Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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be done, I point out the defects antl :cave to you the reme 'dy. 'Ihere is one :spect of the case to which I direct yiour atiten tion. The coistittion (of iS6S giVes C'harleston county two Senators, and it was clearly by reason of its inrge area and popilatioi. Now if that couttv is divid ed and a new county created the question arises, shall the same area and population have three Senators by reasons of such division, and it so. what part of the coun tv shall retain the name of Charleston and thus hold its two Senators. It is just as easy, just as lawful and just as right for that part not contaiing the city to claim and be given the name as the other. and I am, therefore, clearly of opinion that the division of that county carries with it the loss of a Senator to that part which retains the name, else injustice is done to the rest of the State. Here is a most pressing reason for a constitutional convention, for I don't see how else the muddle is to be settled, without ordering a new election in that county. RAILROAD LAWS. "Thus far, matters which required out lav and increased expenditure, or from which no income is derived, have been discussed. I will next touch on the means of saving the people's money, re dueing and equalizing taxes and increas ing the State's income from the phos phate royalty. There is nothing which will save the people more money than a good railroad law, administered by an honest, im partial, fearless commission. The people have demanded relief from the im position and injustice of these pow - erful corp)orations. Hitherto all efforts to legislate in their behalf have failed be cause the railroads have wielded an un due influence with our General Assem bly. With the present body I am sure the only question is as to what is best to be done and after such investigation as I have been able to give the subject, I un hesitatingly advise that a law similar to that of Georgia be enacted. The people of ttat State are perfectly satisfied with it and the railroads must be because our sister State leads in the miles of new road constructed. Whether the choice of the eonmissioners shall devolve upon the people, the General Assembly or the Ex ecutive, is for yon to determine. Our platform demands that it be given to the people but an immediate reorganization of the commission is desirable, while our next election is two years off, and if pro. per men are selected, I am sure that the State will receive instant and great bene tit. Of one thing I am certain the divi sion of the State into sections from which the commissioners must be drawn is wrong in principle and in policy. We, need the best men for the place. let them come from were they may, and let us hope that as there was absolute oblitera tion of the line between "low-country and up-country" in the last political (-am paign and the reform wave swept from the mountain to the sea, so may the dem ocrats who won and those who lost, bear and forbear with each other, and lockin" shields again as becomes brethren an Carolinians, forget and forgive the hitter ness which has been engendered. Let us, in future, know no sectional line in the State and in selecting men for posi tions of honor, or trust ask not whether a candidate is a "reformer" or not, but whether he Is the best man for place. Democracy and fitness alone should de termine the matter. A law may be ei ei so good and wise but if it is not iroperly administered, it will fail to give satisfac tion. The General Assembly may enact the Georgia law, but if it falls to obtain the right men there will be no relief to the people. We must get men like the Geor gia commissioners, able honest and fear less, or we had better abolish the co:n imission and make no attempt at con trolling the railroads at all. In this Cn neation it may be well to say that in seek ing to control railroads and other corpo rations strict regard should be had for: their rights and interests. Corporations are not public enemies, although they are, if unbridled, apt to be oppressive. Much of the naterial development and progress of the age is the fruit of corpor ate effort and many men acting under c-ne head and guided by one will, have donte for our country what no individual coul haye possibly accompllished.: Thterefore we shtould carefully watch to see that nothing is done to injure our railroad or martufacturing compantes. Let us protect the people against their greed, but let us be just and fair in our dea!ii:gs with titem. Mr:.uzATIos or- Taxes. "Thte qu estion o1' equaliz.ing taxes is one of the mos.t imtportant and per-plex ing with which we have to deal, and wthile the laws ate defeetiv-e their admtin istration is equally aLt fault. I will touch 0n the latter tirouble rirst. "Under' the law, autditors and treasur-: era are appoitted by the Governor and their work is superied by the Cotnp troller General. Int addition, we have County and State boards of eualization hty whom the work revised. rhe