The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-01-10


been requested to cooperate with
them. It wuld be greatly to the rnu-
tual benefit Of the interests involved
to act together in the matter of Sc
curing an appropriation for the rivers
of each State, and I hope this will be
done.
Biennial Sessions.
At the general election of 1904 an
amendment to the constitution provid-
ing for biennial sessions of the Gen.
erai Assembly was submitted to the
people, and was adopted. A commit
tee wses appointed from both houses
at your last session to report what
amendments to the Constitution and
statutes of the State will be necessary
and proper to provide for such ses-
sions. I trust you will act upon the
report of this committee, in order
that the amendment may become eff
fective as soon as possible.
l believe that biennial sessions VIE
afford ali necessary legislation, ana
the people Of the State have expressed
themselves in favor of the change. In
this connection Z renew my recon-
mendation Of last year that state Off
GERS be elected for term of four
years. and not allowing them to sue
ceed Themselves. Upon further re-
fection, I would not include the Of
fees of Comptroller general and state
treasurer IN this recommendation
with reference to reelection to their
respective officers.
Incendiary Fires.
The recent law requiring the comp
troller general to investigate incenz
diary fires has not proved satisfactory,
and no doubt this officer will suggest
necessary changes to you. Since the
enactment of this law I have, in many
cases, refused to offer rewards beiiey-
ing tnat it would be proper for me to
have the required legal investigation
made. Considerable expense has been
incurred in conducting these investiga-
tions, and experience convinces me
that this has been an unwise expen-
diture Many fires Of supposed in
cendiary origin can easily be traced to
some other cause, and in this connec-
ton I beg to call attention to the fact
that the State of New York has q
law requiring all dealers to sell Moth
ing but safety matches. 7 recommend
your favora5,e consideration Of such
g law, especially as safety matches
sellsyat about the same price as the
othss variety.
Industrial Schooi and Resc-nators.
The bill to establish an Industrial.
School and Reformatory was defeated
at the last session Of your body be-
cause you failed to agree upon minor
differences which developed during
the discussion of this measure. Z
trust that at this session these differ
enoes may 6e adjusted and tie schooE
esta bnsllad, for feel that much good
would be accomplished ty such q re-
forn2atory.
The Jamestown Exposition.
Our sister State of Virginia has
taken the init;atory steps to celebrate
the establishment of the colony at
Jamestown, the first permanent Eng
lish settlement made in the southern
portion of the United tSates.
This event Will be Of no ordianry
and the work already &C
in other States and abroad
gives most auspicious promise OF an
observance of all which Il
7 sincer!y trust that
your consideration viii give to South
Carolina the position she deserves in
this celebration, and I recommend
such an appropriation as you may
deem necessary for this pirpose.
eNGikCkttS>Csi.
I have submitted 70 you sCe.a infor-
nation concerning affairs OF state as
1 have deemed necessary for your
Unto you, the nonored
of cur people belong
the responsible duties of your Office
as law makers Cor your State. From
your consideration will give to Souta
your deliberations results must inev-
itably ccme, and by these results you
are to be judged.
Believing that in the discharge OF
these grave responsibilities you wilE
be guided and controlled by integrity
of purpose and fidelity to your trusts
in all that you do, I commend the
great interests of your people unto
YOU and await the results with conf
dence and with hope.
The State Firemen's Association was