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fwapsi and |acts. ? The United States senate on Wednesday adopted an amendment to the army bill, prohibiting the sale of beer or other intoxicating alcoholic liquors upon any premises used for military purposes by the United States. The army bill is still under consideration, and ic is not expected that a final vote will be taken before today. ? Says a New Orleans special of Wednesday: "At the meeting of the Camp of the Army of Tennessee, United Confederate Veterans, the strongest of the Confederate associations in New Orleans, a resolution offered by General Stephen Chalaron, commander of the camp, protesting against the invitation of President McKinley to the Confederate reunion to be held iu Memphis next spring, was unanimously adopted. General Chalaron explained that it was understood the president would be invited to Memphis, and the resolution was intended simply as a warning to Memphis not to do it." ? The United States supreme court Is still engaged In hearing argument on the question as to whether jrorto Rico is foreign territpry or a part of the United States. The issue is whether or not the government authorities have the right to levy and collect duties on articles imported from Porto Rico to New York. Mr. F. R. Coudert, representing the plaintiffs against the government, claims that under the Paris treaty Porto Rico became a part of the United States, and must be treated the same as any other part. Solicitor General Richards representing the government, claims that the constitution does not cover Porto Rico until congress extends it there. As to whether duties may be collected on Porto Rlcan products will depend upon which view may be taken by the court. ? Secretary Hoot, in explaining to the senate committee on Tuesday, the necessity for immediate action on the army bill, said: "If we do not get these men there we will have to abandon large portions of the islands, where we have in good faith been trying to do what we professed we meant to do, and that is to give the Filipinos the best self-government possible; and where we have got municipal organizations? that is, the basis of government?the entire country is included in the municipalities. We have officers, Filipinos, in those municipalities, who have taken offices and are friendly, and we have to protect them. If we withdraw our garrisons in the present state of affairs they will be left defenceless; they will be murdered; fhelr property will be destroyed; and the United States will be brought into disgrace, and justly so, because it will have proved faithless to the most solemn obligations." ? A notable speech was delivered in the senate last Monday by Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts. Addressing the senate on the amendment of the military committee, striking out the provision for a veterinary corps, he dis cussed principally in the form of a colloquy with Senator Bacon, of Georgia, the Philippine question and the necessity of an army of 100,000 men. In concusion he drew a brilliant word picture of the commercial future of the United States, declaring that the trade conflict with Europe already begun could result only in the commercial supremacy of this country over the entire world. In this industrial conflict he apprehended no danger from a material contest with any nation of the world, but he urged the necessity for a strong and scientifically organized and powerful navy in order that the United States might be prepared to defend its rights against any possible foe. The speech created a profound impression. ? Says a Havana dispatch of Wednesday: The commission of experts appointed to study yellow fever, and if possible ascertain its exact nature and antidote, has been far more successful than could be hoped. The commission is headed by Major Walter Reed, chief surgeon United States army, and has been making its investigations at Camp Columbia, in the vicinity of Havana, since last July. The commission has discovered beyond all doubt the long sought yellow fever germ. It is found to be an animal germ and not bacteria, as it is generally supposed to be. The announcement of the discovery will not be made officially, until the finding of the commission has been reported to the surgeon general of the army, who ordered the Investigation. The proof in every way is conclusive. The absolute correctness of the mosquito bite theory has also been solved to the satisfaction of hundreds of Havana physicians, who from time to time, have witnessed experiments here. A few days ago the commission experimentd with a monkey, and allowed it to be bitten by an infected mosquito. The monkey developed yellow fever and died within a very short time. The investigation is still in progress. A radical change in the treatment of yellow fever, as well as its ultimate eradication, is one of the probable results of these new discoveries. ? By a vote of 165 to 102, the house of representatives, on Tuesday, adopted the reapportionment plan proposed by the Burleigh bill, which increases the membership of the house during the next decade from 357, the present membership, and the membership proposed by the committee or Hopkins bill, to 386. The