audi tors appoint the memnbers of the county b ard, and the chairmant of thte re spective county boards constitute thte $tate board. Assessments are made uin der oath of property at its real market: v'alne. This is the system, anid how has it worked ? It is an absolute and piti able failure antd both the law and the peo-. -.' ': are to blante. And as thte Executive. as the fountaini head, I propose to ana lyze it and point out sotme grave defects so that I may escapa blame if nothing is, done by the General Assettbly. Whtilel the offices of Treasturer and Auditor are' appointive and properly so, with our sys tem of county governmnts. the people' in most of thte cotunties have oh' their- ownt accord, by primarvy election, selected mtent to be recomnumnded for these positions,' and thte Gov-ernor, as a matter of coutrse,, is glad to be relieved of the responsi bility. I believe in self governmnent andt in the. people selecting thteir ownt officers, hut self government by countties, is atnd has always been a failutre, and e.spceially so itt large counties. "'The same argumnent whh hzas been used against the presenit umanag'emient of the Asylum applies to the assessmenctt of. property by a cottnty otheiml, ait es pecially onte elected by the peopl. Te result intbotht eases is carelessnes, nieglet of duty and often collusion, as I hav e shownt'of the asylum, and as I will niow show of assessmtents. Thle duty of a zealous assessor is that of a spy, oni the lookout for proper-ty whicht seeks to evade taxationi altogether or is beintg re turned belowv its "marketable valtue. When. thetret'ore, an auditor is assessing property and the tax payet is a voter to pass upon his claitt for re-election, it is' asking too much of poior huttt~ttiy to' expect him to orl'enud his friends aind c-ott stituentts by prying into their affairs too closelv. Hence we fitnd that tax payers by the thousand, ntot ottly fail to return all thieir property as the law re'lmtires, butt they sign the oath thtat they have return ed all their pr-operty at its true valuie, whetn they knmow, atnd the autditor k nows the returns are absolutely teilse. TIhe atiditor does riot er'-e bcause lhe f~tts a salary, and he & es not like to otfetid a tian who has a vote, while the Governor doesn't care because he appoinited the choice of' the people. The local equalization board ahpointted by the attditr for political effect anid gettinz no pay. goes through these re-; turns hurriedly and ijakes some slight changes., and the county board does like wise, al inioboly erxept the tax dodger is s atisfied. I k now 1and in Edliold which sells readily for .25 to $140 jer acre,' and it is assessed at an average of 8s or i less. I know other land, and it is very plentiful, that sells at $e; and $o per aer. and assessed at an average of ,4; and I : know other land that is assessed for more than it will bring in the market, MINES AND THEirn i:TURNsr -The phosphate mines, protected bye the Constitution, return land bought at s enormnous prices at tie price of agricul tural land, and either put down no out- ( put or return it at about one-fifth of its t selling price. The sworn returns of ealh land tine as I have been able to get, show that while the gross outpit of, land rock in the State is about $2W,(0, less than $40,0K00 is returned for taxes. "The Haile Gold Mining Company. of t Lancaster, whose output, as I atu relia bly informed, is at least $75,000 per an nunim return nothing but machinery, etc., and land. CHARLESTON BANK RETURNs. "Here is the exhibit of the Charleston ec Banks. as given me by the auditor of 1 that county. Banks. Assessments Tax. American Savings............ 15,000 142 501 The Bank of Charleston, N. B A........................ 200.01 1.900 00 Carolina Savinas............... 200,000 1,900 L0 Charleston Saviugs........... 30,x W First National................... 200,00 1,900 00 Germanin Sav ings............ 40.000 :10 00 Hibernia Savings............. -,"0 'W5 00,v Miners'and Merchants'... 100000 .->0 1k) Peoples' Nautional...... . 250.000 2,373 00' Security Savings............... 50,0(0 475 00 South Carolina Loan and Trust..................w:35 1,187 0C.) Palmetto Dime Savgs... 25,000 287 50t Total.. ............$1,265,000 $12.017 00 'Capital and Undividvd a Banks. Profit. Deposis. ., American Savings............ 21.910 $ 100,009 The Bank of Charleston, N. H. A..................... 37,.4 816, ' CarolinaSavings..............4:;,c00 1,486.000 e Chiarleston Savings........... W.000 491,,000. First National................... 572.865 ............. - Germania Savings............ O8, 1,Sl0 Hibernia Savings........ 48.0YJ 2.00i W Miners' and 3erchants'... 105,(o 10.,0 WO People's National.............. 6 6,000 U17,0( t. Security Savings............... 50,00 24,000 V soutb Carolina Loan and Trust.............................. 