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TEXT BOOKS AT COST. ATTORNEY GENERAL GIVES OPINIOf ON THE NEW LAW. Matter la Optional?A County May Pui base Books or Not as It Chooses-A)>oc Reports of State Colleges. Columbia, April 2.?Concerning th act of the last legislature that provide for the furnishing of books at cos prices to the pupils of public schools a ornnd deal of doubt still exists in th minds of many persons. The following opinion by the assisl ant attorney general will elucidat9 thi lft w * Columbia, S. C., March 27,1807. Hon. W. D. May field, State Superin tendent Education. Dear Sir: The letter of Mr. L.L Copeland referred to this office ha haa due consideration. The question he asks is, "Is it op tional with the county board of educs tion as to the purchase of schoa books?" 1 (lio oof nf 1Q07 ia QC "fril OC^Ul/U A Wi ULXKJ MV/W VI AW *u .wiows: "That the county board of e<3 ucation of the several counties of thi State be, and they are hereby, authoi ized and empowered to set aside fron the public fund of their respectiv counties an amount not excecdinj $500 for the purpose of providing th pupils attending school with tex books at actual cost or exchang prices." It will be observed that the count; board is not required but simply au thorized to set aside the fund. Fron the language employed I am of th opinion that the county board has dis cretion in this matter, and can se aside such a fund, if in their judg ment, it is advisable. Yours very truly, C. P. Townsend, Assistant Attorney General. The sections of the school law whic] provides for books at cost and to whic] the above opinion applies reads as fo] lows: s Section 1. That the county board o education of the several counties o this State be, and they are hereby, au thorizsd and empowered to set asid from the public school funds of thei respective counties an amount not ex ceeding $500 for the purpose of provid ing the pupils attending the frea pub lie schools of their counties wit! school text books at actual cost or ex change prices. Section 2. That the amount so se aside from the school funds shall b paid to the county superintendent o education by the county treasurer out of the unappropriated genera school funds in his hand, on tne war / rant of the said county board of cdu cation. Section 3. That the amount to se aside by the county board of educatioi shall be and remain a permanent fun< in the hands of the county superinten dent of education to be usea in pur "* ? ? ? 1 3 cnasmg ana Keeping on nana scuuj text books for sale to pupils attendinj the free public schools of his county for cash, at actual cost or exchang< prices, and to be used for no othe: purpose and in no other manner. Section 4. That for the full anc just accounting for said money am books, and all his acts dealings relat ing thereto, the county suparinten dent of education shall be responsible on his official bond. Section 5. That no tax or license either State, county or municipal shall be imposed on or required of th< county superintendent of educatior on account of the purchasing and fur nishing of said books to the pupils a: aforesaid. Section 6. That this act shall ba i general act, and apply to all of thi counties of the State from and aftei its approval. The following opinion explains th< law that provides for the publishing of the reports of the different State in stitutions of higher learning. Columbia, S. C., March 27,1897. Hon. W. D. Mayfield, State Superin tendent of Education: Dear Sir?I have the honor to ac knowledge the receipt of your letter with that of Gov. Hagood's enclosed asking for a construction of that por tion of section 3 of the school act o 1896 relating to the reports of Stat* institutions of higher learning, i The section repeals the law in forci at the time of the passage of this ac requiring the institutions to make thei report to the general assembly, anc requires them to make reports to you in your annual report tney are 10 01 included, and in this way they react the general assembly. Yours very truly, C. P. Townsend, Assistant Attorney General. Eight Uvea Lost. Pensacola, Fla., March 29.?j? sloop owned by John Constantine o St. Andrews' Bay, loaded with oyster, and emoute here, capsized in a squal a few miles off this port this morning and eight lives were lc3t. Constan tine, the owner, and Ben Motes con stituted the crew, and two women ant five children were on the boat. Whei the squall struck the sloop, the womei and children were placed in the cabir and the hatches were fastened down The furious waves swept over th< heavily laden craft and in a few min utes foundered and sank. The wo / men were sisters of Motes, and one 01 them was the wife of Constanline Motes was at the wheel, and when h( saw that the vessel was sinking h< opened the hatch and seized one o: his sisters and a child. The others die not get out of the cabin before the boa