Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-01-17
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Thinks Dispensary System Good But Needs
Recommendations Mob Law.


increased assessment that the rate
being fixed by the General Assembly
upon the last assessment, that should
there be a decided increase in the
assessment of property, the amount
/ collected would be more than suffi-
cient for the expenses of the govern
I ment. This objection is fully met
in the report of the Comptroller
General. He points out that the
General Assembly can determine the
appropriations for both State and
county and can authorize sufficient
levy, based upon the assessed valua-
tion of property as finally decided
upon. This levy, l may add, could
be fixed for the State by the Comp
troller General and State Treasurer
and for the counties by the various
County Comm issioners.
In reference to the three-mill tax
fixed in the Constitution for educa-
tional purposes, the Comptroller
points out that if this tax, on the
increased assessment, should alone
realize sufficient sum for the sup
port of the schools, the special school
levies could be dispensed with, and
other revenues now going to the
schools might be diverted to the
county treasures, thus reducing the
county levy. In my opinion, how
ever, we cannot get too much money
for the support of the schools, GER
tainly not under the present condi-
tions. The Comptroller. General also
makes number of other recon-
mendations, all of which | commend
to your consideration.
must repeat to you my recon-
mendation of last year in reference
to County Auditors and Treasurers.
These officers, for every good reason,
should no longer be subjected to
political influences and to the neglect
of their duty incident to political
campaigns for re- election.
The report of the work done dur
ing the past year by the Comptroller
General contains most valuable infor-
nation, and well deserves your most
/
careful consideration.
The report will show that there
are now S,S04 old soldiers or their
widows upon the pension rolls of the
State, to whom 100000 is annually
paid. 1t will be seen that when this
appropriation is distributed it
amounts to very little in individual
cases. If the prosperity of the State
continues would be glad to see this
appropriation for the brave defend
ers of their homes and country in
creased as much as possible.
The report of the State Sinking
Fund Commission will be promptly
submitted to your body. These
funds have been well managed, as
will appear from the report.
Permit me to mention here, with
the sense of loss and the sadness
which we must feel, the death of a
valued member Of this Commission,
and faithful servant of our State,
the late Hon. Altamont Moses.
DIspENsARY.
The only cloud that throws a
shadow over the State is the unsatis-
factory condition of the dispensary.
Great dissatisfaction has been mani
tested by the people in many quar-
ters. 1t exists, | believe, because of
loss of confidence, resulting from
abuses in connection with its opera
ton. No one can deny that the
present atmosphere surrounding the
dispensary is grave reflection upon
South Carolina, for it is n State in
stitution, and any odium which at
tachcs to its operation necessarily
attaches to the State. Since your
last session large number of coun-
ties have voted out dispensaries, but
| must say that the vote abolishing
them take to be rebuke to the
mode of operation rather than re.