University of South Carolina Libraries
? - ? The Press and Banner. |g|y BY HUGH WILSON. ABBCVIM.i:, N. \> A TAX ON RAW COTTONr SOUTH'S STAPLE PRODUCT PLACFD / ON THE DUTIABLE LIST. Bacon of Georgia. Renponslble for the New Departure, Assisted by C)aj\ TIllmaD, McLaurln, McEnerr and KrwIIds? Mnch Feeling Manifested In the Debate. By the decisive vote of 42 to 39 the Senate Wednesday adopted an amendment to the tariff bill placing- raw cotton, the great product of the South, on the dutiable list at 20 per cent. ad. valorem. It is the first time in the history of tariff legislation that a duty on cotton has been incorporated in a Kill The. amendment was nronosed by Mr. Bacon (Dem., Ga.,) on his individual responsibility, and without the approval of the finance committee, which tbus far has been requisite to the success of every amendment, ex cept a minor one which went through by default. The amendment led to a spirited debate, Demccratic Senators disclosing a wide difference of views and at times exchanging sbarp personal criticisms. On the final vote six Democrats?Bacon and Clay of Georgia. Mc.Eaery of Louisiana, McLaurin and Tillman of South Carolina and Rawlins of Utah ?voted with the ReDublicans for tbe Bacon amepdment, while the negative vote was solidly Democratic with one exception?Kyle (Pop) The debate on cotton took up the most of the day,and but little progress was made on the bill. Early in the day the sugar schedule was passed over 3nd the agricultural schedule taken up. Less than two pages were disposed of during the day. The par agraph on cattle went over, but the balance of the agricultural schedule, up to sod including paragraph 228. j ? ^ was ajjretu io as rcpuncu, ?ji auucuu ments except that of Mr. Bacon being rejected. When the tariff bill was taken up at 12:20 p. m., Mr. Allison of Iowa requested that the sugar schedule be passed, stating that it would be considered tomorrow. The agricultural schedule being next in order, a number of amendments were offered by Democratic Senators, but all were rejected until Mr. Bacon offered his amendment,to be known as paragraph 2254, placing a duty of 20 per cent ad valorem on raw cotton. Mr. Bacon said the omission of this article from the dutiable list was a violation of the principles of the Democratic platform that tariff , taxation should be so im-j posed as to discriminate against no section. The. tariff as a whole fell like a dead weight on the producer of cotton, raising the price of all articlf s essential to his use, yet on his article of production, raw cotton, he was left in the lurch. Last \ear the statistics showed that 55,000,000 pounds of cotton were imported into the United States, valued at $6,000,000. The arrivals of foreign cotton were increasing constantly. Mr. Bacon said he r addressed himself particularly to his Democratic associates. Why should cotton be excluded from the benefits of a revenue duty if all other agricul("i?l nr?t? wpi* tn h?ve th? hftnefit of such duties? Under the rule of consistency, there should be a unani mous vote in favor of a duty on cot ton. Mr. Piatt, of Connecticut, who was in charge of the bill pending Mr. Allison's absence, indicated a readiness for a vote favorable to the amendment, and Mr. Chandler (Rep. N. H.) added: "We are just dying to support the Senator's amendment." Mr. Chilton (Dem. Tex ) said the amendment would not raise the price of cotton. According to the Georgia Senator (Bacon), there would be no diminution of the importation of Egyptian cotton, so that the only effect would be giving additional revenue on cotton, without taking away tVio /winnTiotifimi frnm fnwion r>nttnn Mr. Chilton said it was impossible to increase the price of cotton by a tariff so long as it was necessary to find a market for the surplus of American cotton, as was now the casa, in Liverpool or in any e ther foreign market. It was with cotton as with wheat?the foreign price would fix the domestic price. Hence the only result would be to increase the price ot cotton gor^s. Mr. Test said the amendment would be adopted, as it was in tfce line of increased rates of duty, and would receive Republican support for that reason, and because it was calculated to cause dissension in the Democratic party. He claimed that the addition of the 20 per cent, provided would supply that amount to the finished product. He took issue with Mr, Bacon on the contention that the amendf ment wss in line with the platform adopted at Chicago. "If," he said, "I had thought the platform meant what the Senator from Georgia says it does, I would not have touched it any more than I would have touched a rattlesnake knowing there was no whiskey within a hundred miles. (?cd help us if the new evangelism is to Srevail'" He expressed surprise at [r. Bacon's statem ent that the cotton manufacturer needed assistance. He said it had generally been understood that the cotton manufacturers were BT^ontinn?11 nrncnocnnc In conclusion Mr. Vest said that he had, as a Southern Democrat, always pointed with pride to the fact that cotton was admitted free of duty, as showing the Democratic consistency in supporting free raw materials. Hence his disappointment that this amendment should be proposed by a Southern Senator, as it would justify and open the way for a duty on wool, lumber and all other articles classed as raw material. "Indeed," he exclaimed, "it leaves us naked, without argument." Mr. Jones of Arkansas also opposed the amendment, in an incisive speech. He agreed with Mr. Vest that the Republicans would support the amendment in the hope overeating dissention in the Democratic