sank. The woman and child clung to him, but he found that he was sink ing and pushed them off. They both sank from sight, but Motes succedc: in reaching the hatch door, which wa< floating, and after being tossed abou for many hours was thrown upon th< beach below Fort Barrancas, where h< was r3scued by Lieutenant Mat oh o the First Artillery and Surgeon Gaor gas of the Navy Yard. Constantino the two women and five children wer< lost. Motes was completely exhaust ed when rescued. Goes Demoralic Now, Danbuby, March 31.?Danbury' municipal election resulted in ai overwhelming victory for the Demo cratic ticket. Even the first Ward which gives a normal Republieai majority of 250, ekctcd a Demorcra as councilman. Danbury, lastNovem ber, gave 800 majority for McKinley but the promised of prosperity ha failed to materialize. The elestioi places the Democratic party in com plete control of the city, the commoi council being Democratic by two ma jority on joint ballot and all other ol lices being filled by Democrats. TO CONTROL COTTON. How the Growers M?y Regulats the Prlt Si Year by Year. Mr. George C. Munro, County coi respondent, United States Pepartmer of Agriculture, in writing to the A Janta E ?ening Constitution about coi trolling the price of cotton says: e I have l>;en asked to five my view ? on the subject of whether the cotto planter has it in his power to rontrc 0 the price of cotton or net. In article written to ihe agricultural ioumal i. over forty years I continued tha g the termer* hid, and that the onl; way to make cotton raising remuner oti-t'Q tiroeyyiut-o mir farms r*>lf-<; j? CVbX Y \j *? juuuv vMk < ? ... , _, L. taining in every particular, lo rais corn, oats, wheat, rye, potatc:::, chu u fas, groundpeas, field peas?in shot 3 overy*hing that W8S needed to sustar man and baast, and also to rr'sfl bi own horses and mules. k. That if he pur-ued that plau i ,] would not be possible to rait. > so muc] cotton and that the small crop woul< bring him in more clear cash than th [. largerones,which would glut the mar s ket and put him where,instead of beinj the master of the situation the situatioi j would master him by forcing the sal of his crop at the dictation of spec D ???-? ?y,;? y Uiaiors prifrs, Wimuuv -Juawuug um g to have a ward in it; only to marcl (. up like a lamb for the slaughter auc e sa?: "Here is my cotton, do for con ? science sake allow me enough for i J. to pay for the making of it. j While, if he pursuea the other poJic] e he would have the buyers to come t( .. his doors and he could dictate hii price and sail or hold as he though best and have it in his power to con ' trol not only the price lor his otton but the price for his labor and thei: efficiency. He would have time t< make necessary improvements on his b farm, raise more lot and stable ma ^ nure, terrace his land batter and kesj |_ liiS bOiia\>C.l 1U UOblJL oa mum this continued washing away to thi - Esa which we see going on during . every big rain would be stopped anc 1 prevented; our lands would improve appreciate in value and these of th( 8 North and Northwest which are sell r ing at $150 per acre, made hisrh b] " raising stock, corn, wheat and meat t< " sell to us, would depreciate and th< " cotton producing portion of our coun 1 try would bscome the ideal home o " the natives as well as the emigrant , and the South would ba built up and 1 become the garden spot Of the world ? We have the most healthful ant pleasant country on the globa to livt ' in. free from extremes of heat ant 1 cold, blessed with never-failing spring and wells of the purest water; ou: children raised free from pulmonarj , disea?9s or liability to be cut down id their tender years by croup or malaria j We can raise the finest fruits anc melons, the most chickens, turkeys and ducks and the finest hogs anc j Jersey cattle, luxuriate in rich mill * and butter and every variety of nici * vegetables. We can live like princes ' neither freeze to death in the wintei * wolf flia enmmay Poici JLJU1 uiuiu m buy ouuiuiva* XWMMI r enough potatoes on one acre or siruj . to feed fifty children for a year. ; Now why can't we, the most- inae pendent and the happiest people or eerth, having eyes, see and having " brains, understand? Turn on your X-rays, Mr. E lit or and let us all see our innumerable ad ' vantages over other sections and so ' pitch our crops this year that we can ? sell our cotton next fall for a good price and have time to build up th< t" waste places. Let us get some fin* " stations and stop all this needless ex penditure for stock that we can rais* * so easily at home. Send men to th< ' Legislature that will have sense enough to sea that it is better to raise sheep than dogs; that wool and mut r ton will increase our revenues anc 5 give us some of the best eating thai ever tickled the palat9 of an epicure or a'. Georgia cracker. Sheep wil fertilize our lands keep down