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VOL, III. MANNING, CLARENDON COUNTY, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1887. NO. 16. LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. WHAT THE LAWMAKERS EAVE DONE FOIL THE STATE. .Several Important 3Ieasnres Receive Final ' Consideration--Synopsis of the Proceed Ings Thereon. CorxnaI, December 10.-The work of the Legislature has progressed rapid ly and satisfactorily for the past week. The more important measures acted on will now be noticed. THE CBDNIAL LAW. The bill to regulate the criminal prac tice in this State has passed the House and Senate both and is now before the Senate judiciary, committee, who ire considering the House amendments. The following is the text of the bill as it left the House: Section 1. That every indictment shall be deemed and adjudged sufficient and good in law, which, in addition to set ting forth the time and place, as now provided by law, charges the crime sub stantially in the language of the com mon law or of the statute prohibiting the same, or so plainly that the nature of the offence chgd may be easily under stood. Section 2. That every objection to any indictment for any defect apparent on the face thereof shall be taken by de murrer, or on motion to quash such in dictment before the jury shall be sworn, and not afterwards. Section 3. That if there be any defect in form in any indictment it shall be competent for the Court before which the case is tried to amend the said in dictment: Provided, such amendment does not change the nature of the offence charged; that if on the trial of any case there shall appear to be any variance be tween the allegations of the indictment and the evidence offered in proof thereof, it shall be competent for the Court before which the trial shall be had to amend the said indictment according to the proof: Provided, such amendment does not change the nature of the offence charged; and after such amendment the trial shall proceed in all respects and with the same consequence as if no van ence had occurred, unless such amend ment shall operate as a surprise to the defendant, in which case the defendant shall be entitled upon demand to a con tinuance of the cause. Section 4. That in any plea of autre fois acquit or autre fois convict it shall be s..iiicient for any defendant to state that he-has been lawfully acquitted or convicted, as the case may be, or the offence charged in the indictment. Section 5. That every indictment for murder shall be deemed and adjudged sufficient and good in law, which in ad dition to setting forth the time and place, together with a plain statement, divested of all useless phraseology, of the manner in which the death of the deceased was caused, charges that the defendant did feloniously, wilfully and of his malice aforethought kill and mur der the deceased. Section 6. That in all cases whatso ever in which it shall be necessary to make any averment in any indictment as to any instrument, whether the same rsists wholly or in part of writing, int or figures, shall be sufficient to de Bribe such instrument by any name or ignaion by which the same may be usually known or by the purport thereof, and in such manner as to sufficiently identify such instrument without set ting out any copy or fac simile of the whole or any Dart thereof. Section 7. 'that in any indictment for perjury it shall not be necessary to set forth more than the substance of the oath and the fact concerning which the prury is alleged to have bee-.1 comn Section 8. That any person or persons who shall be arraigned for the crime of murder, manalaughter, burglary, arson, rape or grand larceny shall be entitled to peremptory challenges not exceeding ten; and the State in such cases shall be entitled to perempto.ry challenges not exceeding five; and any person or per gons who shall be indicted for any crime or offence, other than those enumerated above, shall have the right to perempto ry challenges not exceeding five, and the State in such cases shall be entitled to peremptory challenges not exceeding two ut no right to stand aside jurors shall be allowed to the State in any case whatsoever: Provided, that in no case where there shall be more than one de fendant jointly tried, shall more than twenty peemptory challenges be ailow ed in ato the defendants. Section 9. Nothing in this Act cn tainedashall apply to any case where an indictment has already been found and the case is actually pending. Section 10. That all Acts and parts of Acts inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed. The bill to provide for the payment by the State of the expenses of all pros ecutions in criminal cases, caused con considerable discussion, participated in by several members, Colonel Haskell leading the fight against the bill and Mr. Bankin defending it. Finally it was in a dfinitely postponed by a vote of 57 to 45. The next bill taken up was the one amending the General Statutes in rela tion to liens on buildings and lands. Several speeches were made on the bill, and the debate was long and interesting. After every feature had been fully and freely dismussed it was indefinitely post poned. Numerous bills have passed their third readings, among