party, and adV ded that they would all support it for the purpose of securing an excuse for increased compensatory duties on cot B- ton manufactures. He argued that the small importations could not affect f the price of the entire domestic crop, ? and said that the duty would only add ' to the price of cotton goods. Mr. Jones said that the cotton growers would not be misled and deceived by ' a proposition so palpably thin as this. Mr. Bacon answered briefly that if i I I positiveness of assertion and vebei ence were to control in this fubjet then the Senator from Missouri (Ve< would have his views prevail- B the Senate was a forum of argumen arid no Senator was to be put do* by the mere vehemence of the Senati from Missouri, however long and er neM his service might be. Mr. Bacon became impatient at oi point over frequent interruptions, tl last one coming from Mr. Caffery. * think the Senator has enough to do answer the questions addressed to ni yesterday by the Senator from Mass chusetts as to sugar," answered M U?aU'_?JU, oiiai pij. The Senator went on to say that tl objectionable feature of the tariff i the past had been its sectionalism ar its discrimination of one part of tt country against the other. Bui tl Democratic platform, recognizing revenue tariff, insisted that it be fr< from sectional benefits and that thei be perfect equality in burden or i benefit This was the only "ne evangel1'to which the Senator froi Missouri had referred. Mr. Gray asked if Mr. Bacon b lieved in a tariff for revenue only. Mr. Bacon answered that he belie ed in a tariff '"for revenue," but m for a tariff "for revenue only." E insisted that the tariff platform of tl Chicago convention did not conteu plate revenue duties which utterly i| nored the question as to the justice < injustice of the duties toward sectioi or classes. He insisted that the fu: damental principle of the Democrat party was to restrict the tariff to rev nue purposes and imposing it for th< purpose to give equal benefits ar equal burdens to all sections. In closing Mr. Bacon referred totl statement that his tariff views we: shaped by the interests of his ow State. He was not, he said, indiffe ent to the fact that his people might I benefitted or injured by the chirach of the ratts imposed. As it was r cognized that the country was to ha^ a revenue tariff bill, he intended 1 see to it that his State received a equal share of its benefits, for, in t\ words of the Bible, the man who do not care for his own household worse than an infidel. Mr. Stewart of Nevada creak amusement by declaring that the hai splitting and distinctions between revenue tariff and a protective tari was all "tweedledee and tweedledum He had followed this subject for thi ty years, and he did not understar this new language relating: to the ta iff. The Georgia Senator (Bacon) w: right, Mr. Stewart said, in seeing th his State should receive the same be: efits as other sections. "What are v here for?" asked for Mr. Stewart, v bemently. "To get the office," suggested son Senator, jocularly, in a stage whispe 'No, not all of us," continued M Stewart "We are here to represei our constituents and see that our Stat have equal rights under the tariff ar all other laws." Mr. Stewart insist* that it was time the raw malerials i the South and West received equi benefits with the manufactured pr ducts of New England. The discussion had evidently arou ed much feeling amoner Senators, ar thia otic ori vp-n ATniwrninn ton sonn n ter Mr. Caffery began to speak. E said the position of Mr. Bacon ht been clearly exposed as one of tl avoidable to protection for interests < his own State, with revenue as a me: incidaiit "How about sugar?" inquired M Bacon, mockingly. Very deliberately, Mr. Caffery ai swered: 4'The Senator declined to ai swer my question, and now I declin peremptorily, to yield." "I accept that status between us answered Mr. Bacon. "You made the status yourself said Mr. Caffery. "It is a very great deprivation continued Mr. Bacon, in mockin tones, "but I will endeavor to bear with equanimity." Mr. Caffery was soon interrupt* with another inquiry as to tho sugi tnis iirr.e iro;u oar. mci_jaurin (.uam S. C.) The galleries were mu< amused, and Mr. Caffery said: "I si that the bad precedents set by tl Senator from Massachusetts (Hoar) put me in a hole is being followed fc my associates on this side of tl cbaniber." The vote was taken on Mr. Bacon amendment placing raw cotton in tl bill at 20 per cent, ad valorem. The was great interest in the vote, as it b came evident that Republican Sen tors were voting in the affirmativ It resulted: Yeas 42, nays 19. Paragraphs 226 and 228, inclusn (macaroni, oats and oatmeal,) we agreed to as reported. When the rice paragraph (229) w; reached, Mr. Allen (Pop. Neb.) toe occasion to speak sarcastically of tl differences among Democratic Sen tors as to what constituted Democrat doctrine. These Senators, he sai should go into caucus and endeavorarrange some line of action on whic they could proceed together. Throug out this discussion the tendency on tl Democratic side, he said, was to aba: don the tents of Democracy and ado the plan of "Every man for himse and the devil take the hindmost." Mr. Allison stated that the Hou rates on rice would be retained, bi that paragraph went over without nal action. At 5:20 the Senate went into exec tive session and soon after adjourne An Original Package Store Opened. The Charleston correspondent of tl Columbia Register says the first "ori, nal package" establishment was ope ed in that city Wednesday, at the cc ner of Meeting and Market