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

OF labor be ten instead Of eleven hours
at present. He brought up a bill
e making the legal fare on railroads
= zI-2 cents instead Of three cents.
The Senate.
NE usual routine characterized the
session Of the senate Several mem
Dgrs we're absent when the roll was
caad. Lieutenant Governor Sloan
b nnase a brief address, after which
Senator Carlisle Of spartauDurg, was
sworn in and appointed to all commit
fee places formerly held by his pre-
deeessor, Judge Hydrick. n effort to
sonnait al old bills on the calendar
ssled, and While waiting for the gov
ernor, . message tEe calendar was
tackled HoWever most os them were
passed over.
The bin relative to giving the dis
pensary committee more power viii
sse be oduced until tomorrow
Teraors Sc was part,
y ETo She Honorable, the Gentlemen Of
the General Assembly
my high privaege to welcoms
you ss oar Capital City and to our
legislative halls, where you are to
meet in annual session. Permit me,
81 traasrastting my message to you,
sto emphasize the grateful thoughts
whica should be ours because OF the
eat prosperity which has been
vouca5afed unto US as a people. Not
only are we richer in the material
for which mankind SO ceaselessiy
rives but to these gifts have been
aadded the higher blessings which up.
lift and help and which bring peace
and cdatenr to those upon whom they
b9stowed.
Twin all unite in the hope and
the beslief that good to our State will
|-continsle as the result of your delib-
d erasio,bs, even as you viii be united
IN the fraternal bonds of true service
and 81 patriotic endeavor.
State Finances.
azn grateful to report an improved
condition of our State finances. In my
last message I called attention to the
y facs that, since the year 1900, the ex-
-,aadSt,,res had exceeded the revenue
os tie state by annual sums varying
from slo,o45.42 to s20S,s95.23. Dur
the past fiscal year the revnue has
exceeded the expenditures by about
sla5, 900, as is estimated by the Comp
E troller general.
This improved condition is empha-
sized by the fact that the State Treas
urer has had to borrow less money
this year than formerly.
The corporation license tax, passea
in 1904, went into effect last year and
Il has operated most satisfactorily with
very little additional expense to the
state for collection From this tax
about Sb4,UUU. III IOOi1U LOGAOVio AN>
been realized. To this can be added
from insurance license fees. $4,000;
and from the Secretary of State 500
900 has been received, making total
ID indirect revenue amounting to s121.,
900.
The receipts for the past
dscal year from the IL mill levy
aggregate s1,1s4,24o, making total
estimated revenue Of si,2s5,24o from
direct and indirect taxes.
d The estimated expenditures for the
nasf fiscal year show figures amount
ms to s1.171.Ooo, leaving a surplus
revenue over expenses amounting to
sl24,24o.
assessment of Property.
# is well known fact that the
4 burden is not equally distributed, and
appears that very large amount
of personal property is escaping taxa
ton. Comptroller General Jones, who
is capable, thoroughly competent
and conscientious officer, believes, af-
ter careful study of the complex ques-
.tions involved, that our present laws,
;th a few sligtt amendments, are