result was largely brought about by the influence of certain senators from several of the larger northern states who threw the weight of their influence in the scale in favor of the larger membership. When it became apparent that these factors were at work against his bill Mr. Hopkins attempted to compromise by giving an additional representative each to North Dakota, Colorado and Florida; but his adversaries refused to compromise after complete victory was assured. The Crumpacker proposition to recommit the bill for the purpose of ascertaining what states abridged the right to vote to an extent which would entail reduced representation was defeated 130-110. There was no roll-call on the vote, but a number of Republicans voted with the Democrats. Under the bill as passed no state loses a representative and the following make gains: II linois, New York and Texas three each; New Jersey and Pennsylvania two each; Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, North Dakota, i Washington, West Virginia and Wis- i consin one each. The bill provides thajt whenever a new state is admitted, the representatives assigned to it shall be in addition to the number provided i in the bill. It also adds a proviso, never hitherto incorporated in a reapportionment bill, to the effect that con- i gressional districts, in addition to being "contiguous," shall also be "com- i pact." States which are allowed addi- : tional representatives by the bill shall, ; by its terms, elect them at large until the legislature shall redistrict the i state ?he \|orhvUle (Swqitiwr. : YORKVILLE^S. C?: SATURDAY, JANUARY 12,1901. Although no change has been made 1 in the representation of South Carolina 1 by the re-apportionment bill, which has just passed the house, the provision 1 which requires compact districts com posed of contiguous territory, will prob- ] ably make re-districting absolutely 1 necessary. 5 Governor McSweeney discusses the j question of child labor In factories in a way that indicates that he has been J studying it. That he is unable to offer a recommendation that he believes to be calculated to cure the evils complained of is not surprising. The prob- \ lem is certainly a most difficult one. j The Enquirer is in receipt of engravings showing the proposed admin- ( istration building and cotton palace to ^ be erected at the South Carolina Inter- , State and West Indian exposition. The J buildings indicate that the operations in connection with the exposition are to ^ be conducted on a magnificent scale. I An Omaha dispatch to the Washing- j ton Post tells a story of unfriendliness , between Bryan and Tillman, alleged to ( have developed as the result of Till- j man's criticism of Bryan for the conduct of his campaign. The truth of the t dispatch is not credited by Tillman's { friends in Washington, who claim that ( the senator's relations with the late ( Democratic candidate for the presiden- j cy continue most cordial. j ? t Montague White, the representative ? of the South African republic in New j York, says the peace talk now being in- s dulged in, amounts to nothing. He is not surprised that Boers who volunta- ( rily surrendered to the British are anx- t ious for their brethren to quit fighting ( so they can get back to their farms; t but he has no idea that their desires t are getting the slightest consideration s at the hands of the patriots. He thinks that DeWet, Botha and Stein will fight it out to the last ditch. The following from the Gaffney Ledger, of Tuesday, is quite sensible: It is tiresome to see in almost every newspaper you pick up the announcement that it has made special arrangements with Mr. W. J. Bryan to club with The Commoner. The truth is that the offer to club was sent to almost every paper in the United States and the same terms were accorded each paper. The Ledger never clubs. Its purpose is stand or fall strictly on its own merits, and it lays hold of no man's coat tail?not ever Mr. Bryan's. There is nothing in this clubbing business for the local paper. It is simply working for the other fellow and we prefer to expend our surplus energy as well as any surplus cash that may come our way, on our own paper. Although not surprised at the action of the house in extending the time for the payment of taxes to March 1, The Enquireh is just a little disappointed. There has never yet been any real ne- , cessity for a tax extension, and we j have always considered such action as being unbusinesslike and unfair. It has grown to be a custom among many large taxpayers to send in their taxes j by means of checks, with the under- ^ standing that if the tax time is ex- , tended the checks must not be present- ' ed. It Is understood that this custom , obtains in many counties of the state. , The government is thus kept out of its \ money for the benefit of people most J able to pay up promptly, while smal! taxpayers, unable to take risks, have to j scrape up the cash and pay within the j original limit for fear of being sub- j jected to penalties. It is sincerely hoped that the senate will refuse to agree to the house resolution, and that the general assembly will finally take ^ such action as will irrevocably fix the time for the payment of