Abbeville Press
Established 1844. $2.00 the Year. Tri-Weetly.
Abbeville, S. C., Monday, March 7, 1921
Single Copies, Five Cents. 77th Year.
TWELVE MILL LEW
FOR COMING YEAR
GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES
APPROPRIATION BILL CARRY
ING TOTAL ALLOTMENT OF
SIX AND HALF MILLION DOL
LARS. REPORT OF FREE CON
FERENCE COMMITTEE QUICK
LY ADOPTED
Carrying a total appropriation for
state purposes of $6,534,925.82, and
a levy of 12 mills was brought from
free conference yesterday morning
adopted, ratified, signed by the gov
on?] law. all within a
KZX. 11V1 wuu i/vv*?*>v ??*V|
few moments after the measure had
been reingrossed.
The free conference committee,
composed of Representatives Sapp,
Leopard and Hughes and Senators
Christensen, Watkins and John
stone reached an agreement near
4 o'clock, but the typewriting of the
report and the engrossing of the bill
with the incident details kept the
measure from the two houses until
7:55 o'clock. At 8. o'clock both
houses adopted the free conference
report and the bill was immediately
ratified and sent to the governor for
his signature.
A levy of 11 1-2 mills is contained
in the bill for general state purposes
and the additional half mill for the
x? J-i i?: +V>^ +/v+ol
greater \^itauei, unugiag mt uw<?i
levy to 12 mills, the same as in 1920
excluding the two mill highway tax.
The act' says that not more than 11
1-2 mills shall be levied for general
purposes.
The fre5 conference committee
recfaced the bill to below the_ origi
nal house figure and materially cut
off the senate amendments. The
house bill provided for an appropri
ation of $6,563,061.71 and the sen
ate increased this to1 $6,734,361.02.
By these figures it is seen that the
masure was cut by $28,145.89 from
the original house bill and also indi
cating that the fight of the reduc
tionists was not in vain, despite the
* x xL-X 1.L ?
iact LiiiiL Liiey uieuiDcives wuuguv
SO.
As finally ratified the measure
provides for the raising of $5,378,
664 by the 11 i ' mill levy and $1,
052,545 by special revenue. Senator
Chirstensen explained yesterday
morning that the reason the levy is
11 1-2 mills in spite of the fact that
the ways and means committee pro
vided for a 11 mill levy In the house
bill was that sufficient, millage for
the total appropriated. The, house
bill was that the hpuse measure did
not carry a sufficient millage for
also anticipated the passage of the
gasoline and inheritance tax mea
sures, both of which were continued
until the next session.
Increase Over 1920
The bill is an increase of $447,
784.43 over 1920, but carries exact
ly the same levy, excluding the two
mill highway tax. This is made pos
sible by approximately $50,000,000.
additional taxable property 'being
placed on the tax books of the state
during xne past year.
In anticipation of the taxes to be
collected the measures provide that
the state" financial board, composed
^ of the governor, the comptroller
general and the state treasurer,
may borrow money to run the state
government, and also the Citadel ap
propriation of one-half mill, not to
exceed $5,050,000 and not to pay
above fhe legal rate of interest.
The two mill highway tax is sus
npndpri for vear as was nricnallv
provided for by the ways and means
committee, but the senate amend
ment giving counties having bond
issues the privilege to retain the two
mill tax was adopted.
In the legislative department $100
extra for the engrossing clerks was
provided because of the extra work
and the pages were all increase^
from $125 to $200 and all the labor
ers were likewise advanced from
$125 to $200.
The recording clerk in the secre
tary of states office was advanced
(Continued on Page Four)
House and Senate Agree to Discon
tinue Balloting, Ends in Dead
lock?Governor Cannot
Make Appointment
Tho lnct. ha lint to hp hed at this
session of the general assembly in
the election of an associate justice
of the state supreme court to fill the
unexpired term of the' late George
W. Gage was taken Friday morning,
the house and senate yesterday after
noon agreeing to postpone further
balloting until next year.