th( weeds and prove the cheapest as wel as the most palatable diet we can raise for our families. ' I can't clona without a word on fre< ? seed distribution. It is 'a malj^iouj f practice of paternalism that is a need' " less lax on our puoiic treasury, neip ing to embarrass our government; thai benefits no body but a set of rascally t horticulturists; that enables them tc ' palm off millions of dollars' wcrth o] , old worthless seed on ourgovernmeni that seldom ever germinate and are* * curse, a delusion and aggravation ^ the one.that receives them. I come t( this conclusion after trying hundreds and thousands of packages for the las twenty years. Confessed to Several Murder*. Charleston, W. Ya., March 31.? L Excitement is still high at Montgom ? ery over the muraerea ooay louna ir an abandoned mine. Clark L^wii i has confessed that he choked Charles Gibson to death while Albert Voir; I held him. Gibson's wife was wit! her husband at the time. He says j John Cochran was murdered Februa ry 28, and the body placed in anothei abandoned mine. A dog was killed and hung in a tree to account for anj odor that might be noticcd. Coch ' ran, he says, was held by John Hud son, while Wilbur Slaughter and " Wiley Lewis beat his brains out with j a stone. When Lewis was arrestee the gang blew up the mouth of this J mine to prevent an entrance. Slaugh ter, who was arrested last week, is it f jail here, but refuses to talk. The ^ others are in jail at Fayetville. t Fire-bugs Lively In Altoona. f Altoona, Pa., March 31.?Five at * tempts at incendiarism, four of their 1 successful, kept Altoona firemen anc I police busy last night. The first blaze 3 was in a stable next door to No. 1 fire t engine house. Prompt work avoided 3 a loss. Within a few minutes the 3 storage sheds of Armour & Co. anc f Nelson, Morris & Co., meat mer * chants, were in llames. The most se ? rious fire was at 1:30 o'clock iu the 3 planing mill of William S. Stoke " Stoke's loss is $35,000; insurance, $10. 000. The total loss by fire is abou1 $10,000. Near morning employes oi the Altoona Gas company discovered 3 men setting fire to a shed near the 1 tanks. The fire bugs escaped. The " police have arrested four suspicious ? characters. i t Iuillcestlor, From which springs, directly or in , directly, nearly every form of head s ache, and sic k headache never eepera i ted therefrom, is surely and speedily - relieved and cured by the use ol l "Hilton's Life for the Liver and Kid neys." One 25c bottle will convince - of its merit. Try it. Sold by dealers generally. \ LET US HAVE A SHARE. e [CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONEj. venture the assertion that the plantaP. tions upon which this amount of cot. ton is made are worth at least double the cost of the cotton mill, and give < " employment to many times the amount i- of labor. This will hold gocd in nearly all cases. It is a grave mistake rfi to assume that there are no real investments in agricultural pursuits, or a that agricultural laborers are a proil duct of the soil, and that the chief 6 mission of both is to conserve the ins fprests of manufacturers and money, t UpDn these agricultural lands stand 7 the foundations of our Republic, and ?- waamU rtiiUiTTftf/i iliom nnnoli. LI1C pcupio yyLxvj vuAuivabd nuvm wv.?ujvi j i- tute a law-abiding, hard-working, 3 economizing, prudent and taxpayingi i- portion of our citizens, whcse rights t should be recognized and whose n wrongs must bo remedied. s This bill discriminates against the raw products of the section which I t in part represnt, and I shall underi take to point out its inequalities and i demand fair play. In fact, this dis? crimination do?s not stop with the - manufacturer of the East, butextsnds I to the products of raw material in the i West. This condition is the result no 6 doubt of a vigorous contest on the * part of the Western agriculturists for 1 a reciprocity of these privileges, while 1 the South was made the victim ba? 11- - J J 1 cause 01 me aeuiauu uu luo part of her representatives for free * raw materials. Ia this respect the t South has been considered fair game for the balance of the country and 7 plundered as a consequence at every > turn. I will cite a lew flagrant in3 stances of this character. Oar navy t needed a coaling station in the Pacific * Ocean and one was secured in Hawaii. ? Did our Government \ ay for it in t mnriAD? "Mo. indeed. It sinmlv cave 5 Hawaii the privilege of importing raw 1 products free into this country And what were these products? Sugar, ? rice, bananas, etc., all of which were t produced only in the South. ^ To such an extent has this bsen I carried that Senator Sherman declared 1 we had paid $48,000,000 for a misera? ble little coaling station; while the 3 late Senator Dolph stated that a fair * duty upon all imports from Hawaii T would have paid $12 for every acre of > land in these islands. The South has 3 been asking for free raw materials, * and here is a case in point where its f request was granted ? 