Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Scraps and ?acts. ? Columbia special of January 15 to News and Courier: The total appropriations asked for by the state ofncers, the state institutions and others depending on South Carolina for maintenance is $2,578,439.54. The total appropriations by the last legislature were $2,014,524.61. ? Six million packages were handled by the parcel post uuring the iirst seven days of the operation of the systenr, according to figures prepared taie VVeunesaay oy the postoitice department. The figures were compiled irom reports received by Postmaster ueneral Hitchcock from 1,594 out of ihe 1,650 postofiices having city deli veiy service and estimates made from scattering reports of the remaining postotflces of the country. The returns show that during the first several days 5,068,824 packages were handled in the city delivery ottices which have submitted reports. Of this number 107,561 packages were insured. As all of the offices were closed New Year's day and Sunday the reports covered only five days. ? Richmond, Va., January 15: Following the refusal of tne supreme court of appeals to reopen the case of Floyd Allen and son, Claude Swanson - ? - a /> /4U Allen, wno are unaer semcuvc Friday, for their part in the Hillsville court murders, March 14, 1912, Governor Mann tonight announced that he would take no action in the matter of granting a respite or reprieve before tomorrow. The governor has given no indication whatever as to his attitude toward the condemned men, although it is probable that he will be strongly urged to respite them for thirty days. The supreme court, in an extended opinion, announced that the verdict of the lower court must stand, declaring that the so-called "after-discovered evidence" was not material. On yesterday Governor Mann granted the condemned men a respite until February 7. ? Washington. January 14: A newspaper story, discussing the per capita circulation of the money in the United States, in a humorous vein has flooded the treasury department with applications for $34.72, which is the nation's wealth, were it divided equally, would be the possession of every man, woman and child. The story facetiously advised those who needed the money to draw upon the government Dozens of letters today swamped George E. Roberts, director of the mint. One woman wrote: "Kindly send me by parcel post my dividend of the $3,350,727,000, which is $34.72, in one dollar bills and 72 pennies." Another applicant said he was a married man with a family and he hoped the government would not be offended by his request for his own. Mr. Roberts has drawn a circular letter in which he must disappoint the applicants with the information tnat the treasury department monthly computes the per capita circulation on a theoretical basis and has no control over its distribution. ? New York, January 14: Fifty lawyers who hope to obtain for their clients more than $10,000,000 damages for loss of life and property on the steamer Titanic, were arrayed against attorneys for the White Star line in the United States district court today, the expiration of the time limit set by the court for filing suits. The limit was extended to February 11. The White Star line contends that its entire liability is limited under the United States statutes to less than $100,000?the value of recovered wreckage and passage money. American claimants allege that the line cannot claim this limitation, because it was itself responsible for the loss of life by reason of personal negligence. If their assertions in this respect are sustained, the claimants will recover full damages. But even if this claim is not upheld, the contention of A. L. Broughman, representing 200 claimants, Is that the White Star line's liability can only be limited by the provisions of the British law which would compel the company to pay the total damages of about $3,000,000. ? Columbia State: Following the information furnished by Attorney General Lyon, the supreme court of South Carolina Issued the following order yesterday: "It is considered by the court that the public interests require investigation of the charges against Barnard B. Evans, an attorney, presented in an information filed by J. Flaser Lyon, attorney general, on the 6th day of January, 1913. Therefore, it is ordered: That Barnard B. Evans do show cause before this court on the 3rd of February. 1913 at 10 o'clock a. m., why he should not be disbarred on account of the matters alleged against him in the information, and that he file a copy of his return in the office of the clerk of this court on or before January 29. 1913. Ordered further: That the sheriff of Richland county do forthwith serve a certified copy of the information and of this order on Barnard B. Evans. Ordered further: That evidence and argument in support of the information and return be heard on February 3, next, in open court." ? Washington. January 16: Col. George Goethals, chairman of the Isthmian canal commission, told the house committee on appropriations today about the progress of the Panama canal over which he expects to send a ship or two experimentally next autumn. He and half a dozen bureau chiefs of the war department spent the day at the capital explaining the official estimates of $6,700,000 that the government wants provided for in the coming sundry civil appropriations bill to cover fortifications, batteries, camps and the like during the next fiscal year. It is estimated that ultimately for fortifications expenditures will be $15,000,000. The date set for opening the canal to commerce is January 1, 1915. A host of details must be worked out between the time the canal is finished and its opening. Pilots will be needed, vessels will make experimental trips to test the working efficiency of the waterways cross currents that may be encountered by the < running in of the Chagres river be- i tween the locks of Gatun and Mira- , llores will be figured out and many ' things must be adjusted in the prelim- 1 inary period leading up to the actual < opening 01 ine canai, uoionei uoeinais is going to confer with President-elect Wilson at Trenton and will meet the committee again Monday. ? Chicago. January 15: With the indictment today of Joseph Clarke for an alleged attempt to bribe an assistant state's attorney not to prosecute an arson case as a text. A. A. Bach, chief deputy state lire marshal, told a remarkable story of organized incendiarism. "Ten per cent of Chicago's tires are incendiary," Bach said. "There are three men in Chicago known as insurance adjusters, who often get to fires before the firemen. They sleep with their clothes on, have automobiles in readiness and receiving tips that a fire is about to be started, are on their way almost before an alarm comes in. Often we are informed days in advance of when fires are to be started. In that way we arc able to prevent many blazes. We have had tips that have led us to buildings with the basement filled with excelsior, the floor saturated with oil and the stock packed in combustible material. All that we could do was to notify the insurance company and have the insurance cancelled. In such cases the fires were not started. It is possible for any one to get a building fired in Chicago. For large fires the charge is one per cent and even at that price the hrebugs make money. I don't know of a single conviction for arson in Chicago ( for eighteen months." t ? Miss Anna E. Steckel, the daugh- 1 ter of a wealthy retired business man