taxes. ( - % - t Dispatches of the past few weeks < have been telling of remarkable results i that have been obtained in desperate ' cases with the chloride of sodium, or i salt cure. Ex-Mayor Hewitt, of New ] York, who is in the seventy-ninth year i of his age, was considered to be < at the point of death a few weeks l ago. His physicians had given him ] up, uiuii <x X" I eiiuu ynj sitian luunu for him in a salt of sodium?solution of i common table salt?that has since I ' been termed an elixir of life. The ex- i mayor was so benefitted by the solu- i tion, along with a combination of glyc- i erine, that he is now considered to have i taken a new lease of life, bidding fair to ; live for many years to come. A Wash- i ington dispatch of Wednesday says 1 that the life of Representative Neville, : of Nebraska has been saved by the ad- i ministration of hyperderrnic injections i of chloride of sodium. He had been re- i duced almost to the point of death on i account of hemorrhages of the lungs, i The subject is very interesting; but it i is not new. Most of the readers of The j Enquirer will remember that a few < years ago a Negro died near Zadok < from loss of blood, occasioned by a se- ( vere wound with an axe. A few days i J afterward there was printed an interview ith Dr. Miles Walker, of Yorkville, in which the doctor explained that the Negro's life could easily have been saved had means been taken to inject, as a substitute for the lost blood, a solution consisting of about teaspoonful of common salt, to a quart of water. Dr. Walker had used the salt cure previously, and has used it with success on more than one occasion since. He made no pretense, however, to any original discoveries in the matter. What he said to The Enquirer was said in a matter of fact way that carried with it the presumption that every physician was thoroughly familiar with the subject. These facts make it all the more difficult for The Enquirer to understand why the papers should now be exploiting this information as a new discovery. The matter is intensely interesting; but there is certainly nothing new about it. > ? rnr ftAtirnunmo UPCCAPC inc. buvtnnun o mcoonut. Governor McSweeney's annual message to the general assembly, last Tuesday, easily comes up to the high standard that bis excellency has already laid down for himself in previous state papers. It gives the situation of affairs in South Carolina fully and intelligently, and contains some very sensible suggestions upon which valuable improvements may be based. ' In the outset of his message, the governor calls attention to the great progress that the world has made in the past hundred years, and that South Carolina has made during the past 10 years. He is gratified with the signs of progress everywhere apparent, and refers to an increase of $4,245,695 in taxible values during the past year, which values, however, he correctly thinks ire not nearly as great as they would tiave been had all the property that should pay taxes been listed on the tax aooks. He thinks there is need for re vision of our tax assessment laws. The financial statement shows receipts and disbursements amounting to 53,760,452. This includes the sum of 5625,438.96 on hand at the end of the pear. The governor strongly recommends :he refunding of the 37 or 38 bonds that vere stolen from the old State bank by Sherman's army. He calls attention to :he fact that the courts have decided :hat the bonds belong to the bank. The jonds have never been paid and the tfatute of limitation will operate as a jar to their being presented by other parties. There is no question in his nind that the honor of the state reluires that the amount of the bonds be jaid to the receiver of the bank. In discussing the educational quesion. Governor McSweeney calls especal attention to the fact that inadejuate school facilities in the country is causing a concentration of population 'rom the country into the towns. He hinks that something should be done o check this tendency if possible, and iuggests as a remedy, local taxation 'or the benefit of better common ichools. "The question of child labor in our cotton mills is one that has been atracting a great deal of attention recently, and properly so. Conditions in his state have changed very much in he last few years. "We are no longer >imply an agricultural people. With he rapid growth in manufacturing enwa ora qIvoq^u q 1 qrp'A mn.n ,Cl pi lOCO ?? t U1 W> VU.V4J W? .f. lfacturing state. The relation beween the labor that is employed in hese enterprises and the employes is lot merely one of master and servant, jut there are rights, and privileges ind duties, obligations and opportuni:ies, on both sides which should be carefully guarded. There has been no conflict between employer and laborer n this state and nothing should be lone to disturb the amicable relations vhich now exist. Government recoglizes the fact that it is the duty of the drong to care for and protect the weak, [t is certainly the right and privilege if government to provide for the in3pection of any and all enterprises or corporations deriving their life from the state and to see that they do not impose upon the weak. Of course this should be done with proper regard