Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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n* ^ ; \ THE LEGISLATURE, 1 i fU ? i THESALARY REDUCTION BILL IN THE HOUSE. I The House ShowH a Deposition to Cut Salaries Wherever it Js Possible?B:l!s I ot Interest Pass* d. In tha Senate?The J Ou'lock For Legislation, J FIRST DAY. J The General Assembly ef South Carolina convened in annual session yes terete; at noon. As is usual oh the J first day of the session no legislation of any special import was evolved. About two-thirds of the time was conr sumed in the reading of the Governor's message, which lengthy document imposed hard labor on the reading clerks and gave the Legislators time for "stretching" and peanut-eating, as they had copies of the message on their desks and could read, mark, learn and inwardly digest the lucubrations of his Excellency at some other time. It is worthy of mention that in his few remarks to the House, welcoming them back to legislation, Speaker Jones, after referring to a vacancy in the delegation from Union, remarked that be bad "no official and indisputable infor * - -O -A.1 ? mancn 01 any oiucr vai?m;v. "Official!" "Indisputable!" It is a very reasonable supposition that theie is special import in these words, and it is presumed that this is the Speaker's way ot intimating to the House that tbe fact of a member not living in the State should perhaps requiretheir attention. The only noteworthy occurrence in the Senate was the introduction by Senator Buist, of Charleston, of a bill to repeal the Dispensary law and substitute a system of high licenses. THE PROCEEDINGS IN THE DOUSE. No time was lost by the House of Representatives in getting to work. Nearly all Hhe members were in their places when, at noon, Clerk J. Walter Gray called the body to order, xne calling of the roll found but few mem* bers absent. At the conclusion of the roll call, the Rev.G. A. Blackburn, of Columbia, opened the day's exercises with prayer, after which Speaker Jones, who looked fresh and buoyant, and full of energy, addressed the House as follows: THE SPEAKER'S ADDRESS. Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: Before beginning the work of tbe season, permit me to say a word. Since the last session Hon. B. W. Harris, a member of the House from Union, communicated to me his resignation, and, pursuant to the usual practice, I Issued a writ of election to fill the vacancy.. 1 have received no official and indisputable information oi any oiner vacancy. I bad hoped that it would Dot be my duty to announce the death of :? an? member, but by this mornUg's paper 1 learn that that Fale Death, which knocks alike at hut and palace, has crosstd the portals of oar Legislative household, arid that the Hoo. S. M Wiley, of Chester, has passed before tbe bar ol Gcd, before the Great Law Giver whose edicts are so just that they are capable of neither amendment nor repeal, tut whose mercy is ever sure. If we expect to adjourn before the Christmas holidays as ts usual.we have only twenty dajsin which to work, ana it behooves us to be alert. No important matter should be hHStily passed, nor on ihe other hand should any delay occur. While haste makes waste steady work accomplishes wonders. I hope that every word uttered in debate win ha lifco a swift arrow frum a strong bow, striking the mark with no poison on its barb, but feathered from the beautiful wings of courtesy that while.it mokes the aim more sure, makes its flight graceful. I trust that every member of the House, every day of this session, will consecrate all his energies towards completing the work that lies before us, and I trust that every member will be guided by a desire to accomplish the be&t good to tbe State. May harmony and courtcsy and intelligent and caretul industry mark your labors this session. The House is now ready for business. The usual formalities of announcing the beginning of busint ss to each other and to the Governor were gone through with by both houses. Speaker Jones announced, the following appointments: Young H. Tance of Laurins,keeper of the Speaker's room: Georee Jeffries, of Union, page. Messrs. Blease, Bacot and You mans were appointed a committee to inform the Governor that the House was ready for business. Mr. Thomas moved that the ejection for chaplain te te3d, ai'd nominated the Kev. A. R. MitcL? 1, < Columbia. This was seconded by Mi. Xirkland. There was about to be gome discus4 . won as to whrtber tLe Speaker could ' cast the unanimous ballon of the House, whtn cn motion or Mr. Jordan the motion to go into an election was recommended, and in the midst of tnis the Governor's message was announced Mr. Breazeale moved that the reading of the message be petitioned until tomorrow. The Speaker remarked that it would be unfortunate to delay it, sj "Mr Rra?<>nla withdraw Jiis mntinn an1 the roa?t began. Clerk Withers then wiestled with tbetorty-six page document for the next two hours. Representative Brice, ot Chester, then offered a resolution referring to the death of bis colleague, Mr. Wiley, and fixing 1.80 p. m. tomorrow as the bcur for recording tfce sentiments of ite House in regaid toils deceased member. At 2.30 the House tcck a recess until 10 o'clock tomorrow. OVER IN THE SENATE. One minute before the city clock struck twelve yesterday. Lieutenant Governor Gary rapped the Senate to order. Tbe call ot tne roil snowed nearly all the Senators present. Senator Hazard, of Georgetown and Senator Williams, of Williamsburg, were absent, as was Senator Smjthe, of Charleston, but tbe latter Cime in before business had gotten well under i 4 way. Tbe sane presented by the Senators was the usual one to be observed each November. Everythicg was decorous and placloly diffnttted, but ibere was a curious, indiscribable look on some of tbe notables. It was an