c of Allentown, Pa., was kidnapped c from her home by two young men, one of them a rejected suitor for her ' hand, last Saturday afternoon. She was forced^ into a waiting motor car. i her arms" pinioned and her head t thrust into a blanket. A thrilling ride through the streets was followed 1 by a collision of the car with the sol- i: diers' monument at a cross street, and the arrest of the kidnappers. Miss Steckel Is heiress to a million, a social leader, 23 years of age, handsome f and highly educated, with many suit- h ors. Her kidnappers proved to be Samuel Sinclair, a suitor for Miss Steckel's hand, and supervising engi- 11 neer of state highways, prominent so- n daily, and his nephew, Walter Star also socially prominent. They wei both released on bonds of $3,000 eacl Sinclair is said to have become s enamored of the girl, that after sihad tired of him and declined to s( him, he would camp on her door st for two or three hours at a time, ar finally worked himself up to the poii of trying to kidnap the girl and for( a marriage. The young lady's fathi says he will spend half his fortune i convict the kidnappers and send the to prison. The penalty for kldnappir in Pennsylvania is twenty years life imprisonment. &hf ^Jorkvillr dttquim Entered at the Postofflce in Yorkvll oo iu*u luancr ui tac ocvvuu viuoo, YORKVILLE, S. O.i FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1913 The reasons that Governor Bleai gives for desiring the election of judgi by the people are strong and tennab enough and there is no valid otjectlc to the breadth of the governor's viev point either. All fair-minded newspaper men. ar even those who are not fair-minde but who are willing to reflect lor enough to identify the truth, will 1 compelled to admit that Govern< Blease has suffered sufficient misrej resentations at the hands of newspj pers to fully justify what he has sa in his message. As a consequence, I am free to say you that I do not believe there Is county in the state which has no blir tigers in it?white men selling whisk negroes selling whisky, and, in mar instances, white men backing tl negroes and having the negroes ac ing as retailers for them.?Govern* Blease. it is true of York, governor, and v do not doubt that it is true of the otl er counties. So much of the comptroller general report as relates to back assessmen in York county as appears in anoth* column, has been reproduced from tl Columbia State. The copy is identic with that which appears in other pj pers. We have not seen the origin* report, or an official copy thereof. Tl question mark after "First Nation; Bank of Rock Hill" was placed there I the editor of The Enquirer for the re? son that there is no "First Nation; Bank of Rock Hill," and we have r means of knowing just what bank tl comptroller has in mind. We have no idea that the generi assembly will accept the proposition < Senator Nicholson to require enrol ment six months before the date whe the clubs meet to elect delegates < the county convention. In our view tl thing Is utterly impracticable. In tl first place it would be Impossible 1 get any considerable per centage of tl voters to enroll before interest has d? veloped in a campaign, and if it shoul turn out that only a small per cent < the voters had been enrolled to vote 1 the primary, then the balance would g to the general election. "For not always are the authors < bills their best frier ds."?Governc Blease. That is absolutely tr .e, and exper] enced legislator that he is, the goverr or understands it perfectly. He him self has been accused of fathering bil in order that he might the more easil and surely kill them; and there nothing good to be said in commends tion of the practice. Th? most that ca be said, probably is that the practic Is at least generations old in th state, and there have been few wh have been too good to resort to it o ua'UMun. cui iiiui is uui me uiipui i ant point just now. The point that really important is that the thing: ca be done and Is done, and the unwar legislator should be on his guard. Tit tip that the governor gives in this cor nection is well worth while. It is surprising what a comparative ly small per cent of even the more in telligent citizenship of the state has an knowledge of the real significance of general election. The primary nomi nating system has been in vogue s long and it has been so long since ther lias been a real contest, that there ar thousands and thousands of peopi throughout South Carolina who thin that the party primary is the actut election. To hundreds of people th facts brought to light in that stor published in The Enquirer last Tues lay about the appointment of count lommissioners was a revelation. The seemed to think that if these officer had been selected in the primary ther :ould be no further question and aboii :he only effect of their having bee roted for in the general election wa to make their election that much mor 3ecure if anything. Not one man i fifty, possibly in a hundred, who vote that county ticket in the general elee tion had any idea that it was iliega lull and void, or that there is possibl :echnical objection against it even ye [t is a fact, however, that the las specifically prescribes the exact size c he ballot to l?e voted in a general elec ion. says it must be on wh'ite paper lays what kind of type must be used i he printing and does not even allow vatermark in the paper. The presenc >n the ticket of names for which ther vas no warrant of law made the ticke llegul, and the legal status of a he other officers voted for has sine >een confirmed only l.y the fact tha here was no protest to the board o anvassers. and as a matter of fact i here should arise sufficient occasio >ven that could be brought Into serl ?11? rnu?gtlnn The Governor's Message. We are reproducing the full text o lovcrnor Blcase's annual message b he general assembly and take pleas ire in commending it to the carefu onsideration of all of our readers, in luding both supporters and opponent >f the governor. The message is like its predecessor: n that it is a faithful exposition o he principles and policies for whicl he governor has all along stood; bu s different in that his excellency ha: >een pleased to use more moderate ant lignlfied though none the less force ul language in giving expression t< lis ideas. Taken altogether the message is at inusually strong paper. The advice t< ie\v legislators is pertinent, wise anc r, timely, all the different recommen "e tlons appear to have had serious c thoughtful consideration, and ie strictures on the attorney general t ie the comptroller general, are fully J 'P titled by the record. As we have already remarked :e whole message is well worth read er and also it is well worth the most to rious consideration of the general sembly. to ' * " Recall of Judges. ~ You are an average man, say. I doctor decided that a certain course ? treatment were desirable in a parti lar disease, would you feel compet le to overrule that decision? A com] cated case, involving thousands pages of testimony is presented to ~ United States supreme court On t court sit some of the best trained n in America, filled with knowledge the law. After days and nights of sti 1 they finally arrive at a decision t promulgate it. It may be unpopular (may be contrary to what laymen s posed the law to be, but would y Mr. Average Man, feel qualified over-rule that decision? Would : feel qualified to vote the Justices of office for making that decision? That is what the recall of jud ~ means and that is what the re< of judicial decisions means. It is avowment of the belief that men \ trained in the law are more expert determining the law than those v - are trained. For the people is sim the aggregate of you, the average m The people as a whole, bring ho m ?s intelligence to bear than you have, le more comprehension. Before any n )n can consistently vote for the recall judges or of judicial decisions he m v~ satisfy his own conscience on t point. He must convince himself t he is a better judge than the law ld judge, that his view of the law is m correct than the view of expert Judf d. Is there any man of sense who wo ig assume such a position??News t 5e Courier. That is very good as far as it g< or But the average man is competent ?