400,000,000 i pounds of sugar and 5,000,000 pounds I of rice came into this country last year duty free from Hawaii. Does 1 anvone imagine that a tenth part of > this amount either in wheat, corn, I cloth or other manufactured articles 8 could have bsen imported in this manr ner without a Joud protest from theEist r and West? The South in this instance t was plundered the majority of its rep resentatives advocated free raw ma* tsrial and were in consequence barred 3 from makinc anv obiections. 1 RICK COMPARED "WITH HAY. c I will take the Southern product of 3 rice in this connection and compare it ? with the Northern product of hay and p potatoes. This country produced in 3 1895 297,237,370 bushels of potatoes > and imported 127,976 bushels. It produced the same year 47,078,541 * tons of hay and imported 247,897 1 tons. The par cent of imports on f productions is almost too small for calculation, being about one-half of 1 ? per cent, In 1895 we produced 168," 665,440 pounds of rice and imported 1 219,564,320 pounds. In other words, L we imported 50,889,880 pounds more I - ? j.??_i ~ 1 rice IUUU was pxuu UUCU Lit iuo CUIUD * South. We find potatoes protected ' by a duty of 25 cent3 per busnel, and hay $4 per ton, while Southern rice * receives but H cents per pound. This 3 unequal per cent of importation proves 5 conclusively a want of reciprocity in > tariff duties upon these prcducts., There are millions of acres in the I South that will produce rice if it can t be made remunerative. 1 SUGAR AND CORN COMPARED. I Following out this idea I will com5 pare the sugar with the corn of the I North and West Under the present > bill corn is protected by a duty of 15 cents per bushel, and 20 per cent ad J valorem under the Wilson bill of 3 1893. In 1895 the corn crop amounted to 1,212,779,052 bushels with imports t amounting to 16,575 bushels. One r small train load of corn would repre) sent the total imports lor 1895. In f 1894, with four hundred million more w UUIU piuuutcu, fcHU nwiw \/iuj t 2,000 bushels. ) (Comparatively speaking the imports ) of corn amounted to nothing. 3 During the year 1895 there was prot duced 729,392,561 pounds of cane suggar and 37,617,076 gallons of molasses. During that year 3,574,510,454 pounds of sugar and 15,075,879 ' gallons of molasses was imported. ' Ihe duty on sugar is 40 per 1 cent ad valorem, and on molasses 5 from 2 to 4 cents per gallon. 5 In this case there was five times as s much sugar imported as produced,and 1 nearly one-half as much molasses. ' I shall not attempt to go into details or bring forward any theories in con" neclion with this comparison, butsiml ply say that there is something radir cally wrong as this showing discloses and the burden as usual falls upon the South. When, on the one hand, we I find no com being imported, and on [ the other more than a score of nations sending their sugar to our shores the 5 conclusion must force itself upon ' everyone that a grave injustice is be1 ing perpetrated, and a fair reciprocity 3 does not exist. If raw sugar received the same fostering care from the government as the manufacturers of New England it would require but a few t years for the South to produce all the i sugar we consume. But the present 5 bill by means of its differential duty j largely favors the refiners at the exl pense of the producers. , Mr. Speaker, is it not time for some ^ representative from the Cotton States to stand on the lloor of this House and defend the interests of the cotton j planter? Should not a reciprocity of protection for his toil ba demanded? | Why should the wheat grower ba pro^ tected against his near neighbor, and f the cotton planter left to be plunder[ ed by the whole world? In my opia} ion it is an outrage and should no j longer be permitted. The amendments 5 which I will propose, placing a duty of 2} cents per pound on all imported cotton, and 2 cents par pound on uncleaned rice, are but simple justice to - the South. If you decline to accept my amend - ment for a duty on raw cotton, then r you should, in justice, strike out frt)m f this bill all duties on the manufactured - article. This would reduce the price ) of cotton goods and thereby increase s their consumption, and as a result the ( price of raw cotton would be incre?.v ed by reason of increased demand. The profits of the manufacturer are enhanced just as much by free raw material as by high duty on the finished product But, Mr. Speaker, I Vkitta Aiinnof}) anH hftftrri fmmiorh in the committee room and elsewhere to know that no duty will be imposed on raw cotton, because it would increase at lea.st the price of long staple and thereby lessen the profits of the New England mills. The mills using this cotton are situated entirely in New England. The people producing this cotton axe in the South. This is quite sufficient to outweigh argument and justice. COTTON PLANTER PLUNDERED. 