for u ~ "irrkfo s\f onrnnro 11 nn <a Lite pi upci Ly ilguio \Ji. w? ? There is no doubt the employment and constant labor of children of tender ape In our factories is injurious to them and will result in untold injury in the future. To interfere with the government of the family by legislation is langerous. And on the other hand unless something is done to protect the tender children of vampire parents who spend their time in idleness and live off the labor of their little children who ire required to work in our mills from year to year without the advantages of 3chool, the situation for the future becomes alarming. To force these children out of the mill and make no provision for their attendance upon school, but to allow them to spend their time In idleness on the streets presents almost as alarming an aspect as to permit them to-labor. In a great many of our mills the officers and managers bave provided schools and teachers and libraries and churches at the expense of the stockholders, and some of them will not employ children under 12 years of age, and they require the parents of such children to send them to school. This is the tendency in all the mills in this state. These children should be protected, but it is not well that they should be idle, and I doubt the wisdom of a rigid law laid down by the legislature prohibiting absolutely their employment. It would be better rather that all children between the ages of 7 and 13 years, whose parents or guardians work in a textile manufactory. siiouiu De requirea iu aneuu otimui during the school term, if this can be clone under our constitution without extending compulsory education to the state. This would permit them during the vacation to relieve older sisters or brothers and give them a little rest and not take the means of support from Ihe family, and at the same time accomplish the end sought?the protection and education of the children of the mill districts. Itut better to have a prohibitory law as to child labor than that nothing should be done for the protection of these children. The mill owners themselves, realize the danger of child labor and are doing what they can to force attendance upon schools and to keep the children out of the mills, and a law making attendance up- 1 on school compulsory would have their 3 co-operation and accomplisn desired re- < suits. With our present manufactur- i ing interests and their constant increase, this becomes a serious question < and deserves your most earnest consid- 1 eration. It should be considered with- ] out prejudice or passion and by coun- j seling with those who are interested I t am sure a wise solution can be reach- ] ed." 1 Tharo to nntMrvor nf OCnpHfll inlDOrt- 1 ance in the discussion of the dispensary question, except the recommendation that county boards of control be abolished and that their duties be devolved upon county supervisors and the mayors of towns in which dispensaries are located. The sections devoted to the hospital for the insane, the penitentiary and the institute for the blind, give comprehensive summaries of the condition of these institutions. The progress and improvement in the state militia is described as very gratifying. The governor thinks that special courts, to take care of accumulated litigation have proved too expensive, and that there should be an increase in the number of judicial circuits. Attention is called to the number of insurance companies doing business in this state, together with the vast amount of premiums being paid to them, and the creation of the office of insurance examiner is recommended. The governor calls attention at length to the value and Importance of a good geological survey of the state, and he unhesitatingly recommends the! appropriation of $50,000 for the benefit 1 of the South Carolina Inter-State and West Indian exposition. The concluding portion of the message is devoted to the discussion of the operations of the sinking fund commis -a xu. -x-x. i -J T.V^ sion ana me siaie uuaiu ui iieami. important recommendations are made as to both. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. South Carolina Representatives Considering the Welfare of the People. The house and senate of South Carolina convened in annual session in Columbia last Tuesday at noon, and proceeded at once to organize for business. The house began getting things in shape by unanimously selecting Mr. Altamont Moses, of Sumter, as temporary chairman. All the representativeselect save E. B. Ragsdale, of Pairfield, and H. H. Woodward, of Horry, answered to their names on roll call, and the members were sworn into office In groups. Messrs. W. F. Stevenson, of Chesterfield, Francis H. Wesson, of Richland, and George E. Prince, of Anderson, were nominated as candidates for speaker. Mr. Stevenson was elected on the first ballot, the vote standing, Stevenson, 73; Prince, 26; and Weston, 17. Messrs. Beamguard, Elder and Haile voted for Stevenson, and Mr. de Loach for Mr. Weston. E Mr. T. C. Harner, of Marlboro, was elected clerk of the house with 78 votes, against 41 for J. Walter Gray. Mr. J. F. Wilson, of Lancaster, was v elected sergeant-at-arms: with 65 votes t on the third ballot. c Capt. J. S. Withers was