University of South Carolina Libraries
The Press andBanner. ~ BY "HUGH WILSON. f( ARBUlTLLi:, H. V- a LAWMAKERS AT WORK. c?; L A BUSY SEASON IN THE LEGISLATIVE Si PERIOD. Ct ci Several Measures of Great Importance In- yv - * ' no.l.l.u.l Snmmlrv of ^ trOailCVM UM.n.uvivti ? the ProceedlDgH. * ^ Columbia, Feb. 5.- -Special: Both branches of tne General Assembly re- m sumed work yesterday?the House at 12:30 and the Senate at 8:30 p. m. In the latter the bill in reference to c* emigration agents was killed. The s* following were passed to a third read* UI ing. Mr. Moses' bill to define the ^ manner in which towns increase or sc diminish their corporate limits; bill changing the name of the "State iu ti< natic asyJum" to "the State hospital *e for the insane;" the house anti prize fight bill; Mr. Walker's bill to amend rc the act relating to agricultural liens, which makes no material changes in w ' tt ! 1- u:n f.._ al t&e present: mr. xiarnsuus imil wiuither protect landlords; house bill to U1 pay jurors and State witnesses ferri- w age; Mr. Stribling's bill pertaining to w building a bridge across a the Keowee sc river near the mouth of Little river, ^a and the concurrent resolution pertain- w ing to the time for electing penitentia- dt ry directors. 01 No bills of special interest were introduced except Mr. Fihley's relative P( to the collection of taxes on municipal ar property not used for municipal pur- TJ poses in accordance with the new constitution. to The house decided to hold day and h? night sessions henceforth and declined to consider propositions to fix the day of final adjournment and the limit to m the introduction of bills. ra The judiciary committee made a favoraole report on the new registration bill. tic It was only a few minutes after the ed body was called to order wnen me e* house struck the second reading bills, st< there being 97 such bills and resolu- to: tions on the calendar. of A.fte? several bills had been passed over Mr. Gary's bill to authorize the sinking fund commission to lend the toi sinking fund on the security of the valid bonds of the State when the W1 bonds cannot be purchased at par of was called up out of its order, Judge ed Townsend saying there was a large 00 amount of money lying idle which pe should be utilized. be Mr. Gadsden moved to strike out ' the enacting words of the bill,saying it Fi was very dangerous for the State to H< go into the banking business with the ho credit of the State. This fund was put jn aside as a guarantee for the security it. of tho State bonds. It was wrong to lo; touch this fund. It is not certain that the State will at all times have such ha " ? 111-X - an honorable gentleman lor oiaitj treasurer as she now has. It was put- iel ing too much power in one man's hands and opened the gates for the gi- ri: gantic defrauding of the State. The bonds themselves would be endan- ? gered. After mucn debate and the voting tic down of Mr Patton's amendment to er* fix the minimum rate of interest at 6 St' per cent., the bill passed to its third ' reading with a per cent, minimum co rate of interest. bo Mr. Hazleden's bill to provide for Be the forfeiture of charters of railroads charging higher rates than those fixed foi by the railroad commissioners was rei taken up and discussed. tri The bill was finally passed to a third ' reading with an amendment,, by Mr. sui Patton, providing for an appeal to arl courts of competent jurisdiction. # 1 A bill to exempt mortgages held by in banks from taxation was indefinitely 1 postponed. A resolution providing for the State moving in the matter of erecting a tic monument to George Peabody passed in. unanimously. A resolution to appoint a committee 1 to examine into the status of the rail- to roads of the State was introduced by mi Mr. Burn. re.' THE SCHOOL LAW. ] In the Senate this morning the first pa bill taken up was that to alter, amend po and perfect the school law. co Mr. Efird offered the following sec- ne tion, providing for a board of educa- fai tion to take the place of the present mi uchnol commissioner: tw Section?The State board of educa- fo: tion shall appoint in each county three fir persons, each of whom shall be com- vii petent to hold a teacher's first grade be certificate and to conduct a teachers co institute, who shall be known as the ro county board of education, who shall ro hold their term of office for the term su of two years from the time of their ap- ra pointment and until their successors < shall qualify. Tbey shall take the in, oath of office prescribed in section 26 po of Article III of the constitution and su the oath against dueling. They shall ra organize by the election of one of their th membersjis chairman and one as sec- j retary. The county board of educa- sh tion shall meet quarterly at the coun- fr< ty seat and shall receive as compensa- mi tion three dollars per day and five, th cents per mile of necessary travel, to th be paid by the county treasurer upon j * the warrant of the county board, of co commissioners: Provided, such board pe is not in session more than ten days in any one year. The secretary of the board of education shall attend at the ca court house, in the office of the coun- la: ty board, on each and every Saturday wl while the public school term lasts in re his county and for one month thereafter for the purpose of approving fii teachers' pay certificates or warrants properly signed by the trustees of the ti< various school districts, and to keep