The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, February 10, 1897, Image 9
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rini r * T
inej'ress ana Banner.
BYHUGH WILSON.
4HBUV1LLE,
THE SENATE AT WORK.
SEVERAL BILLS PASSED AND MANY
others induced.
A N?w Dispensary 11111 Introduced by Senator
May Held?A Number of Othar Bills
Passed and Head?The Senate Well Up
With Its Work.
Columbia, S- C\ Feb. 5.?The Senate
met Tuesday night at 8 o'clock.
The usual routine business at the opening
was disposed of and the third
reading bills on the calendar were
reached when it was discovered that
one of the assistant clerks was absent
with the key to the desk in which
* " " 1
were locltea an toe paj srs 01 mo uuate,
including the bills. Under thece
circumstances there was nothing to
do but to adjourn. This the senate
did until 11 o'clock Wednesday.
When the senate met Wednesday
morning the question of the introduction
of bills was reopened by Senator
Moses offering a resolution to extend
the time to the 13th inst. His resolution
passed without comment, but
soon thereafter Mr. Henderson moved
a reconsideration, saying that it was
time for this tody to be looking toward
an adjournment. Bills if necessary
could be introduced through
the committees.
Mr.- Moses explained that he ssw no
necessity or reason for shutting out
the introduction of bills from the
floor when they could be gotten befoi 3
the senate througn the committees. It
was as well to let the author father
the bill as a committe. And further,
this talk of adjourning by the middle
of February was out of the question.
If every bill was in, declared Senator
* i -j 1 _
Moses, an adjournment couia noi oe
reached by that time. He then point
ed out that tl:e supply bill and the appropriation
bill haa not been touched
in the house and predicted that the
work of the body would not be finished
before the 1st of March.
Mr. Henderson 'said that an example
should be set in this matter. It
should be shown that the senate was
up with its work and was waiting on
' the house. His motion to reconsider
tfeen prevailed by a vote of 23 to 8.
Saturday, the sixth inst., was then
? fixed as tiie last day for the introduction
of new bills.
When Mr. Suddath's bill to repeal
the act against nepotism in the appointment
of clerks and inferior offi
cers by the heads of departments
came up for a second reauing, Mr.
Archer moved that the unfavorable
report of the committee be adopted.
Mr. Suddath gave as his reasons for
introducing the bill that under the
amt law he thought unnecessary
ships were imposed upon the
he^ds of , departments. These men
were elected to offices of trust and
they wanted clerks of whose honesty
there was no doubt and in whom reliance
could be placed. If relatives of
the officers were capable of filling
these positions, tben he could see no
objection to having them appointed.
The bill, he explained, appliea only to
State officersThe
unfavorable report was adopted
by a vote of 23 to 8 and the bill killed.
A house bill to require coun*y officers
to keep an itemized account of
their income by virtue of th?it office
and to require them to make an annual
report of the same to the county
supervisor and further to keep an open
record of such account subject to inspection
by citizens of said county was
reached in due time among the second
reading bills.
Mr Mower moved tne enacting
words be stricken out.
Mr. Dean said there was a demand
from the people for such a measure.
They wanted to know what their
county officers were getting and in the
case of those who received fees ihis
was lmpossioie.
Mr. Mower explained that he made
his motion to strike out the enacting
words because the salaries of the ofli
cers were fixed by law, as were the
fees. In the case of officers with
fixed salaries every 'one knew
what thoca salaries were. In
the case of the officers who
got fees, such fees were fixed by law
and the presumption was that they
were fixed upon the value of the ser
vices rendered.
Mr. Moses failed to see the necessity
of changing the present system which
had given satisfaction for the last
century.
Messrs. Buist, Archer and Gaines
spoke in favor of the bill and Mr.
MayfieltLagainst it.
Mr. Dean moved to table the motion
to strike out the enacting words. His
motion prevailed by a vote of 27 to 6.
A message fiom the governor was
received whifh recommended that the
claims of T. J. Mackey be considered
favorably. This was referred to the
Judiciary committee.
The Senate after passing several
bills of no general intereft to a third
reading, adjourned over to Thursday.
II ^n the Senate on Thursday a number
of new bills were presented, the
majority being similar to the House
bills. Those of general interest are
noted below- The special order after
the reading of new bills was the creation
of Dorchester County. There
were both a majority and minority
report. Both were laid over.
Mr. Mower then called up his magis
tiates' bill, in order to have incorporated
the various amendments, and
he gave noticeof calling it up for final
disposition today. There ]was some
sharp discussion on the motion to reconsider
the vote whereby the bill
witn amendments was ordered printed.
Economy was urged, but the Senate
thought best to print it and refused to
reconsider the vote.
Mr. Archer introduced a joint reso.
lution to have a committee of both
Houses appointed to see if the provisions
of the Act regulating the public
pointing had been carried out. It was
taken up by the house, and Mr, Archer
explained that the provisions limited
the amount of matter in State officers'
reports. As an instance of irrelevant
and extravagant matter, he
referred to the report of the Superin
ten dent of Education, which, he said,
gave free advertising to a lot of private
schools. The resolution was
passed.
The House bill, to require clerks,
sheriffs, &c., to keep an itemized
statement of heir income from fees,
was amended so as to except Barnwell,
Berkeley, Sumter, Lexington
and Newtarry, and was passed to a
third reading.
