The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-01-15
GOVERNORS MESSAGE
TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY
RECOMMENDS MAKING WHOLE
STATE DRY.
With Leave To Counties to Vote in
Observation-Disclosures
AS To immigration Depart
me1t,-Other Matters.

printed pages, was officially transmit
ted to both houses on Wednesday at
noon by the governors secretary, Mr..
Allen J. Bethea, and by the reading
clerks Of these bodies was shortly
thereafter read to the members.
Governor Ansel disposes Of many
Of the most important matters by re-
iterating and renewing the recon-
mendations contained in his inaugur-
al address and his last annual mes
sage.
Recommendations which he renews
include the following:
That a special temporory tax levy
be made and continued until the
States finances reach a cash basis.
(Half a million dollars had to be bor-
rowed this year.)
That the inquisitorial plan be
. adopted, to prevent tax dodging. I'm
der this the auditors would cateehize
citizens under oath as to the details
of their returns.
That assault with intent to ravish
'be made a capital offense and that the
display Of indecent pictures Of fe-
males be prohibited by penal statute.
That a new building to house the
supreme court and its library be
erected on the state house square.
That victims Of attempt to ravish
or Of criminal assault be permitted to
testify in private.
That substantial increases be made
in the salaries of supreme court JUS
tices, circuit judges and State house
officials, from the governor down.
. That a new executive mansion be
erected on the site of the present
mansion.
That s'wet" counties, except those
containing cities Of $4,000 population
be allo we'd only oae dispensary each.
New recommendations include
these: :
That the dispensary act be amend
ed by making all the counties dry;
then those which still desire dispen-
saries may vote them in. 6
That "wet" counties be denied the
privilege of operating bottling, mix
ing or blending plants, but be requir-
ed to buy and sell in original pack
ages.
That provision be made for paying
the per diem of the State dispensary
commissioners during the year 1909.
That the immigration feature of
the department of agriculture, COM
merce and immigration be eliminated
and labor bureau added to this de-
pariment.
- That several necessary amendments
be made in the insurance laws, par
I ticularly one giving the commission
er authority over investment compan-
les. ::
That lower upset price be set up
on the cid State dispensary property
and the sinking fund compassion be
empowered to lease the1 ing as
long as it remains unsold.
That liberal appropriations bt
made for education, and especial at,
tention be paid the common schools.
That the number (49 Of norma
scholarships at the University o5
South Carolina be doubled;
That provision be made for equip.
ping the reformatory at Florence
with apparatus for manual and indus
trial training.
A good portion Of the message i:
devoted to informing the general as
) sembly as to the condition Of thu
State. - :>2 -.
In regard to the States finances
Governor Ansel said:
State Finances.
[ must once more call to your at
tention the important matter Of oul
States finances. At your last ses
sion you gave authority to the COVER
nor, the State treasurer and the
comptroller general to borrow, moi
exceeding five hundred thousand dol
lars to meet the obligations of the
State to become due during the yea1
1908-such as Confederate soldiers
pensions, interest on public debt. ap
preparations for the State institution:
of learning, and other appropriation:
made by your honorable bodies.
It became necessary for us to Dor
row. during the year, the full ameun
50 allowed and provided for, whicl
amount will be repaid out of th'
State taxes now being collected. TIL