This action was taken in the adop
tion by both houses of a concurrent
resolution, introduced by Representa
tive W. D. Barnett of Columbia and
rings down the curtain on one of
the most dramatic election contests
ever witnessed in the joint assembly.
Jesse F. Carter of Bamberg took thV
lead on the first ballot over a field of
ten candidates when the balloting
was opened February 18 and for 37
conseoative ballots held first place,-)
only to be displaced on the next to
the last ballot by M. L. Bonham of
Anderson. Mr. Carter went ahead
again on the.final roll call, the bal
lotmg ending with him leading by
the narrow , margin of . two votes.
The deadlock, which occasioned the
abandonment of the daily balloting,
had existed almost from the initial
roll call, the gradual withdrawal of
candidates and the race wore on ser
ving, only to leave the decision of the
contest apparently as far removed
as when the race was first begun.
Judge Hayne F. Rice of Aiken was
the first candidate to leave the race,
his name being withdrawn just be
fore the roll call t>tegan for the fourth
ballot. The other withdrawals bime:
Judge . W. F. Townsend of Columbia
at the end^ the fourth ballot, Judge
Edward Mclvet of Cheraw and Judge
Ernest Moore of Lancaster at the end
of the 12th ballot. Prof. E. Marion
Rucker of Columbia at the end of
the 14th ballot and Judge Thomas
S. Sease 01 Spartanburg at the end
of the 15th ballot. Four \candidates
remained in the race when the bal
loting closed Friday: Jesse F. Carter
of Bamberg with 48 votes; M. L.
Rnnham of AnHprson. 4fi ? Senator J.
Hardin Marion of Chester, 30, and (
Judge S. W. G. Shipp of Florence, 24
The adoption of the resolution
leaves the state suprem^'court with
the heaviest docket of recent years
and no way to fill the vacancy occa
sioned by the death of Associate Jus
tice Gage. Governor Cooper can not
appoint a man to fill the vacancy,
he said Friday, and the court will
be forced to handle the work before
it with only four members. This,
however, will probably cause little
inconvenience in the hearing of cases
in that three members of the court
constitute a working majority and
may transact all business. The state
constitution provides that the gov
ernor may fill the vacancy when th^
unexpired term to be so filled is for
a period of less than a year. Asso
ciate Justice Gaere's term would not
have expired until August 1, 1922.
Mr. Barrett introduced his resolu
tion in the house some time ago but
the proposal was sidetracked to al
low the house to consider and pass
a resolution introduced by Julius S.
Mclnnes to provide that the joint
assembly meet and continue ballot
ing until an election could be had.
This resolution came up for consid
eration in the seuate early Friday
afternoon and was killed by an over
whelming majority. Mr. Barnett's
resolution was adopted by the house
Friday afternoon after short debate
and was immediately sent to the sen
ate to also be considered and adopted
?xi_ - 1-- x. j: 1!
Wiin only two uisseiiwiijf vuies.? me
State.
THE COTTON MARKET
The futures market was at a prac
tical standstill today, the final
figures being 10 to 15 points lower.
. Eleven cents was the best price
offered for cotton locally today.
EMPLOYEES QUIT
ON ATLANTA RY.
v
FIFTEEN HUNDRED GO OUT ON 1
STRIKE SATURDAY AT 11
ACTIVITY OF SYSTEM IN
STATE PRACTICAL PARALY*
SIS AS RESULT, OF WALKQUT
?TRAINS CAN'T MOVE
Atlanta, March 6.?With approxi
mately 1,500 of the 2,00tf union em- t
ployees of the Atlanta, Birmingham j
& Atlantic railroad out on a strike i
pallprf at 11 r>'rlnf?k KatiirHflv in nro- c
test against a reduction of wages.
Judge S. H". Sibley in the United
States district court late today hand
ed down an order declaring in effect
that the wage reduction order of Feb
ruary 28 would be given "no other or
further qffect than it ought to have by
law under the factors which may be
established at the hearing already set
for March 26."