- some cases to pass upon the actions i_ a judge and decide as to whether should be recalled or not. Whenajui gets upon the bench and allows lawyer at the bar to take possessloi the .court and run things, when his f t0 of being reversed by the supreme co a makes him tremble in his boots and 1(i a result nothing is done by the cou v the average man should have a say iv as to whether the county's money, s ie the valuable time of her citizens si t_ be wasted by one who is manifestly or competent. When a judge allows lawyers to wrangle for two days o a case that should have been hand /e by a magistrate, when the docket ! h- a half hundred cases to be tried and a term of three weeks only about a r score are disposed of, it is time for average man to stay in and hav< 1 s day. It is very often the case that j ts tice deferred amounts to a denial er justice. The courts in this state becoming a farce, and the delay of j tice is causing irresponsible mobs al commit violence. When a Judge reali i- that he cannot handle the court, ? aj allows the lawyers to walk away w him, he should step down and out, i le if he does not. the average man sho al have the privilege of recalling him ,y least one is tempted to feel that v about it when he is forced to lose v l" uable time because of such incom; a' tencies.?Cherokee News. 10 The argument of the News t Courier is faultless, and as an abstr proposition, we would not think trying to controvert it. The News al evidently of the same view; but at >f same time the News is not willing 1- allow the doctrine that the News ? n Courier's observations would teach, :o go unchallenged and it is correct, ie strikes the subjec' from a differ ie angle and makes gi od. :o There is quite a lot to be said ie both sides of this recall of jud s- proposition; but the relevancy of w] Id is said will depend very largely ui >f the premises upon which the disc n sion is based. If it is assumed tl ;o the Judge is able and competent, ? honest, there is no question of i fact that he is better qualified to r )f der a correct decision than the put )r would be, and also it would be a ir take to submit his decisions for pi lie review. But there are dishonest judges be dealt with. The United States s< 's ate dealt with one last week s y dealt with him very properly. He 's ever he was only the third or fou l" dishonest Judge the senate has n dealt with in the history of the g 'e ernment, and there is abundant r Is son to believe that many oth '? should have been dealt with in i n same manner. However, what the country is dr '9 ing at now is some plan to keep 1 n judges on their mettle, and that is i ^ main basis of this recall propositi le Every intelligent man knows tl while deceit and fraud may trium for a time, that truth and justice i bound to win in the long run, a even dishonest men who expect to 1 throughout the long run are going y cleave to truth and justice as clos 8. ??? 'kfttf tAM If ??nt f A?? thn C'llfO i\f \ as mrj van, 11 uw *wi n*v ?? right, then in the promotion of th 0 own personal interests. So far as e call is concerned, either of judges e their decisions, we think it would e of small consequence if the judi ^ were elected by the people. If t l* were the case, judicial Candida e wo.uld have to study not what indiv y uals, or any set of Individuals wa but what the people as a whole Wi y ?right and justice. And the juc >* who is elected by the people becai 3 of their belief in his character. int< e rity and capacity, is not going to recalled. There are on the bench n the present time a number of judi s who would be certainly and sur e elected by the people if the people h n a chance at them. And there i d others, maybe, who would be turr down. Anyhow, we think that 1 1 election of judges by the people woi e stop all talk of recall; but if the eli * tion of judges by the legislature Is v continue, the right of recall by t people will be very proper. ' House Chairmanships.?Most of t 11 house committees were read yesti a day. The chairmanships are as f e lows: Hospital for the insane, JR. B. B e ser, chairman. t Ways and means, Geo. W. Di< I] chairman. Accounts, E. E. Ready, chairmai Agriculture. J. W. Ashley, cha t man. if Banking and insurance, J. C. Bi ^ kin. chairman. Claims, J. A. Hunter, chairman. n Commerce and manufactures, - W. Bowers, chairman. ' Dispensary, F. P. B. Pegues, cha man. Education. C. T. Wyche. cha man. 1 Fngrossed bins. Jonn i.\ (ire 0 chairman. Federal relations, Fred Williar " chairman. ' Fish, game and forestry. A. - Holtt, chairman. s Incorporations. W. C. Irby. J chairman. Internal relations, J. A. Hall, cha p man. f Legislative library, J. L. Robertsc , chairman. Local legislation, J. A. Harv< * chairman. s Medical affairs. W. R. Sturk ] chairman. Penitentiary. \V. W. Scott chai man. 5 < dfices and officers, O. L. Sandei chairman. 1 Judiciary. A. Vander Horst, chal man. J Military affairs. J. H. C'ourtnf 1 chairman. da- LOCAL AFFAJCRS, ind . the md NEW ADVERTISEMENTS us- Thomson Co.?Has something to say to the buying public, and calls attention to new goods, Including a the shipment of muslin underwear, ing Cloud Cash Store?Asks you to watch se_ its next advertisement, and the next one following, and says it will pay you to do so. T. W. Boyd, Co. Supervisor?Publishes annual report of operations, etc., of the county chaingang. Jackson Bros., Clover?Insist on parf a ties who owe them to make immeof diate payment, cu- Pink McCarter, Yorkville No. 1?Is ent looking for an estray mule and will pll- appreciate your help. of McGill Bros., Yorkville No. 1?Will the close their ginnery for the season hat after next Saturday. [ten H. E. & T. M. Ferguson?Want turof keys delivered tomorrow and Monidy day. ind Palmetto Monument Co.?Talks about it monuments and invites you to see up- it before you place an order, ou, w. E. Ferguson?Is prepared to furto nish you with the best qualities of rou fancy groceries. Cabbage plants, out York Drug Store?Tells you about its /lnnartmont anrl Itc oor. yrg caul nvii uvj/tAi wtwvitv *v" "v?ges vice and wants your prescription :all work. Right prices, an J. Q. Wray?Is showing the newest of jn- spring shapes in hats for men and in wants gentlemen who would dress k'ho well, to see them, ply Yorkville Hardware Co.?Makes a few an. remarks about hardware, and inciore dentally mentions roofing and buildno ers* hardware. lan Geo. W. Williams?Offers a number of of desirable pieces of real estate for ust your consideration?town and counhis try property. hat McConnell Dry Goods Co.?Is showing ful new spring goods, including muslin ore underwear, ginghams, percales, etc. yes. York Supply Co.?Sells the John Deer uld line of farm implements and says it ind is the best. J. M. Brian Co.?Has many fresh ar>es. rivals and will be pleased to supply in your needs, i of J. C. Wilborn?Offers for sale the J. he w. Lowry tract of 409 acres. 