The following bills passed:
To change the time for the appointment
of school trustees in the several
Counties of the State.
To amend Section 2 of an Act entitled
"An Act to regulate the dieting
of all pri.Dners before and after conviction
when in the custody of tbe
Supervisors and Sheriffs of this State,"
approvid the 9chday of March, A. D.
1896.
A hill to reouire certain officers to
keep an itemized account of their income
by virtue of their office, aad to
require them to make ao annual report
of the same to the County Supervisor.
A joint resolution to authorize and
requite the Directors of the State Penitentiary
to furn'sh to the trustees of
Winthrop Normal and Industrial College
fifteen convicts.
Mr. May^eld introduced a bill disposing
of the Dispensary and substituting
prohibition and local option.
In substance it is as fellows: It forbids
the importation, manufacture and
sale of alcoholic liquors except for
sacramental, scientific and medicinal
purpeses. It allows importation by
licensed druggists, to be sold only on
order of reputable physicians, selected
by the medical fraternity, and located
at. thfl Cnuntv seats, whose names
shall be certified to by the Clerk of
the Court and published for sixty days
in County newspaper, liquors to be
sold in no less quan^i ies than halfpint
packages and under the same restrictions
as now in force under the
Dispensary law. Any other person
importing liquors or selling in any
other manner than the one provided
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor
and fined not less than $99 or
imprisoned in the County jail for not
less than twenty-nine days for each
offense. Local option is provided
uoon written application of one-fourth
* * i - -i. _ e ?
ot ine quailneu eieciora in ?u,y vuuuty
asking for 4n election, which shall
be held in tne same manner as other
elections. If the sale is allowed by a
majority vote it shall be sold by officers
appointed by the County Board
of Commissioners and municipal authorities,
or be sold under licenses
granted by the Secretary of State on
approved aDplications secured by bond
for the faithful observance of the law,
and on this question the vote shall be
"By officers" or "Under license." The
parties selling liquor under license
sha^l be approved of by the County
Board of Commissioners and municip
al authorities of' the place where the
sales are to be made. The County
Board shall fix a fee which shall be
paid in advance and divided between
the County and Municipality. Applicants
shall make full declaration of
capital proposed to be invested, etc.,
and the County Board shall approve
or disapprove the application. Bond
to the amount of double the capital
1 1 *- t-~l 1
stiaii D6 given, juiquurs smtu ud purchased
at actual cost from the County
Dispensaries until their stock is exhausted,
then from the State Dispensary
until its stock is exhausted.
These institutions shall be closed as
rapidly as practicable. Purchases
may then be made as provided by the
Privilege Tax Act from other parties.
Original packages are to be divided
into smaller packages containing not
lees than one half pint. Adulteration
is forbidden. Only cash transactions
are allowed. The names of all purchasers
shall be taken as in the Dispensary
at present. In case the election
shall be in favor of the sale by
officers the Board of Oounty Commissioners
and the Municipalities shall
select the men and fix their salaries,
fix their bond and prescribe the rules
under which it is to be sold. They
shall also decide the amount of capital
to be invested and share the profits
as they may agree. The Privilege
Tax shall be at the rate of 40 p9r cent,
of the purchase pries, and shall be
paid into the State Treasury. ?his
Privilege Tax shall be added to the
cost of all 'liquors bought from
County and State Dispensaries. It
shall be kept by the 8tate Treasurer
for the benefit of the public
schools. Secretary of State shall provide
the tax lables and they shall
Vu> affiwH tn oil r?anlrair<*?. Liauor
manufactured in the State is subject to
the same Privilege Tax, which must
be affixed before it is removed or
stored. Any liquor found without
such lable shall be liable to confiscation,
and half the proceeds of the sale
shall be turned into the State Treasury
for the public schools, the other to the
County Trasury for ordinary County
purposes. Authority to enforce this
Act is given to the Sheriffs and Municipal
officers. Sheriffs may be suspended
for failure to enforce it. The
Governor may suspend all authorities
ntrusted with the enforcement of
ithe Act, and appoint such others as
he may deem proper. All manufacturers
of alcholic liquors and beverages
in this State at the time this Act
goes into effect shall be registered
with the Secretary of State and a full
exhibit of the business made. For
this reeistartion an annual fee of $25
is charged and no others shall be allowed
to be established except as they
-nrr^U 4-Ul'o lom QUO li/>OI1fiArl
\J\JU1UIJ VY IbU LULIO XCk ty uuu maw 4?ywuwv%?
by the Secretary of State. For such
license an annual fee of $25 is charged.
Mr Mayfield introduced another bill
in regard to the control of the whisky
traffic. It provides for the payment
by all persons or firms or corporations
transporting liquors in this State of a
privilege tax. The Senate then adjourned
over to Friday.
Mr. Slbbley of Pennsylnanla.
Hon. Joseph C. Sibley, of Pennsylbania,
advises his Democratic friends
in congress to make no captious opposition
to the passage of a tariff bill
such as the Republicans desire. He
says if the Republicans can bring
about prosperity, nobody need object,
and they should have a fair
iriai. He is a free coinage man, but
would welcome prosperity in any
shape and by any political party. He
says, however, that "if- the present
conditions continue Mr. Bryan will
be nominated for president by acclamation
by the Democratic party in
1900 and triumphantly elected. On
the other hand, if times are good, the
Democratic nomination and all other
nominations except that of the Republican
party will be but empty honor."