unanimously elected reading clerk. There was no inclination to complete the work of organization during Tuesday and there was an adjournment until Wednesday. IN THE SENATE. The senate, composed of a large majority of holdovers, completed its reorganization in short order. After prayer by Chaplain G H. Waddell, Senator John C. Sheppard, of Edgefield, was elected president pro tempore. General R. R. Hemphill was reelected clerk without opposition. The 8 candidates for sergeant-at-arms were e Colonel John T. Gaston, of Columbia; Mr. J. Fred Schumpert, of Newberry; c and Capt. E. A. Crawford, of York. * The result of the first battle was: Gaston, 17; Schumpert, 15; Crawford, 5. * Schumpert was elected on the second * ballot. Mr. W. H. Stewart was re elected reading clerk. Rev. G. H. "Waddell declined re-election as chaplain, 1 and Rev. S. H. Zimmerman was chosen in his stead. Retiring Lieutenant-Governor Scarborough announced the following appointments by Lieutenant-Governor Tillman: Assistant clerk, R. M. McCown; journal clerk, M. L. Clark; bill clerk, E. S. Dingle; doorkeeper, J. A. White, gallery; J. C. Ragan, C. F. Holmes, downstairs; pages, Halsey, Fox, Willie Teague; mall clerk, R. J. Parks; porter, H. D. Butler; keeper of president's room, L. B. McCracken; laborers, Jack Pressly, Albert Nance. The senate appoints its own committees, and having agreed upon the same, Monday night, had the list read and confirmed. Senator Brice is a member of the committees on claims and grievances, Federal relations and incornoratiOliC. The first bill introduced in the senate ' was that of Senator Marshall, of Ri' hla'ui. relating to child labor in cotton factories. IN THE HOUSE. The house completed its reorganisation on Wednesday; but committee appr (laments were not made. Josh Ashley introduced a resolution to extend the time for the payment cf taxes to March 1. The resolution went on the calendar without reference 10 a I UU'IiUHCtr. ? Inasmuch as the committees had not t yet had the opportunity to get to work, ^ there was but little to do during the ? day. i IN TUB SENATE. g The senate was in session but 30 mill- a utes. The re-apportionment bill by t Senator Shepperd was the most impor- j tant introduced. It leaves the repre- t sentation in most of the counties as it a has been. The counties which will each j gain one member under this reappor- a tionment will be Spartanburg, Lexing- s ton, Aiken and Greenwood. The counties which lose one member each are j ICdgeileld, Beaufort, Charleston and f Berkeley. There are no other changes. ^ The bill was read and referred to the t committee on privileges and elections. s IN THE HOUSE. C The tirst business taken up Thursday a was Josh Ashley's resolution to extend o the time for the payment of taxes to March 1. Some little opposition was ieveloped, but the resolution passed its second reading by a good majority. Speaker Stevenson announced his committee appointment. The York nembers were assigned as follows: Beamguard?ways and means; Haile? igriculture, commerce and manufac:ures; Elder?Claims, (chairman); de Loach?military and railroads. J. H. CVilson was made chairman of the ways and means comi-.Htee; T. W. Bacot of the judiciary committee and T. F. Williams of the committee on incorjorations. There was a joint session of the louse and senate to listen to the publication of the vote for governor and ieutenant governor. McSweeney's vote was 46,457 and Tillman's was 46,362. IN THE SENATE. Senator Sheppard introduced a concurrent resolution fixing Tuesday, Feb-uary 15 as the day for balloting in the :wo houses for a United States senator :o succeed Senator Tillman, whose present term of office expires March 4. Senator Henderson introduced a reso ution, which was also adopted, prodding for a joint session to be held on Thursday, the 17th, to hold all elections jvhich are to be held at this session except United States senator. The posi:ions which are to be filled at this session are: Successors to Judges Gary xnd Townsend; one trustee of the South Carolina college to succeed August Kohn, who was appointed by the governor on the resignation of I. L. fVithers; one trustee of Clemson colege to succeed the late Senator Maullin; a superintendent of the penitentiary and three directors of that institu:ion to succeed Messrs. Odell, Sanders ind Rowland: a state librarian and a :ode commissioner for the term of ten rears. Senator Sheppard introduced a bill to :reate a state board of entomology. The bill provides for the inspection of 'ruit trees, vineyards and truck farms :o prevent contagious diseases, and deitroy destructive Insects in orchards, . ineyards, etc. The board is to consist )f the president, the chairman of the joard of trustees and the professor of igriculture of Clemson college. The joard is authorized to make such rules ind regulations for the uprevention of liseases of fruit trees ana vegeiaDies is It may deem expedient and to ap)oint a state entomologist and an assistant if necessary, whose salaries shall be paid out of the funds of Clemson college. When diseases appear in srchards, vineyards, etc., the entomologist is to take proper steps to prevent he spread of the disease, the expense .0 be paid by the owner, and