3ge Senator Beamguard on yesterday ear introduced a bill providing for the exurt emption of certain property owners of , Kine's Mountain and Bethel townships rts? from the 1912 tax levy. so It will be noted from the message ind published elsewhere, that Governor lall Biease has not forgotten the promise in- to recommend the remission of taxes the on the people who suffered in the storm ver stricken district of this county last led August. It is now up to the York delhas egation and the general assembly to I in attend to details, lalf thf INSPECTION OF MILITIA. ? a u8_ Following are the dates for the in0f spection of the military companies in are York county: ug_ April 11, Fort Mill. Co. K, First Into fantry. zeg April 14. Rock Hill, Co. H, First inm(j fantry. ith April 16, Yorkville, headquarters ind First infantry; Co. L, First infantry, uld * at YORK ON COMMITTEES. /ay aj. Lieutenant Governor Smith ane_ nounced the appointment of his committees last Wednesday, and Senator Beamguard of York, is on the folind i0Wing; act Agriculture, Claims and Grievances, of Engrossed Bills, County Offices and . County Officers, Retrenchments, Privileges and Elections, Manufactures, the Speaker Smith did not announce all to of his committees yesterday; but of m(J those announced the York delegation stands as follows: t0 A. E. Hutchison?Judiciary. It J. R. Haile?Ways and Means, ent O- L. Sanders?Chairman of committee on offices and officers, and of mines and mining, on ees F. M. LYNN DEAD hat Mr. F. M. Lynn, a well known farmer, >on was found dead In his field at his farm u9_ about a quarter of a mile from his home, five miles north of Yorkville 1131 shortly before sundown yesterday afind ternoon. the By his side was a pitchfork and a hoe. and the presumption is that while he was coming in from the bot)'lc toms he sat down to rest and fell over lis- dead. Dr. J. D. McDowell of Yorkville, jb. made an examination of the body last night and expressed the opinion that death was very probably due to heart to disease. sn- Mr. Lynn was about 60 years of age ,nti and is survived by his widow and six children as follows: Mrs. Jack CliuIW* ton, Mr. W. W. Lynn, Mrs. Luther rth Crawford. Mrs. B. W. White, Walker 8o and Elzie Lynn. ov- * ea- SPECIAL CONSTABLE. ers Mr. James F. Jackson, special con. stable for York county, under a commission from the governor, made his annual report to the county superiv visor last week, giving an itemized statement of the different cases in which he assisted, in which there were the convictions or compromises involving on. nnes or aays on ine cnainsang. hat There is nothing in the report that . is not properly there, as the constable pn assisted at all the cases mentioned; ire but it is hardly to be understood that ind the entire credit for the amounts colast lected should belong to Constable Jackson, or that he personally claims to the entire credit, for many of the arely rests were made with the assistance the ?f various magistrate's constables, . municipal policemen, etc. The report, however, is made along the same re- lines that have been followed heretoor fore. be ?es ABOUT PEOPLE his Dr. John I. Barron has returned to tes Yorkville, after spending two weeks .. in Alabama. Mrs. G. G. Price of Gaffney, S. C., is nt; visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. int N. Neil, on Yorkville, R. F. D. 5. Ice Mr anil Afr? Wnlter Mnnrehpnrt of Jse GafTney, visited Mr. and Mrs. J. M. ;}r. Moorehead in Yorkvilie, this week. h Miss Nannie Byers of Wilkinsville, visited Mrs. Mamie Estes in Hickory at Grove this week. Miss Theo Dentsy of Blacksburg ely visited Miss Eva Good in Hickory tad ?rove this week. Jre Mr. D. T. Woods of Yorkvilie, is spending several days with relatives ied at Durham. N. C. :lie Mrs. Sarah Woods, of Yorkvilie, is jld critically ill at the home of her ec- daughter, Mrs. W. H. Smith, in Durto ham, N. C. h Rock Hill Herald, Thursday: Mr. J. L.. Starr and daughter, Miss Irene Starr will leave tomorrow afternoon for Yorkvilie where they have just built a , home and will live in the future. ThHr friends here regret their departure. ol- " WITHIN THE TOWN el- ? The anniversary of Robert E. Lee's birthday was observed in the Yorkville ck, Graded school this morning with exercises appropriate to the occasion. I* ?At a recent company meeting the members of Company L. First regiment, South Carolina National Guard, decided that the company would go to Washington on account of the inj auguration. ? Yorkville special to the Columbia jr. State: The stockholders of the Travora cotton mill at a recent meeting jr_ declared a semi-annual dividend of 5 per cent. A similar dividend was er> also declared by the Xeely Manufacturing company. The Lockmore mill ns, did not declare a dividend, but placed its earnings in the surplus account. M. The same officers of each of the mills were re-elected. Both the Travora Pi cotton mill and the Neely Manufacturing company added good amounts jr_ to their surplus accounts in addition to declaring their semi-annual divi)n> dends. ? The stockholders of the First Na?y. tional Bank of Yorkville, held their annual meeting on last Tuesday, and ie, the stockholders of the Loan and Savings bank held their annual meeting ir- on Wednesday. All of the directors of the First National bank were rers. elected, as follows: O. E. Wilkins, R. C. Allein, J. M. Stroup, W. M. Love, i Ir- W. I. Witherspoon, W. B. Moore, W. G. White, J. L. Rainey. Mr. O. E. i >', Wilkins was re-elected president: Mr. < W. I. Witherspoon, vice president, and t Mr. R. C. Alleln, cashier. The Loai and Savings bank stockholders re elected directors as follows: J. S Price, C. E. Spencer, B. N. Moore, "W VV. Lewis, W. S. Wilkerson, W. H Herndon, S. M. McNeel. Mr. S. M McNeel was re-elected president: Mr J. S. Brice, vice president, and Mr. J P. McMurray, cashier. THE FERTILIZER BUSINESS. Although few If any contracts fo fertilizers have yet been made fo this year, fertilizer salesmen are bus: on the road, and the farmers are be glnniiw to make inquiries, which in dicate ri^at the demand will at leas be as heavy as usual. The fertilizer trade was considera bly demoralized throughout this sec tion last year, standard goods openlnj at $21 a ton, and gradually dropplni in some instances, to $18.75, as th< result of general cutting and slashing Ordinarily retail dealers are suppos ed to get a profit of about $1 a ton oi standard fertilizers, and there ar< many dealers who will not handle thi class of merchandise at less profit: bu It is alleged that last year some o the retailers cut the profit to 25 cent: a ton. Unable to make prices at the earlj part of the season because of the un certainty in the situation last year many of the dealers put out th< goods they handled, under a genera guarantee to meet all competition and the prices were fixed by latei fluctuations, the wholesale dealers o course making good the arrangement The list prices that the wholesaler! are making to retailers this year ar< slightly under those of last year; bu hardly enough to warrant any appre ciable reduction to the user. Wha the course of the trade is going to b< throughout this section during th< next few months, of course remain! for developments. TAX EQUALIZATION. The comptroller general in his annual report to the general assemblj discusses at considerable length anc with much vigor, the question of taj