The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-15

reduction Of cotton acreage for The
year 1921. We have not produced
more cotton than the world needs,
but apparently, we have produced
more than the world is able to con-
sumo under the present unsettled eco
nomic conditions. 1t is unfortunate
that this condition should have come
upon us at a time when we are un-
prepared to protect ourselves against
serious loss. Mistakes of the past
should be : sufficient incentive to
cause us to prepare for the future.
Permanent Improvement.
Heretofore, it has been the policy Of
this state to provide for necessary i'm
provements in the state from our an
nual budget. This is one reason why
the annual tax levy has increased as
1T has. / believe the legislature
should ascertain what is absolutely
necessary in the way Of permanent
improvements during a period Of ten
years, and submit TO the electors of
the state the question of q bond is
sue sufficient to take care OF such
improvements and distribute the cost
through period OF years rather than
provide for 1t in annual levies | have
requested the different institutions to
submit estimates along this line, and
l am submitting these estimates to
you Tor your information. l trust you
Will see this matter as / do. We
probably never can come abreast of
our responsibilities under the plan
we have heretofore followed. A build
ing is more permanent than road
yet roads are constructed from bond
issue proceeds. Why erect public
buildings out OF annual levies.
law Enforcement.
The violation OF law in this and
other states Is a matter of serious
public concern. A great deal Of this
can be attributed to q natural reac-
tion from the war. inOther cause is
the distress of our people due to the
unsettled condition or business, which
is also attributable TO the war. What
ever may be the cause, the fact is that
the past year has witnessed an un-
usual wave Of crime. A great deal
depends upon IL proper enforcement
Of the prohibition law. Reports in
my Office from tho activities of the
few state constables / have been able
to employ, and from other sources,
show that the Illicit manufacture Of
alcoholic liquors and beverages in the
state is appalling. Almost daily l re-
coive complaints from good citizens In
various sections OF the state and not
infrequently from wives and mothers
who are especial victims Of the
violation Of this law. This state, as
we'll as the United States, Is definite
ly committed to the policy Of prohi-
bition Of alcoholic beverage; it there
fore becomes the duty of the state
to enforce its own enactment. If the
governor Is to be charged with the
responsibility (and no doubt he should
be) of the enforcement of this law, It
is necessary that he be provided with
sufficient funds and sufficient author
ity. The entire police authority
state, county and municipal-should,
with proper restictions, be subject to
the governors orders in the enforce
ment Of this particular law.
l have requested an increase in the
appropriation for law enforcement.
There are those who believe that this
law, like all others. should be enforc-
cd by the regularly elected officers Of
the counties and cities. If a sheriff,
with the help usually given him, is re-
quired to enforce the prohibition law
in his county, he must necessarily, do
30 to the neglect Of other duties. It
Is believed also--and this belief Is
based on experience--that specially
employed constables are necessary for
the enforcement Of law which Is
I'll
ed the conclusion, after carefully con-
sidering the matter, that the law
should be 80 amended that person
found guilty Of u wilful violation of
the prohibition law should serve
term OF Imprisonment, and that the
payment OF any amount Of money
should not be sufficient to relieve
from the service OF the imprison-
ment sentence. and that there should
bc no suspension Of such sentence ex-
ccpt after the service Of from three
TO s!& months. The people of the
state Notwithstanding the present
distressed condition OF business, can
not afford to persue a policy Of in
difference or neglect in reference TO
thtS question. In tho matter OF law
enforcement. there is involved not
on.y the rights OF property. but hu-
man life itself. Every constable en-
ploycd by the state during tho past
year has caused to be paid into the
various county treasures in addi-
ton TO time served in prison, sums
IN excess OF the amount of salary and
expenses paid. While this has been
an expense to the state Il has pro.
duced revenue for the counties. If
all fines and fOrfeiturcS collected
from violations Of the prohibition
law were paid into the state treas
ury. this appropriation would show
II balance 10 its credit very much in
cNCcss of the amount expended.
State Highway Department.
At the 1920 session Of the general
assembly, an act was passed amend
ing the then existing law with ref