Streets, i Welibrook Bros. The firm will on m **11 o nnna no n mU/\la ???ill ** a i/ooc ao a rr uuic, auu vyixa u venture for the present to break case. The constabulary are well awa that the Wellbrock Bros, had receivt a stock of liquors, but say that the do not intend to seize them as lone the cases were not broken. The fir are very careful and are feeling the wav along. They will not sell ha pints until they are assured it is n against the law. Wellbrock Bros, a said to represent S. Gugenheimer Co. of Savannah. It is reported th another "original package" store wi be opened on King street tomorrow. Gets His Rale. A dispatch from Ashvilla, N. C a a.l n i r* ? says ^uuruey-urenerai uaroer we before J uage Simonton Thursdj moraing and made a motion for ? iDjunction against Mr. Wesley takii possession of the Agricultural ha] Judge Simonton issued a rule, retur able June 22, at Charleston, requirit Mr. Wesley to show cause why tl stay of execution should not be co j tinued. nt TILLMAN TALKS TAK1JM. it) Ut FAVORS AN EXPORT BOUNTY ON AG lt? RICULTURAL PRODUCTS rn 3r The South Carolina Senator M.ikea a R?d Hot Specch and Criticises His Dcmocral 30 Ic "Tariff for Revenue Only'' Associate IP 'I In the United States Senate on Tues fo day while *he tariff bill was up fo m consideration Senator Tillman too! a- the floor on the pending amendmen r. of Mr. Cannon of Utah providing ai export bounty on agricultural pro ie ducts. He said he desired the atten in tion of his associates, and as the at id tendance was meagre he noted the ab - - ^ mi ii s^oce 01 h quururn. inecaii uisciusc* ie fifty-four Senators present, nine mor a than a quorum, and Mr. Tillman pro se ceeded. He said the tariff debate ha< re disclosed a nebulous condition in tb< in minds of Senators. The Republicai w Senators sat quietly, apparently con m trolled by the caucus, refusing to dis cuss the iniquities of the bill an< e- unanimously voting for action in be half of trusts and monopolies, v- "On the other hand," proceeded Mr ot Tillman, "the Damncrats are in a pe Ie riod of transition. They don't knov ie where they are at. The older, mor Q- experienced, proclaim their allegiano g- to the old time-honored doctrines )r We had an impasssioned speech yes x J /L? If- U:1L\ 4U is leruay uir- .uu.uis; m ueiitui ui iu a- Walker tariff principles, brought for ic ward at this late day as Democrat! e- doctrine. Secession, nullification am at other issues which have passed out o id the minds of men might, as well b brought here. The tariff is merely i ie question of policy as to how the gov re ernment will raise its revenue. I sa; n without hesitation it is to the best in r- terest of the American people that th ae articles consumed by our people shouli Br be produced by our people. If that ii e- Republican doctrine well and good ^e If that is not Democratic dcctrine, i to oueht to be-" in Mr. Tillman went on to show tha ie diversified industries gave diversifie* es means of labor. A? to the farmers, th is need was not for more farmers, but fo a tariff which no longer would rob th 3d farmers we have. The farmers stood ir- his skinny, bony hand outstretched a asking this export bounty to overcom .ff the roboery of the present system; am jet Senators sat in stony silence, ex r- pecting this idiotic farmer, with th td mortgage gnawing on his home, no r- to know that they refuse to give hie as relief. Mr. Tillman vehementl, at pledged his word to his colleague n- that they would not deceive the farm re ers, and that ihe nine million follow e- ers of the plow "will settle with yoi at the ballot box." Referring to an; le bill not giving adequate relief to fai r. mere, Mr. Tillman exclaimed: "I an r. prepared to throw some rocks that wil at stagger some of you men." es The Senator analyzed the extent o id agricultural interests throughout th id country, including the Sauth?"th of Ishmaelite, the section that has ha< al no rights since the war." While tha o- section had labored under the ban o secession, paying billions as a resul s- of its attempt to secede, it was stil id face to face with the demand of th if- horeeleach, crying more, more, more [e This section and the agricultural ic id terests always bad been at the mere; ie of tariff bills which found their gene of sis in the benefits conferred on Ne\ re England. As Mr. Tillman spoke the gallerie r. filled in anticipation of a lively time While speaking with his usual vehe a- mence of voice and gesture, the Sena a tor adopted an argumentative style e, to show that the farmers were receiv ing the burdens, without the benefits of the tariff. When he referred at on point to the Chicago piatform declara " tion on the tariff, he brought Mr. Ves ' to his feet in explanation. He votei " in the Chicago convention amid great er uproar and confusion, said Mr Vest, for the loner and in nart nebu lous platform. He never knew, unti jd it had come out, that the word "only ir had been left out of the dcclaratioi for a "tariff for revenue." .?h "If I had known it," proceeded Mr ae Vest, "I would have risen in my plac 3e and moved to insert it, for it is: th tQ creed of the Democratic party. An< )y I believe a maj->rity of that conven ie tion did not know of the omission, s all our attention was concentrated 01 L's the money issue." ie Proceeding. Mr. Tillman turned t< re his Democratic associates and said the; now had a chance, with the votes of i a. few Republican Senators "not lost t* e all sense of shame and decency," t* give some measure of relief to the far 7e mers. They would receive little or m re benefit from the duty .on the cotton and cereals. They