A Florida Vendetta.
Tampa, Fla , Feb- 4?Bud Stevenson
was shot five times and instantly
killed Wednesday morning, while at
work in his field near Hudson, in Pasco
County. Three years ago last July
W. E. Whitehurst was killed at Tarpon
Springs, five miles from there,
and it was believed Stevenson did the
killing. Although he came clear on
trial in this county the killing of Stevenson
is thought to be the result of
this feud.
\
"" WORK OF THE HOUSE.
THE MEMBERS KNUCKLES DOWN TO
BUSINESS.
luu uuuuiy ui uioouvruuu * wtiu?w?
New Bills Introduced and Some Few
Paused.?The Redisricting Bill Postponed
for a Year.
Columbia, S. C., Feb. 6.?There
was no session of the Senate Tuesday
morning: and the House was only in
sess:on two hours. The attendance
was very slim, and it was almost impossible
to keep a quorum, there being
so many members absent on leave
of absence. The two hour session was
devoted to the consideration of new
county matters almost entirely, and
the House indicated its purpose to
pass bills establishing new counties in
accordance with the term3 of the elections
held, and not hampering the new
counties with unexpected provisions:
Among the new bills introduced
was one by Mr. Haselden to force the
railroads to obev the interstate comInn*
amsI ? V? r* JaAMAO rtf fVl P
uicrvu low auu i>uc uuwiwvu v& w?v
United States Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Mr. Thomas introduced a bill providing
for a department of banking.
Several bills of this kind have been
introduced during this section.
Mr. Garvis has introduced a bill to
prohibit Greek letter fraternities or
any organization of like nature in State
institutions of learning. It is claimed
that these societies make students
clanish and interfere materially with
the discipline of the said institutions.
Mr. Johnson introduced a bill to
amend section 2537 of the revised
statutes of 1893 regulating the fees and
costs of clerks of court. The bill proposes
to limit the amount of fees and
coats of clerks of court. The bill proposes
to limit the amount of fees received
by any one acting both as clerk
and register of mesne conveyance to
$3,000, directing that all amounts in
excess of those figures be covered into
the treasury.
Mr. Graham introduced a concurrent
resolution to allow a bill to be
introduced to renew the charter of the
Cokesbury conference school. Mr.
Graham explained that the secretary
of state could not grant the charter.
The house unanimously adopted the
resolution.
A substitute bill was presented by
the committee for the bill to supplv
school bcoks to children at cost. The
original bill was accordingly tabled.
The substitute bill reads as follows:
The substitute proposes to establish a
perpetual fund of $500 in every county
for the purpose of providing pupils
with text books at actual cost. For
the just accounting for said fund the
superintendent of education shall be
responsible on his official bond.
TKtt hAnoa 4Vtan in^ioatni) a dpfllFA
for antarly adjournment. Mr. Rainsford's
concurrent resolution fixing
Feb. 13 as the day of final adjournment
was called up in his absence.
Sir. Burns, saying that as there was
yet important legislation to be attend?
ed to, moved to indefinitely postpone
the bill. On the vote it appeared to
the speaker that the "noes had it." A
division was called for and the first
half "of the vote indicated that the
"noes" again had it. In the midst of
th? Toffl. nowBvftr. Mr. Bacot called
attention to the fact that Mr. Rainsford
was absent and the resolution
went over for consideration.
The House had granted several
leaves of absence when Mr. Caughman
of Saluda suggested that if the leaves
were granted without consideration to
numbers a quorum may be broken.
He suggested that further leave of absence
be only granted for sickness of
members or in their families. There
were no further requests and the motion
was not pressed.
The House consumed much time in
the consideration of the bill toestab
i- rt
H8Q me new county 01 ureeuwuuu.
The new county had a clear track; it
had been carried by an overwheiming
vote, the committee reports were all
favorable and so the bill had easy
sailing. It provided for the creation
of the county, the area of the county,
the appointment of commissioners,
* - * " - 1 iL.
ine location 01 lis pomng pi&uea, we
bond of its officers, the 1;ime for holding
court, the approval of bonds, the
making of juries and such machinery
as is required for the starting of a new
county.
The substitute bill for Mr. Lofton's
bill to amend the county government
law was taken up. It related to
roads, bridges, etc. Several amendments
were sent up, before they could
be acted upon the hour for recess arrived
and the house receded from busmess
until 7:33 p. m.
At we mgnt session mo uisuouaai v
committee asked for a clerk. Mr.
Kinard wanted to refuse the request,
if the clerk was to be paid, as suggested
by Mr. Magill. Mr. Yeldell did
not think the duties of the committee
were so onerous as to require the services
of a clerk. Mr. Ashley moved to
table the amendment. Carried.
Mr. Lofton's bill relating to road
tax and the number of days' work on
the roads was then taken up again
and a large number of amendments
were made. The commutation tax
was decreased to $1 in many counties.
This bill as it passed will be published
later on.
