The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-01-11
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
Changes Suggested in Gallon-a-Month
Law.-Other Recommendations.

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Law.-Other Recommendations.
Governor Manning's annual mes
sage to the Legislature, was read Tues
day afternoon. The governor greet
ed the members OF the general as
sembIy as men inspired by a desire
to transact the business of the State
in a thorough, economical and eff
cient manner. The great prosperity
of the country is recounted, and
thanks are expressed for the many
blessings of the past year.
The report of the State superin-
tendent of education is especially
commended to the attention Of the
general assembly. The scholastic
year shows the public school revenue
to be four million dollars, and To-
cal tax has been levied in over L.
600 school districts. The enrolment
for the year exceeded 100000, a gain
of $4,000 over the previous year,
which gain is credited to the enforce
ment of the local option law. "In
my opinion" says the governor, "the
time has come when the statute for
compulsory attendance should be
made State wide, but should allow
districts that are unprepared or un-
willing to enforce compulsory attend
ance, to petition for exemption" The
need for compulsory attendance Is
emphasized by the fact that on Janu-
ary /, about 2,400 children were dis
charged from the cotton mills on ac-
count of the child labor law. These
children cannot now work in the
mills, and should be in school. The
governor again recommends the crea-
tion of a State board of examiners
for teachers.
The Australian ballot system is
commended for the primaries, to
safeguard to the people the free
choosing of their nominees in, the
primaries. The governor does not
think this system necessary in small
rural communities. p
The governor, says that the present
means for law enforcement are in
adequate. 81 believe the governor
should be held responsible for the
enforcement of the law" says the
message. 'If he is held responsible
for it, he should be given the power
to require local peace officers to dis
charge their duties, or, upon failure
to do so, to suspend such officers. y
This power is not now given the gov
ernor. AS it would require consid-
erable time to amend the constitu-
ton so as to give the governor this
power, Governor Manning urges for
immediate relief that he be empow-
cred to appoint constables with State
wide jurisdiction to enforce the pro-
hibition law, and, in case of failure
of local officers, to enforce all laws.
The governor again pledges his best
efforts to uphold and enforce the
laws. ,
Liberal support is urged for the
national guard, without which, the
governor says. he would be power
less to enforce the laws and protect
life and property.
1.-The prohibition law should, in
my judgment, be amended in many
particulars. Experience has shown
the weak and defective points in the
enforcement of the present law, :"
says the message. "Our purpose is
to minimize the evils of liquor. We
need a law that can be effectively and
rigidly enforced. From a careful
survey and observation of the en-
tire State, I recommend that the
present law, known as the 'gallon-a-
month law should be amended and
strengthened in many particulars. !"
The governor does not go into the
details of these amendments, but in
a general way advises that the guam
tity of liquor allowed each person
per month be reduced, and that. as
substitute for liquor, wine and
beer, with stated percentages OF al
cohol, be permitted as an alternative.
That the importation Of liquors,
wines, and beer by minors, college
students and women other than heads
of families be prohibited. II earnest
ly desire a reduction in drunkenness
and crime. I believe that the enact
ment of sane but strict law regu-
lating the importation Of liquor,
strictly enforced, would bring such a
result ! ....
AS regards good roads, the COVER
nor recommends the massage of at