equalization and the generally inadequate enforcement of the tiix laws o the state. He maintains that the larg< taxpayers do not pay anything like their proportionate share of taxes ai compared with the small tax payers and charges widespread evasion of thi laws as the reason. The obvious necessity of taxation foi the support of state, county and municipal governments explains the reason for taxation at all and all the principles of government, he argues, uphok the wisdom, justice and equity o making each individual citizen bear f just proportion of the burdens of adminifltrfltlnri nf tho lou/a As an illustration of the inequality of tax burdens on Richland real estate the comptroller cites as a fact that { single real estate firm published recently that during the year 1912 it sou $4,000 000 worth of real estate in tin city of Columbia alone, and gave tin location of lots handled and prices paie to verify the correctness of its claim In view of the fact that residentla property in the city of Columbia is as sumed to be returned at 50 cents oi the dollar, and that the entire real es tate returns of the whole of Rlchlam county, including residential property mill property, store and office property is returned at only $10,685,673, th< comptroller thinks there is quite a lo of tax dodging in Richland to say tin least of It, although of course he doei not assume that conditions in Rich land are worse than elsewhere. The comptroller discusses at lengtl the question of the violation of th< special laws as to the taxation of bani shares and goes on to say: "The persistence of the board o assessors in Charleston county in allowing these illegal exemptions te banks, and now followed in Yorl county, was the occasion of correspondence between this office anc the People's National bank of Charleston, claiming such allowance. The claim was refused and I hope the bank will pay the tax under protest and test the matter in the courts. "In York county the county boarc of equalization undertook to, and did in violation of the special law as t( the assessment and taxation of ban! shares, and in face of the decision: of the court, called to their attentior in my report, tax the bank's capital after exempting the amount of theli investments in all classes of non-taxable bonds, instead of assessing the value of the bank shares against the shareholders as required by law After the tax duplicates or books, had been made up, the chairman of the county board of equalization attempted to correct the assessment against the First National Bank of Rock Hill [?] by ordering the county auditor t( charge back to the bank the investments of the bank in United States and Panama bonds, in violation oi both the Federal and the state laws This would have rendered the entire tax on the bank illegal. I therefore instructed the county auditor not tc * ~ An l.ic u u lid in tit? iu nictne tins i;iicxiisc uu i nc books. But by the failure of the county board to assess the bank share! as required by law, these shares have illegally been allowed to escape taxation. The damage grew out of the failure of the county board to follow the law and my instructions, and theii failure to assess the bank shares against their owners at their value less only Investments of the bank ir redemption Brown consol bonds anei stocks issued under the act 1892-93. "The undervaluation of property liable to taxation; the refusal or failure of township boards of assessors and county boards of equalization tc make any effort to properly assess and equalize the valuation for taxation ol real and personal property, as required by law, and their unwarranted assumption of power in allowing illegal exemptions to banks; the farcical meeting of the state board of equalization whose principal duty every four years is to assess and equalize real estate as between counties and sub-divisions of counties and the refusal or neglect of this board to take any steps toward such equalization of valuation 01 property, aiuiuuK" we muoi migrant inequalities and violations of law have been called to their attention, and their assumption of an attitude against reform in these matters is clearly detrimental and demoralizing to good citizenship. "If, I repeat, the masses of the people are ever brought to a thorough realization of these facts and can see for themselves that this condition has the effect of defrauding them (not the state) by forcing them to carry more than their share of the burden, while a thorough enforcement of the assessment laws would secure an equality of the burden through a reduction in the tax rates, there would be a correction of these evils. LOCAL LACONICS Bailes- Fan's. Fort Mill Times: Miss Mattie Bailes and Mr. Carl Faris were married Wednesday at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Z. T. Bailes, of the Flint Hill section. Rev. S. P. Hair, of the Flint Hill church, performed the ceremony. The marriage was a quiet home affair, with only a few friends and relatives present. After the ceremony the young couple left for Pittsview, Ala., where they will reside at the home of the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Baxter M. Faris. Will Visit Winthrop. The general assembly will visit Winthrop college on Friday, January 24. The birthday of general Robert E. Lee is a legal holiday in this state. It is January 19. That date falls on Sunday this year, and the general assembly will observe Friday, the 24th instead. President Johnson went down to Columbia for the purpose of extending an invitation, which was presented to the general assembly on Wednesday by Senator Beamguard. Several senators objected to the acceptance of the invitation: but Senator Beamguard was backed by Senator Christensen and others and the invitation was accepted by a vote of 29 to 11. The Bank of Clover. The seventh nnnual meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Clover was held on last Tuesday afternoon. The report of Mr. J. A. Page, cashier, showed that the bank is in fine condition and that the net earnings of the past year were the largest in the history of the institution. The usual 10 per cent dividend was ordered paid and a substantial amount passed to the surplus ' i fund. Messrs. T. M. Campbell and Wm. - P. Smith were elected as directors In I. place of two that had retired since the '. last annual meeting, and with this ex!. ception all the old officers were re. elected. * Death of Mrs. Fannie Caldwell. Mrs. Fannie Caldwell, one of the oldest and most respected residents of the city, passed away Monday night at the home of her daughter. Mrs. B. M. r Fewell, in Rock Hill. Mrs. Caldwell was r 79 years of age and was connected with y the most prominent families in Rock - Hill. She was loved by all who knew her - and expressions of regret were heard t on all sides when the news of her death became known. She was the - widow of the late Rev. Cyrus Caldwell, - a well known Presbyterian minister, ; whose death occurred some years ago. ; The funeral was held from the First e Presbyterian church Tuesday after . noon at 4 o'clock, conducted by the - Rev. Alexander Martin. A large coni course of sorrowing friends gathered b to pay their last tribute of respect. The s remains were laid to rest in Laurelt wood cemetery beneath a mound of f flowers. The Hookworm Campaign. f Hock Hill special of January 15 to . Charlotte Chronicle: Dr. J. T. Howell, . the hookworm expert, who is conductg ing a campaign in York county, states 1 that he is more than pleased with the interest