air of dreamy, far-away contemplation which they , wore. Possibly 11 was due to the mild sunlight which seems to shli^e le-s boldly and fiercely on the venerable Senalers and prematurely grave young Senators than on Its*; important per sonsges, but whatever tbe cause, tbe auoear iicc- was visibJv nresent arid gave an intere^ to the assemblage which n otherwise rnighi have lacked. One could almost imagine that the pale young statesman with aspiration stamped i o his brow, seated in the executive office downstairs "was pressiDg the button," while all the others cheerfully "aid the rest." Ou the opposite side of the chamber sat another l in whose ear one could almost with the I. naked ejesee tbe gubernatorial bee monotonously buzziug. In various parts of the room Sena-i i tors lolled in their chairs asd seemed enchanted by the spell of the same feicd of music, but some of the bees sang of Congressional honors and laurels to be won in the halls of national legislation, aca otners extouea tne sou and restful judicial berths. Even the presiding oflicer wielding thesvmbol of his oflice with the grace that cannot be denied him and making bis rulings and orders with machine-like precision, appeared as though conscious that some more exalted sphere of environments were better adapted to his tastes an i J ambitions. When Clerk Sampson Pope had concluded the roll call, Rev. L. C. Blalock, the chaplain of the Senate, praved fervently for God's blessing on the deliberations of the session. Then, on motion of Senator John Gary Evans, Clerk Pope was dispatched to inform Unnco tViof tho KonfttA KM rpadv ?uo ajivugu nuuu ?uv s/vmmw for business, and on the motion of the other Mr. Evans, a committee was sent with a similar message to the Governor with the further information that the Senate was ready to receive any communication that lie might have for it. Messrs. George S. Mower, L. M. Ragin and B.F. Miller were sworn in as the successors, respectfully of Senator Sligh of Newberry, the late Senator Deschamps of Clarendon and Senator Strait of Lancaster. The Governor's Srivate secretary with a message from is Excsllency wan announced and the message was received. The only bill of general Importance introduced was one by Senator Buist to repeal the dispsnsary law and provjde a system of high license. The bill fixes - ?!-f *2? OOCA ?MMn! 1 a minimum nceuao ui vzw auu mumcipalitles are permitted to make it higher by voting to that effect. Senators Buist, Smythe ana Finley introduced a number of bills of a local character. Jesse T. Gantt was appointed journal clerk tosuc3eed J. Y. Jones, resigned. At 12:30 o'clock Heading Clerk Caugbman, who still reigns at the Speaker's right, began the reading of the Governor's message. It consumed nearly t wo hours after which the suojectsof which it treated were referred to appropriate committees. Senator Price was elected Chairman of the penitentiaey committee to succeed Senator Descbamps, and Senator Efird was elected chairman of the committee on incorporations to succeed Senator Sligh. On the nomination of Senator John Gary Evans the three new Senators were elected to the following committees: Senator Mower, claims- and oHovnn<?0fl Arinrtatinn and iDCorDora D4*v' 1 * tions; Senator Miller, charitable Institutions, federal relations and medical affairs; Senator Ragin, contingent a> Hcouats, engrossed bills, emigration and printing. On motion of Senator Wilson the Senate adjourned until 12 o'clock today. 8econd day. Co umbia, S. C., Nov. 30.?The bill to reduce salaries ot State officers and employees came up ia the Houbb yesterday. A& the the bill s'ood there was a reduction of about 15 per cent, but before the Leaisl itors yot through with it, the reduction ot some oftbe salaries amount ed to twice that much, Mr. Hill made a vain tffort to add $100 to the $1,900 bat it was proposed lo give the Slate officers, outside the'Governor. Though ** " a j ? n i. j I be was baaiy aeieaiea oa me urai ruuuu be went through the list categorically. All of bis amendments were lost except ' lie, and tbat a decrease. He succeeded m changing the allowance tor cbap lain of the penitentiary from $600 to $500 amid laughter. Mr. Kinard of Abbeville moved to amend by changing $1,300 as the salaries oi tbe Superintendent of Education to $1,000. The yeas and na\s were called, resultinc as follow?: YeaE?Speaker Jonee, Ashley, Berry, Blackwell, Blease, Breland, Bruce, Boice, Carpenter, Carroll, Covington, Davis, Dendy, Elder, Eatridse, Farley, Felder, Foster, Graham, Gunter, Ear din, Hcrvey, Henderson, Hough, Hydrick, Jeffries, Johnson, Kennedy, Kinard, H. J. Lancaster, Lemmon, Le T T AmiinnAA T ftKrtn Af on I _ gemir, ij'jve, jjumauoo, uouvu( IUHUC diD, Mitchell, Parks, Patton, Pearman, Perry, Rast, Roper, Rowland, Rogers, Russell, J. L. Smith, Stackhouse, Slalvey, Siurkie, Tatum, Taylor, Tindal, Weston. Wilborn, W. C. Wolie, Youmans?56. Nays?And jrson, Aviager, Bacot, Brezeals, Buist, Chandler, Cox, Cooper, Crum, Dennis, DaboBe, J. T. Duncan, Edwards, Folk, Garris, Gary, Glover, Hamilton, Hammott, Hardee, Harper, Hill. Hushes, J. D. Kinard, Kirkland, Lofton, Magill, McLaurin, McWhite, Mi8hoe, Moses, Nettles. Philips Rhodes, Rivers. Shuman, Skinner, A, J. Smitb, Stokes, Suddutb, Tupper, Vaugban, Yon Kolnitz, Waters, Wat * tr n ttt_ to* tr.i sod, watts, vvnumire, j. a. nrum, xeideli, Whitman?50. Mr. Kinard's amendmen'. to reduce tbe Supreme Court J-astices to $3,000 and tbe Circuit Judges to $2,500 was agreed to. Mr. Lowrance succeeded iu carr^Dg an amendment to reduce the mileage oi members from 10 cents to 5 ceDts, by a vote of 62 to 45. Mr. Carroll moved to amend by making the salaries of the railroad commissioners $1,200 instead of 1,900. Mr. Ashley slated that tbe commi&sioners bad worked only thirty-two days during last year, and it was rediculous to pay 