which-the bill to pun ish o.ck-fighting within three miles of any chartered institution in this State. There was some discussion on the bill (by Dr. Lee, of Charleston,) to amend the law asto the carrying of concealed weapons, making the offence a felony. Dr. lae supported his bill in an able argument and was seconded .by Dr. Pope, of Newberry, Mr. Boozer, o: Edgefield, Colonel McKissick, of Union, and others. Mr. Gary, of Edgefield, opposed the bill, on the ground that th< present law was sufficient to suppress the evil if it was properly enforced. Fiu alh a vote was reached on a motion to lii the bill. The motion was defeated ati the fight was reopered. Mr. Wihoa', o: York, Mr. Haskell, of Columbia, Mbjoi Brawley, and others opposed the bill or the grounds given above, viz., that in - -aig the penalty would not ensnri the enforcement of the law against car rying concealed weapons. The discus sion lasted till 10 p. mn., when the House by a vote of 75 to 37 decided to recom mit the bill, and then adjourned. THE PHOSPHATE BILL. The phosphate bill, the provisions of which have already been summarized in these columns, caused quite a lengthy debate in the Senate. The various pro visions of the bill were freely discussed. The first vote came up on Senator Tal bert's motion to make the duration of the proposed grant ten years instead of twenty. This amendment was lost by a vote of 17 nays to 1i yeas. Next his amendment to increase the royalty was lost by a vote of 25 nays to 10 yeas. Various other amendments were offered, with varying results, but without indi cating the sense of the Senate upon the measure as whole. Finally Senator Moise, of Sumter, m'oved to indefinitely postpone the bill. Senator Murray moved to table this motion. The yeas and nays were called, and the vote stood as follows: Yeas-Alexander, Bell, Bieman, Buist, Edward, Field, Howell, Murray, Moore, Munro, MsMaster, Reynolds, Sinkler, Sligh, Smythe, Talbert, Williams-17. Nays-Austin, Black, Byrd, Crews, Erwin, Hemphill, Izlar, Kennedy, Moody, McCall, Moise, Patterson, Rhame, Smith, Wofford, Wingard, Woodward and Youmans-18. The bill was then indefinitely post poned without a division. SOME NEW MEASURES. Quite a number of new measures have been introduced-among them the fol lowing: In the Senate: Bill to amend the trial justice law. Bill to regulate licenses for insurance companies doing business in this State. Bill to renew and amend the charter of the Oak Point Mining Company. Bill to extend, amend and renew the charter of the Farmers' Phosphate Com pany. Bill incorporating the Security Sav ings Bank of Charleston. Bill incorporating the Summerville Building and LoanAssociation. By Senator Moore, bill to restore a per diem payment to county boards of examiners. In the House: Mr. Lesesne, bill to re peal certain Acts so as to remit the county of Colleton to the operations of Chapter 27, General Statutes, relating to the stock law. Mr. Abnev, bill to amend Chapter 72, &c., of the CGeneral Statutes, relating to assignments by insolvent debtors. Mr. Ancrum, bill to charter the Cam den Street Railway Company. Mr. Teague, bill requiring the super intendent of the Penitentiary to provide separate maintenance, lodging and train ing for criminals under 15 years of age. Mr. Plowden, bill to authorize the town council-of Forreston to borrow money for building an academy and boarding-house. Mr. Johnston, bill to abolish the office of superintendent of highways in Pick ens county. ABOrT THE CENtS. There was a long and earnest debate in the House on the bill to re-apportion the representatives according to the bill previously reported by the proper com mittee. This bill simply provides that there shall be a reapportionment of rep resentation on the basis of the United States census of 1880 and divides out the Representatives among the counties, taking four from Charleston and, one each from Aiken, Hampton and Rich land counties, and giving an additional Bepresentative to Beaufort, Edgefield, Greenville, Laurens, Marlboro, Spartan burg and Sumter counties. There was a long and earnest debate the opponents of the bill resting their objections mainly upon the ground that it would be in violation of the State Constitution. The yeas and nays were called on the motion to strike out the enacting words. During the call of the roll there was per fect silence in the House, most of the members keeping tally of the votes. The motion was finally declared lost by a vote of 57 to 6.. Mr. Haskell offered an amendment, which was accepted, providin that this tafte rthe adjournment of the General Assembly which will be elected in 1890. After some further debate it was sug gested that the apportionment set forth in the bill had never been verified by reference to the records of the census of 1880, as filed in the office of the Secre tary of State. After some discussion Mr. Haskell's motion to recommit to a special commnit tee was adopted on a division, with the understanding that the committee should report as soon as they had verified the figures and that the bill would then be taken up for its third reading, the oppo sition guaranteeing that it should not lose its place on the Calendar. The special committee appointed by the Speaker was