an th account of the claims so approved. k? He shall receive as compensation one bi hundred dollars, to be paid quarterly TJ by the county treasurer upon the war- w rant of the county board of commis- ty sioners. Mr. Finley offered what was design ed as a substitute for Mr. Efird's sa amendment. Its object was to retain the present system of having a county ? commissioner, but provided that he at hold a first-class certificate as State A teacher. of After some debate the substitute was rejected?17 to 12. tii Mr. Buist offered an amendment ac which was adopted, providing that so n< far as the Charleston schools were tli concerned, no certificates as a State w teacher should be required from grad- ti< uates of the Memminger school.' An amendment offered by Mr. 1 Brown requiring the heads of all el schools in the State, graded, normal or special, to report to the State superin- C tendent every summer as to number f scholars, condition, etc., was adopt ha< 3. the Mr. Efird's substitute providing He )r a board of three instead of the wo junty commissioner, was adopted by bil vote of 18 to 10. 1 The petition from the colored Meth- wa iists to have the colored college to be we jt oil' from Claflin, established at jec ancaster, "the garden spot of the the Late," was referred to the educational inf )mmittee. ] The petition from the State fair so- dis ety for an appreciation of $2,500, mc hich was sent with a message from ] ie governor, was referred. tio At the night session the bill was fur- the ler discussed. inf Mr. Mayfield offered this amendent, which was adopted: I Be it provided that all school funds ins e 41? ner man mose arising1 irum mo opc- i?hj al levy of the several school districts tak lall be paid out of the county treas- ing ry on the warrants duly vouched by sh? le school trustees of the respective ? hool districts. pre Mr. Archer moved to strike out sec- by on 52. This section relieved school tio achers and young men who might wo ) attending school from working yef >ads or paying a commutation tax. pa; jachers, he said, were not idiots; they go< ere working on salaries and were ? )le to pay their part towards keeping poj p the roads. Youn*j men, of the age act hich made them liable to road duty, wo ho were able to attend to attend pre hool, were as able to pay the commu- for tion tax as those young men who dui orked in stores. He. was opposed to tio iadheads. The motion prevailed with- got it discussion or division. nol Mr. Harrison moved to indefinitely ful >stpone the bill. It was complicated sail id needed most careful consideration, ing ae present school law was working me ;ry well, and he thought it would be pui the benefit of the State schools to the ive this bill postponed. Mr. Harrison, it was at first thought, tended this as a little diversion to pre ake a break in dry offering of amend- in onto that had hfifin coinr?in bv single o'c] e of au hour and a quarter. Sui President Timmerman put the ques- Jol m in the gravest manner and declar- its the motion lost. Mr. Harrison, as lav avely, demanded a division, and but >odup with a little ring of five sena- lat< rs representing the greater portion eve the Piedmont. J "No further count demanded," an- sen unced Mr. Harrison, and the sena- cas< rs laughed. 1 An amendment by Mr. Barnwell Me: is adopted providing that members A the State board of education appoint- pos by the governor shall receive as call mpensation the same mileage and fusi r diem as is provided for the mem- foil rs of the general assembly. A On the fioal assage of this bill Mr. in t nley demanded the ayes and noes, low i believed the law on the statute fan oks toas better than that contained roa this bill, and he could not vote for A The result of the vote was as fol- thii tvs: Sur Yeas?Barnwell, Barton, Brice, Der- woi m, Douglas", DuBose, E6rd, May- all Id, Miller, Moses, McOalla, McDan- ing , Pettigrew, Sloan, Williams?16. The Navs?Archer. Finlay, Fuller, Har- late on, O'Dell, Stribling?6 J The Senate passed a number of bills the among them the following: woi House bill to exempt certain por- int* ms of Pickens county* from the op- woi ition of the general stock law of the the ite. batTo amend an act establishing the the unty of Berkeley, so as to define nig undaries between Charleston and ly irkeley counties. out House bill to require petit jurors to > p the last week of circuit courts to main till all cases requiring jury ^ als are disposed of. Usb ro provide for the settlement of is- was es between citizens of this State by g titration. ancj ro regulate the election of wardens -gn the towns of this State. anc ro incorporate Converse college. fer( IN THE HOUSE. nov A. resolution stopping the introduc- sess *? nAwr maopimoc? offov th A 1 fltVl if,. 