The judge's order was taken to
mean that the question of wage re
duction is dependent on tne outcome
of hearings before him set for March
26. Meanwhile reports indicated that
no trains were being operated on the
road, which serves many Alabama
and Georgia towns between Birming
ham, Atlanta and Brunswick.
Judge Sibley declared no question
of jurisdiction had been raised be
fore him and that the claims of the
brotherhood that the United States
railway ljtbor board had exclusive
jurisdiction had not been presented
to him for consideration. "The order
ol JP eoruary zs putting into enect a
wage reduction effective March 1 fol
lowed a practice common in adminis
trative cases and does not prejudice
the rights of any one or cut off a
hearing, but facilitates it for all who
desire to be heard," the order contin
ued.
In conclusion the court ordered
Col. B. L. Bugg, receiver, to "take
steps to protect property in his hands
tc avoid incurring liability to shippers
and others until' further order of this
court."
"It is hoped'the employees will not
by refusing to operate the road fur
ther jeopardize their own interests
and complicate their rights by ter
minating their status as employees"
the order said.
Both sides issued statements last
night, Colonel Bugg declaring that as
receiver "he is not a party to any
case pending before the railway labor
board," and the men contending that
reduction of wages under less than
4-U ^
uy uuya nutitc viuidicu me uauapui
tation act.
No effort will be made to maintain
train service until a check up has
shown how many employees remained
in the service, it was learned at the
general offices here. Indications weje
that practically all shop employees
had. quit, but that some 400 to 500
employees in the general offices here,
kostly clerks, had remained on duty.
Morris Brandon of counsel for the
road issued a statement saying the
Newlands act of 1913, which require?
20 days' notice of a wage cut, ap
plies to only 20 per cent of the road's
employees.
There was a possibility tonight, it
was reported that if Judge Sibley
should construe the wage reduction
order to be not actually in effect
pending a hearing before him on ju
risdiction that the strike might be
called off, but nothing definite had
developed tonight. A mass meeting
of all railroad unions will be held
here Monday to discuss the entire
situation on the Alabama, Birming
ham & Atlantic.
HOW IT ALL HAPPENED
The two basketball teams from the
-High school went over to Clinton
Thursday and met defeat at the hands
of the two Clinton teams. Son Bill
knows exactly how it all happened
for he tells us that "when they got q
there, they treated them to all sorts
of drinks then Abbeville took dinner a
with the Clinton team and they had h
more to eat than they had had in a p
lonjr time and after dinner Abbeville 1;
couldn't run at all!" F
LIQUOR QUESTION
AGAIN DISTURBS
FURTHER RESTRICTION FOR
DISTRIBUTION. PLANS NOW
DRAWN UP?REGULATIONS
CONTEMPLATE ELIMINATION
OF . WHOLESALE DEALER
FOREIGN QUESTION . ENTERS
Washington, March 6.?Regula
;oins further restricting the distri
bution of liquor?now confined to
nanufacturers and wholesale drug
gists?have been drawn up and
iwait the approval of the new ad
ninistrationT
The regulations as drafted by
jrohibition officials would limit
" I
nanufacturers to sale of their own
jroducts and forbid them to dispose
>f other manufacturers containing
ilcohol. Such a step in the opinion
)f prohibition officials would great
y restrict the sale, of intoxicants
ind by cuttng off the slight latitude
low allowed manufacturer?, coupled
vith the eliminaton of the wholesale
iquor dealer," would practically
imit the distribution of liquor to
wholesale druggists.
Protests against' th^ total elimina
ion of the wholesale liquor dealers
lowever, have been received toy the
reasury from representative^ of the
Catholic, ^Episcopal and Lutheran
lenominations. These denominations
lave been accustomed, spokesmen
or the churchmen hdve explained,
o purchase the wines used for sac
amental purposes from certain
lealers who provided them with
irine of a standard quality.
Churchmen Protest
With the elimination of the deal
rs, churchmen declared their source
f supply has been cut- off. As a
emedy thep rohibition authorities
ave beenxasked to permit reputable
ealers who have been in business
ltfre than three years to. continue
tie distribution of sacremental
fines 'as an exception to the general
egulations now in force. Early this
reek-* hearing on the matter is to
e held by the internal revenue bu
eau.