composed of Messrs. Simp son, Douglass and Aldrich. The committee, on the day following, reported that they had made the neces sary calculations, and found that the representation would be as follows: Ab beville 5, Aiken 3, Anderson 4, Barn well 5, Beaufort 4, Berkeley 5, Charles ton 8, Chester 3, Clarendon 2, Colletor 5, Darlington 4, Edgefield 0, Fairfield 3, Georgetown 2, Greenville 5, Hamptor 2, Hurry 2, Kershaw 3, Lancaster 2 Laurens 4, Lexington 2, Mar:on 4 Marlboro 3, Newberry 3, Oconee 2 Orangeburg 5, Pickens 2, Rlichland 4 Spartanburg 5, Sumter 5, Union 3, Wit liamsburg 3, York 4. The committee stated that in appor tioning representatives to Berkeley ani Charleston they had made the calcula tion according to the townships in th< two portions of old Charleston sice eu into two counties. The House discussed the bill a', sorn length. A motion to indefinitely pobt pone was lost-yeas 55, nays 58-an< the bill was then, without a division passed and sent to the Senate. Anothe effort w& s made to postpone the mauerx by referring it to the Supreme Court ti pass on the constitutionality of the meam ure, but this failed. IssURANCE BILL KILLED. The three-quarter value clause insui ance bill was next taken up, the obje< being to prevent insurance companie from inserting in their policies what - known as the three-fourths value claus4 Tha bill had alrady been discussd an nothing new was developed in relation] to it. After a discussion in which Mr. W. B. Wilson, of York, advo ated, and Mr. Connors, of Lancaster, and Mr. Moses, of Sumter, opposed the measure, the bill was killed-73 to 36. THE LABOR HOURS BILL. The Greenville bill to limit the time of working in factories to ten hours per day caused much debate. An amend ment, making the bill apply only to persons under twel -e years of age, was offered, which caused a long debate. The bill was discussed to-day and went over to Monday. THE LAW OF MARRIED WOMEN. Mr. Hyde's bill to amend the law in relation to the contracts of married wo men was next taken up and discussed. A motion to kill the bill was lost-88 to 23. Finally the bill was passed in this shape: Section 1. A married woman shall have the right to purchase any species of property in her own name and to take proper legal conveyance therefor, and to contract and be contracted with in the same manner as if she were unmarried: Provided, that the husband shall not be. liable for the debts of the wife con tracted prior to or after their marriage, except for her necessary support. Section 2. All the earnings and income of a married woman shall be her own separate estate, and shall be governed by the same provisions of law as apply to other separate estates. THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. The bill to reorganize the Department of Agriculture caused much debate in the Senate. It was finally passed, with an amendment provided for members of the Board and providing that eight of these members and the Commissioner of also shall be elected by the General As sembly. The other two members are to be the master of the State Grange and the president of the State A'ricaltural and Mechanical Society. 'The eight elected are to be one from each of the eight judicial circuits. THE UNrVERSIrr. The bill to reorganize and improve the State University caused an animated debate in the Senate-Messrs. Buist and Youmans favoring it, and Messrs. Moody, Hemphill, Sligh and Talbert opposing it. A motion to indefinitely postpone the bill was tabled by a vote of 21 to 13. After further debate the bill was made the special order for yesterday. And on yesterday it was made the special order for Monday next. OTHER MATTERS. Senator Edwards's joint resolution proposing to strike from the Constitu tion, Section 10, of Article X, contain ing the muandate that all schools, in whole or in part, supported by the pub lic fund, shall be free and open to all the yonth of the State without regard to rice, color, &c., was killed without a division as soon as the Senator had ex plained what it meant. The joint resolution proposing to amend the Constitution as to Judges charging juries on questions of fact, was killed, on motion of its author, Senator Patterson. - A bill to prevent the improper selling of food was passed, after the withdrawal of Senator Hemphill's jocular amend ment to make it apply to clothing, newspapers, &. The committee on agriculture has sub mitted a favorable report on the bill to establish a separate agricultural college. It was made the special order for the 15th inst. Mr. Davenport has at last succeeded in getting a favorable report on his bill to protect the 'possum while he in an unripe state. The coon will also be in cluded in the beneficent and merciful provisions of the bill. The House committee of agriculture had a lively discussion on the Colleton stock law exemption bill. Seven of the committee agreed to report the bill un favorably and six favorably. The re ports have been handed in. Dr. Pope's bill to amend the law as to lawyers' costs so as to limit their fees for1 attending references was passed to aI third reading. The joint resolution to call a Constitu tional Convention passed the House, but' was lost in the Senate. The joint reso lution to enlarge the