taken by the people. The r campaign opened Tuesday in this ( city, and throughout the day. Dr. Howell's office in the city hall buildg ing was filled with visitors, who want? ed to be examined. His other apt pointments for each day of the week . are as follows: Hickory Grove on t Thursdays, Clover on Fridays and g Yorkville on Saturdays. Dr. Howell g will be here each Tuesday. In talking 3 with a reporter last night, Dr. Howell stated that an unusually large number of specimens were received during the day. In fact he could not examine all the specimens, despite the fact that he was assisted during the r day by Dr. Blackman. A number had 1 to be sent to the office in Columbia, c Dr. Howell states that he is yet unable - to roach any definite conclusion as to f the result of the work here Tuesday, i but judging from the specimens exami ined in Columbia from York county, 3 he stated that it appeared that the , people of York county were the least i infected of any county in the state, but that there were considerable r hookworm cases here. Two Buried in Same Grave. Fort Mill Times: Fort Mill people " generally read with regret of the f deaths Thursday night of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Hicks at their home in the 1 vicinity of Pineville. Mr. Hicks and family resided in Fort Mill township . up to a few years ago and was well ' known in this city. The death of Mr. jj Hicks Thursday evening at 7 o'clock 1 was the result of a fall from a wagon " a few hours earlier. The death of his J wife at 7.10 resulted from heart failure * caused by the accident to her husband. : Thursday afternoon Mr. Hicks had loaded his wagon with wood and start: ed to Charlotte. He had gone only a few hundred yards when a standard on " the wagon snapped in twain, releasing 1 the wood, a large portion of which fell J to the ground. Mr. Hicks was unable to retain his seat on the wagon and in ' falling was thrown under the wheels. * The vehicle, with its heavy load, pass2 ed over his body and inflicted injuries 1 which he could not survive. Mrs. Hicks 2 suffered a stroke of paralysis last 3 spring and for some time had been unable to leave her room. Thursday when the mangled body of her husband was 1 brought to the home she fainted. A 2 physician was summoned and stated c that Mr. Hicks could not recover, al. though the injured man regained consciousness long enough to explain how me accident occurred, airs, hicks was ' given attention but died without regaining consciousness. The bodies of J Mr. and Mrs. Hicks, who are survived by several children, were interred Fri[ day in the burial ground at Ebenezer \ church in Mecklenburg county. 1 MERE MENTION i John D. Rockefeller and others will , finance a nation-wide campaign in ) the interest of white slaves. Rescue i homes will be established throughout j the country and a fund of $10,000,000 i is to be provided for the purpose , In a political riot at Cezimbra, Portur gal, bunday, troops flred volleys into . the rioters, killing three and wound? ing twenty-nine A New York > bank a tew days ago received a check . for $2,500 from a citizen living in I Germany, to pay a note for $1,500 ? , ven seventeen years ago. The maker I of the note had in tne meantime pass> ed through the bankruptcy courts in | New York, and later returned to Ger> many The steamer Uranium, Rotinrrlnm tn Hnllfa* wAnt on the rooks. j twelve miles from Halifax, Nova Scof tia, Sunday morning during a high . wind and a dense fog. The 823 pasj sengers, mostly emigrants, were safe> ly landed The trial of the notoi rious Bonnot gang of automobile murj derers and thieves, Is set to begin in ? Parts on February 3. There are tweni ty-one prisoners, and the trial is ex> pected to continue for at least three ! weeks. There will be 300 witnesses, . and the presiding magistrate will ask I each prospective juror 567 questions. ....The strike of the New York gar) ment workers has been broken and thousands of the workers have re[ turned to their work A young i bandit, described as being excessively polite, held up a railroad ticket of fice in Cleveland, O., Friday; one in . Pittsburg, Pa., Saturday, and another i in Philadelphia on Monday. He is de, scribed as a Chesterfield in dress and I manner and speaks with a slight lisp, ' but his revolver speaks with consider. able force John W. Weeks has been named by the Republican majorI ity of the Massachusetts legislature, to I succeed Murray W. Crane as United . states senator from that state Joseph Kirwin, a life-term prisoner I at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., for robbery, is making a plea for a pardon on the ground that a complete change of i the tissues of his body, which scien Into on?? omran vonro I noia oaj', utv.uio wiuj ovtvii j w? has cured him of his mania for crime. > The government of Great BrltI ain on January 1st assumed ownership of all the telephone systems of the British Isles, and a court of ap, praisal has fixed $62,576,320 as the price the government must pay for the phone systems Two aviators were drowned in the River Thames near London, Monday. The flying machine ; fell into the water and the engine ex! ploded In an address at Trenton ! X. J., Monday, Governor Wilson said , '-'at in his administration he will "Pick out progressives and only progressives." The first aerial parcels post service was inaugurated between Boston, Mass., and Providence, R. I., Monday. The distance, about 60 miles, was made in 54 minutes John Tasto, 22 years old. a college student, was arrested in Chicago on Monday, charged with raising a $1 bill to $100, to aid him in getting an education The moving picture factory of the Thanhouser company, at New Rochelle, N. Y., was destroyed by fire Monday. The loss was about $75,000 Senator Pomereal of Ohio, has Introduced a resolution in the senate, providing for a constitutional amendment that will simplify impeachment proceedings against court judges S. P. Ker, president of the Sharon, Pa., Steel Hoop company, announced in Washington on Tuesday, that the United States Steel company will advance the wages of its employes , 10 per cent on February 1. The increase will total approximately $17,500,000 a year W. W. Ramsey, an ex-convict, was on Tuesday, elected , president of the German National bank ( of Pittsburg Pa. Ramsey served a term following the Pittsburg council- , manic graft scandal two years ago.... The Colorado legislature elected two Democratic United States senators on Tuesday Senator Gore has intro- , duced a bill to increase the membership of the United States supreme court front 9 to 11. ? Spartanburg special of January 15 1 to the News and Courier: J. H. Stone, I found guilty of assault and battery s with intent to kill on the person of < Wallace Whitlock, was today sentenc- 1 ed to serve seven years in the state i penitentiary by Judge Memminger, who severely scored the defendant as the i perpetrator of a most heinous crime. 