asked for bread am as were given a stone. They asked fo jlj some relief and Democratic Senator ie set un a mummy and labelled it i a. "tariff for revenue only." jc "Great God! such D?mocracv!" ex d claimed Mr. Tillman, with dramati to emphasis. :h "Democratic Senators had spokei h- of a new evangel," he said, "and ha* ie twitted him and others of leading th n- Democratic party into the Republi.cai pt camp. These Senators, instead of ol ilf fering the cardinal Djmocratic princi pies of quality, gave the sodom appl se of "tariff for revenue only" to thei nt constituents. h * i ou are noiumg tne telescope witJ the big end to your eyes," declarei u- Mr. Tillman,addressing his associates d. "and at the little end you see the le gend, 'Tariff for revenue only,' in stead of that great doctrine of Democ le racy, 'Equal rights for all, and spec g- ial privileges for none." a- In conclusion, the Senator said h >r- believed in securing for the South a >y many benefits as possible. Hs arraign ly ed Republican Senators for the ine ot qualities of their legislation and fo a "Keeping Cuba under the heal o re Weyler." They claimed, he said, t< uu. uo iuiiuwcra ui rjiiiuuiu, uui y\ju or >y unworthy to tie the shoe-hitches o as that great man." The Democrat! m Senators claimed to be followers o ir Jefferson, while they were abandon ilf ing Jefferson's cardinal principle o ot equal rights to the people. re After the Cannon amendment ha< & been further debated by Mr. Allen o at Nebraska, Mr. Perkins and Mr. Can ill non, a vote was taken on it. The affirmative was given bv Mes srs Allen, Butler, Stewart, Harris ant Heitfeld, Pjpulists; Cannon, Mantl and Pehigrew, Silver Republicans nt Roach and Tillman, Democrats. Mr ly Tillman announced that his col league in Mr. McLaurin, would have voted fo ig the amendment. LI. This closed the consideration of th n- cereal paragraphs of the agricultura ig schedule, and Mr. Allison, in charg le of the bill, asked that the further con n- sideration of the agricultural schedul be postponed, and that the Senate g back to the sujrar schedule. There was no opposition, and the Senate thereupon entered upon the consider ' t iV> A mi ran m r>/iVi rtn n 1 A I ailUll Ul L11C3 ougui auurtuir, CCMPTROLLER GENERAL DEFIED|. The Sinblrg Fund Agent Will Proceed to Act In Paat Due Tax's. ?. The attention of County Supervis- 1 ors and Sheriffs in the State is respect'* fully called to the subjoined opinion 1 r of the Attorney General on the Act of ' c 1892 and 1896, r^pardins: tax claims 1 past due and unpaid for twelve months 1 ! As traveling agent for the Sinking ' r una commission, a am personally. " charged with the execution of the law 1 * under these Acts, under their imma- ' diate directon. In this special work 1 * I have had, and still have, the most , 6 violent opposition of the Comptroller 1 '* General of the State, which has result- 1 * ed seriously in the hinderance of the 1 e prosecution of my duties under the 1 1 law. It has transpired that county ( ' treasurers and sheriffs, who are under ! the direction of the Comptroller Gen 1 ama! Ko tto />an1 ? niimiol tt cinno iho vtoo ' Ciai| UOVO WUV1UUV.-U.TV7 Oiuwu ?U v MO o '" sage of the Act of 1896 in many of the counties in total disregard of the law, ' proceed* d to collect and are still col* lectiDg past due tax claims which, 7 under tnese Ax;ts, are made assets of { 0 the State in charge of the Commis- ' 6 sioners cf the Sinking Fund, collecta- 1 ' ble only by them. This the Attorney 1 General says they have no authority 1 8 to do. This flagrant violation of the ' lawis attended with serious results, Jj and as they come iu conflict with my ; J duties affecting my individual work f and interest of tie State, it becomes 1 e me to speak in my own defense. it I am to continue to De tne agent of the Sinking Fund Commission, to 1 P execute these Acts, this state of things 1 L" shall not continue. The Comptroller ? General and county officers have no 4 right to disregard the laws of the 3 State and move in their official capac ity in absolute violation to them. The 1 purpose of this communication is to put county treasurers and sheriffs in i notice that any further violation of 1 the Act of 1896 will be promptly re? A 44/ttmATT rianatiol IIM/IJW pui Ltu i\j iug a.uui ucj ucuciax uuutx r affidavit as official misconduct or 6 otherwise for such action against ' isuch officers as the law directs, as ' .suggested in the said opinion that the ? interests of the State may be protected and the laws of the State respected and ' oxecuted. I regret the necessity of ? ;his communication, but I see no way 11 i,o avoid it. Q The Comptroller General has been ^ jrged and entreated for a year and a lS half to stop this unlawful proceeding. : He has declined to do it and sustains it. and as I see it, is responsible for " the whole of it. Tnis opinion of the ^ Attorney General has been obtained and published for the information and 1 _ ! #... A. , guidance ior me ine county treasurers and sheriffs. The Comptroller Gen eral has been requested by the Gover fi nor to conform to it, and issue in? structions to the county officers accor- j , dingJy. He has not done so, but on . the other hand has published in an , interview with fi newspaper reporter ' that the opinion does not effect him; I that he is opposed, to the law. The effect of this interview udop his subordi nates cannot be mistaken. "A word ; 'm to the wise is sufficient," so that there j" is nothing left now but to take issue ' and the consequences. I will not be obstructed longer in my lawful, official duty to the damage of the