; $685.
ss2.6s for ordinary expenses and $1O.-
900 to be paid in three annual INSTALL
ments for purchase Of additional land
for farming purposes.
Clemson College-Regular work and
farmers institute highly praised. Re-
port Of trustees reviewed.
South Carolina Military Academy
Recommends appropriations; $4,000
for support; $1,000 for repair of build
ings; $3.50 for additions to library, and
$4,000 for improvements in lighting
and heating.
Institution for education Of deaf and
Of attendance. Recon-