judiciary by creat ing a Court of Eror (comprisng all the Justices and Circuit Judges) and pro viding that unless two Supreme Court! Justices-concur with the Circuit Judge, the d4ecision of the latter should stand affirmed. Uxifavorable reports were made on the separate agricultural college bill and the' bill establishing certain scholarships in the Winthrop Training School for Teach ers, but both were placed on the Calen dar for consideration hereafter. The House has passed a bill to exempt certain portions of Berkeley county from the operations of the stock law. THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL. No day has yet been fixed for the election of a successor to Comptroller General Stoney, whose resignation was handed to the Governor on Thursday. Among those most prominxently men tioned are James S. Verner, Esq., of Oconee, Hon. J. W. Daniels, of Ander son, Colonel John P. Thomas, of Co lumbia, General St. J. Sinkler, of Berkeley, Ho.W. C. (Coker, of Darl boro, and Colonel John T. Sloan, Sr., Clerk of the House. Capt. Stoney will be appointed auditor Iof the South Carolina Railway Company. Coat. The price of coal as been raised in New York from $1.60 in December, 1886, to $5.25 per ton in December, 1887, and the latter figure will be likely to prevail Iduring the winter. Owing to a strike on 1a waeissne in the Lehigh anthracite regions, over twenty thousand miners :id laborcrs are unemployed and have !een out of work for several weeks. This, jwill be made an excuse for keeping up Ithe price of coal, notwiithstanding that the production has been larger the past year thau the year beforc. The Morning I Jouirnal makes an estimate of actual cost ofc productiou, transportation and hand ling of coal, showing that it could be de livered to the consumer in New York for $3.50 per ton. But this is on paper only. --ichmond Whig. SA Georgia man, who was engaged io -i neling up a gate, was struck by lightniug. ie is recovering. and the young lady's beau THE1 WANING "MAGIC CITY." The Downward Trend of the Intfated Ala 1,ama Towns--Depression in Birmingham --A Sad Collapse in Prospect. (From the New York Herald.) The New South. It is now nearly a year since the boom in that section cul minated. The whole country has been ringing with the fairy tale of the South's awakening, of her wonderful mineral re sources, of the new towns and cities springing up, of fortunes made in a day and all the rest of it. Now that the fermentation has sub sided, it is worth while to blow off the froth and glance at what is under it. Well, the situation is seriously strained. In the new manufacturing cities every body has been doing a little more than was safe, and, consequently, is now bor rowing. Money commands sixteen to eighteen per cent.. and even more, and the lowest rate at the banks on absolute ly safe security is one per cent. a month. The boom tias subsided, but the people are trying to sustain real estate on the absurdly high level to which it was lifted in the period of crazy speculation. It rests upon a vast trestle work of inter related credits. Landowners, hotel keepers, agents, shopkeepers, mechanics-the humble 1 owner of a single lot not ye" half paid for and the land company with millions of capital-are all trying to talk up and hold up values. The creditor does not dare to press the debtor, for if one brick in the row is toppled over others must inevitably go, too, and no one could tell where the trouble would end. Everybody is hoping for another ] boom-for a rising tide of speculation on which he may float out of his difficul ties. He feels sure that this revival is coming soon, but pending its fancie advent his needs are pressing. He must have money to tide over, and to get it he is obliged to pay whatever the lender chooses to ask. In many instances the rates paid amount to confiscation. The borrowers are doomed. The state of affairs in the new manu facturing city of Birmingham, Ala., is fairly representative. During the f "boom" one year ago, the Elyton Land Company (which founded the city ; sold no end of building lots at enormous prices, taking one-fourth cash and notes at one, two and three years respectively for the remaining three-fourths. The one year notes have of late been falling due from day to day, but the makers are nable to pay. The lots were sold for absurdly high I prices-as high as $1,500 per front foot on the ragged outer edge of so-called "business" streets. The twenty-five per cent. cash payment in most instances probably represents the full intrinsic value of the property, or more than the value, but most of the lots were bought 1 on speculation, and in many instances ots, after sale by the company, have passed through several hands at always advancing prices; so that they are now nominally owned by persons several re moves from the original buyers. Now that the boom has died out and there is no demand for lots, the last buyers cannot sell except at a great sacri fice. But the lot owners and the com pany are alike interested in keeping property up on its fictitious leveL Cool headed investors who visit the city are repelled by the prices asked, to the per manent injury of the town. True, the city is ringing just now with the sounds of hammer and