State's 1 interests. J 8 Thepxiblic taxpayer may as well take notice that when taxes are past ; 1 due and unpaid for twelve moths toeir , 1 collection by county treasurers and ' ' sherifFs is unlawful. Consequently 1 such collection does not discharge the j ' State's lien for ta:ces and in all such 6 cases which have been paid to the 1 county treasurerii and sheriffs since the passage of the Act of 1896, the property is still subject to the State's lien, which cannot be discharged ex cept by the Commissioners of the J Sinking Fund. I I do not intend to be harsh in this annouacement, but only to be under1 stood. The Act of 1896 is doing im- | mense good, and it is here to stay. The cri^inat jrof this law?me of the , e soundest jurist3 in the Si ate, now j ? judge, has said that "it will never be , repealed." No committee of the ! T.ncrislahir** has rpmmmfinrlRrl ita rrt s peaJ, and none ever will. The law 3 will be enforced. N. W. Brooker, 0 Travelling Agent Forfeited Lands. y ^ A Slick Swindler, o A special dispatch from Greenville ( o to the Columbia Register says a slick : - swindler, calling himself W. G. Har0 ris.has been doing the towns in North a Carolina and upper Ssuth Carolina. 1 He is passing along as drummer for a 1 r Baltimore drug house and fancy gro- 1 s eery. He registered at Greenville 1 a Saturday and applied to several livery stables for teams, getting one from ' Wyatt's stable and at the same time 1 c getting a draft cashed for $22.50. He went to Easley from Greenville. In 1 Easley he got the bank for $30, the 1 : \xt -r^v. ios ? j vyjfttito al mat [jiitu j\/i yvu auu a e drummer for a railway ticnet book : j with coupons for SO') miles. He then 1 ?. boarded a train for Atlanta. Mr. Doby ! . of Greenville, N. C., and Kerr of : 0 Rock Hill were here hot on Harris's r track. He played the draft game in 1 both those cities. Harris is a polished , swindler. d Five Hundred Perlah. ( '? Meagre particulars have reached I this county by late steamers of a, dis- < l" aster which befell the tisher nan of ; Chusan archipelago, off the coast of l China. Oa May 6th, when all, or at i least, most of the fishing bo^ts wr?re 1 0 out oi the fishing banks, a terrible 1 s gale sprung up. Of the several hundred buit:; out at the time, very few returned, and it is estimated that T. some five hundred men lost their lives. Tiie storm was one of those . 0 sudden ones for which the coast of ] ? China is n oted, and the fishermea had j no chance to seek shelter. Their ' ? light boa.s were smashed to atoms J and they were left to fight a hopeless j battle with the merciless waves. The 1 storin s?vept over the entire archipela- J t **-% rrrViinil V 4 r\ rl C? O rtHrtf .1 fUn ATI i h ' j WLUV/U caiouuo aoiuaa buc UUV/IA"*U , * of Hanchow Bay oa the eastern coast f of (Jniaa. Several Jar^e juuks were ( ' lost, in which scores perished. I- Tillman14 Dlttpnunary Resolution. | i The Senate judiciary committee has < e considered the resolution of Ssuator < ; Till nan concerning the S Juth Caroli- 1 na Dispensary decisioa by Judge Si- < i, mouton. Wnilo no definite conclu- < r sion has been reached, tbe opiuion in the committee was that Sduttt Caroli- ' ft na had recourse, first by appeal to the j 1 Court of Apceals, aud then by appeal i a z-v ) Un 3l1 l\ Kli W? O All H f r /I vTVl ?V> iff Qli V I tu t lie JUpi^UiD VUUl b. 1U U l- [the opinion was expressed individual- ; e j ly by many members I hat the decision i o ] might be reversed in the higher courts. ; PLEADING FOR HAMPTON. rillmwn, McLaurlr, Latimer and Stokes . Working foi the Old Hero. The Washington correspondent of the News and Courier says (Jen. Wade < Hampton is to retain the office of com- i missioner of railroads until be recov era Ids health, notwithstanding the : political pressure of Gen. Longstreet ! and his friends to secure his removal. Just before the President left the i White House Thursday to start for Nashville he received a visit from Sena- i tors Tillman and McLaurin, and Rep- 1 resentatives Latimer and Stokes, of i the South Carolina delegation. They sanea to urge me rresiaent to retain Qen. Hampton in office. Owing to the political complications i in South Carolina it happens that i Bvery member of the delegation was politically and personally hostile to : Sen. Hampton. They are not even on speaking terms with the great cavalry general of the late Confederacy. It therefore occasoned considerable surprise and comment in the South Carolina colony when it became known that Senator Tillman had headed a delegation to go to the White House in benalf of bis old political enemy, Can. Hampton. Senator Tillman and McLaurin informed the President that thev called in the interest i of Gen. Hampton, without his knowledge, without solicitation from any of his friends. They appreciate the fact that Gten. Hampton is old and feeble, and that he is an historical figure in the State of South Carolina. In the circumstances ihey felt justified in requesting the President to reappoint him, if possible, or to retain him in service until he recovers from his present indisposition. President McKinley received the South Carolina Congressmen with his usual courtesy, and heard all they had to say about Gen. Hampton. In reply, he said he could not promise to reappoint Gen- Hampton at this time, although it might have been possible had the request been made in the same way at an early period in the present Administration. He as3urred the delegation that he bad no intention of removing Gen. Hampton at present, but proposed to continue his services until he has ample opportunity to recover his badly