The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, December 14, 1887, Image 1
VOL, III. MANNING, CLARENDON COUNTY, S. C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1887. NO. 16.
LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS.
WHAT THE LAWMAKERS EAVE DONE
FOIL THE STATE.
.Several Important 3Ieasnres Receive Final
' Consideration--Synopsis of the Proceed
Ings Thereon.
CorxnaI, December 10.-The work
of the Legislature has progressed rapid
ly and satisfactorily for the past week.
The more important measures acted on
will now be noticed.
THE CBDNIAL LAW.
The bill to regulate the criminal prac
tice in this State has passed the House
and Senate both and is now before the
Senate judiciary, committee, who ire
considering the House amendments.
The following is the text of the bill as it
left the House:
Section 1. That every indictment shall
be deemed and adjudged sufficient and
good in law, which, in addition to set
ting forth the time and place, as now
provided by law, charges the crime sub
stantially in the language of the com
mon law or of the statute prohibiting the
same, or so plainly that the nature of
the offence chgd may be easily under
stood.
Section 2. That every objection to any
indictment for any defect apparent on
the face thereof shall be taken by de
murrer, or on motion to quash such in
dictment before the jury shall be sworn,
and not afterwards.
Section 3. That if there be any defect
in form in any indictment it shall be
competent for the Court before which
the case is tried to amend the said in
dictment: Provided, such amendment
does not change the nature of the offence
charged; that if on the trial of any case
there shall appear to be any variance be
tween the allegations of the indictment
and the evidence offered in proof
thereof, it shall be competent for the
Court before which the trial shall be had
to amend the said indictment according
to the proof: Provided, such amendment
does not change the nature of the offence
charged; and after such amendment the
trial shall proceed in all respects and
with the same consequence as if no van
ence had occurred, unless such amend
ment shall operate as a surprise to the
defendant, in which case the defendant
shall be entitled upon demand to a con
tinuance of the cause.
Section 4. That in any plea of autre
fois acquit or autre fois convict it shall
be s..iiicient for any defendant to state
that he-has been lawfully acquitted or
convicted, as the case may be, or the
offence charged in the indictment.
Section 5. That every indictment for
murder shall be deemed and adjudged
sufficient and good in law, which in ad
dition to setting forth the time and
place, together with a plain statement,
divested of all useless phraseology, of
the manner in which the death of the
deceased was caused, charges that the
defendant did feloniously, wilfully and
of his malice aforethought kill and mur
der the deceased.
Section 6. That in all cases whatso
ever in which it shall be necessary to
make any averment in any indictment as
to any instrument, whether the same
rsists wholly or in part of writing,
int or figures, shall be sufficient to de
Bribe such instrument by any name or
ignaion by which the same may be
usually known or by the purport thereof,
and in such manner as to sufficiently
identify such instrument without set
ting out any copy or fac simile of the
whole or any Dart thereof.
Section 7. 'that in any indictment for
perjury it shall not be necessary to set
forth more than the substance of the
oath and the fact concerning which the
prury is alleged to have bee-.1 comn
Section 8. That any person or persons
who shall be arraigned for the crime of
murder, manalaughter, burglary, arson,
rape or grand larceny shall be entitled
to peremptory challenges not exceeding
ten; and the State in such cases shall be
entitled to perempto.ry challenges not
exceeding five; and any person or per
gons who shall be indicted for any crime
or offence, other than those enumerated
above, shall have the right to perempto
ry challenges not exceeding five, and the
State in such cases shall be entitled to
peremptory challenges not exceeding
two ut no right to stand aside jurors
shall be allowed to the State in any case
whatsoever: Provided, that in no case
where there shall be more than one de
fendant jointly tried, shall more than
twenty peemptory challenges be ailow
ed in ato the defendants.
Section 9. Nothing in this Act cn
tainedashall apply to any case where an
indictment has already been found and
the case is actually pending.
Section 10. That all Acts and parts of
Acts inconsistent with this Act are hereby
repealed.
The bill to provide for the payment
by the State of the expenses of all pros
ecutions in criminal cases, caused con
considerable discussion, participated in
by several members, Colonel Haskell
leading the fight against the bill and Mr.
Bankin defending it. Finally it was in
a dfinitely postponed by a vote of 57
to 45.
The next bill taken up was the one
amending the General Statutes in rela
tion to liens on buildings and lands.
Several speeches were made on the bill,
and the debate was long and interesting.
After every feature had been fully and
freely dismussed it was indefinitely post
poned.
Numerous bills have passed their third
readings, among which-the bill to pun
ish o.ck-fighting within three miles of
any chartered institution in this State.
There was some discussion on the bill
(by Dr. Lee, of Charleston,) to amend
the law asto the carrying of concealed
weapons, making the offence a felony.
Dr. lae supported his bill in an able
argument and was seconded .by Dr.