when rees are condemned they shall be desroyed and no compensation paid th^ iwner. An appeal to the full board | 'rom the decision of the entomologist is jrovided for, as is also the inspection of 'ruit trees shipped into this state from sther states. SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA. tritish Government Is Very Anxious For a Parley. The strategical object of the Boer invasion of Cape Colony and the advance oward Cape Town is gradually develiping, and so far as the news received *- I- *14- In :naDles a judgment to oe lunncu, it w lucceeding. Over and above the reinorcements which the invaders are reviving in men and horses from among he Dutch Afrikanders, they have L,ord Kitchener's plan of campaign in he north into confusion, and have Irawn off much of the pressure that vas being put upon the commandoes iperating north and south of the Vaal iver. There is now only one line of commulication, that from Durban in Natal, vhich is not liable to Interruption at iny moment and by which the supplies ind remounts of which the British are 10 greatly in need can be transported in somparative safety. But even that is iow menaced, for the disaster to a British detachment near LIndley relorted by Lord Kitchener on Monday, md other indications of a Boer force in he Drakensburg mountains west of Ladysmith, point to danger in that di ection. North of Pretoria the Boers are rejorted to be again In control of the ailway for a good part of the distance jetween there and Pletersburg: and vest and southwest of Pretoria the 3ritish occupation does not extend berond rifleshot from their outposts and samps. The former Orange Free State las been so devastated, that the incon;enienee of it is seriously felt by the 3ritish columns when moving in purjuit of the Boer commandoes, and the reneral result is that the British troops ire obliged to hug the railway lines, md, with the exception of diminishing nounted forces, to remain impassive vhile the skilfully led and mobile 3oer commandoes roam the country at vlll. In present circumstances it is easy to see that Lord Kitchener cannot make iny large concentration of troops for iny purpose without leaving so many joints exposed at which the Boers night strike, tkat .his whole position night be compromised; it is therefore lot difficult to understand the reports >f his having proposed to enter into ne;otiations with the Boer leaders. Three >r four weeks' time gained just now vould be of inestimable value. The 'act that negotiations were going on vould enable the reinforcements of nen and horses now on their way to south Africa to be landed by the time hey had failed, as they probably vould; and they would also be a realon for causing the Colonial Dutch to lesitate about joining the invaders long inough to render the invasion abortive. Whether the Boer leaders are alive to he situation remains to be seen; they >robably are and will not lay down heir arms until they have such guarintees as wilf secure them part of their ndependence of which Lord Salisbury ind Mr. Joseph Chamberlain have uoth :aid not a shred shall be left them. If the British government is genunely willing to forego its past demands or unconditional surender and to treat vith the Boers for terms, there must ; >e something in the general political ituation to have brought about this hange of mind. In 1854, when the Or.nge Free State had been completely , ccupied and conquered, Great Britain i withdrew her troops and recognized its independence unconditionally under the pressure of war with Russia. The present offer to treat, assuming it to be genuine, may not, therefore, be unconnected with events passing elsewhere, of which the world at large has no knowledge. The South African situation is consequently more than ordinarily interesting.?New York Sun. THE CENTURY IN COTTON. i From 120,000 "Bales In 1801 the South's Crop Increases to 10,000,000. William V. King, superintendent of the New York Cotton Exchange, has , given out some interesting figures showing the remarkable growth of the United States as a cotton producing country during the last century. From a crop of 9,000 bales in 1790, this nation has expanded its production of the fleecy staple until now it amounts to an average of 10,000,000 bales yearly. The following figures illustrate its growth in this regard: Total production. Bales. 1800-1801 120,000 1821-1822 525,000 1834-1835 1,150,000 1850-1851 2,450,000 i 1860-1861 3,850,000 1870-1871 4,350,000 1880-1881 6,600,000 1890-1891 8,652,000 1888-1889 11,274,000 1899-1900 9,436,000 Mr. King points out that the increase in production is still more remarkable if we consider that in 1800 the average weight per bale was about 225 pounds. By 1820 it had increased to 260 pounds, 1840 to 365 pounds, from which period , the weight has steadily increased until the present average of about 506 pounds has been reached. While our producing power enables us to supply the world with raw material, the rapid increase of our spinning industry is no less a matter of pride. In 1850 the quantity of cotton consumed in this country was less than 500,000 bales, in 1870 it had increased to 1,000,000 bales, last year the taking of the mills amounted to 3,665,000 bales. These