1 will make but one more comparison, and tha t between wheat and cotton, the two great money crops of this country, la lays the wheat crop amounted to 460,267,416 bushels, while the imports that year was 1,438,299 bushels. The amouat of cotton produced in 1895 was 5.036,961,409 pounds. The imports of cotton during the fame .year was 49,332,022 pounds. It will De seen that the per cent of imports in wheat was only about one-third of the per cent of imports in cotton- The McKinley bill of 1890 gave wheat a protection o:f 25 cents per bushel, and the Wilson iaill of 1893 20 per cent ad valorem. It is hardly necessary for me to say that cotton is and has been on the free list While the importation of wheat does not seem to increase, the imports of cotton are mak* :? :^i ' lug rgpm oiiiuw. While the bulk of wheat importation comes from Canada and British Columbia, b.o less than fifteen different countries are sanding raw cotton to our shores. The imports of raw cotton have increased from 3,924,531 pounds in 1887 to 55,350,5.20 pounds in 1896. It is a mistake to assume that all tbe cotton imported is long staple. Out of the imports of 1896 but 43,574,769 pounds came from Egypt, leaving nearly twelye million pounds to be sent from other sections. It is safe to infer that all of this is not long staple cotton. Just how much is short staple I have been unable to ascertain. Be the amount what it will, it is a danger signal that should not remain unnoticed . south asks justice only. 4 Mr. Speaker, the psopJe of the South are entitled to this consideration. They have the right to demand equal and exact justice with other sections at the hands of Congress. It is unfair, unwise and Un-American to compel them to bear mora than their share of the burdens of government. This importation of raw cotton strikes at the very vitals of the one great industry of the South: It is a standing menace to the cotton planter which but few seem to realise. Fifty five million pounds of cotton is not far from 120,000 bales. This represents the product of nearly, if not quite, 20,000 average farms. It also represents the income of mora than 100,000 of the people of my section. If the manufacturers of the East and the farmers of the West are to be protected againat the paujier labor of other countries, have not the people of the South a right to demand a similar safeguard ? Is it 'air to ask the people ol the South to submit to certain conditions which the East and the West refuse to endure? I have made no distinction in regard to the diffflrfint kinds of cotton, since thev are all aifccted by these imports. If by reason of this duty long staple cotton should to excluded, much of the land now used in. producing short staple would be used in producing the long staple. This would lessen the crop of short stuple and increase its price. In this indirect manner the grower of short staple would be benefited. It is assumed by some that these duties on wheat, corn, oats, barley and other products of the North and West does* not increase their price. If that be true, why are these duties imposed? Are such duties placed upon the statute books to deceive? Are thev intended as bribes to the North era and Western farmers from the cunning manufacturers of New England, Mr. Speaker, if the duties upon agricultural products of the North and West should be eliminated from this bill it would be voted down by ttiifi House. I am led to believe that the disasters that overtook the wool growers because of the Wilson bill, which made his product a free raw material, together with the promise of a protective duty by the Republican party, was one of the potent factors which compassed the defeat of the Democratic party in the late election. The wool grower of the West^s nsiturally with us on the paramount issue and the time is not far distant, when he will repudiate the miserable "seesaw" sophistry that this bill discloses, of legislating nigher prices by a tariff, and forcing lower prices with a single gold standard ;he will then unite with the other producers of raw material in driving vou from nlace aDd power. If the agricultural products of tae North and West are to be favored by national legislation, in the name of justice and fear dealing, let the agricultural products of the South receive similar consideration. L3t the statute books of our country disclose a record of equality and reciprocity to all sections and for all the people. The South is worthy of this action at your hands. It stands today as the most available portion of this great nation, where capital and development can be made profitable. It is rich in resources, rich in the variety of its products, and possesses the best labor in the world. It seeks no advantages, and only asks an equal chance with other sections of the