'V .745 5-2,00 Palmetto Dime................. :',LA) 111,0001 Total.............................. $2,S0,610 $6.58S,000 v These are the tigures taken from state- - ments furnished by cashiers of the diff'er ent in,titutions. and they speak for thei selves. THE REMEDY. t "Then we know farmers return mulles r that cost $150 at $~>W and $75, so the dis- 5 ease is universal, and now what is the remedy ? The best and only effectual t way of securing co-operative equality in!a assessments, as it is the only way of se curing economy and efliciency in county 0 affairs is Township government, such as exists all over the Northern States, and! such as existed here before the war in our local boards of road comnissioners, &c. l A scrEME SUTGiESTE). "As the adoption of the constitutional tl amendiient abolishing the office of: Connty Commi.sioner will require or al- d low a new system of couuty govern- r ment, and these county governments, are in a measure the cause of our heavy R taxes, I will suggest for your consider a tion a scheme of local government which a will give us efliciency and econony int county affairs, and as'true and honest aii zussessmeit of property as is possible. "Let the voters of each township eleet I< fron its frec-holders a board of three Su pervisors who shall have charge of roads, uridges and the assessment of property in their respective townships. Let the; pay of these supervisers, if' any, be just a what the people of that township are willing to pay out of their own pockets as voted in township meeting, and if c public spirit does not make men do thee< work for nothing, the people will pay I what is necessary to have it done timd well (lone, and' no miore. When theII Auditor comes around to assess property, a, let these supervisors be present atnd put t prices on land, stock, &c., &c., uinders oath, and should any tax payer neglect to ' make return, let the supervisors tind out t and assess his property, receiving thmer for $1 f romi each tax payer who iieglects n to iieet the Auditor. P " Let the chairman of these townihip boards ofsupervisors, constituting a count ty board oftinance to audit accounts, ora cier expenditures and do all the duties e now~ perfoi'med so uusatisfactorily by the conunty conmmissioners. WVhen our coun ty goverluments tire controlled by mien h who are successful busiiness men, who e< are the best 01' their class, and the money becomes secondary to the honor and the a putblie weilare, we shall see the extrav'a- ' gance and waste, the0 speculation and pe-'o culation no w going on in many counties e brought to an end, and taxes reduced, C while the atirs of the counity will be conducted in a fatr more satisfactor way. " In the matter of assessments and eqnalizing taxes this county board of ti nance could a('t as an equalizing board to whom the auditor should report anythingr a he may discor er wrong on the part o1 s towvnship boards of individuals. The i auditor sihould be altogether free froit politicatl iniluences anid be appointed aus now oni the recommendation of the coun-t tv- board of linaniance rather than by the ti primary system. For, as long as lie is hunting votes, he can not and will not discharge his (lity fearles.ly. If' the law a is strengthened, by making it a crime, <> ptunishiable with line tand imoprisonnment, to fail to retturn all propertv liaible to 13x ation, ev'erythiing will be done that is n possible to miake all property bear its just share of the burdenis of govern-r moent.t "'l'he best of lawvs are of no a'ail un less they are pro'(per'ly adiniistered, and d while it is nor claimed that this systemt is1y perfect it is submitted to vou as etnbody'- tI lug the essence of' self-gov'ernznent, anid ex perience has denmnstrated that jiust in proporti<>ni as the governmuenit is coii- I d neted oni the same priniple., that our' t< priv'ate atthirs are couidliited, it is econiom -i ical arid ellicien t. Thme people will nota waste tiheir' owni sublstatnce, or pieri't t teglect oif their local a:lhirs if'allo wed to n 'iHlE iito'PHi \TE iJEtIS. "'he next subject to which I beg to i -all yotur attetntioni is the iniatnagetient ofi the State's phiosphate beds. Nothing '. with which this Legislature has to deal r -an11 equal this iti importatice amid value to the tax payer. I am Guily sori'y that I b know so little abiout it. leor live y'ears ., tmuch'l of imiy time has been dir'ectedl to a n study' of tlhis qumestion, and~ no0 opporttu- a nity- for acq uiintg correct intformnationi as beeni neglected. Btit the octopus w hiieh seized on lie iin:lulstryv twent y-onie vecar., ago has kept the w'atcr tturbid with b its inikv iluid. and while those on the ini- al side have, iany of' them, grown rieb, the . tax payers and~ their replresenitatives knmow ' very little abotit it, amid every' eff'ort lhisi been miade to keep the facts from the n "It would consume too much titme I to go into the matter exhaustively, and I l t lheis in'relv a,kiI th.-o- X hu beI).f I I ntldy the question tho.ti.ly to re:ol ttorlne (en et!ral -,ntn.trs report to it enral A.sseumbly :I 1- : :ho re oit 7 o4 the ('4.1iinro Agrii-ti Ire. 1,oIethIer(,-Xiththe testi~ n tke "* 1P7o thle lvh-!I isaure gat d privih-ges to a c.pniio a non n as N the ltvrai .M!ainile <-.1mpny to lI ile rock in, thet navigablet w 40"r 111 ,h. !tte , or t wen Ity.