trowel, but most of this work is being done under contracts made last spring or summer while the fever was on. I could learn of few or no new4 contracts being made. I The land company is now "carrying" those who bought its lots, and individu als who sold real estate are doing the same by their debtors. If the company could seize the -lots it could not sell them, so that the notes (which bear in-] terest, of course) are more valuable than the "dirt," provided the drawers succeed in pulling through, and if they do not, the company can then recover the land anhow. From selfish motives the com pany must extend the notes of delin quents and help them along-the con cern must be kept agoing or be smashed. With the passing of the boom business has fallen oft and shopkeepers burdened with frightfully high rents are in danger of going to the wall. Thre company, it may be noted, could not foreclose if it would, for it has not a mortgage on the lands sold. Instead of giving the buyer a deed and taking a mortgage for the balance of the purchase money the com pany gives simply a bond that the title shall be vested in .?hgholder when the last payment shafbe made. The ease with which these bonds could be transferred was an element in foster ing the wild speculation. To wipe out the claims of the holders of these, how ever, would involve a long and tedious1 litigation. At Decatur and some other new cities they are wiser; they give the buyers deeds and clap mortgages on the property for the balance of the purchase money. The Elyton Land Campany passed its dividend the other day, thuE indirectly confirming the correctness of the state ments made above. Instead of paying its cash dividend the company issued script convertible into bonds. The script represents, the company says, $2,400, 000 of good notes in its treasury, and as these cannot be disturbed, they are going to make an issue of bonds instead. In other words, instead of the usual cash dividend the stockholders are offered a mortgage on their own property, and this because the drawers of the notes are probably "lying down." It's a tight squeeze. If money should become easy and the iron trade should be prosperous, and there should bs a new speculation "boom" in reality, B3ir mingham will pull through. But if monetary atringency continues, and sncnlationi continuesmoribund, and the stfoppage of railroad building in the Northwest should depress the iron in dustry, as now'. seems certain, then .there is going to be a sad collapse in "the Magic City"-a collapse which will Lhake the New South to its centre, for the same conditions prevail in the other towns, the bad features being an exact ratio to the madness of the speculation recently carried on. All this will probably be scouted by those whose pecuniary inter ests are invoived, but it's true just the same. So much for the financial situation in the new centres; as to their future growth and their ultimate prosperity and im portance there can be no question. Be fore there can be any new leap forward, hower, there wil have to be a wiping out of mere paper values, a great deal of chargiog off to profit and loss. Some men who fancy that they are worth $100,000 will have to realize that the half of that would be a very high cash price for what they hold, others who are too far extended will have to "let go," and there vriat be a general adjustment c values on a rational and pract4cal basis instead of the present speculative one. Prices and rents must come down. On First Avenue, Birmingham, the writer was in a little shop on the first too of a two story brick building. the : were no flagstones in front-only i dir; sidv .'k, with the dust rising in ittle clouds from the feet of pedestrians. "What rent do you pay here?" was the visitor's query. "Two hundred dollars a month," was he reply. "What!" excla'med the writer, "for his little house? Why, it's a ridiculous rent." "Oh," said the shopkeeper, "I don't get the whole house. The floor above is rented out to a family. I pay $200 for the store alone." In Birmingham it was, too, that the writer met a member of a New York irm who was looking for a suitable warehouse with a view to establishing a )ranch of their business in the "Magic ity." A few days later this gentleman was encountered on an outgoing train. "Well, are you going to make a start?" asked the writer. "Not by a long chalk. Those people ire all crazy. I found a brick building hat would suit me, but they asked 3,700 a year rent for that four story arracks. Why our firm has a ware iouse in New York City, only one block )ff Broadway, seven stories, with cellar nd sub-cellar, and for that we pay only X3,500."' A Shocking Accident. On Friday last Mr. John Johnson, sr., and his wife were returning from a i visit to their brother, Mr. Iraac John on, who has since died, they met with 6 shocking accident that has since re iulted in the death of Mrs. Johnson. he accident happened near Mrs. Har iet Kitching's, in Tabernacle township. hey had just passed her house when hey met Freddie Holmes, nephew of kr. Alfred Holmes, who was riding a iorse. Freddie attempted to get out of he road, but the front wheel of Mr. [ohnson's buggy caught the horse in the lank wfiich caused him to come idown m the