1.1 AOA ? TT? 4 4KA f I lit 111 901/ pet uay. ULC luuugui iuc juc^islature ought toprotcct the railroads by seeing that they did not have to pay such a laree turn. Mr, Hardee said that good men were needed for this position, and decent living salaries should be paid them. Mr. Whitman lavored the redaction, saying that the commissioners could attend to their other business at the same time, and he knew that at least one of them did so. Mr. Watson of Anderson favored Mr. Ashley's amendment. He thought the Legislature should respect the rights ot the railroads as much as their own rights. Mr. Johnston ot FairGeld, said that the Reform movemtnt was pledged to a reduction all along the line, and that iVma tor it bc\r\ a/-r?nmr*liuhpH hllfc lifflp He iavored a reasonable reduction. Mr. Buist of Greenville thought there was lo use to reduce tbt salaries of the corrimifesioners as there was no one there representing tbe railroads and asking tor such reduction. Mr. Waleon favored vlr. Ashley'a amendment. Mr Haskell cfR'chlaod quoted Mr. Bu:st's remarks about the raiiroa'is havmy no ri presentatives m th?- II use and eaid ibat ibey ou^ht to bnv? 130 representatives (here, aa every legislator was swoiu to protect their rights as well as the rights of aDy other iniere&t in tbe Stale. Mr. Skinner ol Barnwell, said that tbe coEDDQisBioneis should be efficient men and that tbey should be py:d properly lor it. Mr Youmans ?vas opposed to reducing to $1,000 and moved to table this amendment. This was carried by a vote nt fifi to 50. Mr, Haskell moved to amend so tbat tbe salaries of the commissioners should be $10 per day for every day tbat iheir services were actually encaged, tbe cumber of days in the year not to exceed sixty. Mr. Brico of Chester said that while the commissioners might only work tbirty-two days at their cffice in a year, yet they bad to do a great deal of studying and investigation at home, and the salary should not be cut any lower. Mr. Ashley's amandment was lost. Mr. Carroll moved to mako it $1,500. Mr. Brice offered to make it $1,200 and this was agreed to. Mr. Buist offered an amendment providing tbat the salaries of the Supreme ^ * '* * ? 3 OA A /U. uourt norariau oa reouueu iu touu. ^turi??d. Mr. Crum's motion to ) educe the State librarian's salary to $800 was carried. Mr. Hardin's motion to table tbis was lost by a vote of 15 to 86. Mr Hardin was not m favor ot reducing the women's salaries. Mr. Moses said that any such reduction would be a discrimination against a lady, as her salary was even then les* than that of tWe other clerks. Mr. Mc* White moved to table. Carried. Mr. Smith's motion to amend by making it $600 was lost. jMr. Mauldin moved to amend by making it $600 was lost. Mr Mauldin moved to amend by making the Governor's salary $2,500 iDstead of $3,000. This was lost. Mr. Hardin thought that economy should begin at home and moved to make the per diem $3, which was tabled on Mr. Jordan's motion. Mr. Jordan mdved to amend by making the salary of the Adjutant General's clerk $900 instead of $1,000 as the bill provided. Mr. Hough wanted to make it $800 and this was lost by the close vote of 40 to 41, and the $900 amendment prevailed. Mr. Kinard began a reduction on the salary of the clerk of the superintendent of education, which resulted in scalling it down to one-half ho nrpn.nt. flani*. We moved to make it $900. Mr. Tapper said these clerk's salaries were not worth as much as the State librarian's and he moved to make it $800. "Just so," said, Mr. Jordan "and I move to make it $600." This was carried. Mr. Jordan moved to amend bv giving the Adjutant General $1,200. Mr. Carroll wanted the scaled down to $1,000. This was too much for Mr. YoumaDS, who presides over the destinies ot the military in the House and he made a stroDg appeal against cutting this salary. Mr. J. T. Duncan said these were troublous times and that the military was likely to be called out at any time to put down nota, and nothing should be done to impair its efficiency. "Every additional amendment is laying dirt on the grave of this bill. Let the prunl ag stop." fha A1 9fifl limit: "went." Mr. Haskell endeavored to have the per diem of members cat down to $3.50. Mr. Gary'8 motion to table this wax carried bv a vote of 90 to 15, as follows: Yeas?Speaker Jones, Anderson, Berry, Bltckwell, Brezeaie, Buce, Brice, Buist, Carpenter, Chandler, Cox, Covington, Cooper. Crura, Davis, Dendy, Dennis, DuBose, Edwards, Elder, El, l's. Estridue, Farley, Felder, Foster, Gams, Gary, Glover, (-raham, Gunter, Hamilton, Hammett, Hardee, Harvev. Henderson, Hill, Hougb, Hughes, Hydrick, Jtflries, Jordan, Kennedy, Knotts, H, J. Kinard, Kirkland, Lancaster Lpmmon, Lesesne, Lofton, L>wrance, Libon, Magill, Manning Mauldin, McLaurin McWhite, Misboe, Mitchell, Moses, Nettles, Parks, Patton, Pearman, Phillips, Rhodes, RuBsell, Shuman, Skinner, A. J, Smith, J.L. Smith, Stackhouse, Stolvey, Stokea, Sturkie, Snddotb, Tatum, Taylor, Tupper, Vausban, Waters, Watson, Watts, Wbitmire Wilborn, W. C. Wolfe, J. S. Wolff, Whitman, Yeldell?91. Nays?Ashley,, Bacot, Blease, Breland, Byrd, Carroll, Folk, Hardin Has kell, Johnson, J. D. Kinard, Love, Rust Youmans?15. Mr. Whitman made the statement that he voted against the amendment because the member did not offer it In good faith. Mr. Haskell replied that such a re mark- vtrna nf.tprlw nntnnndpd. and that If the member asserted it, then be naid what be knew to be untrue. Mr. Whitman said that he merely stated wbat impression biad been made on bim. Mr. Blease made an effort to preserve the solicitors' salaries. Tbe position required a good lawyer, and the solicitors should be properly paid. Mr. Kinard moved to make it $1,300, which wa3 carr'ed. Mr. Yon Kolnitz offered an amendment making tbe Balarv of tbe solicitor of the firBt circuit $1,800. Messrs. JBacot