striking figures, Mr. King ad- y mits, are very largely the result of re- / cent industrial enterprise in the South. And the new century, he says, begins with a growing demand for American cotton in the Oriental markets, which demand promises to open a new and important avenue of which our producers and manufacturers will not be slew to take advantage. The completion of the Nicaragua canal is all that remains to give our cotton free entrance in the Pacific islands and the far east and this will be realized before the century is very old. / THE FATE OF CHARLEY ROSS. A New York State Senator Claims to Have the Facts. ' On Wednesday night of this week, Senator Plunkett, of Manhattan, introduced in the New York senate a bill to 1 punish kidnapping of children under 16 : years of age by fixing the limit of im- 1 prisonment for such an offense at 25 years. Senator Plunkitt said he had facts in ! his possession concerning the abduc- 1 tion of Charlie Ross In 1874, which had. 1 never been published. He said: ' "The abductors of Charlie Ross were ' New York river thieves, Mosher and * his companions. The wagon in which Ross was carried away was hired in ' New York by Mosher and driven to ' Philadelphia, so as to prevent any pos- 1 sible discovery of the offenders. "The wagon was driven about 30 miles out of Philadelphia, and was { there abandoned, Mosher and his com- ' panions, accompanied by their victim, taking passage on the train to New 1 York. "Fear kept Charlie Ross quiet. Up- 1 on arriving In New York Ross was ta- 1 ken on one of Mosher's river crafts and ( finally, to prevent detection, Charlie ' was thrown overboard in me Day aner being tied to iron so as to sink and make his coming to the surface impossible. "The New Yorker who let the horse and wagon to Mosher never claimed his property for fear of being charged with complicity. When Mosher was shot while attempting to rob the Van Brunt mansion at Bay Ridge, he attempted to explain the Charlie Ross affair, but death came as soon as the name passed his lips." Speaker Stevenson.?When W. F. Stevenson entered the house four years ago, he was at once regarded as an extraordinary man. His service in that body is a chain of successes. He was born in Iredell county, North Carolina, in 1861, of Scotch ancestry. Educated himself, graduating from Davidson college with highest honors after having taken two medals In senior year. That fall, 1885, he took charge of the High school at Cheraw, and studied law under General W. L. T. Prince, whose daughter Mr. Stevenson married. Singularly enough a Mr. Prince was one of Mr. Stevenson's competitors yesterday. He formed a partnership with General Prince and is now associated with Mr. D. S. Matheson. In the class admitted in 1887 to practice law were Mr. Stevenson, Senators Rlobanou and Mnvfipld and Reoresen- , tatlve Rucker, who nominated Mr. Prince. Mr. Stevenson identified himself with the Democracy of Chesterfield in 1888, and has been a valued member of the county executive committee.^ He has never been defeated in any candidacy. Was first an alderman of Cheraw and later mayor until elected to the house. He is a quick debater, with an incisive manner, and a pecu- a Iiarly attractive, although awkward, t delivery. His rough and terrible fights 9 in the house prepared him for the great contest with the master mind of the Southern Presbyterian church, Dr. ) 14. M. Palmer. Mr. Stevenson, though s but a lay delegate to the general assembly, which met in Dr. Palmer's e church in New Orleans, worsted the 1 venerable divine in a discussion of e church law and polity. Mr. Stevenson d is now moderator of South Carolina v synod, the first layman to hold that v position. c Although a "Conservative," he voted t without regard to faction, and tried f] while in the general assembly to obliterate factional lines and to heal old 1 Bores.?Columbia State, Wednesday, c LOCAL AFFAIRS. INDEX TO NEW ADVERTISEMENTS. Riddle & Carroll?Have more to say of , their canned tomatoes, which they say were put up by manufacturers who are extremely careful to have everything they do, just right. They are selling three cans of tomatoes for a quarter and say the price is rising. Beard & Carroll?Say they will have more mules in a few days and ask you not to buy until you see them and get their prices and terms. They will guarantee all they sell. CJeo. T. Schorb, Clerk of Board?Gives notice of county commissioners desiring bids for medical attendance for the county home and county jail inmates. All bids must be in by 12 m., on Wednesday, February 6th. The Enquirer?Tells you about medallions and how to get them. The Enquirer?Announces its new story which will soon appear. The title is "Arms and the Woman," and it will prove to be a story of intense interest. J. L. Carson, Rock Hill?Invites his friends and old customers to bring * their wheat and corn to him to grind at the Rock Hill roller mills, and he promises satisfactory work. RAINFALL OF 1?00. Mr. G. R. Turner, who lives near the ^ line between York and Bethel townships and in sight of King's Mountain township, has handed The Enquirer a record of the rainfall during 1900, as kept by himself. This record, which gives the days of each month on which there was more or less precipitation is as follows: January?9. 