Pope, of Newberry, Mr. Boozer, o:
Edgefield, Colonel McKissick, of Union,
and others. Mr. Gary, of Edgefield,
opposed the bill, on the ground that th<
present law was sufficient to suppress the
evil if it was properly enforced. Fiu alh
a vote was reached on a motion to lii
the bill. The motion was defeated ati
the fight was reopered. Mr. Wihoa', o:
York, Mr. Haskell, of Columbia, Mbjoi
Brawley, and others opposed the bill or
the grounds given above, viz., that in
- -aig the penalty would not ensnri
the enforcement of the law against car
rying concealed weapons. The discus
sion lasted till 10 p. mn., when the House
by a vote of 75 to 37 decided to recom
mit the bill, and then adjourned.
THE PHOSPHATE BILL.
The phosphate bill, the provisions of
which have already been summarized in
these columns, caused quite a lengthy
debate in the Senate. The various pro
visions of the bill were freely discussed.
The first vote came up on Senator Tal
bert's motion to make the duration of
the proposed grant ten years instead of
twenty. This amendment was lost by a
vote of 17 nays to 1i yeas. Next his
amendment to increase the royalty was
lost by a vote of 25 nays to 10 yeas.
Various other amendments were offered,
with varying results, but without indi
cating the sense of the Senate upon the
measure as whole. Finally Senator
Moise, of Sumter, m'oved to indefinitely
postpone the bill. Senator Murray
moved to table this motion. The yeas
and nays were called, and the vote stood
as follows:
Yeas-Alexander, Bell, Bieman, Buist,
Edward, Field, Howell, Murray, Moore,
Munro, MsMaster, Reynolds, Sinkler,
Sligh, Smythe, Talbert, Williams-17.
Nays-Austin, Black, Byrd, Crews,
Erwin, Hemphill, Izlar, Kennedy,
Moody, McCall, Moise, Patterson,
Rhame, Smith, Wofford, Wingard,
Woodward and Youmans-18.
The bill was then indefinitely post
poned without a division.
SOME NEW MEASURES.
Quite a number of new measures have
been introduced-among them the fol
lowing:
In the Senate: Bill to amend the trial
justice law.
Bill to regulate licenses for insurance
companies doing business in this State.
Bill to renew and amend the charter
of the Oak Point Mining Company.
Bill to extend, amend and renew the
charter of the Farmers' Phosphate Com
pany.
Bill incorporating the Security Sav
ings Bank of Charleston.
Bill incorporating the Summerville
Building and LoanAssociation.
By Senator Moore, bill to restore a
per diem payment to county boards of
examiners.
In the House: Mr. Lesesne, bill to re
peal certain Acts so as to remit the
county of Colleton to the operations of
Chapter 27, General Statutes, relating to
the stock law.
Mr. Abnev, bill to amend Chapter 72,
&c., of the CGeneral Statutes, relating to
assignments by insolvent debtors.
Mr. Ancrum, bill to charter the Cam
den Street Railway Company.
Mr. Teague, bill requiring the super
intendent of the Penitentiary to provide
separate maintenance, lodging and train
ing for criminals under 15 years of age.
Mr. Plowden, bill to authorize the
town council-of Forreston to borrow
money for building an academy and
boarding-house.
Mr. Johnston, bill to abolish the office
of superintendent of highways in Pick
ens county.
ABOrT THE CENtS.
There was a long and earnest debate
in the House on the bill to re-apportion
the representatives according to the bill
previously reported by the proper com
mittee. This bill simply provides that
there shall be a reapportionment of rep
resentation on the basis of the United
States census of 1880 and divides out
the Representatives among the counties,
taking four from Charleston and, one
each from Aiken, Hampton and Rich
land counties, and giving an additional
Bepresentative to Beaufort, Edgefield,
Greenville, Laurens, Marlboro, Spartan
burg and Sumter counties.
There was a long and earnest debate
the opponents of the bill resting their
objections mainly upon the ground that
it would be in violation of the State
Constitution.
The yeas and nays were called on the
motion to strike out the enacting words.
During the call of the roll there was per
fect silence in the House, most of the
members keeping tally of the votes.
The motion was finally declared lost by
a vote of 57 to 6..
Mr. Haskell offered an amendment,
which was accepted, providin that this
tafte rthe adjournment of the General
Assembly which will be elected in 1890.
After some further debate it was sug
gested that the apportionment set forth
in the bill had never been verified by
reference to the records of the census of
1880, as filed in the office of the Secre
tary of State.
After some discussion Mr. Haskell's
motion to recommit to a special commnit
tee was adopted on a division, with the
understanding that the committee should
report as soon as they had verified the
figures and that the bill would then be
taken up for its third reading, the oppo
sition guaranteeing that it should not
lose its place on the Calendar. The
special committee appointed by the
Speaker was composed of Messrs. Simp
son, Douglass and Aldrich.
The committee, on the day following,
reported that they had made the neces
sary calculations, and found that the
representation would be as follows: Ab
beville 5, Aiken 3, Anderson 4, Barn
well 5, Beaufort 4, Berkeley 5, Charles
ton 8, Chester 3, Clarendon 2, Colletor
5, Darlington 4, Edgefield 0, Fairfield 3,
Georgetown 2, Greenville 5, Hamptor
2, Hurry 2, Kershaw 3, Lancaster 2
Laurens 4, Lexington 2, Mar:on 4
Marlboro 3, Newberry 3, Oconee 2
Orangeburg 5, Pickens 2, Rlichland 4
Spartanburg 5, Sumter 5, Union 3, Wit
liamsburg 3, York 4.