shattered health. The Presi dent said lie understood tbat U-en. Hampton contemplated taking a long trip to California and other parts of the country, with the hope of benefiting his health. In the meantime no change in the railroad commissionership will be made. The President further expressed the hope that this assurance would relieve the General ana his friends from further anxiety on the subject, and assist in restoring him to health. This is very discouraging information to Gen. Longstreet, of Georgia, who is also old and infirm, who is said to have a positive promise of the place as soon as Gen. Homptcn retires. There are several other aspirants for the place, but the friends of Longstreet insist that he has first claim upon the President's consideration, as soon as a nAAAMAn- in /iwaotfl<4 n. a?i T Va^aiiuj ia viuabuu. uou? UV/U^QIUVWH will have to wait until Gen. Wade Hampton recovers from his present iudisposition before there will be a changs in the office of commissioner of railroads. To South Carolinians and to politicans generally, who are familiar with the relations that existed for years be ; tween Gen. Hamption and the faction represented by the callers to day, the visic is of deep interest. In 1890, when 3euator Tillman was elected Governor , of South Carolina, after one of the most bitter campaigns ever known in the Soutb, an intensely hostile feeling between Governor Tiliman and Gen. Hampton, then Senator, was aroused, resulting in the defeat of Senator Hampton for re-election, and the election, by Tillman's efforts, of Senator J. L M. Irby. The hositily between Gen. Hampton and Governor Tillman was further increased by the bitter attacks which Governor Tillman 1 u:_ /..C .. J.. IP ?. D.An; ttllu HIS iai;uuu iuauc ujj'ju icor dent Cleveland at the Chicago Convention of 1892, Gen. Hampton being a warm supporter of President Cleveland. Tnere has never been a reconciliation of any kind between Tillman and Gen. Qamption, and the visit to the President today was a graceful act upon the part of the South Carolinians. Benator Tillman and President Mc- ' fcanley are od wonderfully good terms for men of such wide divergence 9f views, Senator McLaurin is highly regarded by the President. The Toad. Its great value to the pomologist and gardener has been fullv establishad, on account of its destroying in sects, especially mose injurious 10 vegetation. We should, therefore, cultivate its friendship and assistance 1 as well as that of birds. Every tidy housewife detests the cockroach and other vermin. Two or three domesticated loads will k:ep the coast clear of these. The toad is possessed of a timid and retiring nature, loving dark and shady places, but under kind treatment becomes quite tame. Many instance are cited of pet toads re mainiug several years in families and doing valuable service. All that is necessary to secure their co-operation, ] indoor or out, is to provide them cool ] and safe retreats by day, convenient i access to water, and they go forth to 1 the performance of their nocturnal duties "without money and without price." In Europe toads are carried to the cities to market, and are purchased by the horticulturists, who by their aid are enabled to keep in check the multiplication of the insect tribes < which prey upon their fruits, etc. ( In Fail Blaat. < The Charleston correspondent of the j Columbia Register says the tirst "orig- \ inal package store" for selling liquor j in this State under the provisions of the recent decision of Judge Simonton J of the United States Court was opened ] there Thursday. J. S. Pinkussohn, as . agent of a New York lirm, imported one thousand eases of Kquor, via the t Clyde Line steamers. Tne goods were ( hauled through the streets, and, without being molested by the State constables, were lodged in a store room on King street, the city 2 leading < thoroughfare. The establishment was opened at once and began selling liipor in original packages. It con'.in- ] ued business throughout the day with J out trouble. Witnin the next few 1 days several other similar establish- ] meuts will be opened here. All the stuff sold today was in gallon pacKa 1 tres, but in a snort time packages containing pints and half pints of liquor j will be placed on sale. Exactly what < action is to be taken by the dispensary ; authorities in this connection is not j yet known. WAS WARNED OF DEATH. A. Carious Story that Comes from Jacksonville, Florida. A curious story has obtained a large circulation in Jacksonville, Fla., regarding the murder of Lieut William E Giubeu of the Jacksonville policw force, who was foully murdered in Springfield on May 28. Gruber, who was an unusally intelligent man. waa a firm believer in spiritualism. He was converted to his belief under very a. j.n curious circumstances, as iojiows: There ie a man namea H. A. Longshore who has a small upholstering establishment at 715 West Bay street. Longshore is a firm believer in spirit ualism and seeing Gruber pass daily j on his rounds finally became acquaint- 1 ed with the latter and in time tne two became good friends. Longshore subsequently began to talk spiritualism with Gruber, but at first the latter pooh-pooed this belief, but Longshore i seemed so earnest and conscientious ] that finally one day, when Longshore i asked Gruber to come to a''seanco," ; as a spirit named Dan Crowley was continually asking for him (Gruber), that the latter finally decided to go to i the seance and investigate. At this i meeting, which was held at the house < of a Mrs. Buchanan, near the corner of Adams and Catherine streets, Gru | oer came