wheel, crushing it to the ground. he noise occasioned by this collision ri;zhtened the mule drawing the buggy and it immediately started off-running Lbout fifty yards-when it stopped and ,ommenced kicking. Mr. Johnson was brown out of the buggy, getting his arm >roken and sustaining other injuries. he mule dragged the buggy some dis ance further, kicking as it went, until topped by Mr. Jas. Kitching, who was it the mill and witnessed the accident. When he got to the buggy he found the nule standing with one foot through the lash, and Mrs. Johnson lying insensible f n the road twenty yards behind, having >een kicked in the forehead. She was :arefully picked and conveyed to the residence of Mrs. Kitching, Dr. A. L. Rutto was summoned, and everytning hat could be done for her relief was lone. The Doctor, after examining her njuries, said there was no hope as her kud had been fractured. This hap yened about four o'clock on Friday ifternoon and at ten o'clock on Satur lay this poor unfortunate lady was a ,orrse. Mrs. Johnson was a sister to 1i.ssrs. Ben and Elias Holman.-Aiken rournal and Review. Honoring Mrs. Cleveland. The ?o'stoffice Department has often een a iken to' name a postuffice after the .ovely wife c1 he President, and when ever the request could be complied with allant Postmaster General Vilas has :onsented. Therefore thereis a Frances >r Cleveland in nearly every State, but esterday "Ole Virginny" came forward md took thc cake. They have a post >fice called Dooms-awful name-and ~hey wanted a postmaster appointed at nce, so what did they do but ask the ppointment of Frances Cleveland as rting postmistress. The request stag gered the high postal authorities, and at irst the request came very near going into the waste paper basket. But the ylerk in charge of the Virginia desk hap pened to read the letter again, and found bhat the applicant's name had an H. in it, and read. "Frances H. Cleveland," Ind not "Frances F. Cleveland." Be ides, the clerk also discovered that the Virginians wanted to compliment Mrs. Cleveland more than other States had one, and so they picked out a postmis tress with a name as near as possible to that of the beautiful mistress of thel White House. The matter was thus ex pained to First Assistant Postmaster General Stevenson, and he at once or-1 dered Frances H. Cleveland appointed acting postmistress at Dooms, Va. The next thing in order will be to change the name of the postoflice from Dooms to White House.-Baltimoie American. The le of Success. It is astonishing how many of our successful business men attribute their good fortune neither to luck or general excellence of judgment, but will tell you how a strict adherence to some single rule has done it all for them. Commo dore Vanderbilt's receipt for making millions, with certainty and celerity, was never to sign a note. William E. D)odge would not hold any pecuniary interest in any enterprise that was at all attrac tive on Sunday, and he firmly believed that his wealth was a reward for con scientiously observing the Sabbath dy the first -John Jacob Astor's charm lay in investing in nothing aside from his reg uar business, except in real estate; and Alexander T. Stewart would have antici pated misfortune if he had wantonly broken the smallest personal engage ment. Men of success can afford to practice their theories, and even become slaves to them. Men of failure cannot indulge in such luxuries of conduct. he Hleadlight. J. E. Parsioc's Merchant Tailor Es tablishment, Columbia, S. C., is in f all blast. Only a look will convince any one. All that want a first-Class fitting suit try him. A full line of the best goods on hand. The Iowa breweries have closed, the law beng iedmagainst them. 'LA AES Fld Hi E PREA1C! LI. THE METJ1Ol)%T Al'!'INTMENT FOR NEXr YEAR. Closing Work of she Conference at Spartan buig--The Next R~eign to be II alai at Win nsboro,. The Conference disposed of much im portant business on the closing day. The report of the board of education, after a warm debate, was adopted, re commending collections for repairs cn Wofford College.of $7,500, endowment $15,000, professors' salaries $4,000. Winnsboro was elected for the nest session of the Conference. A class of fcurteen young men were admitted into the Conference on trial. Reports .of the committees on Bible cause, temperance, Conference rektions, books and periodicals were received. The secretary reports 63,122 memibers; paid for missions, $14,6:32. The follow ing are the appointments for 1888: Charleston District-J. M. Boyd, Pr. siding Elder. Charleston, Trinity, R. N. Wells; Bethel, R. D. Smart; pring street, J. E. Carlisle; Cumberland, H. B. Browne; Cainhoy, D. A. Calhouu; Berkeley, R. L. Holroyd; Summerville, J. B. Campbell; Cypress, H. W. Whit taker; Ridgeville, J. A. Mood; St. George's, T. Ruysozi; North Gecrge':, P. L. Kirton; Colleton, J. C. Ycaguie; Round 0, W. W. Williams; Walte; boro, E. B. Loyless; Hampton, A. B. E rle; Allendale, C. E. Wiggins; Black Sv a mp, J. Brown; Hardeeville, G. R. Whijtta ker; Beaufort, E. J. Meynardie; Princi pal Benson Academy, J. E. Watson. Columbia District-S. B. Jones, Pre siding Elder; Columbia: Washe;ton Street, W. 1R. Richardson; Marion :tree M. Dargan; City Mission, S. D. Vau:han: Winnsboro. G. P. Wats:n: Fairtieal. \. K. Melton: Biythewoed. W. U. Aria: Lex : ington Fork, U. W. Crei'zhton, Lexi : e.: J. W. Neely, G. 1i Shafer; latesbr.::, P. 11. Elwell: .Jolinso, J. B. 11 ;ioe: E-lgefich. R. P. Frat ks: Upper S.. .at thews, W. 11. Lawton: Granitevi; Langley, W. A. Uetts; Aiken, Will D:: : Chaphiam to Penitettiary. Wm. )i cti; President Cohunhia Feknudle C:llege. 