The committee stated that in appor
tioning representatives to Berkeley ani
Charleston they had made the calcula
tion according to the townships in th<
two portions of old Charleston sice eu
into two counties.
The House discussed the bill a', sorn
length. A motion to indefinitely pobt
pone was lost-yeas 55, nays 58-an<
the bill was then, without a division
passed and sent to the Senate. Anothe
effort w& s made to postpone the mauerx
by referring it to the Supreme Court ti
pass on the constitutionality of the meam
ure, but this failed.
IssURANCE BILL KILLED.
The three-quarter value clause insui
ance bill was next taken up, the obje<
being to prevent insurance companie
from inserting in their policies what
- known as the three-fourths value claus4
Tha bill had alrady been discussd an
nothing new was developed in relation]
to it. After a discussion in which Mr.
W. B. Wilson, of York, advo ated, and
Mr. Connors, of Lancaster, and Mr.
Moses, of Sumter, opposed the measure,
the bill was killed-73 to 36.
THE LABOR HOURS BILL.
The Greenville bill to limit the time
of working in factories to ten hours per
day caused much debate. An amend
ment, making the bill apply only to
persons under twel -e years of age, was
offered, which caused a long debate. The
bill was discussed to-day and went over
to Monday.
THE LAW OF MARRIED WOMEN.
Mr. Hyde's bill to amend the law in
relation to the contracts of married wo
men was next taken up and discussed.
A motion to kill the bill was lost-88
to 23. Finally the bill was passed in
this shape:
Section 1. A married woman shall
have the right to purchase any species
of property in her own name and to take
proper legal conveyance therefor, and to
contract and be contracted with in the
same manner as if she were unmarried:
Provided, that the husband shall not be.
liable for the debts of the wife con
tracted prior to or after their marriage,
except for her necessary support.
Section 2. All the earnings and income
of a married woman shall be her own
separate estate, and shall be governed by
the same provisions of law as apply to
other separate estates.
THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
The bill to reorganize the Department
of Agriculture caused much debate in the
Senate. It was finally passed, with an
amendment provided for members of
the Board and providing that eight of
these members and the Commissioner of
also shall be elected by the General As
sembly. The other two members are to
be the master of the State Grange and
the president of the State A'ricaltural
and Mechanical Society. 'The eight
elected are to be one from each of the
eight judicial circuits.
THE UNrVERSIrr.
The bill to reorganize and improve the
State University caused an animated
debate in the Senate-Messrs. Buist and
Youmans favoring it, and Messrs.
Moody, Hemphill, Sligh and Talbert
opposing it. A motion to indefinitely
postpone the bill was tabled by a vote of
21 to 13. After further debate the bill
was made the special order for yesterday.
And on yesterday it was made the special
order for Monday next.
OTHER MATTERS.
Senator Edwards's joint resolution
proposing to strike from the Constitu
tion, Section 10, of Article X, contain
ing the muandate that all schools, in
whole or in part, supported by the pub
lic fund, shall be free and open to all
the yonth of the State without regard to
rice, color, &c., was killed without a
division as soon as the Senator had ex
plained what it meant.
The joint resolution proposing to
amend the Constitution as to Judges
charging juries on questions of fact, was
killed, on motion of its author, Senator
Patterson. -
A bill to prevent the improper selling
of food was passed, after the withdrawal
of Senator Hemphill's jocular amend
ment to make it apply to clothing,
newspapers, &.
The committee on agriculture has sub
mitted a favorable report on the bill to
establish a separate agricultural college.
It was made the special order for the
15th inst.
Mr. Davenport has at last succeeded
in getting a favorable report on his bill
to protect the 'possum while he in an
unripe state. The coon will also be in
cluded in the beneficent and merciful
provisions of the bill.
The House committee of agriculture
had a lively discussion on the Colleton
stock law exemption bill. Seven of the
committee agreed to report the bill un
favorably and six favorably. The re
ports have been handed in.
Dr. Pope's bill to amend the law as to
lawyers' costs so as to limit their fees for1
attending references was passed to aI
third reading.
The joint resolution to call a Constitu
tional Convention passed the House, but'
was lost in the Senate. The joint reso
lution to enlarge the judiciary by creat
ing a Court of Eror (comprisng all the
Justices and Circuit Judges) and pro
viding that unless two Supreme Court!
Justices-concur with the Circuit Judge,
the d4ecision of the latter should stand
affirmed.
Uxifavorable reports were made on the
separate agricultural college bill and the'
bill establishing certain scholarships in
the Winthrop Training School for Teach
ers, but both were placed on the Calen
dar for consideration hereafter.
The House has passed a bill to exempt
certain portions of Berkeley county from
the operations of the stock law.
THE COMPTROLLER GENERAL.
No day has yet been fixed for the
election of a successor to Comptroller
General Stoney, whose resignation was
handed to the Governor on Thursday.
Among those most prominxently men
tioned are James S. Verner, Esq., of
Oconee, Hon. J. W. Daniels, of Ander
son, Colonel John P. Thomas, of Co
lumbia, General St. J. Sinkler, of
Berkeley, Ho.W. C. (Coker, of Darl
boro, and Colonel John T. Sloan, Sr.,
Clerk of the House.