and Tupper stated that this officer had twice as much work to do as tbe other solicitors had, and he 9hould receive more pay, but as a reduction was being made all around tbey suggested that it be placed at $1,600, which was agreed to. Mr. Buists amendment to reduce the salary of the clerk of the Senate to $600 was agreed to. During a d'ecussion concerning tbe time for the bill to go into operation the debate was adjourned to take up a special order. At 1:30 the House paused m its exercises to pay tribute to the memory ot th6ir deceased member, Representative Wvle, of Chester. Mr. Hardin paid a tribute to to deceased, and and a set of memorial resolutions offered by him wa3 adopted. A resolution was adopted referring the report of Mr. Breazealo concarn ing the revision of tbe Slate laws to a committee irom both Homes. A concurrent resolution providing for the election of judges at lo'clook Siturday was badly squelched. Mr. Blease nr.rnonfl if nn !h? orrminrl fhnl. t.hftrft WftS a bill to redistrht the State, and the late ol that should be settled before electing judges. Mr. Jordan said that it was uhnecessary to force the election. He bad 6een uo electioneering going on. He movtd tomake the day December 12. The Speaker: Is the House ready to pass upon this toriav? Mr. Jordan's motion was carried. Tl e Governor returned to ihe House with bis disapproval a bill to pay thf school trukt? es of Richland county $5 each lor postage and aattionarv. A 2:^0 he H"us^ adj >urued to meet again at 11 o'clock Friday, Mr. Brcazeale inuuduced a bill to fnn nl.nxfat* /"V f ku R kVul icpcai tuc V/.IUl bEL K'l luu A \JL U ro"d. This oill provides tha' the Attorcey General be infirucied U) institute forthwith proper procetdugs to hquidute ihe corporation, to restrain the b took holders c<r creditors trom exercising any rights. privileges or franchises as a corportion to have a receiver appointed who shal sell the property and make distributioi of the proceeds thereof among the credi tors aud stockholders. la. or e'er 10 prevent me roaa iron Vein? controlled by any competing lin< no purcnaser, nor any other person shall bo allowed to operate the roac without becoming firat incorporatec under the laws of this State; and no corporation shall be formed by any purchaser to operate or control the road under any law of this Slate otherwise enabling thereto except with the prior consent in writing of tho Governor, Attorney General and the chairman of the board of railroad commissioners ol this State, and no such consent shall be given by these officials unless it b? made fully and absolutely to appeal that no competing line is in any way interested therein, the evidence estab lishing such fact to be filed in the office of the Secretary of State. W/> r>r onrnnrntlnn whfl jl*\j luuinuuui ux wa^v*mu.vu may control any transportation line competing with the said road or have a controlling interest therein in an; corporation operating such competing Iine3 or in any way representing such controlling interest shall be owner of a controlling interest in said corporation authorized to be' created and organized under the provision of this act, and should any such corporation or individual become so interested, then the charter herein authorized shall become ipso facto null and void, and the franchises, powers and privileges thereby conferred shall cease absolutely and the Attorney General shall immediately institute proceedings to liquidate the 3ame, and the sale anc purchase of the property. IN THE SENATE. The proceedings of the Senate yesterday were, as usual, at so early a day in the session without incident. J.T. Gantt was sworn in as journal clerk. The bill to prohibit prize fightir?r? noaao/1 Ifa fhir/1 roo/fincp liipt j^noov^u nu vuuu ivuuiug The first bill to excite discussion was one coming up on its tblrd readinp to amend Section 948 of the General Statutes with reference to the forma' tion of certain corporations. Its ob' ject was to permit the Increase of the capital stock of all corporations not ex cepting those asking an increase to one million dollars or more under the usual methods prescribed by the act for the formation of corporations. Mr. Efird opposed the bill on the ground that corporations having enormous capital stock should not be per mitted to be formed unless by applica tion to the General Assembly. Mr Smythe answered that the object of the bill was merely to make definite the oid law. The bill was passed. There was a desultory discussion ol the second reading bill to amend the law as to hawker3 and peddlers, participated in by Wilson, Jenkins, Der ham and John Gary Evans. On mo tJpQ of the latter It was finally recom milted. The first measure to meet with deter mined opposition was the concurrenl resolution Instructing the Senators anc members of the United States. House of Representatives from this State tc take some action removing all doubt from the construction of the act o! Congress approved March 2nd, 1891 refunding the direct tax, etc.' Senator Verdier moved to indefinite ly postpone the resolution. Senatoi John G. Evans inquired his reason foi the motion. Sena'or Verdier statec that the claimants were now getting their money without any trouble, thai the people of Beaufort were the onlj persons interested, and that they wer< perfectly satisfied with methods now available for obtaining thetr money. Senator Evans replied by saying thai the Governor had recommended this measure and that in some instancef there had been discontent and com plaint as to the measures necessary foi procuring the moneys due. Senator Evans could see no reason why Con gress should not be asked to explaic any ambiguity in its act. Senator Verdier answered that i! was necessary for the claimants to g< into the Court of Claims and that this resolution could sot but cause compll cation