%- IIneIt -!t. - .r Th N:: I* I (eeivet nothing ,tr this val rath lir hise, but it is Ielievel that i w.. -t tiredl by briber1y. anld this4 beliof is trol-igthenell by the fat that it wasi- pass d over the( veto oft 1 .iloeriOr Scott. The 'osaw 'Milit:i Coupanyv I obttilted frtill ho origini;tl graltors eXe iuive right t ine in 'Coosaw Rit er, and with a paid peapital o1$7->.0011 cotnilencedt opert ions. In 1'76 the I'eiier:il Asseinly \ :tssed :i act colil rminlug the exclusive ighit of tle ('oosav (osay patty to ilinii hat river for lie terni Of twerTtv-oie -ears at fixed r.yalty of, olie dollar per (n, and this lease will ex pire on the 1st f March, 191. The act ol' 19. as I ave been itilormed, was drawn by tilt ttornev of the Coosaw Conipatiy, and so droitlv'worded as to give color to the lahn that the grant to that river was erpetuni, "so long as that company hall make true retitrns- Ike-. and under his the com pany, as I tn informed by a 1rge stockholder clain-s that its tenu re i not a lease ex piring in Iil, but a con ract rmning for all time. This claim is prepo4sterous ihr my judg enit, and I base my opinion on that ad Airable report of Gneral .James Connor, .hich has been nlready mnentioned. I tate further, that this opinion is held v the retiring Attorney I eneral Joseph I. Earle, and his successor, General Y. . Pope. So, while ve nay expect ite oosaw Company to appoal to the courts ) sustain their cIailin, we have the opini ml of three distinguished lavyeis as gainst its validity, and the 4General As embIv must npt hesitate to mrove for card and act as properly and decisively s though no such litigation was threat ned. "The Coosaw River to which this con any lays claiin, is perhaps the best hosphate field in the world. The laCse nider which it has been uzined for twen y years, has made every stockholder ;ealthy, and they gave the State noth ng for this valuable franchise. Their I tit which has been obtained from the urplus profits is valued at $7.0, or ver. and in the meantinie. bv fiabulous ividends, original capital of over $27~. A0 has been returned to the stockholders, s I have heard over and ov)er agit. "When you are told that the output of is company this year has been 107,4(40 ns, worth $7 per toin f. o. b., and that bie cost of miniig this rock ieltiding ovalty. ennot exceed $4.25 per toil, and ; believed by many, to be much less, the lnrgin of profit exceeds 1M) per cent. on je original investineit. The total roy lty secured by the State from its p1hos hate beds has been over $2j .t4N , and f this aiount over half has been paid y tihe Coosaw Coinpanv. These facts re nmentioned as they wvill be the basis of ic recominentiations I am going to inake to tthe management of tle State's phoa hate territory. The expiratioin of the 'oosaw lease it Mari next, makes it ossible. in Imy judgment. to doll Ae le incoie of the State fromn the phos hate royalty without injuring tiE- iii ustry. or hiterfering with aiy vested ight. We come into otlece upon a platform dr landing a survey of the phosplite territory lid its lease at auction to t ie highiet bidder. rter a inimninum royalty has been fixcd ly ie board of control upon each district s r eyed. So tie people have in a nmuner t1:k i the question from the domain of deltmte id we imust deteriine what shall be the :one and extent of such work. Anything stZ than a thorough and reliable stirvey ould be a waste of the time alid uoney, and iis will take t good deal of both. lut cost What, it nay, it will well repay its )st. and until we have ie dia which can lone be thus obtained we can not lerislaite itelligently or derive the beneilt from thiis altuable property l ha we otught. Th is year ie royalty has been Gl.000f and all of i t ex pt about $ U>,l was paid by six large inilliling mipanies, whose field of operations i% co;I ned to a territory within twenty milts of eaufort. You wvill be told by somie t hat ti idientes the exhiaustion of the deposits, but amn sure it only means that good rock is lore plentifutl or mnore chleaply iinined thecre ian elsewhere. A survey a~line can demioni .rate tile truth or falsi ty o)f this belief which ;based utpon the assurances of experts, whbo iemselves, have miued in other wvaters of le State. As the reliance of capital ists upon an esti itnteof1 the vatlue of tiny given deposit, of hio-phates will depen1a largely upon the tiaracter of tileman inak ing I le t~urvey, I ave thought it best to oibtalin the hellp of the nited States governiment., if possIihde, and1k -k the detail oIf an otleer of the navy or >ast survey to do the work ;I tink ii noti iquiry. an appropriation of 1400 wllt he alticienit to start wIth, and by thie inie the eneral Assembiy mneets, a yeai hence, it wiill ave somethinhg definite to go tupou and cani Intinue the work or not1 as it tinay deeill best. In the meatimre, by illeans of this survey ad the opportunity for further investigattion > which adl ty spare time shalt be dievo'td. clearer utnderstantditng as to the be.,t. systeni t mnagtiemient of this fimportan t iudistryv in be obtained, and the General Assemlbly in then acet intelligently. We do not want to kili the gooce that tays iese golden eggs; we only want the state to nther juist share of them. In the nentim.