away very muen impressed, i What affectea him more was the fact < that at one of these seanes a spirit mes- : sage was received from a little daugh- ; ter who had died nearly 21 years ago. This link of communication between Gruber and his dead child made a < profound impression on Gruber, and it was known among his friends and ! the police force that the lieutenant i used to go frequently to Mrs. Buchanan's, and from a skeptic became a firm and enthusiastic believer in spiritualism. So strong was Lieutenant Gruber's faith in this belief that he frequently consulted the spirits in recard to certain murders, notable among1 which were the George, G-ato and Springfield baby murders. Now : here comes a remarkable statement which is absolutely -vouched for by certain people. On Friday before Lieut Gruber was killed, Gruber and Longshore paid a visit to Mrs. Buchan- < an's to attend a "seance." At that "seance" were several other people, i During the evening Gruber asked some questions of the medium, regarding tne Gato murder, and was told by the < medium, who was in a trance, that if Gruber wished to find the pistol t&at was used in the Gato murder, it could be found in the woods in Springtield, near the place where he was killed. The spirits, however, warned Gruber, "that they saw danger ahead," and to be very careful, ana not to so on the quest alone, and besides 'keep out of tne bushes,'and the spirit mysteriously hinted that somebody was desirous of lr?AnlrinKirti in fho hoor) Thifl nACCii. ble chance, as Gruber believed to find the pistol, and thereby obtain a clue to the murderer of Miss Gato made a deep impression on the later, and he agreed with Longshore for the two to get out together on the night of Thursday, April 38th, but on Wednesday night, April 27th, Gruber concluded to go out and investigate on his own hook, and it was on Wednesday night that he came to his untimely end. These particulars were not obtained from Longshore, but from a friend of Gruber's. Longshore refuses to talk about the matter. By Explosion of Fir? Works. A ma ten carelessly dropped Dy one of the workmen in the fireworks factory of M. Shure, at the corner of West VanBuren and Halsted streets, Chicago, caused a terrific explosion Wednesday night. It was shortly after the closing time of the factory and many of the workmen had gone home, otherwise the loss of life must have been very heavy. As it was a number of the employees were badly hurt and the flying rockets and candles struck several people who were passing on street cars and on the sidewalks. The force of the explosion was so great that nearly all the windows in the block were demolished, and the Shure building, which is a four story structure was badly damaged. Immediately following the explosion the building was abiaza from cellar to roof and the fire department had a desperate strugKc?f if in AThnoiiich. ing the flames. The building was almost entirely destroyed by the fire, however, and such portions of the large stock of fire works as had not been scattered throughout the neighborhood by ihe explosion were destroyed, causing a heavy loss. The ex plosion caused a wild panic in that portion of the city for a time. The , streets were crowded with people going to their homes and the street cars ; which passed the front of the building every minute were packed with passengers. The flying missiles struck a number of people on the cars and one man who was gazing into a store window fully 400 yards distant had his attention suddenly attracted to other matters by a rocket which hit ?M A Wa otr XTa /<\1 1 I11U1 a^UttlCijr 1U bUO uaua, JLLO iuij vu the sidewalk unconscious and was carried to the hospital before he was able to give his name. The majority of those injured have received but i trifling hurts and will be around within a day or two. The loss to the build- i ing and contents is estimated at $60,000. The Duty on fiice' In the United States Senate on Wednesday while the tariff bill was urwW discussion on the rice naraOT&Dh Allison, in charge of the bill, withdrew the committee amendments reducing the house rates, thus letting , the house rate stand. Mills moved to 3trika out the entire rice paragraph and substitute a new one placing a ( uniform duty of 40 per cant. ? d valorem on all grades of rice. It was re- , j jcted, yeas 19, nays 40. Five demo- . ;rats, Bacon, Clay, MoEaery, McLau- , rin and Tillman, and four populists, ( Allen, Butler, Heitfidld and Stuart yoted with the republicans in the neg- ? ative. The rice paragraph was then ( agreed to as it came from the house. A Very Rare Man. The Columbia State says on an excursion from Charlotte on Thursday ! was W. S. Nicholson of Rick Hill, ! who boasts that this was the first time he had ever been over 25 miles from ] home. Ha is 3S years old and was ] hr>rn at Fort Mill, but now lives in ! Rjck Hill, eight miles from his birth- : place. He never rode on a train un i til he was 21 years old, and last Octo < ber was the first tim? he had ever seen i an elephant. He called in The State i office to tell the thmgs he didg't know and was as proud of them as a great many are of the things they thin* they know. J V ===== i WEATHER ASD CROPS. THE CONDITION OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S FARMING INTLRE8T8. The Regular Weekly Bulletin of the j Weather Bureau Issued Holiday by Director Bauer?The General Outlook. The following is the weekly bulletin of the condition of the weather and . ? . . , crops iu mis a late issued last weet oy 8tate Observer Bauer: TEMPERATURE. . The temperature during the past week averaged about