and delay. | Senator Evans?"I confess that ] can't understand bow the Senator's ex planation explains why the resolutloi should not be passed." Senator Yerdier (from his seat)"Well, I'm sorry you can't." The con current resolution was indefinitely postponed by a decided majority. In reference to his veto of the bil to incorporate the South Carolina Sew erage Company, the Governor sent ? message to the Senate, in which he said: No 188 "An act incorporate th< South Carolina Sewerage Co., andtc authorize the corporate authorities oJ the cities and townB in ihi3 State t< contract with it for the establishmenl construction and maintenance of sewerage systems and for that purpose tc issue bonds." The purposes of this comDanv are set forth in section 3 "The said corporation shall have th< right to construct, maintain, build anc complete systems of sewerage work! within the State of South Carolina, anc to contract for the construction, main talnance and building of such sewer age works. That the corporate author ities of the cities and towns of thii State, be and they are hereby authorized to contract with said corporation for the establishment, and maintain ance of such sewerage works in th< streets, highways, private lots and dwellings within the limits of said clt ies and towns and beyond those limit! if necessary; provided that any con tract so made shall first be ratified bj a vote of qualified voteis of said citiei or town." oec&iou y rtsaua us luiiung "That in order to enable the corporat< authorities of the cities and town; within this section to carry out the con tract hereinbefore authorized to b< made, they are, in addition to the pow ers now vested in them, authorized t( pas3 all necessary ordinances, rules an< regulations necessary for the enforce ment of the same, and they may re quire all property owners within th limits of said citie3 and towns to mak< connection with said sewerage works and they may levy annually an assess ment against the property of such pro perty owners, and require the si me t( be paid either to said cities and towni or to the said corporation with wood thesaid cities and towns contract foi the establishment, maintaiuance an< construction of the system of sewerag as aforesaid Section 11 provides ''that for tb< purpusu Ui Utiliyiug uuo oaiu ui;uuaoii the corporate authorities of said citie aud towns are hereby authorized to is sue six per cent, coupon bonds," A:. It will bri seen thai, power is ffivei to cities and towns to uiane contract witn tiiis corportion for the construc uon of sewers, and ttiere is au^horit; to issue bonds to p ly for the same This most objectionable feature, ho? ever, are Riven power to enforce cou ntxtiou by laud owners with thesi sewers, aua hi- ownersnip or tne shw ers oy the compauy instead of by th cities and tjwns iu wbicb they are lo catfcd. The charter is speculative an the principle upon wrucn it is issued 1 ptruici.'us. Every city should own it o .*n sewerage woriia, aud they shoui be constructed by authoriy of the saint ; The provisions in the act whish seem 1 to guard the rights of taxpayers by i providing for an election before the T . contrrct is made or the bonds Issued, are delusive. They do not guard against the use of non-tax-payers at the polles tn "own annVi a maaonra anH f.hflrn in vvr van / ouvu h u*vmwm*w plenty of room for collusion or fraud C ; between tbe authorities or a town or jj } city and the sewerage company, as to , 1 tbe amount to be paid for the work. I u therefore cannot approve it. , As to tbe first and third bills men tioned the vetoes were sustained with- p - out discussion. Senator John Q. Evans " thought that tbe sewerage bill had been y< . limited in application to the city of ^ , Columbia, in which opinion Senator ? f Sloan agreed, bat a reference to the i Journal proved otherwise and the vote ai , was adopted without futher question. m A concurrent resolution was receiv; ed from the House fixing Friday, Dec. a . 1st for the election of a register of a< mensne conveyances lor L?n&rieaiuu jn county. Senator Wilson moved to . , amend by fixing the same day. and lt | immediately after that election for tbe hi , election to the vacant Judgeships and Associate Justiceship. The resolution , as amended was then concurred io. 5 The following bills passed their sec- rv ; ond readings: r1 To amend Section 948 of the General n< Statutes, as to detention and fuml ga- m , tion of certain veasles. gi To repeal Section seven (7) of an act k( entitled "An act to provide a mode of fo ' distribution of moneys collected as di* tt rect tax from the citizens of this State w ! by*he United States and turned over In fn | trust to the State of South Carolina.' I and substitution a section in lieu there- 8C , of. Report favorable. By Mr. Kirk- cl land To appoint commissioners for the ' promotion of legislation in the United .. States. By Mr. von Kolnitz. " To'amond an act entitled "An act to c* regulate the annual settlements of p1 county commissioners, county school > commissioners and county treasurers for county and school taxes, etc. By UJ M. Mitchel. w To futher regulate the salary of the ai ? county auditor of Pickens county o< t this State. m The Senate adjourned at 2:35 p. m tt ntll 11 o'clock Fiday having exhausted rc the calendar.1 fQ The Income Tax. hi Washington, Deo. 1.?The fight for an income tax virtually has been won so far as the Democratic members of the rc ways and means committee are con* bi cerned. They stand eight to three in 81 favor of the tax, and it is extremely ua- y< likely that anything will occur between cl now and Monday to change this situa- tl tion. The history of the income tax as & Ipvied and ^collected thirty years ago Is 01 lull of valuable suggestions" at this time K and will serve an effective purpose when 10 the debate opens in the house. For