'U VI UVTT iUWWWiW Ml W& AVXU IXJL'dl >t. was adopted. g RAILROAD FARE J) The bill introduced by Mr. Jarris, wit fix passenger fares on railways was agr uch discussed. It passed its second for ading in the following shape: * vou Section 1. That from and after the leg* ssage of this act the rates for trans- Noi rtation of passengers by railroad Col mpanies chartered and doing busi- S ss in this State shall be for first class Ind re three (3) cents per mile every cal Lie traveled, and for second class fare a bi o and one-half (2?) cents per mile Cai r every mile traveled, and shall sell age st and second class tickets: Pro- boa [led, This rate may from time to time mei altered and changed by the railroad by mmission, as toany railroad or rail- of c ads, as in the judgment of Said rail- gen ad commission the circumstances "of sess ch railroad or railroads may war- two at or require. for See. 2. Any railroad company charg- go i e higher rates for passenger trans- go\ rtation than those herein fixed, or cio ch as may be hereafter fixed, by the of t ilroad commissions shall suffer all S e penalties provided by law. of t Sec. 3. Nothing herein contained con all prevent any railroad company Cla >m selling excursion tickets and boa ileage tickets of not less than one ma! ousand miles for lower rates than cha ose herein fixed. of t Sect. 4. All acts or parts of acts in- Ion nsistent with this act are hereby re- S aled. * of THE "JIM CROW" CAR. Agl Mr. Otts' ''jim crow" car bill was of ? lied up. The house had passed it izec st year and sent it to the senate, ma L? l i J i l mi. _ v*il Lucii uouy Kuieu 11. xne dui was per ported unfavorably. col Mr. Skinner thought it would in- tod ct a hardship on the railroads. ter Dr. Wycne said that the Constitu- tru )nal convention had emphasized the sai< e fact that the two races should be cul St apart. He had voted against the Soi , but proposed to vote tor it now. ? le State should enact such laws as of 1 ould forever keep down social equali- rici in this State. Soi HELP FOR TIIE STATE FAIR. hei At this juncture the following ines- do ge was received from the governor: wh Gentlemen of the General Assembly pie I herewith transmit to your honor est He body the petition of the State uni gricultural and Mechanical society pre ' South Carolina. Sta I had the honor to call your atten- aut an to this matter in my inaugural or < Idress at your last session. I can add ? 3thing more to my recommendation 1m ten made. I trust that the petition ica ill receive your favorable considera- ha1 on. Respectfully, ses: Jno. Gary Evans, Governor. tle< The memorial referred to is published for sewhere in this issue. dei The discussion of the ''Jim Crow of ar" bill was resumed. for Judge Townsend said the committe rat 3 a good many railroad men before sm on this bill at the last session, i detailed the disadvantages that uld come from the operation of this 1. Vlr. W. J. Johnson said that this s a necessary bill; the railroads re the only corporations that subted the fair women of the State to ! necessity of riding in a car with an erior race. tfr. Otts said that the bill had been cussed and passed by this house on >re than one occasion. 3e demanded the roll on the adopn of the bill, the call resulting in s adoption of the bill by the follow: vote: Yeas 58. nays 32. CHECKS TO LABORERS, tfr. Miles' bill to regulate the issu* o/iwin on/1 /"l tin Vu'lle tn , v/i V/UOV'n.Oj auu uuv vtiiu w orers and wage workers was then, :en up and ordered to a third readf without debate in the following ipe: Section I. That unless otherwise )vided by special conract, it is hererequired of all persons or corporans who employ laborers or waeerkers by the day, week, month or ij.', or by the job or piece work, to y such laborers or wage workers in Dd and lawful money. Sec. 2. That if any person or corrations, after the approval of this shall give to any laborer or wagerker, except as provided in the seeding section, as compensation ' labor or service performed, any b bill, check or scrip of any des.ripn which is intended to be in lieu of xl and lawful money, and which is t paid or redeemed in cash for its 1 face value when presented, the i person or corporation so offen^r snail be deemed guilty of a misde anor and upon conviction shall be aished by fine or imprisonment in i discretion of the court. SUNDAY TRAINS. iVhen Mr. B. J. Johnston's bill to >hibit the running of freight trains this State between the hours of 12 lock Saturday night and 12 o'clock aday night, was taken up. Mr. inston made a vigorous speech in favor. He said there was now a t against running: trains on Sunday, , the law was being constantly vioid. The railroads violate the law ry day. udge Townsend said that the pret law on the subject covered the e exactly. He read the law. 'he bill was further discussed by ssrs. Bocot Williams and Magill Ir. Magill moved to indefinitely tpone the bill. On this the roll [ was demanded. The house read to indefinitely postpone by the owing vote: Yeas 33, nays 53. Ir. Gadsden made an earnest plea >ehalf of the truck farmers in the rer portion of the State, ^he truck Tiers would lose more tnan the rail as. Ir. Watson said other farmers had igs which got ripe on Saturday and iaay also. They had to suspend rk on Sunday. This argument was poppycock. The poor men workon railroads needed protection. >y should reverence and hod invios the Sabbath day. udge Townsend called attention to palpable manner in which the bill lid conflict with the United States ;restate commerce law, which lid cause a discrimination against State of South Carolina. The de3 was interrupted by the arrival of hour for the joint assembly At the ht session it was resumed. Finalthe enacting words were stricken and the bill inlied by a vote 01 4t> II. THE COLORED COLLEGE. liter much debate the bill to estabi the college foi colored students i passed in the following shape: ection 1. That Claflin college be [J is hereby severed from Claflin iversity; provided, that thissevere shall not operate so as to inter5 with the teaching and instruction v being given during the present tion, which closes in the month of y, this j ear. ection 2. That during the year A. cVioll pcta