- t, a soonl as thbe Coosaw lease ex pires, tst ot larch next, tl us open that rIver to alt min11 s who choose to ente-r it, allow the iBoardl of ointrol to parcel out, the territory ainonig iemi so as to prevent contlfct s. raise the roy lty tO $ per toin, anid plnce onie or itore in pectors on the grun md to siupervise the work id weigh tile rock whieii shiippett, ::ive eni rged powers to the Exeenttive and~ btis comi cers oii the board as to requlirinag a mo im itum amounit oh rock to be nined ansd leave > thbeir diseretion at ter exainiiation, to raiot ie royalty outside or ('itosaw Itive: to such ilners, as do not,1 choose to relliui-h Ihr resent ground. II the Coosaw I 'ompany los to law, give thle towe:- to shut dIown~ iei r works andi thuls hor-c thiis gtant mionop ly to relinguish its hold on a prt;''rty wfias alue is un knowna, but which is etimnat-d by sperts as worth iitlions. An hatlfwy iceures w ill not do, and thiis cutth to ishi lust be grasped with a lnaf-i lthaniTh ltae Owes the comptanty nothin t i it. will diih t-cl longer an hi larder if it is ine idly. "-All the river lock, rineiid int Soth Caol 4, is exportetd toEuirope.atid in-t year ilt eiiiantd wa- so cleat its ti itesi tate te te price has stead ily intcreasedi- ie I. uppose the douibliing of the royait y shitt useni the onutput of iver rtock one-h-lif.L lie rice would go stilt ulwakrd atnd tt Stat ae- tile same incoiei ais now with 11l5.4n m14 mlore rock oni hand in lier rivers tor lu Ire use. .hleni if th li itigat ioni ftorced thle ewat iontlof 'ork by the Coosiw t'tOmpanyi, anid tie S't ittuld hesitate to openi Coosaw ltlver to otheri iiners Withottt the increatse of royatlty. the IcomeI of tile State will be otnly hl!f ol what ha.s beeti this yeitr. The Cosswi Comopanyt when tonfronted ith the talternatti ye of ttint. to |aw to ret in s fimaginiary rightts :td hatvinig its work, oied, or of ack ntowletdgingt that its leate his h14iebi its lairge inivestmeni twionuld wairranlt its -ceivinzg will doubtless choose the lattter. But I riust insist that the G.eeaI Assetm ly shoul1 d take tany rIsk there may be a tut pen (oosaw river to othe1r m1 iers altr arch 1st. I tin equo lv y empht ie inlle h ef that, thle rock inl that riv\er can lay :: rty - ty att ihis time. "Andi. whtat ttther benttits mayv te reasonta y exlpteItt-ay, arie sture to iOhttw- u i ttutlihttbleisseSSmentt of lrtperty, an~d a -liable strvey or lt photsphte tr: tury. w r'e of inttoeet so fliat te debt nt tiet c dttlar fori dtllatr. W- ktow thi.it th prp 'tytf the -tate is wothd at leasttlue whaut is no(w retiurtttd at. Suitpos:t a ClltaiSt is oking ftor botids ini whleh to1 Invest. Ite Sau:!. Carolina Conference of' the .1ethodist Episeopal Chnach ontih - - - One Hundred aud "itAh S~essiona--- Anderson. N. (..--.Novermber 26 December 2. 89O. A nDEmso. Nov. 26.-The one hun. di :ed and 1tith annual session of the' soutihi tIrolina Conference of the M. E. Church, South, convened at 9 o'clock this morning in the Methodist Churv., Bishop W. V. Duncan, pre sidiinX. The devotional exercis s, em bracing communion service, were con ducted by the Bishop. One hundred and thirty-seven clerical and nineteen lay members answered the roll call. : H1. F. Chreitzberg was elected secre tary with E. 0. Watson, T. C. Ligon and S. Lander assistants. Half past n ine a. i. and 1:30 p. m. were fixed as 1, tle hours of meeting and adjourn lient. Dr. Morton, secretary of the Board of Church Extension, and H. N. Mc Tycire of the Nashville Publishing House were introduced. The presiding elders of the ten dis tricts were called and their characters examined and passed. The followin g were called, character passed and referred to the committee on conference relations for superannu-i ation : F. Auld, W. C. Patterson, W. Smith, D. W. Seale, Isaac Newberry, Lewis M. Hamer, J. M. Carlisle, 1. Brown, Reuben L. Dutle, Sidi H. Browne, Bassil G. Jones, Wm. Hutto, i Simpson Jones, Samuel Leard, W. Carson, Milton A. Connolly, T. W. Munnerlyn, Landy Wood, Robert P. Franks, Louis C. Loyal. A. H. Hes-1 ter was left effective. The following were referred to the same committee for supernumerary re lation : Revs. L. A. Johnson, Janies F. Smith, Edwin L. Archer, J. M. Fridy and T. E. Wannamaker. Revs. J. A. Wood, S. B. Jones and P. B. Jackson were passed and left eflective. Dr. Morton will preach the Thanks-i givingsernion to-morrow. Dr. Mor-1 ton delivered an eloquent address to-i nigfht in the interest of church exten-i 'ion. SECOND DAY., Nov. 27. Bishop Duncan in the Chair. De votional, led by R. P. Franks. Roll cdled, 15 clerical and 7 lay numbers not present yesterday answered. N. G. Ballenger, B. 0. Berry. 