C( the fiscal year ending July, 1863, tbe levy was 3 per cent, on all incomes of ^ $600 and not over $ 10,000, and 5 per w cent, on all incomes of $10,000 ani up* 3' ward. The number of persons who 01 paid under that law $20 or less was S3,- * 085. The number paving over $20 and in i under $au was ?,y47. rne numoer " > paying over $50 and under $100 was 28,- fc 936. Ttie number paving over $100 and * ' under $500 *as 54,778. The number " ? paying over $500 was 50,388. The to- " 11 number ot persons who paid taxes w ; on incomes in that year was a trifle over ** 1 240,000. These timjs are, of course, n | different from tbos8. Wealth has great- ,? , \y increased, and the population of the 5 country has more than doubled. It will " r not be be necessary now to fix the * 5 minimum of accessible incomes as low S1 aa $600. The likelihood is that it will n oe fixed at $4,000 Even at that figure, E t and with a population estimated at 70,1 000,000, the tax will be paid by not " 5 more lban 150,000 persons. This shows " " ?Ka fov mill fall arhAPA if. fa rlAAiffnA^ O ; to fall, on the small minority whose jjj wealth makes it just taat they* snoad " { be called upon to help pay the ? public burdens. 1 he proposition to in- " ; crease the per cent, with the auouut of l? > the income will not be adopted. It is 0 i considered that that might give a com- Q mnnislic color to the tax foreign to its real nature and to the design of the " t committee. The rate of the tax has yet n ' to be fixed. Those members of the 1 committee who are urging an income tax are greatly encouraged hy what the record shows and suggests, r The highest amount collected while the law was in force ti I was $72,000,000 in 1866, and had I . the law been continued In force, even n i at two-thirds of the the rate then levied, h i the whole of the public debt would have ti been paid, the new navy bailt and the li 3 rivers and harbors Improved bv the D > money collected from that source 6 f alone. ? > n t The legislature. C ' Columbia, S. C., Nov. 27.?At noon g tomoirrow the General Asseubly of ? South Carolina will convene in annual j' i session?a session that will be of more t [ thaD the usural duration and exceeding- c 3 ly interesting. The session begins this e 1 year aboni a week later than UBoal and 1 inasmuch as tbere Is so much more legis- c - lation to be attended to this year than c aa8 been known for a good many ses? 8 sions. it is predicted that the body will ^ ' come back after Christmas for a week 1 1 more. Or course the principal thing to ? ' engage the attention of the Legislature ? I patches that will have to be given it if it s is to be continued. In this connection E 3 it is well to say that a great many sur- j. . prises are In store not only for the li- c j quor men but for the advocates of the p 3 dispensary system. It is ascertained t : that the election of the five judges will { 3 come up early in the session?probably c " ' mi-- i-_ ~C T 9 the first 01 next wosk. xue terms ui - Associate Juslic3 McGowan and Judges * 5 Hudson, Izlar, Witherspoon snd Wallace a " expire a>, this term. A man of prom- jj ? inence in the reform movement, jester* ? _ day said that all the olo fudges would | * likely go by the board with perhaps, the c 0 exception ot Judge Izlar. His idea Is a } that the reform members will hold a cau- a ( cus and agree upon the men they would - vote for. "He says it Is prett? well set tie that by a strict party vots Eugene ) Gary will be elected to succeed Justice e 3 McGowan: To wnsend to succeed Judge 2 a Wallace; R. C. Watts to succeed Judge jj ? Hudson; and Ira B. Joaes to succeed ? 1 Judge Witherspooa. He says Ira B. ^ H Jones chance to Bucceed Justice Mc- * Gowan has disappeared. He does not 2 think that. W. C. Bsnel will have any 1; 3 chance aginst Judga Izlar.?State. c e Five Negroes Killed. g 2 Charleston, W. V., Nov. 29.?The t s ohoting ot ten men i j Eckman, McDow- a ell county, last evening resulting in tht F death ot live aad the fatal wounding of f 5? several nore seems 10 have resulted c from the fact that the miners hadjmt \ been paid otfau'1 had loaded up ou mean ~ 0 -vbiskay. A part of tbe row occurred e over t'ie gamins? table. Tbe country is g a wild 000, The miners are chiefly ne? c j uross and toughs. All ot the shooting j 9 occurred within a radius of three milea j s and what is remarkable all were sepa- t d rate cases. It is believed that all tbe d ?. parties concerned were drunk. e SEA ISLAND 8UFFERERS. heir Deplorable Condition Pathetically Pictured by Mill Barton. Washington, Nov. 28.?Mias llara Barton, president ot the National ied Cross, in an official letter to Secre irv Carlisle, under date of Beaufort, S. C? Nov, 26, says: "I am informed by telegram from Mr. . Y. DeGraw of the United Press, that on have directed some boats to report > me for service at these ssa islands. 0 words can tell you how needed they re nor how welcome they will be. In iy dispatch to Mr. DeGraw, asking for boat, I said that without such facilities jath Irom exposure must result. Desirg to avoid sensation, I witheld the fact tat the last three deaths reported to us id been from that cause. & "We have here 3 0,000 pet Me. scatter1 over a territory 250 milu in length, sstitute, not only ^.the comforts, but le necessaries ot Six thousand rases have to be btWt or provision ade to take them up from the winter :ound; not one in fifty has a bed, blanit, to cover; not one in a hundred has od for two days save the remiiant of te weekly issue of charitable provisions e can make tor them, which is the piti? 1 amount of a peck of hominy aud a >und of pork for a family of seven per>ns for a week, and the sword of Dainoes over our heads pointing to the ontbp beyond when we ?hall fall of tat. These seventy islands are cut and ossed by rivers, sounds and creeks, 'ten too