Capt. Stoney will be appointed auditor
Iof the South Carolina Railway Company.
Coat.
The price of coal as been raised in
New York from $1.60 in December, 1886,
to $5.25 per ton in December, 1887, and
the latter figure will be likely to prevail
Iduring the winter. Owing to a strike on
1a waeissne in the Lehigh anthracite
regions, over twenty thousand miners
:id laborcrs are unemployed and have
!een out of work for several weeks. This,
jwill be made an excuse for keeping up
Ithe price of coal, notwiithstanding that
the production has been larger the past
year thau the year beforc. The Morning
I Jouirnal makes an estimate of actual cost
ofc productiou, transportation and hand
ling of coal, showing that it could be de
livered to the consumer in New York for
$3.50 per ton. But this is on paper only.
--ichmond Whig.
SA Georgia man, who was engaged io
-i neling up a gate, was struck by lightniug.
ie is recovering. and the young lady's beau
THE1 WANING "MAGIC CITY."
The Downward Trend of the Intfated Ala
1,ama Towns--Depression in Birmingham
--A Sad Collapse in Prospect.
(From the New York Herald.)
The New South. It is now nearly a
year since the boom in that section cul
minated. The whole country has been
ringing with the fairy tale of the South's
awakening, of her wonderful mineral re
sources, of the new towns and cities
springing up, of fortunes made in a day
and all the rest of it.
Now that the fermentation has sub
sided, it is worth while to blow off the
froth and glance at what is under it.
Well, the situation is seriously strained.
In the new manufacturing cities every
body has been doing a little more than
was safe, and, consequently, is now bor
rowing. Money commands sixteen to
eighteen per cent.. and even more, and
the lowest rate at the banks on absolute
ly safe security is one per cent. a month.
The boom tias subsided, but the people
are trying to sustain real estate on the
absurdly high level to which it was lifted
in the period of crazy speculation. It
rests upon a vast trestle work of inter
related credits.
Landowners, hotel keepers, agents,
shopkeepers, mechanics-the humble 1
owner of a single lot not ye" half paid
for and the land company with millions
of capital-are all trying to talk up and
hold up values. The creditor does not
dare to press the debtor, for if one brick
in the row is toppled over others must
inevitably go, too, and no one could tell
where the trouble would end.
Everybody is hoping for another ]
boom-for a rising tide of speculation
on which he may float out of his difficul
ties. He feels sure that this revival is
coming soon, but pending its fancie
advent his needs are pressing. He must
have money to tide over, and to get it
he is obliged to pay whatever the lender
chooses to ask. In many instances the
rates paid amount to confiscation. The
borrowers are doomed.
The state of affairs in the new manu
facturing city of Birmingham, Ala., is
fairly representative. During the f
"boom" one year ago, the Elyton Land
Company (which founded the city ; sold
no end of building lots at enormous
prices, taking one-fourth cash and notes
at one, two and three years respectively
for the remaining three-fourths. The
one year notes have of late been falling
due from day to day, but the makers are
nable to pay.
The lots were sold for absurdly high I
prices-as high as $1,500 per front foot
on the ragged outer edge of so-called
"business" streets. The twenty-five per
cent. cash payment in most instances
probably represents the full intrinsic
value of the property, or more than the
value, but most of the lots were bought 1
on speculation, and in many instances
ots, after sale by the company, have
passed through several hands at always
advancing prices; so that they are now
nominally owned by persons several re
moves from the original buyers.
Now that the boom has died out and
there is no demand for lots, the last
buyers cannot sell except at a great sacri
fice. But the lot owners and the com
pany are alike interested in keeping
property up on its fictitious leveL Cool
headed investors who visit the city are
repelled by the prices asked, to the per
manent injury of the town. True, the
city is ringing just now with the sounds
of hammer and trowel, but most of this
work is being done under contracts made
last spring or summer while the fever
was on. I could learn of few or no new4
contracts being made. I
The land company is now "carrying"
those who bought its lots, and individu
als who sold real estate are doing the
same by their debtors. If the company
could seize the -lots it could not sell
them, so that the notes (which bear in-]
terest, of course) are more valuable than
the "dirt," provided the drawers succeed
in pulling through, and if they do not,
the company can then recover the land
anhow. From selfish motives the com
pany must extend the notes of delin
quents and help them along-the con
cern must be kept agoing or be smashed.
With the passing of the boom business
has fallen oft and shopkeepers burdened
with frightfully high rents are in danger
of going to the wall. Thre company, it
may be noted, could not foreclose if it
would, for it has not a mortgage on the
lands sold. Instead of giving the buyer
a deed and taking a mortgage for the
balance of the purchase money the com
pany gives simply a bond that the title
shall be vested in .?hgholder when the
last payment shafbe made.
The ease with which these bonds could
be transferred was an element in foster
ing the wild speculation. To wipe out
the claims of the holders of these, how
ever, would involve a long and tedious1
litigation. At Decatur and some other
new cities they are wiser; they give the
buyers deeds and clap mortgages on the
property for the balance of the purchase
money.