0. A. Darby; President Paine Istitu e, .. W. Parker; Editor S 'tkern Ctristian .dr,;p a te, W. D. Kirkl red. Chester District-A. M. Cbreitz'er, Presiding Elder; Chester, H. F. Ch"reitz berg; Chester circuit, J. L. Tray ck; . East Chester, G. T. Harmon; Rouck 'il, I' R. H. Jones, North Inock Hill EG Price; York, W. W. Daniel; Bl3 , l. J. W. Elkins; York muisioi,'M. A. Con nolly; King's Mountain, J. L. H..i e ; Fort Mill, J. W. MclRoy; Lau cst Jt. Stairord; We--t L e.:ater, J. 0 n; Tradesviiie, J. B. litt: CLste:'l . , J. W. Kiigo; Wtst Chestcrliehl, L. I. Major. Cokosbury District-A. J. CGA.het, Presiding Elder. Cokeslbry, 1. Z. Dntzler; Greenwood, F. Auld; Ninety Six, W. P. Meadors; Donald':, C. i, Pritchard; Abbevill. P. B. Jack=; Abbeville circuit, S. J. Beth':a; Mc,.Eor-p mick, J. C. Chandler; Lowr .doilh, W. S. Martin; Tumbiing Shoals, W. .' Clark; Waterloo, R. R. Dagnall; North Edgetield, M. H. Pooser; Newberry. J. L. Stokes; Newberry circuit, M. M. Brabham and A. W. Attaway; Kinard's, T. P. Phillips; Salud., C. D. Mr Parksville, J. M. Steadman. Sumter District-J. S. Bieasley, Pre siding Elder. Sumter, J. M. Pike Sumte. circuit, V. L. Wait; Lynchbu.rg, J. S. Maittison; Weagefield, E. 0. Wat son; Bishiopville, J. L. Shuford; S n'ee, T. E. XX nnamaker; Forreston, ,J. S. Porter; Manning, H. M1. Mood; Oak land, W. ). Duncan; Clarendon, WV. c.I Gleaton; Candenl, P. A. Murray; Hang ing Rock. J3. C. Davis; Richlaud, Gi. H. Pooser; Elast Kershaw, WV. E. Barr; Wes Wateree, E. E. G-at-in. Florence District-W. C. Power, Pro siding Elder. Florence, J3. T. i'ate; Mars Bluff, W. T. Capers; Darlingitu, H. G. Scudday; East Darlington, D. Durant; Cheraw, WV. J. Herbert; Society Hill, J. E. Rushiton and W. A. Wright; Darlington circuit, J. K. McCain; Low er D)arlington, J. WV. Murray; Timmaon vile, J. E. Beard; Effingham, M. W. Hook; East Effingham, H. C. E3thea;, Scranton, to be supplied; Lake City, A W. Jackson; Kingstrec circuit, J. A. Rice; Salters', S. S. Blanchard; Gerge town, A. H. Lester; Georgetown circ'uit, L. C. Loyal; Johnsonville, W. B3. Baker. Marion District-A. J. Stokes, Pre-| siding Elder. Marion, WV. A. Rogers; Centenary, G. A. Waddell; Briuan's Neck, J. D. Frierson; North Marlboro, L. Wood; Bennettsviile, J. W. Dani; Bennettsville circuit, J. C. Stoll; Clio, D. D. Dantzler; Blenheim, G. L. Boyd, Little Rock, J. C. Kilgo; Mullin's, .J. A. Porter; Little Pee-Dxe, T. C. O'Dell; Conway, WV. Thomas; Conway cirenit, W. L. Pegues; Loris, Wni. Hardin;~ Bucksville, M. L. Banks; Wacatuaa, W. WV. Jones; Pe-Dee mission, B. 0. Berry. Orangebairg District-T. 3. Clyde, Peiding Elder. Orangeburg, L. . Beaty ; Orangeburg circuit. J. E. Grier;I Lower St. Matthew's, J. WV. Hum'>ert; Prvidence, X. H. Kirton; Brachilliie, D. Teller; Bambr g and ButorC' Bridge, C. B. Smith; Graham's, d. . Sibley; Edisto, J. W. Airaii; Upper Edisto, M. u. F'erguson; Blackvilit:, P. F. Kirtlee; Bo iling Springs, L. S. B-lI linger; Orange, B. M. Grier; Wiliston, R. A. Yongue; South Branchville, .J. d. Workman. Greenville Distriet-J. Walter Dice son, Presiding Elder. Greenville, .i. O. Wilson; G..reenv'iile cirenit, A. WV. Walk r; Fork ShoWl, T. WV. Muunerlyn; RiLdvile, A. F. Berry; North Gree ville, A. C. Walknr; Williamnston and Belton. WV. RI. Wroton; Piedmont, T. C. Ligon;' Anderson, W. S. WVigianuau, Anderson circuit, 5. D). Blackman, Wet Anderson, A.~ -N. Attaway; To wiiie C. V. Barnes; Pendleton, N. B. Cik son; Pickens, J. F. Anderson; I cens mission to be supplied; seneca Ciaty, B. W. Barber; Wahala, M. L. Carise; Oconee mission, J. N. Wright; Wiliam ston Female College, S. Lander, lresi dent. Spartanburg District-T. G. Herben, Presiding Eider. Spartanburg, 4. A. Clifton; City Mission, E. P. Taylor; Union, S. A. Weber; Cherokee, WV. 3.. Zimmerman; South Union, J. N. Fridy; Jonsville, D). P. Boyd, Gaflney City, A. A. Gilbert- TLarnsn T. B. Morris: North Laurens, J. C. Counts; Clinton, J. E. Mahafly; Belmont, S. J. McLeod; Campobello, J. P. Attaway; Pacolet, J. J. Neville; Clifton, J. Attaway; Wofford College, A. Coke Smith, professor; E, T. Hodges to the Los Angeles Confer nce; B. J. Guess to the West. Texas Conference. REPORT ON RAILROADS. the First Annual Relfort of the Inter state Commission-A Very Interesting H istory of the Railroads of the County. The first annual report of the Inter State Commerce Commission has just ,een made public. It fills 42 pages of .losely printed matter, in which the vork of the Commission since its origin, .he effects of the new law upon trade end transportation, and the faults and iefcets are treated exhaustively. The report opens with a very interesting his :ry of roods in the United States.