10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 29*. , February?4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 17* 21 24 28. March?1, 7, 8, 15. 19, 20, 23,'24, 25. April?2, 3, 11, 12, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24. May?3, 5. 8, 9, 17, 18, 19, 23, 24. June?3, 4, 5, 7. 8, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18. 22, 23. 24, 25, 27, 28, 30. July?7, 8, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24. 25, 26, 29, 31. August?6, 12, 16, 22, 24, 31. September?13, 14, 15, 29. October?2, 3, 4, 8. 9, 13, 23, 24. November?3, 4, 11, 18, 19, 25. December?3, 4, 14, 20, 21 *, 23, 28, 30. "Snow. During the year rain fell on 108 days, i .rinding more or less snow on three tiro s. ABOUT PEOPLE. and Mrs. B. Frank White, of J King's Creek were In town on Thursday. Engineer Lee and wife, of Blacksburg, spent Thursday in Yorkville, with friends. Mr. Howard Riddle, of Zeno, expects to matriculate at the King's Mountain * Military Academy on next Monday. +-Mrs. R. Frank Smith, of Columbia, is veiling her mother, Mrs. R. L. Ferguson, and other relatives in Yorkville. Lenoir Topic, Thursday: Miss Edith Kincaid left yesterday on a months' visit to friends and relatives in Chester and Yorkville. *s Gastonia Gazette, January 10: Mr. J. B. Pegram, of Yorkville, was in town yesterday to attend the meeting of Trenton Mill stockholders. Mr. Brainerd M. Dobson, of Yorkville, who secured a position as clerk in the census office last summer, has been promoted to be an assistant chief of * section. Mr. Dobson's many friends will be gratified but not surprised. They have been expecting him to rise, and they expect him to advance still ^ further, if merit and ability have any thing to do with the matter, and the understanding is that these qualiflcations constitute the key to the situation. Fort Mill Times, January 9: Representative J. R. Haile left Fort Mill Monday morning for Columbia, to be present at the opening session of the legislature, which convened at noon yesterday. A few minutes before the arrival of the train on which Mr. Haile J eft, he was asked by The Times whether he favored the appropriation to be held in Charleston this year. Mr. Haile replied that he certainly did not ntend to vote to appropriate as larf amount as that asked for. He thou t that $25,000, or even less, ought to satsfy the exposition people. THE CHILD LABOR BILL. One of the first bills introduced into v4 ihe senate was that relating to child abor in cotton mills, a subject that has oeen agitated to a greater or less extent in this state during the past two years. The bill, which is the same as :he one introduced last year, was proposed by Senator J. Q. Marshall, of Richland. The text of it is as follows: Section 1. That from and after the ( 1st day of May, 1901, no child under the ige of 12 years, shall be employed In uiy factory, mine or other manufacturng establishment of this state. Sec. 2. Every owner, superintendent, manager or overseer of any factory, nine or other manufacturing establishnent, and any person in charge thereof, or connected therewith, who shall iinploy such child contrary to the provisions of this act, shall be guilty of a V misdemeanor; and for every such offence, shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less than $10 or more than $50, 5r be imprisoned not longer than 30 lays days, or both, at the discretion of :he court. Sec. 3. That any person, guardian or Dther person having under his or her control any child, who consents, sufA. AAAAAl.A (I.A A,AAlA, AAt A? V. ? ? >' .CIO KJl PCIJIIILO L11C ClllJJIUjr UlClll VI IllO ir her child, or ward, under the age of L2 years, or who knowingly or willingly misrepresents the age of such child or svard to any of the persons named in Section 2 of this act, in order to obtain jmployment for such child or ward, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. and for every such offense shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not less .uin $10, nor more than $50, or be im- v orisoned not longer than 30 days, or ooth, at the discretion of the court. Sec. 4. That any widow, without any other sufficient means of support, who nay furnish to any of the persons "" lamed in Section 2 of this act, a certift ate from any reputable citizen of the ounty in which she lives, that she is ohysically unable to work, or that she s actually dependent upon the earnngs of her child or children for a liv- I lie. shn 11 hp PVPmnt- fmm tha nrmrlo- I ons of this act. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, that all icts and parts of acts, in conflict with he provisions of this act, be and the ame are hereby repealed. >wi>VITHIN THE TOWN. The streets are again in need of tepping stones. ? Mrs. Samuel A. Weber complimentd The Enquirer Wednesday with a leautiful camelia japonica, that bloomd in her sitting-room during the few lays previous. ^Superintendent Jones, of the York llle graded school, has called upon the hildren for contributions with which o purchase a United States flag to loat over the school building. Many of he children, through their parents, of ^ ourse, have contributed and the nec