Mr. Lofton said tnat he scarcely recognized
his own bill. Mr. Goodwin
explained that the changes made did
not affect Charleston. The bill was
then ordered to a third reading.
Mr. Goodwin's bill to apportion the
read fund derived from the county
levy was then taken up and passed to
a third reading. The bill provides
that the county board ot commissioners
of the several counties of the State
where there is a levy on real and personal
property for road purposes, not
later than the first of March each year,
shall apportion the road fund to each
township upon an equitable basis,
having due consideration for the miles
of road to be worked and the number
of bridges to be kept in repair. The
road fund so apportioned shall be expended
in doing all necessary work
upon the public high way sand in open
ing new roads when directed, and in
building and in keeping in repair all
bridges that do not exceed 12 feet in
length, by the road overseers, under
the direction of the cou.nty board of
commirsioners, subject to the general
supervision and approval of the county
board of commissioners:
Mr. Winkler spoke against Mr. Bacot's
concurrent resolution to appoint
a joint committee to report to the next
secsion of the general assembly what
legislation, if any, is necessary under
the Constitution of 1895{ saying he
could not see the necessity for the
measure. The judiciary committee
was sufficient to handle all matters.
Mr. Patton said this was not a committee
to pass upon the constitutionality
of measures presented, but it was to
? * " ? ^ 1~ Immbm i U ft Of n ri v?nofia/J
review LUC Jitwa \Jl tuc uuaiu c?3
in the light of the new Constitution,
making them effective and complete. 1
The Constitution had limited the 1
power of the legislature in many re- 1
SDects. Mr. Caughma:i was opposed
to the resolution. There was much
moire discussion. Mr. Magill said b e
couldn't see why there was so much
talk over such a harmless question; i
the resolution merely proposed to do :
something that should have been done
Ion,j ago. The resolution was finally
adopted. \ !
Mir. Rainsford's concurrent resolution
requiring the directors of the
Btalie penitentiary to ascertain the pro- 1
priety of erecting in connection with <
fha nanifantiaixr a rklorvh fni" <>rtnvAff.
WUV ^VUIWUVIM&J M |/AMUW JiV* W>#** T V*
ing phosphate rock into acid pho3- 1
phate and report to the next session
of the general assembly, was ordered
to a third reading without debate. 1
Mr. Rainsford's bill to provide com- i
pensation for the members of the
boards of,township commissioners and
chairman of said boards while serving
as members of the county boards of 1
commissioners was then taken up, '
and after some discussion, was ordered
to a third reading. The bill provides 1
that the members of the board of town- 1
ship commissioners shall each receive 1
as compensation for his services the 1
sum of $1 per day, iiot exceeding five ;
days, and mileage at 5 cents a mile,
not to exceed 100 miles in any one <
year, and the chairman of said board i
tne sum of $1.50 par day and same
mileage as other members of township :
boards, and $1.50 per day and mileage
at 5 cents per mile in the most direct
route one way from his home to the 1
court house when attending upon the meetings
of the county board of commissioners,
when the said county 1
board'is not sitting as a board of equa- 1
lization: Members o f the county board 1
of commissioners shall receive mile- :
age at six differnt meetings in each 1
year, and no more:
Mr. Winaler's bill to exempt soldiers
and sailors in the service of the 1
State of South Carolina, or of the
Confederate States i;a the war between
the States, from taki ng out the license
as hawker and txddler required by
chapter XLIII., VoJ. 1, Revised Stat- ,
uteii 1893 of Souih Carolina was called
up and passed to a tliird reading. The
bill provides that any person who was >
a bona fide soldier or sailor in the
service of the State of South Carolina 1
or of the Confederate States in the j
war between the States may expose '
for sale or sell, ?s hawker or peddler, ]
any goods, wires o r merchandise in j
any county in this State, without i
taking out the license required by
nhantAP XLTIL. volume 1. revised 1
statistics, 1893, of Souih Carolina;
provided, he makes to the cleik of the '
court of common picas of the county
in which such goods are to be sold i
satisfactory proof that the was such *
soldier or sailor.
The House then adjourned over to
"W ednesday. , i
In the House on Wednesday only '
three bills was introduced and none J
of them were of any special interest.
The following bills passed their third 1
reading anil were sent to the Senate: 1
Bill to amend the Act regarding peddlers
licenses, the Greenwood County ?
bill, bill relating to the county gov- ]
ernment law so far as the road tax is
concerned, bill to apportion the road 1
fund derived from the county levy, <
bill to require all the county officers <
of the State to keep their offices open 1
fiiirinc certain hours each week dav. '
the oyster and terrapin bill. 1
The House then got down to second
reading bills and the real business
of the day.
Mr. Rainsiord's insurance deposit
bill was taken up, being a special order
and Mr. John P. Thomas, Jr.,
offered a substitute which requires
anv insurance comiianv or association '
to t)8 possesse i of $100,000 cash capital,
or in lieu thereof, to have $100,000
on dedosi; with some State for the
benefit of all policy holders, or in
lieu thereof to deposit with the treasurer
of this State valid securities aggregating
$10,000, said securities to
be subject to any judgment aguinst
said company, and such judgments
shall operate as a lien on such securities,
and providing a penalty for the
violation of the provisions of thi9
State.