Disposition of the question of
whether beer may be prescribed for
ledical purposes by physicians, pro
ibition officals said, also will come
p for early consideration 'by the
ew administration. An opinipn is
nderstood to have been prepared
or the treasury by the department
f justice which would permit the
se of malt liquors for medical pur
oses similarly with wine or vinuous
quors as contrasted with the re
trictions of the prohibition act on
whiskey. Use. of beer is opposed,
owever, the prohibition enforce
ient authorities maintained that by
ermittin^ manufacture for medical
urposes the already perplexing
roblem of handling the breweries
rould be made more difficult.
The attitude of the new adminis
ration towards the breweries is
waited with interest by their pres
-4. ? * 1
ni eiiiurcerneiit umuiais m view vn
he steady campaign Commissioner
Cramer has been waging in various
ections of the country against beer
ontajning more than the legal
mount of alcohol and the numerous
eizures of property which have
>een#made by the government in
he past few months.
Foreign Question Enters
/Another question for the new
leads of the department to decide is
he matter of trans-shipment of
iquor via this country when shipped
rom one foreign country to anoth
r. On the protest of the British em
>assy the opinion rendered by the
lepartment of justice holding trans
hipments of liquor illegal and ves
els touching at American ports
vith liquor aboard to be violators
f the prohibition laws has been re
urned for review. Meanwhile, bo^h
luestions remain in statu quo.
In connection with the shipping
ngle to the prohibition, some pro
lifcition officials have suggested the
ossibility of a new policy regarding
iquor on American ships. Under the
iresent law as defined, by the de
GROUNDS OPENED
AT HIE HOUSE
Crowds Flocking in Blue, Red
Green and East Rooms Also
Unlocked for Curious
Washington, March 5.?Gates, to
the White House grounds, closed to
the public since the United States
severed relations with Germany early
in 1917, were opened late today un
der the first order issued by Warren
G. Harding as president of the Unit
ed States.
The new chief executive shortly
after the luncheon which followed his
inauguration went to the executive
offices as his first official act ordered
the opening' of the gates and the
witnarawai <?i rne ponce wno nave
stood behind them for more than
four years. Another order opened the
non-residential portions of the White
House, including the famous Blue,
Red, Green and East rooms, to any
visitor having a pass signed by a
member of congress or other recog
nized government official.
Immediately after the gates swung
open at 5 o'clock the crowd which had
waited beyond the high iron fence all
day, hoping to catch glimpses of the
retiring and incoming presidents,
thronged in, after a slight hesitation,
due perhaps to uncertainty as to the
meaning of the action of th?. police.
Passerby, including hundreds of
government clerks, who, coming to
Washington during the war, had
been forced to view the executive
mansion from a distance, joined the
hundreds inside. News of the issu
ance of the order spread about the
city and inaugural visitors and Wash
ingtonians added a visit to the White
House grounds to the list of history
making events they had witnessed
during the day.
Not content with waging about the
grounds, many crowded on to the
front portico until it took on the ap
pearance of the famous "front porch"
of the old Harding home in Marion
during the campaign. Some, more in
quisitive and more* curious than
others, .peeped into the windows,
while at times a half dozen or so
had their faces pressed against the
glass in ^he door leading from the
portico to the central corridor in the
executive mansion.
f
Several of those who had gained
what seemed to be a choice hold on
the front poi'tico managed to squeeze
themselves within when a delegation
f?om the Hamilton, club of Chicago
was received early in the evening
by President Harding in vthfe eafet
room. Most ot tne visitors to inej
grounds, however, maintained a re
spectful distance from the executive
mansion itself and at no time were
enacted the scenes of Jackson's in
auguration in 1829, when admirers of!
"Old Hickory" broke into the man
sion, smashed furniture and tracked
mud over thfc carpet and floors.