The Elyton Land Campany passed its
dividend the other day, thuE indirectly
confirming the correctness of the state
ments made above. Instead of paying
its cash dividend the company issued
script convertible into bonds. The script
represents, the company says, $2,400,
000 of good notes in its treasury, and as
these cannot be disturbed, they are
going to make an issue of bonds instead.
In other words, instead of the usual cash
dividend the stockholders are offered a
mortgage on their own property, and
this because the drawers of the notes are
probably "lying down."
It's a tight squeeze. If money should
become easy and the iron trade should
be prosperous, and there should bs a
new speculation "boom" in reality, B3ir
mingham will pull through.
But if monetary atringency continues,
and sncnlationi continuesmoribund, and
the stfoppage of railroad building in the
Northwest should depress the iron in
dustry, as now'. seems certain, then .there
is going to be a sad collapse in "the
Magic City"-a collapse which will Lhake
the New South to its centre, for the same
conditions prevail in the other towns,
the bad features being an exact ratio to
the madness of the speculation recently
carried on. All this will probably be
scouted by those whose pecuniary inter
ests are invoived, but it's true just the
same.
So much for the financial situation in
the new centres; as to their future growth
and their ultimate prosperity and im
portance there can be no question. Be
fore there can be any new leap forward,
hower, there wil have to be a wiping
out of mere paper values, a great deal of
chargiog off to profit and loss. Some
men who fancy that they are worth
$100,000 will have to realize that the
half of that would be a very high cash
price for what they hold, others who are
too far extended will have to "let go,"
and there vriat be a general adjustment
c values on a rational and pract4cal basis
instead of the present speculative one.
Prices and rents must come down.
On First Avenue, Birmingham, the
writer was in a little shop on the first
too of a two story brick building.
the : were no flagstones in front-only
i dir; sidv .'k, with the dust rising in
ittle clouds from the feet of pedestrians.
"What rent do you pay here?" was the
visitor's query.
"Two hundred dollars a month," was
he reply.
"What!" excla'med the writer, "for
his little house? Why, it's a ridiculous
rent."
"Oh," said the shopkeeper, "I don't
get the whole house. The floor above is
rented out to a family. I pay $200 for
the store alone."
In Birmingham it was, too, that the
writer met a member of a New York
irm who was looking for a suitable
warehouse with a view to establishing a
)ranch of their business in the "Magic
ity." A few days later this gentleman
was encountered on an outgoing train.
"Well, are you going to make a start?"
asked the writer.
"Not by a long chalk. Those people
ire all crazy. I found a brick building
hat would suit me, but they asked
3,700 a year rent for that four story
arracks. Why our firm has a ware
iouse in New York City, only one block
)ff Broadway, seven stories, with cellar
nd sub-cellar, and for that we pay only
X3,500."'
A Shocking Accident.
On Friday last Mr. John Johnson,
sr., and his wife were returning from a
i visit to their brother, Mr. Iraac John
on, who has since died, they met with
6 shocking accident that has since re
iulted in the death of Mrs. Johnson.
he accident happened near Mrs. Har
iet Kitching's, in Tabernacle township.
hey had just passed her house when
hey met Freddie Holmes, nephew of
kr. Alfred Holmes, who was riding a
iorse. Freddie attempted to get out of
he road, but the front wheel of Mr.
[ohnson's buggy caught the horse in the
lank wfiich caused him to come idown
m the wheel, crushing it to the ground.
he noise occasioned by this collision
ri;zhtened the mule drawing the buggy
and it immediately started off-running
Lbout fifty yards-when it stopped and
,ommenced kicking. Mr. Johnson was
brown out of the buggy, getting his arm
>roken and sustaining other injuries.
he mule dragged the buggy some dis
ance further, kicking as it went, until
topped by Mr. Jas. Kitching, who was
it the mill and witnessed the accident.
When he got to the buggy he found the
nule standing with one foot through the
lash, and Mrs. Johnson lying insensible f
n the road twenty yards behind, having
>een kicked in the forehead. She was
:arefully picked and conveyed to the
residence of Mrs. Kitching, Dr. A. L.
Rutto was summoned, and everytning
hat could be done for her relief was
lone. The Doctor, after examining her
njuries, said there was no hope as her
kud had been fractured. This hap
yened about four o'clock on Friday
ifternoon and at ten o'clock on Satur
lay this poor unfortunate lady was a
,orrse. Mrs. Johnson was a sister to
1i.ssrs. Ben and Elias Holman.-Aiken
rournal and Review.
Honoring Mrs. Cleveland.
The ?o'stoffice Department has often
een a iken to' name a postuffice after the
.ovely wife c1 he President, and when
ever the request could be complied with
allant Postmaster General Vilas has
:onsented. Therefore thereis a Frances
>r Cleveland in nearly every State, but
esterday "Ole Virginny" came forward
md took thc cake. They have a post
>fice called Dooms-awful name-and
~hey wanted a postmaster appointed at
nce, so what did they do but ask the
ppointment of Frances Cleveland as
rting postmistress. The request stag
gered the high postal authorities, and at
irst the request came very near going
into the waste paper basket. But the
ylerk in charge of the Virginia desk hap
pened to read the letter again, and found
bhat the applicant's name had an H. in
it, and read. "Frances H. Cleveland,"
Ind not "Frances F. Cleveland." Be
ides, the clerk also discovered that the
Virginians wanted to compliment Mrs.