31. W. Hook, P. F. Kilgo, H. C. Monozn, J. L. Ray, R. E. Stackhouse, E. P. Tay lor, E. A. Wilkes and W. A. Wright, traveling preachers were elected to Deacon's orders, and received into full con nection. W. S. B. Ford was discontinued at his own request. S. S. Blanebard. and T. M. Dent, Local deacons, and G. R. Shaffer, of this class, read their reports, having' passed approved examinations. The transfer of B. D. Lucas to the China Mission Conference was an nounced. Rev. D. E. Frierson, D. D., pastor of! the Presbyterian Church of this city, was introduced. A. H. Best, WV. J. Durant, C. G. Harmon, John Manr..ing, J. E. Spear-' mn, I. N. Stone, local preachiers, were elected deacons. Trhe credentials of Jasper Bartelle, local deacon; were restored. D. Morton, D. D., preached a sermon as ap~propriate to Thanksgiving Day, after which business was resumed and J. H. Noland, E. XV. Mason, DavidI Hucks, S. H. Zimmerman, C. G. Har-j mon, D. A. Phillips were admitted on trial. THunD DAY, Nov. 28. Devotion led by XW. T. Capers. A W. Attaway, M. L. Carlisle, C. W. Creighton. J. A. Rice, P. L. Kirton,i were elected Elders. N. XX. Rountree, S. S. Blanchard, A J. XWilson, local deacons, were elected. Elders. P. L. Kirton was announced as be-! ing transferred from the Alabama to the South Carolina Conference. *J. L. Shuford, J. J. Workman, G. W. Gatlin were called, character pass ed and referred to Committee on Con ference relations for Superannuation. A. WV. Jackson in like manner was na5ssed anid referred to the same Coin mittee for the supernumerary relation. E. E. Hoss, D. ID., Editor of the~ ('Iristiasz Adtoecain, (Nashville,) was introduced. The President of the Columbia Fe-i male College presented a report which was read and referred to the Board of; Education. Thie preachers in charge were by res olution, totr'ered by J. B3. Traywick, J., L. Stokes. J. E. Carlisle,) requested to! colleet as much as one-half of assess men t for Foreign Missions withini four imnthis from adjournment of Confer-! ence, and forward same to the Treasj urer of Board of Missions. A co~nmunication from S. Lander! was read and referred to the Board of Education. Rlesolutions proposing changes in the Constitution and managenment of; the Conference Board of Missions wast la id on the table. J1. P. A ttaway, S. T. Blackman, W.' E*. Bara, WV. B. D)uucan, J. L. Harley, A. B. Earle, R. L. Hoiroyd, J. WV. R. A. Yongue were advanced to the; clns of the Fourth year. A report from the President o Wof ford College an d a report from Cokes bury Con ference School were referred to the Board of Education. W. H. Potter, D. D., Missionary Sec retary was introduced. The name of E. J. Meynardie was called and referred to the Committee of Memoirs. The names of 0. A. Darby, G. W. Walker. W. D. Kirk4and, S. Lander, A. C. Smith, J. C. Kilgo, J. S. Porter, H. F. Chreitzberg were called, ebarac ter examined and passed. Prof. D. A. DuPre of Wof'ord Col lege was introduced. The application of Warren Parker, of the Free Methodist Church for ad mission and recognition of orders was not granted. The application of James A. Givin, of the Baptist Church for the recogni tion of orders as a local Elder was granted. A similar application from T. A. Blakely, of the Methodist Protestant Church wats granted. T. H. Law, D. D., General Agent of the American Bible Society for North and South Carolina was introduced. Fifth Day (Sabbath) Nev. 30. Bishop Duncan delivered a practical and pointed sermon at the Mothodist Church. After the sermon the Bishop ordained to the office of dea con the following traveling preachers: N. G. Ballenger. B. 0. Berry, M. W. Hook, P. F. Kilgo, H, C. Mouzon, John L. Ray, R. E. Stackhouse, E. P. Taylor, E. A. Wilkes, W. A. Wrigh , Local Deacons: A. H. Best, W. J. Durant, C. G. Harmon, John Manning, J. E. Spearman, I. N. Stone. W. R. Richardson preached in the same church at 3,30 p. m. After which Bishop Duncan ordained the following traveling preachers to the office of el der: A. W. Attaway, M. L. Carlisle, C. W. Creighton, J. A. Rice, P. L. Kirton. Local elders : 0. N. Roun tree, S. S. Blanchard, A. J. Wilson, SIXTH DAY, DEC 1. Devotional exercises by S. B. Jones, Mrs. E. E. Wiley, representing the woman's parsonage and home mission work addressed the conference. A collection amounting to $175 was raised. A telegram was received an nouncing the death this morning at Florence of Rev. Wm. Thomas, a member of tlhis conference, of whom mention has been made. The confer euce, led by Bishop Duncan, joined in .ingirg "Rock of Ages." The official character of Rev. R. C. Oliver; was arrested and a committee of investigation, consisting of Sidi H. Browne, S. B, Jones, and R. P. Franks, was appointed to consider his ease and report at this conference. 