hlisViprl hin this State a normal, industrial, icultural and mechanical college the higher education of the colored ith of the State, and that said col3 shall be known as the Colored rmal, Agricultural and Mechanical lege of South Carolina. ection 3. That the Colored Normal, lustrial, Agricultural and MechaniCollege of South Carolina shall be ranch of the university of South 'olina, but shall be under the manment and control "of a separate rd of trustees composed of seven aibers, six of whom shall be elected the general assembly, whose term )llice shall be six years. But the Leral assembly shall at its present lion elect two of said trustees for ? years, two for four years and two six years, so that two of them shall out of office every two years. The ernor of the State shall be ex-offithe seventh member of said board rustees. ection 4. That the board of trustees he South Carolina college now in trol of the property belonging to flin college shall turn over to the ,rd of trustees of the Colored Norl, Industrial, Agricultural and Menical College of South Carolina all he real and personal property beging to Claflin college. ection 5. That the board of trustees the Colored Normal, Industrial, ricultural and Mechanical College South Carolina are hereby authorl and empowered to take charge of, nage and control all of the real and sonal property belonging to Claflin lege, in whosesoever hands or cusy the same may be now or hereaffound, and shall hold the same in st for the benefit and uses of the 1 Colored Normal, Industrial, Agritural and Mechanical College of nil Carolina. lection 0. That the board of trustees the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agaltural and Mechanical College of ith Carolina shall have and are eby given full and ample power to and to peform any and all acts atsoever necessary to affect a comt2 and final separation of the inter5 o? the State from those of Claflin iversity, and if found necessary to ?tect or promote the interest of the llio niifl-irtrifir hprf* tritrpn shall horize said trustees to sell,purcliase exchange real estate. Section 7. That the Colored Normal, lustrial, Agricultural and Mechan1 College of South Carolina shall ve all the rights and privileges possed by Clallin college, and be enti1 to receive all the funds setftpart the support of Ci&ilih college nn the acts of the .general asses&bly this State and the-said college Shall ever be and remain free and .sepae from Clallin university and all other colleges, schools or other institutions which are wholly or in part under the direction or control of any churcn or religious or sectarian de- SC nomination or society. Section 8. That the board of trustees of the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College Le of South Carolina are authorized and j empowered to provide all necessary suitable buildings upon a proper site c for the purpose, to establisn a course i of study covering the Normal, Indus- Oi trial, Agricultural and Mechanical ba sciences, and provide the necessary m, appliances for proper instruction in irr the same; and to select a proper corps th instructors and fix their salaries. The principal or president and the corps of instructors shall be natives of South Carolina and of the negro race. ' Section 9. That the sum of $5,000 be onniiallv annmnriatpd for five VearS , for the purpose of erecting the necessary buildings, if so much be necessary; and that the authorities of the * State penitentiary be, and they are P. hereby, required to furnish, on the ? demand of the board of trustees of v said college, 40 able-bodied convicts to said board of trustees, the convicts ar to be used in erecting the necessary Pr buildings, and to be transported,' ^ guarded, clothed, fed and attended free of any cost to the college, and to 01 be returned to the penitentiary when the buildings are completed. ar Section 10. That a majority of the whole board of trustees shall be necessary for the transaction of any busi- f"1 ness. 0 THE JOINT ASSEMBLY. pc At one o'clock today there was a V5 joint session of the two houses, to elect Qb directors of the penitentiary. $1 Nominations were asked for to Gil pr the unexpired term of the late Mr. ol Sprott. Senator Fmley nominated pr Mr. J. J. Ashe and Mr. Ilderton Mr. re J H. Blackwell, Mr. D. W. McLaurin pc nominated Mr. James Stackhouse, but tic withdrew the name later. The senate voted pretty solidly for Ashe. The at vote resulted as follows, and Mr. Blackwell wasdelared elected: Black- ar well 69; Ashe 54. di Nominations were then made for co successors to Messrs. Garris and Willoughby. sit Mr. Gaston nominated Mr. W. 0. Tatum. Mr. Shuman nominated Mr. ba J. W. Whitmire of Greenville, Mr. ba Cooper renominated the incumbent in director, Mr. Garris Senator Norris nominated Mr. J. C. Stribling. Sena- nc tor Watson nominated Mr. T. 0. San- ba ders, Sr. tii The balloting resulted as follows: ex Tatum 68, Whitmire 26, Garris 82, of Striblins 34, Sanders 52. ar A great many mem bers then changed their votes, the result having not yet been announced, and as a final result th the vote was declared as follows. Tatum 85, Garris 84, Striblidg 29, Sanders ti< Qf> WVliiTTl ira 93 IVTocqfq Tai.iim and I an Gams were declared elected and the St joint assembly dissolved Messrs. Tatum and Black well are co both members of the house at present. Mr. Garris has been a member of the th boasd since the last election. ui ar TROUBLE IN THE JOINT ASSEMBLY. ? su Scenes Brought About by the Change of a ar Vote?Lively Times Expected. Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 4.?The roll call disclosed the presence of 126 members in the joint assembly today. er Senator Hey ward voted for Buckner, lej Holloway for McCreary and Stone for Evans. When the name of Mr. Jones (Dem.) of Floyd who had been voting in, for McCreary and other "sound mon- sti ?" ^TTTArt MAO A/1 V* ex OUAOQ Oy i/euiuuraus, VYtUJ i co^acu, uv ui vuu and made a short statement reviewing to his reasons for his course up to the m present time in refusing to vote for Senator Blackburn, but declaring that ba the crisis had been reached. He was er almost ready to announce his vote for Blackburn when Lieutenant Governor cr Worthington, who was in the chair, an rapped the Floyd county member to order, ruling his remarks out of order, er A sharp spat then passed between ta: Senator Bronston and the lieutenant governor on Senator Bronston's in- qu sistinof that the Floyd county member hi had the right to explain his vote. co Several representatives joined in the defense of the presiding officer. co Mr. Bronston said the lieutenant governor had exceeded his authority i and he made a fiery speech in which he hurled defiance into the faces of ^iJ the Republican side. an The lieutenant governor replied that cjj he would not be intimidated by the j0 remarks of the senator from Fayette. Senator Bronston then denounced vj, as untrue the statement that he had js undertaken to intimidate the chair, ^c and with much feeling invited the j0 lieutenant governor to come down | from the chair and give his place to so some one who would presiae with g0 fairness. vj( The Democrats crowded around Sen- gj, ator Bronstoa and the Republicans g^ around the lieutenant governor and fr( the most intense excitement prevailed. m( The wai of words finally passed off ew by Mr. Johns being allowed to finish ne his speech and after a brief explanation he he cast his vote for Senator Blackburn. < Rice also voted for Blackburn. The e(j ballot resultedHunter 62; Black- , burn 56; scattering 8. . ' Serious trouble may occur at tomor- ^ row's joint session it' the house Re- , miMi/wna lincoat. Tnmnlrins and K*auf- . ^UUllVUllU 1 VJ. man as it is stated they intend to do. *. It is said that within five minutes after . the unseating the senate Democrats . ? have arranged to expel four Republican senators, appoint extra doorkeep- ? , ers to keep them out of the joint ses- Jr' sion, and then take a ballot for United J ? States senator. Ladies are warned to * keep away tomorrow. Iu Jail For Bigamy. ***' Columbia, Feb. 2.?Wm. A. Howard, a young railroad conductor from pe Pelzer, S. C., went to Rockmart, Ga., about a month ago and married Miss ^ Carrie Stokes, a beautiful and highly su" respected young lady, who lives near jg that place. It now develops that Howard had a wife living at Pelzer, S. C.. re( and he has been arrested and lodged an in the jaii of Polk County, Ga. The S01 young man was a stranger to Miss Stokes and the marriage was brought saj about through an advertisement. an Howard is reported to be of a highly jn resnected family. A- V sai Shot Him in the liack. ? Waldo, Fla., Feb. 5.?Last night lec E. L. Melvin met the wife of J. P. sh Coleman clandestinely near ihis place. i While Melvin was talking to the wo- saj man, some one concealed near by shot sh him in the back, killing him instantly, du Coleman yesterday learned that ms tic wife was to meet Melvin and disap- < peared. He has not been seen since, ^ii HOUSE AND SENATE. >ME OF THEWORK OF THEGENERAL ASSEMBLY- j gifllatlon Whlcfi Afljct* Smi lmlortant IoteresU?Outline of he Froleedlngs. Columbia, February 0. ?3pecial: le thin? may be said about the detes in the' General Assembly?they ost frequently relate to matters of iportance. Such has been the case is week. the volume of printing. Senator Moses introduced the followncurrent resolution which was opted and sent to the House. T^a if fOOrtl Trn/1 Ktt fVlA CPnflffl thft *? 1VW4IVU K*J VA1V ? >use of representatives concurring, at a committee consisting of two on e part of thfe senate and three on the .rt of the house be appointed a spell committee to inquire into the subct of printing the reports of various ipartments and to inquire if ther^is ty unnecessary printing, and if it is acticable to cut down the cost of the me without impairing the public rvice, said committee to report by 11 or otherwise. This was immediately considered id adopted. A concurrent resolution, offered by r. Finley, immediately considered id adopted, fixed Feb. 20 as the date r the legislature to adjourn sine die. The resolution from the house proving the erection of a monument in rashington by the Southern States to eorge Peabody and appropriating ,500 as South Carolina's quota, was esented. It being a concurrent resution and carrying a proposed apopriation, was ineffective, and was ferred to a senate committee to reJi. -i ~e ? n*L it ill mc auajjc kjl a jumu itouiu)I). Tbe bouse was invited to ratify acts 1 p. m. and accepted. Tbe special order?relating to roads id highways?was called up immeately after the morning hour. It ntained 29 formidable sections. After some debate the further conleration of the bill was postponed. The bill to allow directors of State ,nks to be borrowers caused some de.te. The bill passed with the followg provision: "The directors or other officers shall >t be indebted collectively to the ink of which they shall be at tjje ne directors or officers, to an amount ceeding in the aggregate one-third the capital stock actually paid in id surp us." Thoea killa riacad a tViirrl To provide for the examination of e banking corporations of the State. House bill to exempt certain por>ns of Pickens county from the opation'sof the general stock law of the ate. ? To further protect landlords in the llection of rent. House bill to require petit jurors for e last week of circuit court to remain itil all cases requiring jury trials e disposed of. To provide for the settlement of ises between citizens of this State by bitration. To regulate the election of wardens the towns of this State. To incorporate Converse college. These were the acts ratified: To amend section 3,540 of the gen~i _# Acix_i.