The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-15

sells third annual message IN the leg
islature read In both branches of the
Legislature. which convened today. is
characteristic Ansel message, short,
conservative and free from radical
suggestions or recommendations and
In very simple language. 1t is very
mild. much too much so in the view
OF those who have been laboring
many years for some important
changes. 1t was received in silence
and there was little comment upon
1t. 1t is only fifteen printed pages
long.
There Is nothing striking or out
of the ordinary about the message,
which was to be expected. 1t is al
most wholly renewal of recommen.
dations made last year.
OF course the most important rec
ommendation, at least the one which
received the most attention, is that
referring to how this legislature
should handle the liquor question.
After dryly stating the facts concern
ing the August elections the message
says:
AS to the dispensaries In the six
counties which voted In the sale OF
liquor, I desire to renew my recon-
mendation made In my message in
1903. to wit: that not more than one
county dispensary be allowed in any
county where liquor is allowed to be
sold except In those counties where
there are cities exceeding $4,000
(Richland and Charleston counties.)
This is In the intereset Of temepr-
ance. firmly believe that II another
|nlscston - seead IN these six counties
In the coming year most OF them will
vote. the sale Of liquor out. I ask
your earnest consideration of the
question of providing for another
election In these six counties In the
near future.
Briefly summarized the remainder
of the message is:l
Borrowing Of half a million dollars
was necessary last year to meet cur
rent expenses. Recommended that
half mill extra be added to the State
levy to gradually get the State back
on a cash basis.
Renewal Of recommendation that
inquisitorial plan be adopted as a
cure for tax lodging. Nothing is
said of Comptroller General Jones'
recommendation that a State tax
commission of five members be pro-
vided to equalize returns.
Attention directed to the report Of
the State Sinking Fund Commission,
which shows cumulative sinking fund
for redemption Of State bonds $780,
S53.5s. ordinary sinking fund s7S,-
30S.47, sinking fund for insurance Of
public buildings $51.s2s.sO.
A good word for all the State coll
leges and the industrial school and
Communications of their heads takes
up two and half pages. The Cita-
del Board Of Visitors request for $780,
600 for another dormitory story is
endorsed. Adequate appropriations
for the Industrial school at Florence
recommended, and a bill which the
State colleges will have introduced to
make examinations for beneficiary
scholarship examinations uniform is
commended.
The dispensary winding-up COM
mission Is thanked for it's services.
and the governor reports that it has
turned in $275.0O0 to the state treas
ury with more 20 come when the
cases In court are ended.
A $4,000 Supreme Court building
for the State House grounds is ask
ed.
The governor fights shy of discuss.
ing the asylum situation. He asks
careful consideration Of the investi-
eating commissions report and con-
tents himself with stating the num-
ber of patients In the institution.
The penitentiary management Is
commended, and the legislatures at
tention directed to the fact that the
contract for employing 800 convicts
In the knitting mill within the
grounds expires before another legis-
lature meets. at Is necessary,
therefore," the message says, that
some action should be taken at this
session providing for another lease
to the parties now holding the lease
or To others"
AS to the railroad situation: 81 am
still of the opinion that more author
ity should be given to the rallroad