0. N. Roundtree, and H. C. Bethes were readmitted. J.A. Wood was re ferred to the committee on supernum erary relation. The committee on the case of R. C. O~liver reported no ground upon which bo bring charges, and recommnendod that his character pass. Adopted. WHAT Is THE TONGUE FoR? "Since God made the tongue-and he never makes anything in vain-we may be sure he made it for some good purpose. What is it, then ?" asked a teacher one day of her class. "He made it that we may pray with it," answered one boy. "To sing with," said another. "To talk a, people with," said a third. "Te~ recite our lessons with," replied another. "Yes ; and I will tell you what he did not make it for. He did not make it for us to scold with, to lie with, or to swear with. He did not mean that we should say unkind or foolish, inde cent or ipatient words with it. Now, boys, thin k every time you use your tongues if you are using them in the way God means you to. Do good with your tongues, and not evil. It is one of the most useful members in the whole body, although it Is so small. Please God with it every day." A C[:TE CANLNE.-The story going the rounds regarding a cat that digs angle worms and then buries them near its owvn hiding place, and when the birds come to catch the worms the cat catches the birds, has a rival in that of a dog, whose mate, though larger and able to monopolize the most toothsome bone, is withal possessed of a most excitable temper for games. When he finds and proceeds toimunch his bone to the exclusion of all others, the former canine goes a short dis tance, barks furiously up a tree or by a hole in the ground. When his mxo nopolistic friend finally becomes so ex eited as to leave his bone and join the hunt for supposed game the former rushes back, seizes the bone thus left, andl skurries away with it.-Augusta (Me.) Journal. GOOD ADvICE FOR TH-E YOUNG. Avoid all boastings and exaggc rations, back-biting, abuse, and evil speaking ; slang phrases and oaths in conversa tion ; depreciate no man's qualities, and accept hospitalities of the hum blest kind in a hearty and apprecia tive manner ; avoid giving off'ence, ad if you do offend, have the manli ness to apologize ; infuse as much ele ~ance as possi ble into your thoughts as vell as your actions ; and as you avoid ~ulgari ties, you wvill increase the en nymen t of life and grow in the respect >f others. Ainmonita is an excellent fertilizer for house plants. A tablespoonful of mimmonia to three or four quarts of ,ater. It may he made stro'ager for a,'ger plants. '3 ~ ~ ~ ~ - tip tf t :~. .I- 1i ci1,itli tii t W e:n - i. gover n hi. I. ptt il b iltt m >til. to m. !--sh~!:e hit- he.tinlt' t ! huvI n hu T , st Uri t i:s. I ,I us su pro. :.-' hat.i ho:, :an Wr - : Itl - t h.-t roo-ert y <-X th, PptI : :ife : .i . besid- Ith St- i oll: w:tie ep -itt I e i~ite il :iatt.t, I -I 1 4.4, ivo-S II, -.re 11h:111 1 hse total I I Ito es usi -r t l, I hi. i t it h pt- tit I tp t I he hoitiI co4i11 a p rI%- itn hyIpIVI,(it-itI m:ng I 'ils pho<iw p!gti l-st :- otit :. \ ecu rii l ur Il holid it n-i wh n ie ry. I. is pil i or rte lotnr :-u-r ,: enti-s r i. -ii p sd I I I:, th .t scuel I'.)1I-N wi I at.o n:trafil pri -izs h i nh : f : Iny it ti :tra.-t :1111 he fitllt d i:tas liw ra Ite o in II- st :0. :iity. W iri i he-Itv, y I idItnaup to pr- he nioner of s-curin:: a fatir taml hion 4et :tipp sr.ent of Ioper ty. oot i to Secur (-in:alilv an n ur w c-itizensis inld for 1h. s:tk - fof t 's crIi t . A id we: re equ Il lyb t o 1:s 1-11 wai t is thle extilt in1 v:iuer. o' win' osphft cterritory s :ts to fi ter it, t utard it irotii injunry, y mism-intt rnenlt, tojo inutch of, which hia.s alrevidy beet 1ni nd to dierive every doll r of Income i Firt hie mat iltltle theil- hurrier. c Ihe I ax -:y r .: id 1-tst ly,: as a kure mne:ns o, phicing- tlii ahe t- credit as high as it hi11 "Thiipert is tome fither lietislatit whiel will tend :o itike uir wionds command iiort e reratly i S: ite :I I 1:ome. "Firsty 233 r leuit i i Stte ks o'ti posil rtopltir. will': a te atnite Tca"Ii oirer :1% stecu1rity 1t,.ie fit etuill-Cnonu t of rte :IvrtIge di fposi s f Stat ite s with ntlehl bs:: Ilk. t .idits " oo. iiat evtry ink. eliiriered by It stale ibeeiuirt t) invetst a partofs cialpit stek, ify :'-t tier cent. i w Sta bsitet. "Third. Thatt aill insutnele com paenies dill business in South Carolina he rwr t .oiii to it por-11, 1 it) South (aroliuni bont)(S w ith IIh Stale Treasurer as t wilaraotee of polvene; anld as. a frtind that cani be :ttt-ehed if thle con: pigany does not iy its loses promptly. Th itle is lbein::, lloodt-d byv the-e cornpanie! somie t' Ollem ire ut tel orh- . iuc :l reqluiremenit eain wo)rk no hatrm to solven com"panies. w hile it will protect ouir peopl THE .AND tE1'tt-:sENTA.rvj "-ntleeni of the Senate and flouse of Itep reseiiittves: "-1 must :t1 ofocize for the time I ha1ive c(in suited in disessing t hse imipint tin tiller apnd witi It few remtrk, :s to the reltution which o:it- to exit. et we-il the exetttiv :ani te ripresetativye of Ihe people, I wit close.I Dltri:g_ tilt recent campii atn, the linie were shtarply drawo :md I was elected o: : platf orni. which. :imoig other things. dt miptitf14s "riid etonorny in public expendi tur-s-the aboit iion of tiseliss ollies-redue tion of salary and tiees of all officers, Stit :,id coiunty, to cnlorni to tile inc-reased putr ebitsin- Iuwer of mtoi-y aid the decre:tse :thlily of t ie people to I);%t taxes-thati pub ne otticeers he paid in proportion to their laio and responsibility.