Mr. Ilderton's bill to exempt certain
sections in Florence County from the
operations of the general stock law ;
was taken up and passed to third <
reading.
Mr. Sullivan's bill providing punishment
for laborers who violated <
either written or verbal contracts af- 1
ter having received supplies from his 1
landlord was taken up and pansod to |
a third reading. The bill provides j
that any laborer working on shares
of crop or for wages in money or other 1
valuable consideration under a verbal ]
or written contract to labor on farm '
tttV?a aVloll VO/)aitrO Q/^tTQ HPPQ
XOUUflf TTUV tSUHXA AVVWtf V MV? ( M.MWWW
either in money or supplies and thereafter
willfully and without just cnusa
fail to perform the reasonable service
required of him by the terms of the
said contract, shall be liable to prose cution
for a misdemeanor, and on.
conviction shall be punished for not.
less than 20 days nor more than 30
days, or to be fined in the sum of not
less inan $25 nor more than $50 in the
disci-etion of the court.
The Senate bill to amend and re-enact
the act to incorporate the South
Carolina and Augusta railroad was;
ordered to a third reading without de
bate; so was the ijgnate claim of commissioners
and managers of e'ection
of Darlington count]'.
Mr. Bacot's bill to regulate the ap
pointment to receivers by the courts;
of this State in causes therein was;
taken up. The main features of this bill
have already been published'. Without
material changes the bill wan ordered
to a third reading.
Mr. Ashley's bill reducing the privilege
tax on fertilizers from 25 to 1
cent per ton was then called up, hning
a special order.
Mr. McWhite moved to strike out
the enacting words of the bill.
Mr. Blythe was against the bill.
He detailed the many reasons why
this tax should be retained. Clemson
only asked to be allowed to continue
to receive this tax and wanted no other
appropriation. The question as to
the amount and disposition of this tax
had been settled in 1890. Before
Clemson todk charge of this tax it
really amounted to nothing. It went
to support the farmers' college. He
quoted the figures showing a large increase.
He made quite an earnest
argument. To take away this tax from
Clemson would throw the college
back into politics. He doubted if the
farmers paid the tax. When it was;
put on, it did not incpoase the cost per
ton of fertilizers. At least farmers
had so informed him. They were
threatened with an increase of tax
ation now and it would be most unwise
to pass this bill.
Mr. Ashley supported this measure.
Th 13 was a tax, he said, on the agricultural
classes only. Georgia farmers
could purchase fertilizers cheaper.
At Clemson it was not alone the farmer's
son who was educated. The
farmer was the worst imposed upon
and hardest worked man on the face
of the globe today. Clemson was not
a college for the farming class only.
He did not wish the farmers of Geor
gia to have any advantage over the
South Carolina farmers.
Mr. Crum said the object of the tax
was to protect the people from fraud.
This bill would not raise enough to
Bven pay for the chemicals necessary
for the analyses. He wanted the tax
continued. ?Mr.
llderton was in favor of the
bill and against the privilege tax for
Clemson. He said that the college
should be maintained out of the general
tax fund.
Mr. Mauldin was in favor of the
Kill TT a /1i/1 nAf T*ra n f ninmoAn ttun.
UUAt JUkU UiU ilUk TV All u VIOUUUU OUU"
ported by one class. He did not wish
the poor woman who ran a farm and
who was unable to send her children
to school to pay a tax to educate the
sons of men who were able to send
them there. He Had respect for all
the State's college, but wanted "spec
ial privileges to none."
Mr. Verner wanted to clear up all
ioubt as to who paid this tax. The
farmers paid the tax.
Mr. Blythe called attention to the
fact that a large part of the fertilizers
was shipped out of the State.
Mr. omun or nampton maae nis
maiden effort spaaking at lengtn and
in an e&rnest manner. He did not
wish them to forget their promises to
the "poor old farmer." He wanted
all taxed alike. He could not bear
the idea of having promises made to
farmers only to be broken. He wanted
them to go ahead/ and get through.
" Give the poor old farmer a chance.
If you keep him in the harness between
the shafts all the time, applying
the lash he will finally have to
kick and he will kick you all out of
fVin ^ ^ 1 .1 *
bUU OLiaiM.
Mr. Goodwin of Laurens felt good
just now because he was one of "the
poor old farmers" so much pitied.
This thing was agitated all over the
State and the tax was voted by large
majorities. The farmers paid it every
cent it was true. Mr. Goodwin spoke
at some length against the bill. The
hour for adjournment bavins: arrived
the bill went over to be taken up
I A i. A.1 ! xl it
later, me evening session me sauine
was smooth until Mr. Thomas1
bill to provide for the return and assessment
of property was reached.
A.fter much discussion the bill passed
to a third reading.
A number of new bills of general
interest was introduced and referred,
rhe most important was the following:
J. P. Thomas?To amend the law
relating to alien land ownership, so
els to make the limit 5,000 instead of
500 acres.
Mr. Reynolds?To amend the gen
aral statutes so as to allow muuioipaities
to tax railroad side tracks.
Mr. Limehouse?To declare the law
as to mileage which is claimed by all
persons entitled'to mileage.
Mr. Goodwin?To prohibit individuals,
factories and corporations to
oblige laborers to work on Sunday,
sxcept on railroads in certain cases,
telegraph and telephone companies,
those handling United States mail and
and drug stores.