country Mr. McLaurin's speech was the event of the day in the House, hcsause of its able advocacy of the doctrine of protecting Southern "raw materials" and esp2cially cotton. As the first of the new Democratic members! of the ways and means committee, all of whom hold this dcstrine, to address the House, Mr. McLs.urin received especial attention, and many congratlations not only on the argument he made, but also on the admirable way in which he parried the interrogations with which it was attacked. FJre-baijs at Work. Norfolk, March 31.?There were three mora attempts at incendiarism in Portsmouth last night. These, following the great conflagration of Suuday morning that swept away a large portion of the city, have thrown the inhabitants into such a nervous state that sleep is almost impossible. The police last night discovered the attempted incendiarism in time to prevent & repetition of the calamity of Sunday. The mayor today issued a proclamation offering a reward of $500 for the conviction of any person guilty of originating the fires. Bryan and His Book. Hon. Wm. J. Bryjrn will give onehalf of the royalties received from the sale of his book, "The First Battle." to the cause of bimetallism, and has appointed a committee whose duty will be to properly expend the funds reserved for that purp The committee is composed of the following: O i? T XT persuus: oeutu jr uauic j ouuucj, of Arkansas; Senator Hen**y M. Teller. of Colorado: Senator William V. Aden, of Nebraska; and Hon. A. J. Warner, president of the National BImeta.'lic Union- In answer to the commun5 nation from his publishers, W. B. Con key Company, Chicago, stating 'v?'?.t$16,03 was due him as a royalty on the first month's sales. Mr. Bryan at once instructed them to forward $4,500 to Mr. Jones, $1,500 to Mr. Warner, $1,500 to Mr. Allen and $500 to Mr. Teller, and certified checks for these amounts were sent. Mr. Jones is to spend his portion in promoting the cause of bimetaUsm through the Democratic party; Mr. Warner is to disburse the money reTTorl Ktt V*ir*n iVlO pVlQTlTlfilo * TV/U W9 J UlUi bUlVM^U VUW vumumwm afforded by the National Bimetallio Union; Mr" Teller will expend his portion for the bimetallic cause through the silver ReDublicans, and Mr. Allen will employ his portion in advancing the interest of bimetalism through the Populist party. Mr. Bryan based his division of the amount to ta expanded on the fact that he received 4,500,000 demcsratic votes, 1,500,000 populist vote?, and 500,000 republican votes, recognizing at the same time the work done by the National Union as a non-partisan organization. The Spartanburg Herald in commenting on the above ray that the enemies of Mr. Bryan will at last be forced to abandon their captious critici|ms. So long as the wrongs he seeks to right exist, there will be found those who will s'ind by him. So long as the trusts oppress, men will seek relief and until something Is done to relieve the widespread depression that exists in tbis country especially in agricultural sections, tnere will be those who will seek to get relief. Hard Times and Temperance. One of the notable effects of the hard time3 which we have fcsen going through for several years past is to be' found in the reduced consumption of intoxicatanfs. It is claimed by the bicycle enthusiasts that the increasing use of bicycles has conducted largely to this result but the American Grocer says the "hard times have contributed to a notable diminution in the use of all kinds of beverae-es? particularly spirits." The G-rocer shows by figures that "the consumption of alcoholic stimulants has not increased, while the. use of the milder beverages has barely been steady." The facts which lead up to this conclusion are interesting. In 1892 and 1893 the consumption of spirits per citizen was 1? gallons, of wine nearly half a gallon, of beer 15 gallons, while in 1896 the average consumption of spirits was but one gallon, of wines one quart and of beer 15 gallons. The American Grocer does not consider that the increase of the whiskey tax from 90 cents to $1.10 has had any influence in reducing the consumption of spirits. The official reports show that our 71,263,000 people in 1896 consumed 71,051,877 gallons of spirits, or no more than 58,680,000 people consumed in 1887. Aa about ii,uuu,uuu gallons 01 spirits ai-e annually used in manufactures, according to The Grocer, the quantity actually used as a beverage is about 60,000,000 gallons. Barrooms make sixty drinks out of a gallon, and get at the lowest calculation about $4.50 for it. The nation's whiskey bill in 1896 was, therefore, $270,000,000, as against $400,000,000 in 1893, when the consumption was 101,000,000 gallons. The government lost $14,000 of revenue by the decreased consumption. The drinking of beer has increased very largely in this country during the past 20 years. The consumption per citizen 20 years