- The railroad mileage of the United-States, it s shown, is 137,986. The number of orporations represented in this mileage s 1,425, but by the consolidation or easing of roads, the number of corpora. ions controlling and operating roads as arriers i- reduced to 700. It isbelieved hat 1,200 roads operated by about five hundred corporations as carriers are mubject to the law. The Commission has as yet no statistics of its own collec ion to lay before the public, but quoted from a manual generally accepted as re reliable, the cost of construction and lquipment of these roads which places Lt at $7,254,995,223, and estimates the unded debt of the companies at $3,802, )66,330. Some idea, the Commission ay of the magnitude of the interest ich the Act undertaken to regulate nay be obtained from these figures, but . they fall short of measuring, or even >f indicating its importance. Comment .ng on the evils that have grown out of and abuses that have grown up with the artension of railroads they say: It is striking proof of the recklessness of cor porate management, that 108 roads rep resenting a mileage of 11,066 are now in the hands of receivers managing them nder direction of courts whose atten tion is thus necessarily withdrawn from ,he more appropriate ruling of judicial odies, ne7ertheless the Commission eels justified in saying that the opera ion of the Act has in general been aficient. In some particulars as we un lerstand has also been the case with imilar statutes in some of the States it sas operated directly to increase rail oad earnings, especially in the cutting )ff of free passes on passengers rains and putting an end to rebates, rawbacks and special rates upon freight >usiness. Freight traffic for the year as been exceptionally large in volume and is believed to have been in no small legree stimulated by a growing confi lence that the days of rebates and special rates were ended and that open rates on an equal basis were now offered o all. The reflex action of this devl )pment of confidence among business nen has been highly fayorableato the roads. The tendency of rates has been down ;ard, and they have set down perma ent advances except when excessive lompotition had reduced them to a oint at which they could not well be maintained, no destructive rate would ave occurred, but increased stability in rates has tended in the direction of stability in general business. There is, owever, great mischief resulting from from frequent changes in freight rates )n the part of some of the companies. Changes that in some cases it is difficult to suggest an excuse for. The report :loses with the following suggestions for amendments to the new law: "Incident aliy in this report some need of amend sent has been pointed out. Especially aught the law, as we think, to indicate Lu plain terms whether the express busi ess and all other transportation by the arriers named in the Act shall be .gov erned by its provisions. The provision against the sudden rising of rates ought to be clearly made applicable to joint ates as well as to others. The Commis sion ought also to have the authority and the means to bring about something ike uniformity in the method of pub ishing rates which is now in great con [sion, and to carefully examine, collect and supervise the schedules, contracts, te., required by the law to be filed, as well as properly to handle the mass of statistical information called for by the twentieth Eection. For all these pur poses, as well as for others improperly provided for, a considerable adlition to the force employed with the Commission. will be indispensable. Other matters, and particularly whether transportation by water shall be made subject to the Act are submitted to the wisdom of Con gress without recommendation." The Fatal Tree. In 1836, Fort Gaines was a little more than an Indian fort. Early in the* spring of that memorable year, while hostile Indians thronged this section, and before they were removed by Uncle Sam across the river above us, a party of the treacherous wretches stole up the then densely wooded lice of the Town Branch, and passed out to the Buffton settlement, where they were met by sol dirs and thrashed back to their reserva tion. Just where the Eufaula road. rosses the Town Branch,. a beautiful spring bubbled from the ground, and people in the vicinity did their washing there. On the day referred to above, a lady was at the spring washing, when the red miscreants passed. They brutal ly murdered her, and after removing her scalp left her body lying by the spring, her bleeding head pillowed on the roots. of a stately beech. Time has done its work..- The Indians are gone, scenes have changed and the towering beech has long since gone to decay, and only its worm-eaten stump remains to mark the spot where long years ago this sad tragedy of death occurred. A friend pointed us to the'fatal spot and gave _us the above facts. They were new and in teresting to us, and will doubtless prove so to our readers. Truly, things have changd.-Fort Gaines, Ga., Star. "What are you doing now, Thomas?" :aked the minister, patronizingly. "I am a writer for the press," said the lad proudly. "Indeed, you are quite young for that; what do you write? ' "I direct wrappers." Functional derangement of thre female systenm is quickly cured by the use of Dr. t. V:- Pierce's "Favorite Prescription." It removes pain and restores health and strnth. By all druggists.