The bill to authorize and empower
the sheriff of Williamsburg county to
purchase and keep at the court house
ei pair of bloodhounds for .the purpose
sf tracking convicts and fugitive law
breakers.
The House then adjourned over to
rhursdav. 1
.When the House met Thursday Mr.
Winkler moved that hereafter the
Souse meet in the evening at 8 o'clock.
Mr. Einard said as the House had
been there so long and done so little
be thought it ought to meet at halfpast
7 and work until 10. After some
discussion it was decided that the
House meet at 8 o'clock.
Mr. Rainford's bill to provide compensation
for members of the County
Board of Township Commissioners
passed. The act provides that they
may sit eight days. All members to
receive $1 per day and Ave cents mileage.
The Chairman to get $1.50 per
day when acting as member of County
Board.
Mr. Ashley's privilege tax bill
same up next. As was to be
sxpected the bill opened the lloodgates
of pent up eloquence and it was literally
talked to death. After many
long winded arguments the bill was
killed by a vote of 71 to 35. So the
farmers will still pay 25 cents per ton
royalty on phosphates and the same
Drill on in tUomson College.
The emigrant's agent repealing act
next came up and was disposed of in
short order. It was killed by a de:isive
vote.
Gov. Evans veto message of the
sill to prevent the publication of
Jounty Treasurer's reports came up
is a sp2cial order. On a vote the
reto was sustained by a vDteof 92
0 3. So in future the reports
>f the County Treasurer will have to
3e published.
The vote as to the disposition of cerain
books in the State Library was
ilso sustained by a vote of 86 to 5. The
House then adjourned to 8 o'clck.
When the House reassembled at 8
j'clcck Mr. Patton's redisstricting bill
vas taken up. Mr. Patton addressed
he House on his bill. He had a large I
nap arranged under the Speaker's
lesk which in blue lines gave practi- j
:al demonstration of the present dis;ricts
and in red the districts as he proved
them. Mr. Patton spoke for
)ver an hour in advocacy of his bill
md held the attention of members
.hroughout, for his subject is one of
jreat interest to the oeoplenow and)
lereafter. Mr. Patton is a clear thinker
ind always expresses himself in such
1 way as to make his meaning understood,
and with the aid of the map he
nras enabled to give practical demons;rations
of his arguments, which evi
lently caught the attention and good
jpinion of members. Mr. Patton, in
ipeaking in favor of his bill, eaid that
ie thought this the most important
measure before or to come before the
Souse. He said he would like to have
;he unanimous vote of the House, believing
his bill one of so much importance
to the State.
Mr. Graham of Abbeville felt that
ihe bill was unnecessary. The bill is
x> take effect in 1898. There is no
Congressional election between now
md that and he saw no necessity for
the bill. As far as riv^^^^ung districts
are concerned, heaver saw a
candidate who was bothered by that.
He would swim it if necessary, no matter
how nigh it might be. However,
the people have not considered the
subject, and the whole thing should
be ventilated. But there is no necessity
for the bill at this session, and he
moved to continue it. This was lost
by a large vote, only thirty-five vote
1-u.K ah lavur ui iu
Mr. Winkler moved to adjourn the
debate until to-morrow. Mr. Harveymoved
to adjourn, but this too was
lost.
Mr. Patton called for the previous
question on the whole matter and Mr.
Ilderton said that ne did not think
"snap judgement" should be taken.
The Speaker said that there was no
"snap judgment" in the matter, but
the question was one that must be decided
in the regular order,' and the
chair had no discretion. Mr. Ilderi
i.u _:aj tv-. ??_i, u,,<
tuxi lucu wuuurow mo iciuain., uut
insisted that further time should be
taken for consideration.
Mr. Patton said that he had no objection
to further consideration of the
bill, but he did object to filibustering j
tactics. . '
Several parliamentary motions were
offered but finally a vote was taken on
the motion to indefinitely strike out
the enacting words, which was defeated
by 36 to 61 by the followng
vote:
Yeas?Hon. F. B. Gary, Speaker,
Ashley, Bethune, Carson, Cunningham,
Geo. W. Davis, Dukes, Edwards,
Eftrd, Epps, Fairey, Glenn,
0. P. Goodwin, J. S. Graham, Thos.
A. Graham, Hamilton, Harvey, Henderson,
llderton, Kennedy. Henry J.
Kinard, Lester, Magell, Miles, Joel
TT "VT511ai? Mr*.W hitia. Dot
en, Russell, Skinner, Simpkins, Speer,
Sturkie, Timmemian, Wolling Westmoreland,
Withers poon-^36.
Nays?All, Armstrong, Austell, Bacot,
Bailey, Banks, Bedon. Blythe,
Burns, Childs, Colcock. Crum, Cushmau.
Fox, Gadsden, Gage, Gssque,
H. P. Goodwin, Hiott, Sollis, Humphrey,
Johnson, Kibler, Lancaster,
Layton, Limehouse, L'rftoa, Mauldin,
Meares, Mehrten, J. E. Miller,
Mishoe, Mitchell, Moorer, McCullough,
McDaniel, Nettles,' Patton,
Perritt, Phillips, Pyler, Pollock,
Prince, Pyatt Reynolds, 8anders, Smkler,
J. R. Smith, E. D, Smith, Stevenson;
John P. Themas. jr , Verner,
Vincent, Whisonant, Wilson, Wingo,
Yeldell?61.