Cleveland more than other States had
one, and so they picked out a postmis
tress with a name as near as possible to
that of the beautiful mistress of thel
White House. The matter was thus ex
pained to First Assistant Postmaster
General Stevenson, and he at once or-1
dered Frances H. Cleveland appointed
acting postmistress at Dooms, Va. The
next thing in order will be to change the
name of the postoflice from Dooms to
White House.-Baltimoie American.
The le of Success.
It is astonishing how many of our
successful business men attribute their
good fortune neither to luck or general
excellence of judgment, but will tell you
how a strict adherence to some single
rule has done it all for them. Commo
dore Vanderbilt's receipt for making
millions, with certainty and celerity, was
never to sign a note. William E. D)odge
would not hold any pecuniary interest
in any enterprise that was at all attrac
tive on Sunday, and he firmly believed
that his wealth was a reward for con
scientiously observing the Sabbath dy
the first -John Jacob Astor's charm lay in
investing in nothing aside from his reg
uar business, except in real estate; and
Alexander T. Stewart would have antici
pated misfortune if he had wantonly
broken the smallest personal engage
ment. Men of success can afford to
practice their theories, and even become
slaves to them. Men of failure cannot
indulge in such luxuries of conduct.
he Hleadlight.
J. E. Parsioc's Merchant Tailor Es
tablishment, Columbia, S. C., is in f all
blast. Only a look will convince any
one. All that want a first-Class fitting
suit try him. A full line of the best
goods on hand.
The Iowa breweries have closed, the law
beng iedmagainst them.
'LA AES Fld Hi E PREA1C! LI.
THE METJ1Ol)%T Al'!'INTMENT FOR
NEXr YEAR.
Closing Work of she Conference at Spartan
buig--The Next R~eign to be II alai at
Win nsboro,.
The Conference disposed of much im
portant business on the closing day.
The report of the board of education,
after a warm debate, was adopted, re
commending collections for repairs cn
Wofford College.of $7,500, endowment
$15,000, professors' salaries $4,000.
Winnsboro was elected for the nest
session of the Conference.
A class of fcurteen young men were
admitted into the Conference on trial.
Reports .of the committees on Bible
cause, temperance, Conference rektions,
books and periodicals were received.
The secretary reports 63,122 memibers;
paid for missions, $14,6:32. The follow
ing are the appointments for 1888:
Charleston District-J. M. Boyd, Pr.
siding Elder. Charleston, Trinity, R.
N. Wells; Bethel, R. D. Smart; pring
street, J. E. Carlisle; Cumberland, H.
B. Browne; Cainhoy, D. A. Calhouu;
Berkeley, R. L. Holroyd; Summerville,
J. B. Campbell; Cypress, H. W. Whit
taker; Ridgeville, J. A. Mood; St.
George's, T. Ruysozi; North Gecrge':,
P. L. Kirton; Colleton, J. C. Ycaguie;
Round 0, W. W. Williams; Walte; boro,
E. B. Loyless; Hampton, A. B. E rle;
Allendale, C. E. Wiggins; Black Sv a mp,
J. Brown; Hardeeville, G. R. Whijtta
ker; Beaufort, E. J. Meynardie; Princi
pal Benson Academy, J. E. Watson.
Columbia District-S. B. Jones, Pre
siding Elder; Columbia: Washe;ton
Street, W. 1R. Richardson; Marion :tree
M. Dargan; City Mission, S. D. Vau:han:
Winnsboro. G. P. Wats:n: Fairtieal. \.
K. Melton: Biythewoed. W. U. Aria: Lex :
ington Fork, U. W. Crei'zhton, Lexi : e.:
J. W. Neely, G. 1i Shafer; latesbr.::,
P. 11. Elwell: .Jolinso, J. B. 11 ;ioe:
E-lgefich. R. P. Frat ks: Upper S.. .at
thews, W. 11. Lawton: Granitevi;
Langley, W. A. Uetts; Aiken, Will D:: :
Chaphiam to Penitettiary. Wm. )i cti;
President Cohunhia Feknudle C:llege. 0. A.
Darby; President Paine Istitu e, .. W.
Parker; Editor S 'tkern Ctristian .dr,;p
a te, W. D. Kirkl red.
Chester District-A. M. Cbreitz'er,
Presiding Elder; Chester, H. F. Ch"reitz
berg; Chester circuit, J. L. Tray ck; .
East Chester, G. T. Harmon; Rouck 'il, I'
R. H. Jones, North Inock Hill EG
Price; York, W. W. Daniel; Bl3 , l.
J. W. Elkins; York muisioi,'M. A. Con
nolly; King's Mountain, J. L. H..i e ;
Fort Mill, J. W. MclRoy; Lau cst
Jt. Stairord; We--t L e.:ater, J. 0 n;
Tradesviiie, J. B. litt: CLste:'l . ,
J. W. Kiigo; Wtst Chestcrliehl, L. I.
Major.
Cokosbury District-A. J. CGA.het,
Presiding Elder. Cokeslbry, 1. Z.