5 Stone was convicted of attempting to 1 assassinate Whitlock his competitor in t business at the Spartanburg Junction, 1 one night while Whitlock was return- c ing to his home. I THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY House and Senate Are in Annual Session. The general assembly convened last Tuesday at noon, the time fixed by the constitution, and proceeded to organize according to the usual routine without undue friction. The first business presented after the organization was the consideration of the governor's annual message, which is published in full In today's issue of The Enquirer. The House. Mendel Smith, of Camden, was elected without opposition to his fourth term as speaker of the house. James A. Hoyt, of Columbia, defeated J. Wilson Glbbes, of Columbia, for clerk of the house by a vote of 106 to 11. S. McGowan Simkins, of Edgefield, was re-elected reading clerk of the house without opposition. The Rev. J. P. Knox, pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian church of Columbia, was elected chaplain. J. S. Wilson, of Lancaster, defeated I. M. Hood, of Chester, for sergeant-atarms by a vote of 112 to 7. R. S. Whaley, of Charleston, was named temporary chairman by the house. The Senate. Organization of the senate was effected quickly by the nominations of Wednesday night's caucus being agreed upon unanimously. Senator Hardin was chosen speaker pro tern and Clerk Mann, Reading Clenc Stokes and Sergeant-at-Arms Schumper were re-elected. On the office of chaplain there were two nominations, the Rev. C. A. Freed and the ,l?ev. E. W. Keller, the former being successful, 26 to 14. B. Beverly Sloan v.'ts ap pointed assistant cierK, ana tne roilowing appointments were announced by the president: Secretary to the president, Leon M. Green; journal clerk, G. E. Moore; bill clerk, E. A. Perry; doorkeepers, G. T. Hyatt, J. C. Johnson, T. A. Scott; keeper of the president's room, John Bruson; pages Jack Mullikin, Andrew Graham; laborers, Calhoun Butler, Albert Nance, Ernest Hargrove. Wednesday. There was very little done in the house on Wednesday, the most important developments of the day being the reception of two messages from the governor, one on the subject of the Augusta proceedings of the dispensary investigating committee and the other relating to the publication of the governor's Richmond speeches in the record. A bill was introduced by J, P. DeLaughter to regulate the admission of foreign life insurance companies into South Carolina. Mr. Irby introduced a bill to create a state life fund for the granting of life insurance and paying annuities, and to provide for the administration of the same, and Mr. Mitchem introduced a bill to provide an industrial home for destitute children, and to provide for its maintenance by the government. Mr. R. S. Whaley was nominated for the new position of speaker pro tem by Joshua W. Ashley, and was elected without opposition. Several new bills were introduced in the senate; one by Senator McLaurin to reduce the interest rate to 6 per cent, and one by Senator Carlisle to allow foremen and acting foremen of grand juries to swear witnesses. Mr. Nicholson introduced a bill with reference to the licensing of insurance companies. I nursday. On Thursday Governor Blease sent to the house and senate his special message in support of his recommendation of legislation to restrain the press, etc., and erviewing incidents of last summer's campaign, especially in connection with Tillman's famous antiBlease letter. This message is published in full in today's paper, beginning on the first page. The house referred the message, along with the bill which it accompanied to the judiciary committee, and in the senate, Senator Nicholson, of Edgefield, gave notice that he would ask for the publication in the Journal of a statement in reply to the governor's attack. THE AUGUSTA HEARING Governor Makes Reply to Matter in Special Message. Governor Blease on last Wednesday sent to the general assembly the speech he delivered in Chester in reply to the matter brought out by the dispensary investigating committee at its Augusta meeting. Mr. Rembert wanted the message received as information and the address published in the Journal. Mr. Nicholson objected to the printing of the address in advance of the receipt of the report of the dispensary, Investigating committee; but said he would have no objection to its publication in the Journal after the report of the dispensary investigation committee had been received. The matter was passed over until Friday. The governor's message of transmission is as follows: "Gentlemen of the General Assembly "I have a right to presume in fact, have been Informed, that a committee appointed by the last general assembly for the purpose of investigating certain matters connected with the winding up of the old state dispensary, will report to you; and in said report will furnish certain statements taken by them in the city of Augusta in the state of Georgia, as well as others in the state, in matters relating to myself as a private citizen, as a state senator and as governor. Toeing fortunate in having each and every member of that committee as a political, biased and prejudiced enemy of mine, I have no opportunity to incorporate in their report an answer to this so-called evidence and statements. I, therefore, herewith transmit to you a speech delivered by me in the city of Chester, in the state of South Carolina on the 20th day of July, 1912?being the state campaign meeting at said point, I transmit to you this document for the purpose of having it placed in your journals and in your reports and resolutions, that the future historian of the state, if he desires to record the truth, will have my side of this all important question; and, furthermore, for the purpose of showing you that this so-called committee went outside of their jurisdiction and were made the laughing stock, not only of the people of this, state, but the people of other states by allowing one skunk to mislead them and to make tools and monkeys out of them. "It is not a matter of much difference to me, but it is a material matter to the people of this state, and particularly to the future history of the state, that the charges which were made before this band of political pirates should be exposed in order that the record of the governor of our commonwealth should be known and the falsity of the charges shown; otherwise, I would not bother you with it. "Requesting that you give it place in your journal, I am, "Very respectfully, "Cole L. Blease, Governor. THE RICHMOND SPEECHES Governor Sends Copies to the General Assembly for the Journal. Governor Blease on Wednesday sent the house, copies of his Richmond speeches with the request that they be printed in the Journal. There being no effective opposition, the addresses were ordered printed in the Journal. The speeches have already been printed in The Enquirer. The governor's message of transmission is as follows: "To the Honorable the Members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina: "Gentlemen: I herewith transmit to you the official stenographic report Df my speeches before the conference pf governors, held in Richmond, Va., December 3, to December 6, 1912. rhis report is furnished me by Mr. L. D. Booth, the official stenographer of :he conference of governors, who is stenographer for the state corporation mmmisslon of the commonwealth of Virginia, with headquarters at Richnond. "So much has been said and so nueh has been written about the speeches which were delivered by me iefore the govemor'p conference, and such cowardly, infamous and foul edtorials have been heralded through>ut this country by various newspapers, that I desire to submit to you and to my constituents In South Carolina exactly what I said In the three speeches, towlt, the address on penology. the address on divorce, and the address on the resolution which Is quoted below in connection with the three addresses; in order that you and the people of South Carolina may see that there was absolutely nothing