Mr. Cushman introduced a bill to
prohibit railroad corporations or companies
from employing any person
under the age of 18 years as night
telegraph operator. The penalty is
$100 to be collected >y the Railroad
commissioners.
The House then adjourned, to Friday.
' %
In the house of representatives yesterday
Mr. Patton's redisricting bill
came up again fftr further consideration
and was finally continued to the
nest session. ^
Misplaced Confidence.
The New York Evening Post is evidently
a viction of. misplaced confidence.
During the late Presidential
campaign it shouted itself to death
nearly for McKinley, and now it
mAAMft* Kimafolli/i anoo/?koa in
luuauo XUU VlIUQWUiiV O^wwwuvm u*
the senate of Messrs. Hoar, Chandler
and Allison are a scandalous, almost
a criminal, violation of political good
faith. If.they had dared to make such
speeches in the course|of the campaign
Bryan would have been elected. If
what they say and Aim at is true and
desirable, I ; in should hav6 been ,
elected. That Senator Hoar is a Bryanite
on the money issue he himself
confessed in hi? garrulous, senile way
when he said that all ^ho voted for
Bryan thought, of pourse, just as he
did ahnnt himfltalliam. To noint to
the international conference clause
of the Republican platform is beside
the mark. That clause was swept*
overboard in the very first rush of the
free silver storm. It played no part in
the canvass except to serve as the butt
of Bryan's ridicule. Bimetallism of
all sorts dropped completely out of
sight in the Republican arguments,
and if there was ever anything to
which any party stood soiemxuy
pledged and bound, it is the maintenance
of the gold standard, without alteration
or addition, by the Republican
party. On* that issue the entire
battle was fought, contributions asked,
sound money co-operation from all
sides invited, the business world appealed
to. The gold standard, unchanged
and undiluted, was what the
Rebpublican party said it was for,
what the majority voted it into power
to defend and pernetuate. xne spectacle,
therefore, of Rspublicanjsenators
leaping again into the free silver
slough, as if nothing had happened
since they were last in that quagmire,
is one nDtonlyof unprecedented folly,
but of unparalleled baseness. It
is a shameless betrayal of political
trust. What are the sound money
Republicans of the house goine to do
about it? What has Speaker/Reed to
say? Will they join Senator Hoar in
confessing that they were cheats and
hypocrites all through the canvass,
and that they really believed in Bryan's
principles, though voting and
speaking for McKinley?"
Lynched for His Impudence.
Bowling Geen, Ky., Feb. 4.?Robert
Morton, colored, was hanged
by a mob near Rockfield shortly after
midnight last night. It is said that
yesterday the negro, a son of a section
hand at Rockfield, wrote an insulting
and insinuating note to Miss Tommie
Johnson, a well-known young white
woman of Rockfield. Morton was
captured and taken to a house on the
Russellville pike and-put under guard.
About 12 o'clcck a party of men appeared
at the house, overpowered the
guards, took the prisoner awpy and
hanged him.
i
Certainly Converted.
Richburg, S. C., Feb. 3.?At Mount
Prospect church, near this place, Rev.
Thos. H. Laitch, the well-known
evangelist, is conducting a mid-winter
meeting. Although there is much
sickness among the people and the
weather most unfavorable immense
crowds gather at the hour for preaching.
One who had ordered five gallons
of whiskey for personal use was converted
and poured out the stuff.
Drowned Hor Bubo.
Wellsville, N. Y., Feb. 2.?Mark
Ellsworth, 25 years of age, and his
wife, of Genesee, Pa., a village ten
miles south of this place, were jailed
at Coudersport today, charged with
drowning their two months-old baby.
When charged with tile crime, Mrs.
Ellsworth confessed and implicated
the father. The mother says tnat cold
and hunger drove her to the awful
deed.
\
r
/:#M
CAPTURE OF A FIEND. |
HIS TRAIL OF BLOOD EXTENDS
ACROSS AUSTRALIA.
aucotouuu ainvxug iu oausiwivi?w?? jv
Remarkably Cool Villain?The Evidence Against
Him la Regarded as Concluslve.
San Francisco, Feb. 4.?George <
Edward Butler, alias Ashe, the xnnr- , 'iderer,
whose arrival on the ship Swan* s
hilda was so long expected, is now in J
San FranciAco jail. The Swanhilda
was sighted at 5:15 this morning coming
through the heads in tow of the .
tug Alice. The tug was to blow six ^
whistles as the signal asrreed upon if m
Butler was aboard, but detect!ver
waiting down the bay from Egg
wharf did not hear them and although
they knew the Swanhilda was coming
in-they did not know whether Butler f
wee am Vino nr? a -'VA/I lirrht 1;
** cmj uu uualut muuuvuaj w j-v?t ^sje
flashed oat through the darknon.^ :
This was another signal and the officers
knew their man was there.