Dntzler; Greenwood, F. Auld; Ninety
Six, W. P. Meadors; Donald':, C. i,
Pritchard; Abbevill. P. B. Jack=;
Abbeville circuit, S. J. Beth':a; Mc,.Eor-p
mick, J. C. Chandler; Lowr .doilh, W.
S. Martin; Tumbiing Shoals, W. .'
Clark; Waterloo, R. R. Dagnall; North
Edgetield, M. H. Pooser; Newberry. J.
L. Stokes; Newberry circuit, M. M.
Brabham and A. W. Attaway; Kinard's,
T. P. Phillips; Salud., C. D. Mr
Parksville, J. M. Steadman.
Sumter District-J. S. Bieasley, Pre
siding Elder. Sumter, J. M. Pike
Sumte. circuit, V. L. Wait; Lynchbu.rg,
J. S. Maittison; Weagefield, E. 0. Wat
son; Bishiopville, J. L. Shuford; S n'ee,
T. E. XX nnamaker; Forreston, ,J. S.
Porter; Manning, H. M1. Mood; Oak
land, W. ). Duncan; Clarendon, WV. c.I
Gleaton; Candenl, P. A. Murray; Hang
ing Rock. J3. C. Davis; Richlaud, Gi. H.
Pooser; Elast Kershaw, WV. E. Barr; Wes
Wateree, E. E. G-at-in.
Florence District-W. C. Power, Pro
siding Elder. Florence, J3. T. i'ate;
Mars Bluff, W. T. Capers; Darlingitu,
H. G. Scudday; East Darlington, D.
Durant; Cheraw, WV. J. Herbert; Society
Hill, J. E. Rushiton and W. A. Wright;
Darlington circuit, J. K. McCain; Low
er D)arlington, J. WV. Murray; Timmaon
vile, J. E. Beard; Effingham, M. W.
Hook; East Effingham, H. C. E3thea;,
Scranton, to be supplied; Lake City, A
W. Jackson; Kingstrec circuit, J. A.
Rice; Salters', S. S. Blanchard; Gerge
town, A. H. Lester; Georgetown circ'uit,
L. C. Loyal; Johnsonville, W. B3. Baker.
Marion District-A. J. Stokes, Pre-|
siding Elder. Marion, WV. A. Rogers;
Centenary, G. A. Waddell; Briuan's
Neck, J. D. Frierson; North Marlboro,
L. Wood; Bennettsviile, J. W. Dani;
Bennettsville circuit, J. C. Stoll; Clio,
D. D. Dantzler; Blenheim, G. L. Boyd,
Little Rock, J. C. Kilgo; Mullin's, .J. A.
Porter; Little Pee-Dxe, T. C. O'Dell;
Conway, WV. Thomas; Conway cirenit,
W. L. Pegues; Loris, Wni. Hardin;~
Bucksville, M. L. Banks; Wacatuaa,
W. WV. Jones; Pe-Dee mission, B. 0.
Berry.
Orangebairg District-T. 3. Clyde,
Peiding Elder. Orangeburg, L. .
Beaty ; Orangeburg circuit. J. E. Grier;I
Lower St. Matthew's, J. WV. Hum'>ert;
Prvidence, X. H. Kirton; Brachilliie,
D. Teller; Bambr g and ButorC'
Bridge, C. B. Smith; Graham's, d. .
Sibley; Edisto, J. W. Airaii; Upper
Edisto, M. u. F'erguson; Blackvilit:, P.
F. Kirtlee; Bo iling Springs, L. S. B-lI
linger; Orange, B. M. Grier; Wiliston,
R. A. Yongue; South Branchville, .J. d.
Workman.
Greenville Distriet-J. Walter Dice
son, Presiding Elder. Greenville, .i. O.
Wilson; G..reenv'iile cirenit, A. WV. Walk
r; Fork ShoWl, T. WV. Muunerlyn;
RiLdvile, A. F. Berry; North Gree
ville, A. C. Walknr; Williamnston and
Belton. WV. RI. Wroton; Piedmont, T. C.
Ligon;' Anderson, W. S. WVigianuau,
Anderson circuit, 5. D). Blackman, Wet
Anderson, A.~ -N. Attaway; To wiiie
C. V. Barnes; Pendleton, N. B. Cik
son; Pickens, J. F. Anderson; I cens
mission to be supplied; seneca Ciaty, B.
W. Barber; Wahala, M. L. Carise;
Oconee mission, J. N. Wright; Wiliam
ston Female College, S. Lander, lresi
dent.
Spartanburg District-T. G. Herben,
Presiding Eider. Spartanburg, 4. A.
Clifton; City Mission, E. P. Taylor;
Union, S. A. Weber; Cherokee, WV. 3..
Zimmerman; South Union, J. N. Fridy;
Jonsville, D). P. Boyd, Gaflney City,
A. A. Gilbert- TLarnsn T. B. Morris:
North Laurens, J. C. Counts; Clinton,
J. E. Mahafly; Belmont, S. J. McLeod;
Campobello, J. P. Attaway; Pacolet, J.
J. Neville; Clifton, J. Attaway; Wofford
College, A. Coke Smith, professor; E,
T. Hodges to the Los Angeles Confer
nce; B. J. Guess to the West. Texas
Conference.
