Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1908-01-15
THE GOVERNORS : MESSAGE
The LegisIa. .are Receives Advice From
States Execuiv we On Many Subjects

SeSSmenC ana tahaCloL, alu Suaii Pie
scribe regulations to secure a jus
valuation for taxation of all proper
ty, real, personal and possessory, ex
cept mines and mining claims the pro
ducts Of which alone shall be taxed. ,
All property should bear its jus
proportion Of the taxes. The ques
lion arises, How is the Auditor t.
find out what personal property th'
taxpayer-hasq I suggest the inquisi
torial plan. Require the County Au
ditor to publicly administer to th'
taxpayer on oath requiring him tt
truly. answer concerning all his prop
erty of whatsoever kind, and RECORD
it on his fax return with the valu
alton he places on same which is tt
be afterwards cqualized by the Town
ship and County Boards of Equali
zation. BY this means the value o.
ell the visible property, as well as al
stocks, notes, bonds and money, cal
be arrived at, and much persona
property which now escapes assess
mcnt would be brought to light
Labor Contracts.
Since the United States Court ha;
held that the Act of the Legislator,
Of this State entitled. Gan Act, e
amend Section .35T of. the. Crimina
Code Of Laws, 1902, volume 2, relat
ing 70 violation of labor contracts
approved February 25, 1904" anc
now known as Section 357 Of the
Criminal Code of South Carolina, is
unconstitutional and void, mucl
trouble and litigation have resulted
between landlords and laborers. II
is, therefore, necessary for you to
give special attention to the en-
actment Of such law as will be con.
stitutional, and at the same time just
to both landlord and laborer. / rec
ommend that you pass stringent Act
which will punish both landlord and
laborer for a violation of labor con
tract, and make it a misdemeanor fo1
one person to employ laborer. whc
is under contract with another.
Tho Lien Law.
The "lien law'' has been a source
of much discussion in and out Of the
Legislature for many years. 1t was
much discussed when / was mem
ber of the General Assembly more
than twenty years .ags I think it
has long since accomplished the pilr=
poses ofsits enactment and I recon-
mend its repeal: Too often the lien
is Htaken up" before the crop is
planted, and often but little work is
done after the lien is "taken up" |
think it better for landlord and ten
ant that it be repealed.
Dispensary Law.
After the enactment of the Carey
Cothran Act, regulating the sale of
liquor in this State, and in. obedience
to its provisions, appointed County
Dispensary Boards in all those coun-
ties that had not voted out the sale of
liquor under the Brice Act. For a
short while, and until the county dis
pensaries were opened up, we had
State prohibition, and I am informed
that many converts were made to this
plan during that time. Under that
Act county dispensaries were started
in the said counies, and have been
running ever since. I appoined an
auditor, W. B. West, as provided for
in said Act, who has performed his
duties with fidelity and ability, and
who has been diligent in seeing thai
the law is strictly enforced by the
County Dispensary Boards and By
the dispensers.
It is recommended that the law
should provide for prohibition where
an election is held and majority Of
the voters seem to favor "no dis
pensary,' until the matter is fanally
determined.
Registration Books.
NY attention has been called sey-
eral times during the past year to the
condition of the registration books in
the several counties of the State and
to the careless manner in which, many
of the Boards of Registration have
discharged their duties in revising
the books as the law requires.
Education. -.
I am happy to report that great
interest is being taken by the people
in all parts of the State upon the i'm
portant subject of the education Of
their children. 1t is not necessary
for me to speak of the. very great
benefits that flow to an educated peo-
pie. It is, however, gratifying to all
to know that the common schools,
the high schools, and the colleges Of
our State are constantly on the
minds and hearts Of all our people,
and year after year ways and means
are being devised for their better
equipment and service. The average
attendance in the common schools
this year is greater than ever before.
The various institutions receiving
State aid are mentioned, and each
one is commended for the excellent
work being done by it.
The Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institute.
This institution, under the wise
administration Of President Walker
and the Board of Trustees, is one
that appeals to all the people of the
State. When-we consider the many
unfortunate children who are taught