The stream of visitors to the ex
ecutive grounds continued late to
night.
partment of justice prohibition fol
lows American ships beyond the
three mile limit and the sale of in
toxicants on them is prohibited.
Strong protest against this interpre
tation, however, has been made by
shipping interests and Chairman
Benson of the shipping board has
informed the house that such a pOji
n^r ie rnrnviniio frt mPf
chant marine. For these reasons, offi
cials asserted, the new administra
tion will probably give careful con
siderati'on to the matter of divorcing
liquor from ships.
ATTENDING THE
MISSIONARY MEETING
Mrs. W. F. Pe/rin, Miss Bessie Lee
Cheatham and Miss Orene Mcllwaine
are in Greenville this week represent
ing thi? Abbeville Presbyterian church
at the meeting of the Layman's Mis
s'onary meeting.
LEGISLATURE HAS
ADJOURNED SINE DIE
> N
END COMES ABOUT HALF AF
TER EIGHT O'CLOCK SUNDAY
MORNING?FINAL NIGHT OF
NINETEEN TWENTY-ONE SES
SION NOT UNLIKE MANY IN
BYGONE YEARS?RUN TWO
WEEKS OVER TIME
Alter Deing in sesson ior two
weeks over the usual 40 day session
and going through the accustomed,
jam and rush at -the last moments,
at least on th'e part of the senate,
and being characterized largely by
fights to stand still anct to keep
from retrogressing, the general as
sembly adjourned sine die yesterday
morning at 8:27 o'clock
The closing hours were marked
by only the necessary ratification pe
riods and the usual lortg wait on the
free conference report. When the
adjournment was taken five mem
bers of the houfee were present and
seven senators were in their seats.
Sunday morning after 1 o'clock the
senate by one ^motion cleared its 24
pages of statewide bills from the
calendar and began the waiting pe
riod for the free conference renort
on the appropriation bill, doing noth-I
ing in the wee small hours but ratify
a number of acts passed during the
closing days. The house, having
largely completed its work earlier in
the session, had nothing to do but
wait on the senate, and consequently
spent all Saturday and Saturday
night in somewhat light legislation.
Thfe free conference committee
took the appropriation bill early in
the night and did not complete its
work until around 4 o'clock yester
day morning. The engrossing of the
measure was not completed until near
7:30 o'clock. '
After ratifying the acts and com
pleting the necessary action on the
appropriation measure, the president
of the senate sent a message to the
house notifying that body that the
senate had completed its work and
was ready to adjourn sine die. The
house, or the the five members present
was in the senate chafhber at the
time and Mr. Barnett announced that
iL. 1 J I o-1 j* A
me nouse accepted wie nonce. a
committee was. then appointed to
notify the governor that the general
assembly was about to adjourn. The
committee reported back that "every
thing was 0. K." and. that the gov
ernor had no further messages to
transmit to the assembly.
As to the session in its entirety
very little progressive legislation was
enacted, the assembly spending a
considerable portion of its time in
defending existing institutions and
fighting back the wave to abolish
and^cripple. Bills to abolish the tax
commission, the board of public wel
fare, the highway commission, the
department of agriculture, the public
service commission and other such
measures consumed many hours-and
days of the legislature, especially of
the senate.
None of the measures recommend- *
ed by the joint legislative committee
on taxes, headed by Senator Marion,
were enacted. The proposed consti
tutional convention was killed, the
bill to place a tax on| gasoline and
oils and the measure taxing inheri
tancey ana gifts- were continue.1 un
til the next session. The income tax
law was introduced, but never got
as far as the senate. It was held up
in the house. It is true that the leg
islation recommended by the tax com
mittee was not pushed, except the
inheritance and gasoline tax bills,
both these being lost in the general
slash to continue late Saturday night.
Not more than a dozen real acts
affecting the state as a whole were
passed and ratified. 0^, course num
erous ones were enacted amending
certain laws or referring to no im
portant matters.
Other measuies of more than usual
mportance are the statewide stock
law, abolishing free range in Sou:h
Carolina forever after December 31
of this year and the raising of tha
age of consent to 16 years.
\