ago was but six and a half gallons, as against fifteen gallons in 1896. The total consump tion of beer in 1896 was 1,080,628,165 gallons, on which the government received a revenue of $33,139,141. The aggregate amount of the national beer bill is estimated at $541,963,348. Wine is little used by our people. In 1887 we produced 27.706,000 gallons and imported 4,618,000 gallons, where as in 1896 we produced but 14,599,000 gallons and imported 4,101,000 gallons ?a large decrease. The nation's bill for wiue in 1896 was $49,730,000. The total cost of our alcoholic beverages in that year the Grocer places at $861,693,832, some 140,000,000 less than in 1892. There has been a marked falling off in the p3r capita consumption of coffee. In 1896 the people itis estimated, drank 962,088,692 gallons of coffee, .1 ? ? ioi r\ a a n at* ? ~ r U1UUC II?JLI1 101,1/24,0*0 {-' JULIUS Ul IUO berrifT and coating $120,261,086. The average consumption was 9.61 pounds in 1892 and 8.04 pounds in 1896. Of tea the consumption in the latter year is placed at 466,701,000 gallons, made from 93,340,000 pounds of tea import ed at a retail coit of $31,171,432. Cocoa was imported to the extent of $2,630,900 worth, much of which was used for confectionery. The aggre? gate drink bill of the nation, a'coholic and non alcoholic, is figured at $1,016,126,000, or $14/31 per citizen. The American Grjcer is convinced that nrosparity increases the use of stimulating and intoxicating drinss as it does of all other luxuries. Agricultural Education, Clemson College, March 30?The trustees of Clemson College at their recant meeting decidided to continue the work of holding farmers' institutes. Arrangements have already been made to hold institutes at the following plairs: At Greer's, in April'; at Fairview, Greenville County, May the 1st.; in Cnester County, April 15-16; in Newbarry County, August 14. Thess institutes -will be held without cost to the community. Membsrs of the College faculty who areexp arts in the various lines of agriculture, chemistry, horticulture, dairying and veterinary science, will be present. Every county 5n the State has the right to at least one institute. In order that arrangements may be made to cover as much ground as porsible with the least expsnsa to the College, partin wishing iostitutei held in their community should address, at an early date, President E. B. Craighead, Clemson College, 8. C- ( - -v. ; >: > 1 ' J" * < ' -';V v',v m 0 Jury Reforma. A bill of considerable importance which became a' law at the last session of the legislature is unknown to nine men out of every ten. It is a refrom or improvement in the jury system of thn Stats and is given below in full. It provides: "That during the last term of the court of general session for each county in the year 1897 six of the grand jurors then in service shall be drawn in the manner now provided by law for the empaneling of petit jurors in criminal cases, who shall serve as grand jurors during the next succeeding year. Section 38 further provides: "That the clerk of the court of general sessions in each county in the year 1898 and each succeeding year thereafeter, not less than 15 days before the commencement of the court in the said year, shall issue writs of venire facias in each county for 12 grand jurors to be returned to that court, who. to gether with the six grand jurors for whose 'selection provision has herein been madd, shall be held to serve at each term thereof throughout said year and until another grand jury is selected and empaneled." Section 38 provides: "That at the end of each succeeding year thereafter during the last term of the court of general sessions held in each county for such year, six of the grand jurors then in service shall be drawn as hereinbefore provided, who together with 12 grand jurors selected in the manner herein prescribed, shall constitute the grand jury for said year. Retribution Overtake* Him. Waynesboro, Miss., March 31?J. W. Hollingshead, the white farmer who was one of the leaders in the celebrated Chambiss lynching case in Washington last year, and who when arrested turned State's evidence and brought about the conviction of a numoer 01 nis neignDora ana tae flight from the neighborhood of several dozen others who participated in the lynching, was assassinated in his dwelling, near here, last night. He had undressed and was preparing to get into bed, when an unknown person outside his window fired a load of buckshot into his body, killing him instantly. His death will be a relief to some fifty of his former neighbors. Admitted to Ball. Aiken, S. C., March 31.?Solicitor J. William Thurmond, who killed W. G. Harris in Edgefield, appeared before Judge Aldrich here to day on application for bail. He was represented by Mr. J. H. Tillman of Edgefield, while Solicitor Bellinger ap4-1%a Qiofa matfov nf pcaicu IUI vuu xuu tunvw* v? bail was practically