narrow and shallow to navate, too wide and deep to ford, and lain sweeping, swift and dangerous, se unto the open sea. Their boats ere nearly all lost; tbe bridges jone, id neither lumber, nail or tools to make ihers,. Whatever we have to give, we a. i l? :c lubi iargeiy carry wj uiam. jcjvou u iey had their little boats, in the long > w of twenty to forty miles, to come r their provisions, In the frost and cold ill clad and half fed, tbey would perish; le families at home would starve. "I bring these tacts to you, Mr. Secitary, not to move yoa to greater pity, it to show yoa how needful a provion yon have made, the suffering bodies 3u will have saved, the faint hearts leered. There are six- months of this 11 something grows. The privilege of boat will be needed all the time?it is or only conveyance, we cannot procure for ourselves, as all onr available fonds l sight for this field are less than 50 mts a piece for the next sis months. "The great cry of all these men is, iter all, not so much for food, as for nrfc RAVAn n'nlnnk nf avftrv mnrninc ads a gang of 150 to 200 men in front fthe headquarters, waiting to learn if e have shovels or hoes to let them go > work either ditching the land, buildig their houses, or preparing the ground >r the next year's planting; and this ithont a cent of money; only for the ttle "rations" ot meal and meat, which ley all know is already their own. It e had the suitable tools or the means > purchase them, we conld pat 5,000 ten at work in three days, nnder their wn foremen, at 75 cent a dat, payable i meal and meat for themselves and imilies, upon improvements which 'ould make the sea islands the garden pot of the eastern coast. Hereafter let o one say that the sea island negro is ot willing to work. "Occupied as your tim* is, Mr. SecJtary, I will not apoligise for this long itter, lor it is my duty to let the state f things be known to those who have le ability to comprehend the situation, not to relieved it. May I kindly ask ? yon the fevor to pass this letter aleo ) onr honored President, Mr. Clevetnd, whom I have not had the pleasure f meeting personally since his return to s as chief magistrate. "With sentiments of the highest essem and'gratitude, I have the honor to smain, very respectfully, "Claba Babton, "President American National Bed Cross." Tke Income Tax Idea. Washington, Nov. 29.?BepresentaIve McMillin's sub-committee of the democratic members of the ways and leans committee on internal taxes eld two sessions at the capltol this afarnoon, considering the question of an acome tax. The members of the committee stated that they had not consldwhinbAv hnt onlv the better Dlan ? Imposing a tax on Incomes. 'Toilgnt the Democratic members of the ommlttee met at Secretary Carlisle's iome for another conference. The lecretary is understood to be unfriendf to the proposition to tax individual ncomes, and it is still probable that he solution of the matter wiil be a ompromise which will impose the tax aalnly on legacies and coiporations. ?he proposition is supported by the onservative members of the Demoratic majority?Wilson, Turner, Mont;omery, Stevens and Cochran. There 3 no suggestion of reciprocity in the tew tariff bill, although it has been aid in some quarters that that matter las been left nanglng In the air. "If here is anything in the bill as it no w tands that favors reciprocity, it wtll tot be there when the bill becomes a aw," said Chairman Wilson. "By reiprocity, I mean," he continued, "that tower vested in the President' under he McKinley act to regulate tariffs by iroclamation. Such a policy will be ast out of the House, root and branch." 1 -ii ?/iAAWAa \XToahinr*_ u very mtui tutib uuw loauuoti ?? on brings with it numerous letters >nd petitions addressed to the ways >nd means committee, urging it to lnrease the tax on whiskey to $1.50 a ;allon. It appears that the religious ,nd temperance bodies throughout the ountry have taken up the subject, the iCtivity being especially noticeable ,mong the Presbyterians. Tbe Cotton UoTemtnt, New Orleans, Nov. 24.?Crop stateaent trom September 1 to Novemb-r 4, inclusive: Port receipts 2,665,215 ales, against 2,432,264 last year and .297,130 year before last; overland to Qills and Canada 275,336, against 315,in anrt filfi.512: interior stocks in ex ess of September 1 316,206, against 16,146 and 432,536; Southern raill Ukngs 215,685, against 206,430 and 187,395; rop brought into sight during the ighty-flve days to date 3,471,501, .gainst 3,170.335 and 4,443,291; crop irought into sight for the week 365,551, igainst 351,776 for the seven days ?ndd November 24 last year and 416,805 or the same time year before last; tod brought Into sight tor toe urst wenty-four days of November 1,312,21, against 1,715,575 aad 1,570,331. ;omparisonsin these reports are made ip to the corresponding date last year ,ud year before last, and aot to tbe lose of tbe corresponding week. Com>arison by weeks, one-lifth of tbe seaon, would take io seventy-six days of be season last year and eigbty-eigbt lays year betore last, against; only iigbty-flve days this year. RADlCAt CHANGES j IN THE NEW TARIFF BILL MADE PUB uiw munuAT< The Ndoauarles of Life, F<irm|ojc Implement*, Cotton Tlea, Etc., Are Either on the Free I>tat or With Minimum Da tie*. Washington, D. C., Nov. 27.? The new Democratic tariff bill was .';3j given to tbe public today and Its pro* vision fulfill every expectation of those who predicted radical reform. In many respects it is a surprise even to Demo* cratic members of Congress, as it is on* precedented in many of its provisions -'JsS and to a great extent, doctrinaire in some matters upon which the party had never given definite political utterance. Free List of that liberal scope sufficient to satisfy the most radical advocates of drastic reform, atid repudiation oi principle