~ i^i.: ai statutes 01 mis out it; reiiuiu^ uj *al holidays. To prevent lynching in this State. Joint resolution to provide for printg and sale of copies of the now Contution. To amend charters of cities and wns with regard to the sale of fresh eats. Relating to the disposition of the lance remaining unsold of the genal statutes of this State of 1882. To provide for a change of venue in sal and criminal cases in the civil d magistrates^ courts. To authorize and provide for the ection of a new county jail in Sparnburg county. Joint resolution to authorize and relire the comptroller general to draw 3 warrant for $175 in favor of the mmander of the Santee Rifles. To provide for the election of code mmissioners. THE PENSION BILL. The night session of the Senate was ken up in the consideration of the 11 to pension Confederate soldiers id the widows of such. After many anges the bill was passed in the folding shape: Section 1. That section 939 of the resn/1 ctafntoe 18Q3 Ka onH fVi? samp. JUU OtUlUlUJ VI XVVU WVf MU?% KUW ? hereby amended, so that said sec>n when amended shall read as folws: Section 939. The following persons, Idiers and sailors, now citizens of uth Carolina, who were in the ser3e of the State or of the Confederate ates in the late war between the utes, shall be entitled to receive >m the treasurer of the State a Dnthly payment of four, six and jht dollars, to be paid in the manr and on the terms and conditions reafter set forth. Section 2. That section 940 be amendSection 940. In order to obtain the nfit of ihis chapter, such soldier or ilor mkst show: First, that he was )ona fide soldier or sailor in the ser3e of the State of South Carolina or the Confederate States in the war tween the States; second, that while such service he has lost a leg or arm received any wound causing a per ment disability, incapacitating him r earning a livelihood; that neither mself nor his wife is receiving an 3ome exceeding the amount of $250 r annum: Provided, That the word some shall be held to include any lount received as wages, salary or >m any other source. And all such rsons shall receive as pensions $4 r mouth, to wit: All ex-Confederate Idiers and sailors,and the widows of ch soldiers and sailors, who are resints of this State, who have reached e age of (50 years and who are not 3eiving or enjoying the benefits o 1 annual income of $100 from any urce. .. (b) All ex-Confederate soldiers and ilors who are residents of this State H wlin liavfi lrvef. on? arm or one leer the said service, $6 per month(c) All ex-Confederate soldiers and ilors who are residents of this State d who have lost both arms, or both, fs, or who are physically helplMjfc all receive $8 per month. 3% . (d) All ex-Confederate soldiers and [lors, in addtion to said .pension, all be exempt from road or street ty or the payment of a commutam, road or street tax. 3ection 3. That section 950 of the rejed statutes of 1893 be amended so .'hat said section when so amended ' shall read as follows: Section 950. The State of South Carolina shall annually appropriate the I sum of $100,000, wnich shall be apportioned among the several counties in the proportion of the claims approved in such counties, and shall be dis- 1 tributed as hereinafter provided. Section 4. That section 951 of the revised statutes of 1893 be amended so that said section when so amended shall read as follows: , Section 951. On salesday in October in every year the surviving soldiers 1 and sailors who were in the service of < the (Confederate States,or of this State, in the late war between the States, re- . sidine in any county in this State, ' shall De authorized to meet in convention in the court house of such county ' at 11 o'clock a. m., or such hour thereafter on such days as will procure as large an attendance as may be , had, and organize by electing a chair- ' man on/1 cjrtr afifir wrii<?h thflV may elect by ballot two of their num- 1 ber, who shall receive a majority of the ballots cast in such election, who, ' together with the county auditor, the 1 county treasurer and a practicing physician, (the latter to be selected by the ! other members of the board) shall compose a board of pension commissioners for such county until the next ensuing election hereunder. After 1 first being duly sworn fairly and impartially to discharge the duties here- 1 in prescribed for them to the best of their ability, and filing such oath in clerk's office in such county, they shall meet as soon as practicable with the county examining board of pensions, and, with them, examine the pension roll for such county, and shall select therefrom such number of the most needy applicants as will be sufficient to consume the appropria- ; tion