pro forma and the Solicitor was released after Judge Aldrich had heard the statements of the attorneys. i Flaau Uy the Mlio. See Ludden and Bates' new advertisment 'of one thousand Mathushek pianos. Suppose them all loaded on to wagons in one grand procession, allow 15 feet for each wagon and team and the line would be nearly three miles long. That is juit the wholesale way this great southern house does business. Having acquired an interest in the noted Mathushek Piano factory, they we now supply* ing purchasers direct and saving all intermediate profits. This means a saving of from $50 to $100 on each | piano, and the securing of one of the oldest and most reliable instruments at a remarkably low figure. Better write them at Savannah, U-a., or at 93 Fifth Ave., New York City. 5 i \ j The trustworthy cure for the Whiskey, Opium, Morphine and Tobacco Habits. Vnr InfnrmaHnn a/lrlrMd Thft Keeley Institute, or Drawer 27, Columblt, 3.C. I "MATHUSHEK"?The Piano tor a Lifetime. I ROOD PIANOS' | closed the great ! 1 MATHUSHEK : ? Pianos on hand. ILUDDEN & BATES, interested in this Factory, now offer this great stock at S50 to $100 Jess than former prices. No fctrlrtlv lllcli (iradp I'inno ever HoldsoloiT. I ONE PROFIT from Factory to Consumer. H Greater Inducements than ever In slightgj ly used Pianos and Organs?many as H good as new?sold under guarantee. Latest Styles. Elegant Cases. Also I New STEINWAY Pianos, | Mason & Hamlin Organs. Write for Factory Prices and Bargain Lists. ILUDDEN & BATES, SAVANNAH, 6A. SEE HERE. I IS .YOUR LIVER ALL RIG IF? Are your Kidneys In a'healthv cmditlon If so, Hilton's Life for the Liver a ad Kidneys will keep them 90. if not, Hilton's Life for the L'ver and Kidneys will make I them so. A 25c bottle I will convince you of this fact. Taken regularly after man!-} It is an aid to digestion, cures habitual constipation, and thus refreshes and clears both body and mind. < SOLD WHOLESALE 1** Ph? Murray Drug 3c, COLUMBIA, 8. C. AND] Dr. H. J3AEK, Oharleaton,^. C, ' ' ' 11 we ~lm WANT 1 1 A.PART NER I , IN -i? : :; . . nm EVERY i f ' ' v? M TOWN. ' | Postmaaters, Railroad Agents, Genera store Keepers, Clerks, Ministers, or any ' ; other person, lady or gentleman, who can \ devote a little or all of their time to onr \ bus! eea. We do not want any money in advance, and pay large commtastoas to those who work for as. We have the bes Family Medicines on earth, and can prodace lota of testimonials from oar hecM. KB people. Send for blank application and cireolar. 9| Addreea SB BRAZILIAN MKDIOINB CO., ' W 844 Broadway, Augusta, <*a Advice to Mothers. " ^ ' "r j ?. Wo take pleasure In calling your atten , tlon to a remedy so long needed in carrying children safely through the critical 1 itage of teething. It is an incalculable hlAMrinor tn m nth Br ind flhild. If TOQ Irs disturbed at night with a sick, fretful,, teething child, use Pitts' Carminative, It will give instant relief, and regulate tb? bowel*, and make teething safe and- easy. It will cure Dysentery and Diarrhoea, Pitts Carminative Is an instant relief for oolio of infants. It will promote digestion, give tone and energy to the stomach and towels. The sick, puny, suffering child will soon become the fat and frolicking Joy of the household. It is very pleasant to the taste and only cost 25 oents per bottle, Sold by druggists and by THE MURRAY DRUG CO., \ - Columbia, 8.0. j Machinery I ; ' vL ANjy * I Ll__- . " .sN Supplies; | ?i ' f! Engines, Boilers; Saw Mills, Corn Mills, Wheat Mills, Planers, Brick Machines, Moulders, Gang ledgers. 4 And all kinds of Wood Working Ma chlnery. No one in the South can offer yon higher grade goods, or at lower prices. Talbott, Llddell and Watertown Engines. We are only a few hours ride from yon,. Write for prices. v Light, Variable Feed Plantation Saw Mills' T Specialty. / V. C. Badliam, General Agent, COLUMBIA. S. C. MOT MISLEADING. No Danoeb, in Cubing One Habit, cr Fobwiho Anotheb. OPIUM (Morphine, Laudanum) Etio., Cubedin from Four to Six Weeks. LIQUOR DISEASE Cured Usually in Four Weeks. Also Tobacco Habit and Nervous Diseases. The Cure has been endorsed by the Legis lature of six States and one Territory; by the National Government in the Soldiers' Homes and in the regular army; by many looal authorities in the cure of indigent drunkards (morphine and liquor); by Miss1 Wallard, the W. C. T. U.; Francis Murphy, Neal Dow and the I. 0. G. T.; by prominent men all over the land; by 300,000 cured pa? tients, more than 20,000 of these being phy-siciana. The Leslie E. Keeley Company and theKeeley Institute of S. C. are responsible corporations which could not afford to put forth' my"claim that they are unable to prove. For printed matter and terms, address, THE KEELEY INSTITUTE, or Drawer 27. Columbia, 8. C. Mention this paper. ENGINES, BOILERS, SAW? MILLS, GrUIST MILLS, AT 1 FACTORY ' PRICES. E. W. SCREVEN, COLUMBIA, s,;o.