said by me on that occasion In reference to lynch law, except what I have said all over South Carolina time and time again. And I have never yet said it in South Carolina that it did not meet with round after round of applause from the best people of my state. "I care nothing for the criticism of Cubans, mixed-breeds, negroes or negro lovers. However, I want the decent element of South Carolina to see what I said, and to let them pass Judgment on it for themselves. Furthermore, I want it to be made a part of the political history of my state. ior i am proua 01 me views i expressea In these speeches, and stand by every word of them, and I am ready and willing to meet any man in this state or in the entire nation, before the people of South Carolina upon this issue. "Read what I said, and then think as you like about it. I have neither any excuse nor any apologies to make. "Very respectfully, "Cole L. Blease, Governor. NEGOTIATIONS AT STANDSTILL Allies Apparently in Earnest About Proposition to Renew War. London. Jan. 16.?Another day has passed without progress in the peace negotiations. The ambassadors of- the powers have not yet presented their collective note to the porte. Constantinople despatches say that the delay is due to the failure of the German ambassador to receive instructions from his government. Part of the European press blames Germany, charging that she is standing outside the concert of Europe and playing a game of her own. The ambassadors at London deny this. One said today: "This suggestion is wholly unjust. Thank God the most promising feature of the situation is that all of the powers are marching together." Considerable difficulty has been experienced in carrying on an exchange of views through code telegrams and this is believed to be the real cause of the delay. The fact that King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, with his ministers Journeyed to Mustapha Pasha for a council of war yesterday with Gen. Savoff and the commanders of the four Bulgarian armies is considered proof that the Bulgarians' threat to begin the war soon Is In earnest. Dr. Danieff, the chief Bulgarian envoy, has received a long cipher telegram from the premier, telling of King Ferdinand's visit and describing the condition of the armies besieging Adrianople and facing Tchatalja. The Bulgarian soldiers, says the premier, are in high spirits and eager again to measure themselves against their traditional foes. Fugitives, all claiming to be soldiers, are escaping from Adrianople In such numbers that the Bulgarians suspect a strategem on the part of Shukri Pasha, the Turkish commandant, to rid himself of the burden of feeding civilians by sending them out as deserting soldfers. Dr. Danieff today handed to M. Jonescu, the Roumanian minister of the interior, the Bulgarian reply to the Roumanian claims respecting the rectification of the Debrudja frontier and the future status of the Vlach communities in the territory, Turkey cedes to Bulgaria. M. Jonescu will take the reply to Bucharest for submission to the cabinet. SOUTH CAROLINA NEW8. ? Columbia, January 15: After calling attention to the fact that over 1,000,000 acres of land in South Carolina are escaping taxation, A. W. Jones, comptroller general, in his annual report recommends a resurvey of the territory of the state so as to show the number of acres in each tax district. He calls attention to the ad mirable map of Spartanburg made under the direction of the county commissioners. The comptroller general urges upon the general assembly to assist the United States government in completing the soil survey of the state. It is estimated that about $60,000 will be required to complete this work. He says that such a survey would be of great value to the state in increasing its revenue and securing a more equitable administration of the laws. ? Fire broke out in the cotton oil mill at Due West last Wednesday and caused a loss of between $7 000 and $10,000 which is covered by insurance. ? Spartanburg, January 15: Adam Crane Jones, traveling salesman and a candidate for governor of South Carolina in 1906, committed suicide here this morning at his home on Maple street He had been in bad health for about two weeks, but today was better and had planned to leave i his home. Going to a little woodhouse in his back yard on the pretext of getting some fuel, Mr. Jones closed the door. One shot was heard. His family and neighbors rushed to the house and Mr. Jones was found dead, a bullet hole in his right temple. A 38-calibre pistol was used, four load ed shells and one empty one remain* ed In the chamber. Death was in* stantaneous. Three children and a wife survive him. Mr. Jones had been one of the leading advocates of better railroad legislation in this state for many years and made the race for governor on this platform. He was widely known throughout the ^ state. He moved to Spartanburg ^ from Newberry several years ago. ? Spartanburg, January 16: As the result of the efforts of the grand Jury to break up the social clubs in Spar tanburg by returning true bills against *J. V. Worley, J. R. Parris, James George and W. F. Tinsley on a charge of violating the dispensary law, the indictments being handed out. several days ago on evidence furnished by members of the police department and others, all of the above named defendants appeared before Judge Memminger In the court of general sessions today and pleaded guilty. In each case, however, a Jury was drawn and the foreman instructed to write: "We the Jury find the defendant guilty" across the back of each indictment. After the pleas had been accepted Judge Memminger sentenced Parris Tinsley and Worley to serve a sentence of six months or pay a fine of $500, sentence being suspended in each case upon the payment of a fine of $200 pending good behavior. In the case against James George he seotenced him to serve 12 months or pay a fine of $500, sentence being suspended upon the payment of $300 of the fine and pending good behavior. The court warned all four of the defendants that if they ever appeared before the court of sessions again on the charge of violating the dispensary law and were convicted, they would be giveji 12 months straight hard labor and be made to pay the remainder of the $500 fine imposed. The pleas of guilty were taken up, the case against J. V. Worley had been entered into and was about ready to be given to the jury. All of the witnesses in this case had testified and arguments were in process before the Jury, when counsel for Worley held a consultation and it was decided to let the defendant enter a plea of guilty. Solicitor Otts was not willing to accept such a plea from the defendant unless all the other defendants in the dispensary cases would agree to plead guilty. After a few moments' consultation with Gecrge, Tinsley and Parris they agreed to enter a similar plea tc which the solicitor consented. Six Per Cent Interest Bill.?Senator McLaurin on Wednesday introduced a bill to reduce the legal rate of interest to 6 per cent. The meat of the bill according to the Columbia correspondent of the News and Courier is in this clause: "No greater Interest than 6 [>er cent per annum shall be charged, taken, agreed upon, or allowed upon any contract in this state for the hiring, lending or use of money or other eommodlty, either by way of straight nterest, discount or otherwise, except jpon written contracts, wherein by express agreement a rate of interest aot exceeding 7 per cent may be charged."