The custom boat Hartley, which.
had been placed at the disposal of the
police, was boarded in haste by six do- '<:<%
tectives, four newspaper men and four .
revenue officers and the little yswal ' ij
steamed rapidly away to the Swanhilda,
which was met off Fort Point. $
The detectives remained concealed in , i
the cabin while the revenue officers ; <1
went on board the Swanhilda to see if . -':i
Butler had been put in irons. They
reported he was not and the detectives
went on board and Butler was pointed ' ?
out and in a second was handcuffed. <
He denied that he was Butler, bat WM_
positively identified by Detectives ' ^
McHattie and Conroy, who came hers " ^
from Australia for that puroose.
The captured murderer was taken a*i
viaom) 4ha TTovtlau WMn !Si
vu i#vcuu ?uv untMvj) nu*w ,v j
landed him at the wharf. The patrol \$
wagon was in waiting and he wa? r'(
whirled off to prison.
Although the arrest was a complete +%
surprise to the suspected man, he $
maintained remarkable coolness and
calmly puffed a oigarette as he went, v ';
ashore.
It was agreed that when the crew
lined up for inspection Captain BW W
zier was to slip in front of Butter. ^
When the police came on bcardand/^
the men lined up Butler was the second
man in line. Cant Fraziar. 1
stopped an instant in front of him and :
at the same time Sergeant Bonner of - j
a pistol. ^Butler's handVf^entup lie .]
a flash. Irons were slipped over his
wrists and one of the mostnoUfcto^' ;|
criminals of modern times'was a prisoner.
Desectives McHattie and Oonroy,
who knew Butler in Australia, J
Conroy having narrowly eecapedbe- ' I
in; one of his victims, wer? disguised ;
when they boarded tne Dwannutuu . na
When they charged Butler with the V
crimes attributed to him he profeoed\|3
entire ignorance and denied that hit
name Was Butler. On the Hartiqy^' on
the way to shore, the disguises /
were removed and still Butler pretend* .
ed not to know his captors.
The Australian officers are over- , j
joyed at the success of the outcome of.
the long and weary wait Extradition' fjj
papers have already^ been served and
unless something unforeseen happens, /;;.j
Butler and his custodians will nil for
Australia Saturday on the Monowai. \
When Jiis baggage was brought - \ '
ashore any amount of incriminating
evidence was found carefully packed
T-?- v-1 : ?1?
in inp uoiuugaigs?a puunuK^ayu w
Mrs. Weller, a pair of bluchers on
which were stamped the Weller name) r
two watches, a spectacle case ana
watch chains with a locket bearing
Lee Weller's name and a number <3
books on the fly leaves of which Tmn \J3
the names of Weller and his Wife and
many other articles recorded by the }
detectives as ' positively connecting <
him with the murdered sea captain ana
prospector. The detectivei are very
positive as to thejidentity of their prisoner
and scout any possibility of a ^
mistake.
The known victims of Frank Butler the
Australian murderer, it is said,
M 11 -1 v A
num bar fourteen, Jtiis trau 01 Diooa,
it is alleged, reaches from New South . T
Wales to the reefs of Western Australia,
where he is suspected of similar 1 ?.
deliberate murders. His method waa
to advertise in English and American .
papers for a partner to prospect rich
mineral districts. He stipulated that . !\
the in Ending victim should have a i
capital of $50. He received many responses
and whenever he took a comrade
into the wilderness to search for
gold he returned alone. As no one
knew of the ('partnership existing between
he and nis victims, Captain Lee
Weller and Ed Sorenson, their absence 77
excited much alarm. Butler had
sailed on the Swanhilda. The first
clue was discovered when the bodies
of Weller and Sorenson were found
by a shepherder. It appeared as {
though Butler had induced the men
to dig their own graves in a pretended
- ' ' ? iL. .!i
searcft lor goia, ior m me pn. uxojf
themselves had dug they were found
buried. Evidence was found pointing
to Butler as the murderer and he haa
assumed one of his victim's names, as
on the Swanhilda's papers was found
the name Uaptain i^ee w en?r. xuo
authorities in England were notified
and detectives started both from Australia
and England to meet him on'
his arrival at San Francisco. According
to these officers the list of Butler's
victim's is constantly increasing. He
is an Englishman aged 40 years.
- - .
Boss 11 anna Gets Left*
Columbus, 0., Feb. 3.?The friends
of Chairman Merk A. Hanna here today
admit that he will not be appointed
by Governor Bushnell to the
senate to succeed Senator Sherman.
It is reliably reported here that the v
governor has decided to appoit Lieu
tenant Governor A. W. Jones Youngstown
to the vancacy and that this action
is in accordance with the wishes
of the Foraker leaders. The agreement
is said to be that Gen. Jones
will not be a candidate for election to
the full term. This will give opportunity
for a battle royal between
Governor Bushnell and Chairman
Hanna this winter for election to the
full term.
Steamer Still Missing.
Halifax, N. S., Feb. 3.?The sealing
steamer Nimrod is still in the ice
off the Newfoundland coast, searching
for traces of the missing State of
Georgia, but the last message did not
indicate that any traces of the missing
liner have bsen found. The State of
Georgia is now more than a month
overdue from New Fairwater in the
Baltic, to Halifax, freight laden and
insured for ?8.000. She carried a crew
of theirty-one men, nearly all of
whom belonged in Aberdeen.
%
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