REPORT ON RAILROADS.
the First Annual Relfort of the Inter
state Commission-A Very Interesting
H istory of the Railroads of the County.
The first annual report of the Inter
State Commerce Commission has just
,een made public. It fills 42 pages of
.losely printed matter, in which the
vork of the Commission since its origin,
.he effects of the new law upon trade
end transportation, and the faults and
iefcets are treated exhaustively. The
report opens with a very interesting his
:ry of roods in the United States.- The
railroad mileage of the United-States, it
s shown, is 137,986. The number of
orporations represented in this mileage
s 1,425, but by the consolidation or
easing of roads, the number of corpora.
ions controlling and operating roads as
arriers i- reduced to 700. It isbelieved
hat 1,200 roads operated by about five
hundred corporations as carriers are
mubject to the law. The Commission
has as yet no statistics of its own collec
ion to lay before the public, but quoted
from a manual generally accepted as re
reliable, the cost of construction and
lquipment of these roads which places
Lt at $7,254,995,223, and estimates the
unded debt of the companies at $3,802,
)66,330. Some idea, the Commission
ay of the magnitude of the interest
ich the Act undertaken to regulate
nay be obtained from these figures, but .
they fall short of measuring, or even
>f indicating its importance. Comment
.ng on the evils that have grown out of
and abuses that have grown up with the
artension of railroads they say: It is
striking proof of the recklessness of cor
porate management, that 108 roads rep
resenting a mileage of 11,066 are now in
the hands of receivers managing them
nder direction of courts whose atten
tion is thus necessarily withdrawn from
,he more appropriate ruling of judicial
odies, ne7ertheless the Commission
eels justified in saying that the opera
ion of the Act has in general been
aficient. In some particulars as we un
lerstand has also been the case with
imilar statutes in some of the States it
sas operated directly to increase rail
oad earnings, especially in the cutting
)ff of free passes on passengers
rains and putting an end to rebates,
rawbacks and special rates upon freight
>usiness. Freight traffic for the year
as been exceptionally large in volume
and is believed to have been in no small
legree stimulated by a growing confi
lence that the days of rebates and
special rates were ended and that open
rates on an equal basis were now offered
o all. The reflex action of this devl
)pment of confidence among business
nen has been highly fayorableato the
roads.
The tendency of rates has been down
;ard, and they have set down perma
ent advances except when excessive
lompotition had reduced them to a
oint at which they could not well be
maintained, no destructive rate would
ave occurred, but increased stability in
rates has tended in the direction of
stability in general business. There is,
owever, great mischief resulting from
from frequent changes in freight rates
)n the part of some of the companies.
Changes that in some cases it is difficult
to suggest an excuse for. The report
:loses with the following suggestions for
amendments to the new law: "Incident
aliy in this report some need of amend
sent has been pointed out. Especially
aught the law, as we think, to indicate
Lu plain terms whether the express busi
ess and all other transportation by the
arriers named in the Act shall be .gov
erned by its provisions. The provision
against the sudden rising of rates ought
to be clearly made applicable to joint
ates as well as to others. The Commis
sion ought also to have the authority
and the means to bring about something
ike uniformity in the method of pub
ishing rates which is now in great con
[sion, and to carefully examine, collect
and supervise the schedules, contracts,
te., required by the law to be filed, as
well as properly to handle the mass of
statistical information called for by the
twentieth Eection. For all these pur
poses, as well as for others improperly
provided for, a considerable adlition to
the force employed with the Commission.
will be indispensable. Other matters,
and particularly whether transportation
by water shall be made subject to the
Act are submitted to the wisdom of Con
gress without recommendation."
The Fatal Tree.
In 1836, Fort Gaines was a little more
than an Indian fort. Early in the*
spring of that memorable year, while
hostile Indians thronged this section,
and before they were removed by Uncle
Sam across the river above us, a party
of the treacherous wretches stole up the
then densely wooded lice of the Town
Branch, and passed out to the Buffton
settlement, where they were met by sol
dirs and thrashed back to their reserva
tion. Just where the Eufaula road.
rosses the Town Branch,. a beautiful
spring bubbled from the ground, and
people in the vicinity did their washing
there. On the day referred to above, a
lady was at the spring washing, when
the red miscreants passed. They brutal
ly murdered her, and after removing her
scalp left her body lying by the spring,
her bleeding head pillowed on the roots.
of a stately beech. Time has done its
work..- The Indians are gone, scenes
have changed and the towering beech
has long since gone to decay, and only
its worm-eaten stump remains to mark
the spot where long years ago this sad
tragedy of death occurred. A friend
pointed us to the'fatal spot and gave _us
the above facts. They were new and in
teresting to us, and will doubtless prove
so to our readers. Truly, things have
changd.-Fort Gaines, Ga., Star.
"What are you doing now, Thomas?"
:aked the minister, patronizingly. "I am
a writer for the press," said the lad proudly.
"Indeed, you are quite young for that;
what do you write? ' "I direct wrappers."
Functional derangement of thre female
systenm is quickly cured by the use of Dr.
t. V:- Pierce's "Favorite Prescription." It
removes pain and restores health and
strnth. By all druggists.