normal, ana at most places the range was not gnat, the nights having been seasonably warm arid the days comfortably cooL The average temperature for the week, deduced from 52 weekly means, was 76, and the normal for the same period is approximately 75. The highest was was 99 on the 4th at Gillison ville and the lowest 52 on the 1st at Liberty. RAINFALL. The week began with showers over cne northern counties, un xnursaay showery conditions again set in, ancl continued during the remainder of the week, reaching the coast section by Saturday, The rains were fairly well distributed, except that in the south central counties a few places did not receive enough rain, and in Chester and portions of nearby counties there was in places excessive rainfalL Lands were badly was tied in portions of Chester, Anderson, Fairfield, Laurens, Lexington, Union, Sumter and Kershaw, with injury to fields of corn and cotton. The smallest amount reported was 0.12 in. from Blackville, ' the largest 8.14 from Pinopolis, while the average of 54 measurements was 1.19 in.: the normal for this same time being approximately 1.12. Twenty-one measurements of lea than an inch were reported; 26 of from 1 to 2 -j inches; and seven with more than two \ inches. There was hail on May 31 at many ' places, and again on the 3d and 4tn from Laurens to Horry, but with a few local and limited exceptions the damage to crops was slight. There were a few short but violent wind storms but no injury of any materi* al importance resulted. The sunsihne averaged about 62 per. cent, of the possible and was considerably below the normal for the season. OEOPS. The past week was the most favorable one of the season and crops made rapid growth. The ground is now in excellent condition in respect to moiax _ _ a i * -M r\ lure except in portions 01 ucujujb, Pickens, Aiken, Edgefield, Lexington, Bamberg, Barnwell. Orangeburg. Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton ana Charleston counties, but even over those counties many places had enough rain, all the entire country some, with probably good raini since reports closed. The temperature has been more favorable with generally warmer nights and no sxcessiva heat during the day. Insect pests, too, are , not as active in doing damage to crops, and the entire crop situation is reprs sen ted by correspondents as tain* extremely favorable now and likely to continue so for some time. The condition of corn is not satis ? factory over the entire State although it has made good progress lately. Stands snmpwhat broken on hot torn lands where cut worms continue * to injure that that is just coining up after replanting. In the eastern counties corn is being "laid by" and here and there fields are in "silk and tassels." Fields are gener- . ally clean and mostly worked out. Some bottoms yet to plant. Cotton has made rapid advance and is generally in fine growing condition, although small for the season. Stands are reported nearly perfect over the entire State, and chopping out has made rapid progress where not previously completed. The plant looks -1 healthy and is but little infested by lice or other harmful insects. Fields are generally clear of grass, with very few contrary reports. Squares, or forms, are noted over the eastern and central counties. Last year cotton was blooming at this time. Qoq Tolow^ Knina rlamfi(VoH Kv AO??u? vvvdvu wv*"5 w/ dry weather retarded its growth. Some peas have been planted this week, but a number of correspondents report seed scarce. Tobacco has improved very mucn under the more favorable weather conditions which have prevailed and is doing well. Worms prevalent in Kershaw. Rice has generally a good stand although a few complaint* as to poor stand of late sown were received. Wheat is about ready to harvest and promises a good average yield, the rust seemingly has not injured it to any considerable extent. Oats harvest is in progress or is completed but the showery weather has not favored this work. Fall oats are turning out very well. Transplanting sweet potato slips is in active progress and is favored by the moist condition of the soil. Peaches are ripening, but the commercial crop is not of the finest quality. Other peaches are quite plentiful. & rapes fruiting well but in some counties are rotting. Wild berries plentiful Gardens are greatly improved and. vegetables plentiful. Squash bugs injuring melon vines in Bamberg county. Pastures reviving. The entire crop situation is enoourooinff at this timfl. From the national bulletin of lUj 31: "The week has been unfavorable to corn throughout the corn producing States being too cool for germination and growth, while complaints of poor stands are quite general." "The most unfavorable reports on cotton came from North Carolina and Tennessee, in the latter State a considerable area will be planted in corn. In northern Texas the crop is from two to three weeks late. Over southern Texas it is fruiting nicely and is generally well cultivated." Honks Roasted Alive, Twenty five Catholic Monks were recently roasted Dy the natives of the Phillipian Islands, against whom Spain is now conducting a merciless war. In consequence of cruelties practiced by the Spanish troops on the rebels or those suspecied of being in sympathy with the cause, the rebels in revenge perpetrated acts of cruelty on the helpless monks who came in their clutches. The customary mode of roasting pigs in the island is sticking a bamboo to a pig and then fastening it to an iron, roasting it over a slow fire. This was done to the monks, the ham hr>o beinc thrust through them while they were alive. ' 3