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

license at their county seat. The
secretary of state could ship to each
clerk Of court such number of license
plates as it is estimta ed will be need
cd in the particular county. These
plates, of course would be charged 10
the clerk and he would have to re-
nit the amount of the fee or return
the ~lates in order to discharge his
obligations.
Pensions.
recommend complete revision OF
the present pension law, that the adj
ministration Of the law be placed un-
der the direction of the comptroller
general, and that pensions be paid
only to those Confederate soldiers and
sailors, or the widows of such, who
are in need of financial assistance 1t
is utterly impossible for the state to
compensate the soldiers of the Con-
federate army, but it can, and should
provide for those who, through mis-
fortune or otherwise. are now forced
TO contend against the adversities OF
poverty.
Consci walton of Natural Resources.
Under existing law we have two de-
partnentS for the enforcement OF the
game and fish laws; one under the
direction OF n chief game warden; the
other, under a board Of fisheries
South Carolina has up to this time
adopted no definite and cOmprehen-
sivc policy for the conservation of our
natural resources. This generation is
under obligation to those who are to
live after us TO provide for the con-
70 N nf
the state. Our forests are destroyed
ruthl,ssly. Our fish and game could
he conserved and our laws administer
ed in such n way as to yield an in
creased revenue. A severance tax or
timber should also be provided and
suitable regulations for the protection
Of the forests should be made. / be-
licvo it would be wise, and I recon-
mend that the Offices of chief game
warden and state board of fisheries
he abolished, and that a commission
OF three persons be provided, to be
known as tho commission on fish
game and forestry; this commission
to employ a director. to be the execu-
tive officer charged with the admin
tration OF laws for the conservation OF
these natural resources. This rec
ommendation, Of course, presupposes
the enactment Of law for the con-
servation Of our forests as we'll as
appropriate amendments for the pro-
lection Of fish and game
The Budget System.
+. the session Of 1919, the legis-
lature enacted what is commonly
known as the budget law. Under
tias law it is the duty Of the governor
TO submit to the Legislature an item
lied plan of all proposed expenditures
for the several state departments, bu-
reaus, board commissions, institu-
tions and agencies, classified by func-
ton, character and object. This law
should not be misunderstood. 1t dos
not give tot he Governor any legis-
lative power. but simply requires him
to submit an informative document to
the Legislature in order that the mem
bers of the General Assembly may
have an intelligent understanding Of
the fiscal affairs of the State. If you
conclude that any department is being
extravagantly operated. the budget
will enable you to point out the item
in which the extravaganza appears
and II 1t be comes necessary to de-
crease an appropriation for any ac-
tivity you can determine how such q
decrease will affect the operation OF
'he activity. A careful plan for al
expenditures based upon the policy Of
pay-as-you-go and full information
as to the details. objects and aims Of
| expenditure, are the determining fac
tors Of the scientific principle Of the
executive budget 1t has been a Gus
| tom for years for the department and
institutions to exceed their appropri-
ations or create current deficits with
out any authority of law. Last year
the legislature was called upon t.
make deficiency appropriations in a
sum exceeding one quarter OF a mil.
! lion dollars. l call your attention tc
the fact that the fiscal year 1920. the
first year in which our budget system
was in operation, was closed without
| a single request for q deficit appro
priation. An accomplishment like this
proves beyond question that busines.
methods can be applied to the opera
| ton Of the state government. and
4
believe that this accomplishment viii
commend itself very strongly to botl
] members Of the legislature and tht
taxpayers.
| Conclusion.
I have recommended for your con
sideration such legislation as an
convinced is wise at this time.
hold myself ready to cooperate will
you and furnish such information ant
advice as you may desire from time
to time. In m budget recommenda
tlons l have had in mind the un.
settled and somewhat distressed econ
Omll condition in the State and hav.
tried to recommend the lowest apprO
priations consistent with efficiency.
have felt that / must recommend il
the budget an amount sufficient 70
each authorized activity The tota
appropriation is greater than il woulC