of reciprocity, are decisive and emphatlc. Thus the tariff bill, In addition to reform It makes in castoms lairs, will necessitate immediate readjustments of treaties with those South American countries which enjoy practical or the' oretical reciprocity with the great American republic of the Northern hemisphere, X 3 One of the tenets of Democracy whicb found such 'frequent iteration and was a source of such declamatory eloquence In ; ^ the last two campaigns, is a subject of compromise. In the adjustment ot the sugar schedule the bounty which was to r jp be so promptly repealed Is, instead, to be repaaled by easy gradation and wQl not reach its conclusive effect until after the eod of the present century. It u to be reduced J- cant each year for eight years. The following Is a summary of the bill which has been prepared by Representative U^an, of Nebraska: The bill just completed puts wool, coal, lumber, m salt and iron ore on the free list, and reduces the tariff on sugar from one half to one-quarter of a cent per pound; it also provides for tbe extermination of the bounty by degrees. As a role, the tariff has been made the lowest upon cheaper goods, of nocesaaiy use, and left highest upon more expensive artides. / The wool schedule will, perhaps, ' ?*?& attract most attention. We have left no duty higher than 45 per cent, on manufactures of wool, and that only on \|| ready made garment*, the average being less than 40 per cea.. Cheaper quality . of blaukets and flannel are only 25 per cent, and lower grades of carpets only 20 per cant. We baye also applied a gradual reduction to the woolen schedule, so that at the end of five years tho highest duty will be 40, and the average near dU per cent, very material redactions have been made in the cotton schedules. We have placed iron ore on the free list and made a large cat all along the metal schedule, the duty on steel rails ia reduced'more than 50 percent. Free lumber will be a great benefit to pesple of the prairie btates, and free salt will . > give to those who need salt for their pat* tie or for curing meats the satue advantage which has been secured heretofore by menans of rebate to those who cared fish. Agricultural implements have been placed upon the free list la order to enable farmers to better compete in fbreiga markets and because many of our agri* cultural implements tua being sold abroad today cheaper than at home. Among principal additions to the free * list are the following: Bacon and hams. beef, matton, pork add meats of all kinds not specially provided for io this act, binding twine, borax, camphor, . ' vj bituminous, coal, coke, copper in all its crude forms, cotton ties, iionore, cotton seed oil agricultural implements, (cot- v ton gins specifically named), salt, 6oap, building materials excepting warble, .'amber, timber and wood in all bnt a few conditions which are named, and wool. The metal schedule of the bill ?evi?8 a1 most wholly advalorem duties, while the present low levies are specific duties. Barlap^e and co.ton bagging are taxed 15 p?r cent., but when Imported for covering articles to be exported, are duty free. Parable of the Delinquent Subscriber. , 1. And a certain man who was with*. out guile, patient, long suffering and fall of meekness, went down in a far country to start a newspaper. 2. And divers publicans and sinners, beholding him, said one to another: 3. Behold now a man without guile; a greenhorn from way back, and a sucker from the borders of Kansas. 4. Of a surety now we hare a soft snap, and we will make the Gentile exceedingly weary. 5. Wherefore they went up into the sanctum of tbe man without guile, even the newspaper man and said unto him: 6. Lo I Ifow we wili take thy paper "; and we will pay thee tbus: In wood of oak, of hickory and of cotton wood, in butter, chickens and hen fruit. 7. And the editor said: It is well, , and he went apart and covered his face with his mantle and wept for joy. 8. And he lifted his voice and said: Oh Lord, I thank thee tbat thou hast led me beside these so still waters and * " -* x ? xi caused me to ue juwu m meao gicou pastures. 9. And it came to pas9, that the weather waxed cold, and the editoi would faiu have warmed himself by a ^$8 fire of the wood of oak or hickory or '' ! cottonwood. Also he fain would have taken of the ton fruit and the butter. 10. But when he said to the publicans and sinners: Do now as ye promised, behold tbey laughed him to scorn and said unto him: Rats! Come off! and give'us a rest! Behold now thou makest us exceedingly tired. 11 And the editor's spirit waxed U '*&Sj?9P faint, and he died, and was taken up into Abraham's bosom. 12. And in the fullness of time the B*" publicans and sinners died also and it was not so that they did go to Abraham's bosom?not by an exceedingly long shot. 13. But fiends from the nethermost pit environed them and hauled them to a place of torment. 14. And when tbey cried out because the thermometer was passing high then would the iiends mock them saying: ltat-! Comeoffj and give us a restl Behold now thou makest us ex* I ceedingly tired. I 15. Wherefore bretheren let 113 arise I and fetch wood uato the printer, lest we be even as the publicans and sin* ners. Behold the winter cometh when ^ ^ no man can haui wood. Rescued From ot Daatli. Fire Island. Nov, 29.?Capt. Randall with his wife and little sod, and the ten men of the crew, who, for u|r wards of twenty four hours werelas&v ed to the spray drenched rigging of tne wrecked schooner Louis H. llandull off Smith Point, were rescued at diy? light today by the tug I. J. Merritt. Ia < \ spite of the exposure and numbing fear * to which they hare been subjected since the schooner went on ice ueac-n Tuesday night the? are all alive, and / will recover when proper care can be Riven theui. The schooner is breaking up. ?'