The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-01-14
COY. RI MANNING's ANNUAL
MESSAGE TO LEGISLATURE
CONTINUED FROM PAGE II

4 tnOuSanQ SlX nunuFeQ anu uiig-ji!H'
school districts have voted local taxes
for school purposes. Night schools
were inaugurated in 1916 The act o.
the general assembly providing for
longer terms required term OF seven
months, where the local levy was as
much as eight mills and twenty-five
pupils attend a school. This was
marked progress. Notwithstanding
war conditions and the scarcity OF la
Dor, enrolment and average attend
ance have been maintained. There
has been an increase of about twenty
per cent in the salaries Of teachers:
especially the women teachers, and
the State appropriation for education
during 1918 is more than double the
appropriation for 1914.
Eighty-fve per cent of the popula-
ton of South Carolina is engaged in
agriculture. The necessity for greater
skill and science in this important in-
dustry has been felt, and it is a matter
of qualification to me that agricultural
training in the school has been insti-
tuted. Later / shall submit to you a
recommendation on vocational train
ing in agriculture, industry and home
economics.
The creation of the board OF concil-
iation was another wise step which
the legislature took to settle the dis
putes between employer ard EN-
ployee. In many instances it has per.
formed this function, and has brought
about peaceable settlement of dis,
putes which promised to be serious.
The highway commission was Great
ed in 1917, with the idea OF giving to
the State a comprehensive and sclen,
tiic system of roads. The commission
has not been able to accomplish what
was desired, because of the made
quacies of the law under which it op-
crates, but valuable start has been
made which promises we'll for the fu-
ture.
In 1915 the age limit for child labor
in South Carolina was, upon my recon-
mendation, raised to fourteen years;
and again in 1916 the legislature, act
ing upon my recommendation. very
wisely raised the limit to sixteen
years. This is of the greatest i'm
portance since it effects the whole fab
ric of our social and economic life.
The Terrence system of land regis
tration was enacted into law by the
legislature during my first administra-
ton, but in my judgment, a prere-
quisite to the practical application OF
this law would be complete survey
of the land tracts in each county.
In 1916 the debt of the State was re-
funded at the rate of four per cent.
instead of four and one-half per cent,
as in the farmer issue. The saving in
interest resulting from the reduction
in the rate, and retiring part OF the
principle of the State debt, will be
s36,754.76 annually The refunded
bonds have not the tax deduction fea-
ture as did the old Brown bonds, and
this has added to the taxable property
of the State million and half dol
lars which before escaped taxation,
and which will increase the revenue
of the State about thirty thousand
dollars annually, making total say
ing each year of over $66,000.00.
The credit of the State stands high,
as is attested by the fact that money
for the current expenses of the State
government has been borrowed at a
lower rate of interest than other
States have obtained. In one year
money for this purpose was borrowed
! at two per cent.
Hospital for the insane.
From the beginning of my admins
tration in 1915, and indeed for years
before that, the unfortunate in our
State-the poor, the mentally defec-
tive, delinquent boys and wayward
girls-have had my constant concern:
and so ever since became governor
/ have encouraged and helped progres,
sive measures along these lines in
every way I could.
During the several years before my
election there developed widespread
disapproval of the conditions in the
State Hospital for the Insane, but re-
peated and urgent recommendations
by the governing bodies had secured
little legislative response. found the
physical condition of the institution
was intolerable if we were to consider
tho troatroent of the unfortunate Da