for such county, allowing to each applicant so elected the sum of three 1 dollars per month from such appropriation. In selecting such applicants for pension the said board shall have regard to their physical condition and financial means, and also to the financial condition of their near relatives, and shall in-^vArr instance select the most helpless 2nd needy applicants for aid that can, in their judgment, be found upon the pension roll. A majority of the members present composing the two bai'1 boards shall be i necessary to determine any matter presented to them, and a majority of : each board shall be necessary to form said joint board. As soon as such . board completes its list as aboye they ! shall certify the same to the clerk of , court for such county, who shall rec- , ord the same in a list to be designated . "Approved pension roll for 18?" and J shall certify such list to the secretary of state, and such persons shall con- < stitute the pension roll entitled to re- 1 ceive the aid herein provided foi the 1 ensuing fiscal year. If from any cause the meeting herein provided for : should not be held en salesday in Oc- ] tober in any year, the same may be < held on salesday in November follow- 1 ing, and the action of -uch meeting1; shall be as valid as if held in October. Said board, or a majority of them, are < to decide all questions relating to pen- : sions in their respective counties, sub- ; ject, however, to the right of review i by the State board. The compensation of the two veterans and the physician < shall be three dollars for each day's i service. < HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. J The following bills were then or- ' dered to a third reading without dis- ! sent: Mr. Garris' bill to fix the rate for ( the transportation of passengers by , railroad companies in this State. ( Mr. Otts' bill to require railroads in , this State to provide separate first , class coaches for the accommodation j of white and colored passengers. I Mr. Miles' bill to regulate the issu- j ing of checks, scrip and due bills to j laborers and wage workers. The bill relating to the severance of ' Claflin college from Claflin university , and the establishment of a normal, in- ' dustrial, agricultural and mechanical r?nllAor? fnrfhfl rnlnred race. vv^v&w -w. ; , When the second reading bills were 1 reached at the request of Mr. Goodwin the bill relating to school claims ' was taken up out of its regular order. 1 The bill was ordered to a third read- 1 ing without any trouble. It permits 1 the county treasurer, supervisor and ( school commissioners of all the coun- j ties save seven or eight which are ' mentioned, to borrow money to pay J school claims. AS TO LABOR CONTRACTS. j Mr. Thurmond's bill to amend the i law so as to increase the penaltv for i the violation of agricultural labor t contracts, giving jurisdiction to the ] courts of sessions, was then taken up. < Mi\ Thurmond said that at present the { riAnfllfw was tnn lifrht. He thoUffht if i laborers left their employers inbusy { seasons they should be punished- If \ a few of them were put on the chain \ gang it would have a good effect. He j said the present penalty of 30 days had i no effect. < Mr. Breazeale thought that the pas- < sage of this bill would mean giving ? the strong power to oppress the weak. ] He moved to indefinifely postpone ( the bill, and Mr. Thurmond demanded t the roll call on this. The bill was indefinitely postponed by a vote of 74 to j 18. , WORK OP RAILWAY EMPLOYES. v Mr. Iiast's bill to regulate the hours t of labor of trainmen on railroads in this State and to provide for the viola- c tion of thi same was call up, and Mr. i Manning wanted it to go over, saying \ hft thought thev had enoueh railroad 1 talk the preceding day to last for i f spell. He said the railroad men had r been before the committee, and the f bill would do no good. After a lengthy debate the bill was e passed to its third reading in tbefol- a lowing shape: a Section 1. That from and after the e passage of this act it shall be unlaw- c ful for any railroad doing business c this State to require or permit its em- fi ployes, who are engaged in the busi- b ness of operating its train over its e roads, to make runs of over thirteen n | hours, or make runs aggregating more o than thirteen hours in twenty-four b hours, except when such trains is detained by reason of casualty or other cause, from reaching its destination on ^coedule time, and no trainman, S 1 after having been on a run or runs v for as much as thirteen hours out of v twenty-four hours, shall'be required o -tb again go on duty until after ten v hours' rest, except in case abc ve stated. P No employe of any railroad company P shall be deprived of his right to recover I" damages for personal injury by rea- a son of the fact that he, at the time of c such injury, was making a run of d more than thirteen hours, or making b [CONTINUED ON PAGE EOUR. 1 il rHE ACREAGE OF COTTON. J| .ATHAM, ALEXANDER & CO. ADVISE 1 CONTINUANCE OF ITS REDUCTION. A 1 interesting Circular from that Ludio{ Cotton Firm?They Endome Heartily and j In Toto the Resolutions of the Memphis ' New \ork, Feb. 3.?Latham, Alex- j ander & Co. have issued the following i We have the pleasure to submit for .