The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-01-20
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
REPORT ON STATE AFFAIRS AND
RECOMMENDATION
Strengthening Of State Finances Need
ed--Change in Manner of Trial of
Rape Cases.

Columbia, Jan. 13.-The governors
message which was read in both
houses today is something Of sermon
with an invocation and a benediction.
pointing out the duties and the re-
sponsibilities Of the members of the
general assembly and quoting largely
from the message of last year and the
inaugural address.
There are no radical suggestions,
the State Is complimented on its con-
dition and the spirit of law and order
and the contentment Of the people.
The governor calls pointed attention
to the financial condition Of the State
treasury, which is having to borrow
money to the very limit and pay thir-
teen thousand dollars interest every
year on the loans. Something will
have to be done, he says, to catch up
He compliments the sinking fund
commission for it's faithful and eff
cient work. In the matter Of the as
sessment Of property in the State he
renews his suggestion as to the in
quisitorial plan OF getting the returns
and the punishment Of the tax dodger
In the matter Of education he quotes
from his former message literally
and comments on each Of the State
institutions of learning and the work
they are doing. One new one has
been added, Of which he speaks very
highly, the industrial school at Flor
ence, which has been opened and has
a good property with small appro-
priation from the State and is filling
long felt want. He recommends a
liberal appropriation for its equipment
and maintenance.
In the matter of the dispensary law
he renews the suggestion that all
counties be declared dry and allowed
to vote in the dispensary II they de-
sire it. He reviews briefly the case
In the United States court over the
winding up Of the old State institu-
ton. and expresses confidence In the
ultimate success Of the State.
He commends the department Of
agriculture Snd commerce for the
work 1t has done in the past year In
having the government establish ex-
perimental stations In the State, and
for the information it has sent ,ut
and recommends that its work be ex-
tended to cover labor. and comment.
"n the fact that 10 1,.r.her effor- is
being made 20 bring emigcanis to the
State. but that all efforts are being
made to indnoo home-seekers ID come
here.
He suggests a change in the GRIM
inal statutes permitting the victim Of
an assault or attempted assault to
testify in private; suggests more
room for the supreme court and bet
ter pay for the judges; the liberal
support of the national guard, which
has responded we'll to various calls
that he has had to make on them
for service; commends the work Of
the insurance commissioners and Of
the Audubon society; merely makes
statement as to the new railroad
rates and mileage books, and COM
mends the work Of the conservation
congress; again suggests a commission
to look into the necessity for a new
governors mansion, and commends the
reports Of all the state officers and
closes with the benediction.
good part Of the message is de-
voted to review OF the reports of
the different departments of the State
government, but these have already
been covered in the Daily Mail dur
ing the last few weeks
IN his reference to the needed
change in the law as to assaults with
intent to ravish, ETC., the governor
says:
There are some amendments to
the criminal statutes that 1 consider
Of great Importance and which
think should be passed by your honor
able bodies at this session. They are
in the interest of the good order and
peace OF the State. l called attention
to them in my inaugural address
in January, 1907, and, as they have
not been enacted into law since that
tine, l wish to repeat the recommen-
dations now and to say that subsc-
quent events in this State have con-
firmed my opinion that the recommen-
'dations were right and proper. 1 quote
from said inaugural the matters above
alluded to.
81 further wish to call to your at