- An overwhelming ntin jorilty of both yiur hoinoraife bodies wa elet-t oli tIhesitigleissue as to whether yot endo:,e- tthis phti'orin anil its exponerits We ire here to) cfrem these pledgrsand it 1: yours to intike fie lIiws, anI:1 miine to execute hIe i rtisponsibility is siuirely on its iid wi Vtn itoI shi rk it. There ;ire some in nor mat ters to which I will direct. your attention it sea-ftcial ies,-:ies froii t ime tflie. The ob SerVations I liiave- ui,1de and ie recorintn-i da tion I have oil'eret ire for your considera tion. Yotir dtily is iot discharged tinless yot sift, aniend.iter and add to these su::ges an01:s tiythiig, whie. in your jtidtent will prt'eet tht-i. and subserve the objec wlic alGnC shoAld tatctuIte Lts alt, the Iublii welfart-. I have tiven you t lie est light . ime, but I :tti not itiititble and have ni p role >i opi nion. There is a fearful responsi lolity resfing ol itie by ra-ison of tLte relianei ti -oil ii y 1 e1iN eli-! ip. But You cal not :tvoii fte r-sfi--iei:y oi YOtUr ow1 siOtiUlders and yiti w:t do.) wro:i: to cast a sin::le vofi ist your juitt zineint. no inatticr whenci colile- cte ceoiiitt-it it ipipi. Iin the iialte: of :appoint:::ents, 1 Iist rely :1lmo-St wiboll)N on itour :mtly ice and sttga-.,tii where the peo h :iv- e ltt tu, any choice. The riost inipor tai nt:ipointiveoffice in enie county is 1h< jury c.itmissioner. TIe pressure brotigilt ti tbear oin liII: ofliert by friends ind atteil nc-: of rnin ii:iEteri fir ntii-er. is very strong and unless i! is incorript ible lie jury geI: -:-id and juist it- is cheated. The ouiee o trial iu-tice I- ie o: ltar;:e power and itipr i ad li ani wio ever dri iik:to intoxi canI.-01 :-lou:0 hold it. iiitENF 'ru-: WATCHWoRt. * iity three w-t-k-s remain of the usual leg islativese4-ion whief h:s been limited to Cfiristmas by i:nwritten law. You have to tleal with ilaty aiies ol rreat importance anit whethier you %*an perform these dutic properly in so short a Itric intist uepend or yo:r diiii;ence :id -nII absoluie refusal t( wtts - tint- on s!iy, w idtt sclires atind lo !-npe legistion Which are tl( Eur.e, of our time. Pledging you in.v bert ci. tfrts and liarny co-operation in your arduotm tbors, and invoking lie ;Uidance and bless inl; oft I lie Fttiter uptili utir labors in behalf 0 our blt'foved Stateial Its peple, 1 am itoW rt-ady to call Ileaven to witnc-s and take thi othliof ottice." Her Secret. Miss Townuley's class ill the Sunday schtool wais alwayvs fill. Of the thir teen itemtbers thtat compoiise'd it, the averag attenidantce was elevenl--the Ilargest average afttendcance of aniy clast ill school. Shte had begunt with thtree pupllils, andi they had beetn steadily added to unttil the rtresenit nullnber was reached. "'How do you manage to keep thema and matke- them puncetual an~d add 1<: their numttber so conlstanlftyV?" said a co-teac.her- to her one day. "lin theC lirst place." replied Misa T1owntley, "[ am alwayvs there myself: !and before the school begins. My ptu pilis are sure to hind ime there when; they cotme. I maty miss the muornuing service, or thte evenintg service, butt I will not be absenit fromn the Sanday school if I cant possibly be thete. "In the ntext place, I am sure to find out evety week whlere thte absenitees o; the pioiVtus Sundayfl3 were, antd wvhy Ihey- are absent.i If I cannol~t go'~ to set thlem, I send' a poistal-eardp or' a letter. They ea-h know tat if they- are ntol int their cla-s 01n Sulnday-, they wi1l hea~r from lie or see ie ear-ly itt t week. if* they are slek i go to se< item, andii stek or well, I visit thtem it their homtis and get acqualtinted wiitl t hiri moitthets, attd seei how their hlome. life trunS and ttwhat 11emp):ttis they tire like-ly to be expsed to, so I cal know hotoh aplyl the le-ssunt iir igen eratl tdeiductinn froni it tip thteir ittdivid tual ca-c-. I waint each one to feel thual I ha~ve a specciail initerest ill 1her, ai ] have, anfd that she hats a friendi ir lme." "Butt aill thItis muttst take htile."' "O f cour se it ta kes Iiime. O ne alter liopin ai week aboitl it eners myi calls and i t- iio-tal cards andh letters comefl in ait othi timies. If myw pupils are nol) carefutl tt prepari~te the lessonl I try~ andt Iinter-est thtei r mithers-' int htavinIig thencl studyl it andlin hf elpingI them study it Thtus I reachl thle mthercS, toi andii ii inore thaun Pine insltnce I hatve atidep lihe mfotheris inf ilfuen~in~g theii "-When-t I tooik myt clats, myI pa~sti todld me that I titmst be pastor of my tclass anid 'wteh for the-ir souls.' Tii I tiy to do andti miake it, a prt of liy btu- inlt-, <>f things> tat must bie don~e.' Wtas it anyl wpinder thatt Miss ulpTwn-i er\ Wl wa- t ucs as a Sunda (tv-selloil tnit-lhiis of bunsitle.s lfuen tii liter work, alllthI ipr~s ed Ill hiei ltalidhs, ii Mis- Katte Fie-u hiiets ttetion ti: ta fnew feld oft retfrm, bia-ied P1 upo t ut-er-tion of I the pharaiius ill (hip-a %',000.000 a earf ini comtisim of whichl. in.adrl of zin-,oxidel aol