^Jsj your information the* followiaficoitt- J parative position of cotton antPpricar on January 31st for ttte past toiif Total visible supply in United a ij States, Europe and at sea?1896 3,- 3 jJB 949,258; 1895, 4,943,539; 1894, 4 581, % Hfl 350; 1893, 4,320,094. ' ' ' : dftfl xotf*, ; iw?, 2,779,533. Stock in United States port*?1898, ~ ;'2Qm 989,500; 1895, 1,048,281; 1894, * Tllfc il 530; 1893,1,069,923. Stock in Liverpool (all kind^~1896,|Ksg8M 1,103,000; 1895,1,569,000; 189&Uyff,-B|SsH 000; 1893; 1,645,000. ' I MM Afloat for Europe (Atneri(mft^jH%^P^H 386,000:1895, 692,000- 1894,TH?J^SM 1893. 283,000. Middling uplands in New 1896, 8 l-4c; 1895, 5 5-8c: 1893. 9 7-16c. M' -iSPi Middling uplands in LivaN^B^ jKQQH 1896, 4 5 8d; 1895, 2 32-12d: -SSL.4 3a??l l-4d; 1893, 5 1 8d. From this Statement, the ble supply of cotton in the 994,281 bales less than last (Zd Daies less inan in 1894, ancT3llf*WfflH B36 bales less than in 1893. BzHN The exports this year are 1,869^)75 fl bales less than last year, 783,590 bales ,r?HB less than m 1894, and 22,900 bales leesthan in 1893. % The stock in United States ports 58,781 bales less than last year, 1x9,030 bales less than in 1894,, and 80,458 , ; bales less than in 1893. The following was the price of cot- . > ton for future delivery, in New York, J* basis middling, on Jan. 31st ofefeofc . f ^ 1896. 1895. 1894. 1893. February 7.95 5.46 7.-76 ?23 March ....7.99 5.5tf 7 82 9.34 "^ 1 A.pril 8.03 5.54 7.89 9.43 May 8.08 5.58 7.96 9.62 June 8.10 5.61 8.03 9.58 'M July ..8.13 5.65 8.07 9.62 August 8.11 5.69 8.11 9.64 / September .7.74 5.74-7.98 9,42 The price of cotton is now 2.49 cents learer than last year, 0.17 cents 'dear- ; V-S sr than in 1894, and4*35 cents chet]K~ipnfl| sr than in 1893 for March contracts. The ^amount of cotton that has been r|8 marketed from September 1st, (five . :js months) for the cotton years mentioned below, was as follows: 1896, 5,550,- >'%j 599: 1895, 8,014,470; 1894, 6,254,172; 'MgM 1893,5,356,207. '~m The amount, therefore, that hajL lome into sight this year to February 1st is 2,463,871 bales less than last nno PTO u.l? l J.1 ?- < year, #vo,u/o unices iias man in xovs, jfi&Sl md 194,392 bales more than in 1893. ? The average percentage of the total ^ srop marketed by February 1st for vxJg the past ten yean has been 82.10 par :ent., and if the 5,550,599 bales that ':^%a -f lias come into sight to February 1st ; p should prove to be 82.10 per cent, of . 'V ] this crop, the actual total crop for r'M\ 1895-96 would'be 6,760,778 bales. We cannot commend too emphati- " jally the action of the Cotton Grow3rs' Association of America recently <3 convened at Memphis, Tennessee, and we wish it were in our power to com- CJ| pel every cotton planter of the South to read carefully the address issued by V;j that convention and lay its valuable wS truths to heart We have written on . this same line most urgently for Our interest in the South and the . 3outhern people is genuine, and-we lave endeavored to show to tne plant- ^ jrs of the South what was indisputably to their best interests. . _ Under date of November 2fld, 1892, ^ we issued a circular to the planters of rr the South, and what we said- in that pap er we had substantially written re- i peatedly before and have written fre- : luently since; hence, we can say nothing new at this time in support of the address issued by the convention it Memphis on January 21st The' South has a virtual monopoly in the production of cotton, and there 4, is no reason why this incalculable ad- ;.\vf| vantage should not be turned to the jj fast enrichment of that section. Any ' such good result, however, will never . -*|jj -vn Mali'70^ OA Inncr oa Araimwv^iiAh'nn ft )f the staple threatens the world, and : hereby hangs a weight to the market : 'Wk ralue of cotton. Ia other words, if .he cotton planters of the South insist lpon making more cotton than the i world has any use for, the surplus will a /i| nvariably make the price tor the y-'JM whole supply, and thereby depregi?te ^ .he value or the unnecessarily large jrop below the value of the reasonable M small crop, and the planter will fipd "'p limself at the end of each crop season . ;$8 >ut his labor and his pains without . . / |J The importance of this matter can- I lot be exaggerated, for the whole fi- | laucial welfare of the South depends | lpon remunerative prices for the cotEvery banker and merchant through ? ;|S >ut the cotton region should feel it his | jersonal duty to reason and argue raj vith all the cotton planters with whom le has relations, persuading them if pa ?|g >ossible to keep the cotton crop of r iext year within the probable demand There should be a protest from very town and hamlet in the South .gainst any increase of the cotton creage next year. If the cotton plantrs will listen to such appeals remuLerative prices for the cotton they do I|g9toj| nake will be guaranteed by the in- ? J| lexible laws of supply and demand; | -a ?Uc,n mey-jjisisi ugjuu Luatwug auuiu- -w?i r 9,000,000 or 10,000,000 bales crop SB ./* text year, they may look for ?. ruin- - 'M us return to five cent cotton and fcSjj ^ Saved by the Paper. ?t-|| 1 Nashville, Tenn., Feb. 4.?State lenator L. B. Morgan of Tullahoma p&jajqE ?as shot today by Henry Holder, and | ras saved from being killed by a copy f the Atlanta Constitution, whicn 7as folded in the senator's left breast socket. The ball passed, through the aper and grazed the skin. Moigan is eading counsel for defense in the case gainst Holt, Gunn and Gibson harged with conspiracy and the murer of Laporte Dicicson. Holder is a rother-in-law of the murdered man. 'he shooting arose over feeling aroused a the case.