The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, February 12, 1896, Image 1

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VOL XI. MANNING, S. C., WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1896. NO. 29. LAWMAKERS AT WURK. A BUSY SEASON IN THE LEGISLATIVE PERIOD. Severai Measure- of Great Inuqortance In troduced and Cor, idered--Summary ol the Proceeding. CoLUmBIA, Feb. 5.- -Secial: Both branches of toe General Assembly re sumed work yesterday--the House al 12:30 and the Senate at 8:30 p. m. In the latter the bill in reference tc emigration agents was killed. The following were passed to a third read ing. Mr. Moses' bill to define the manner in which towns increase or diminish their corporate limits: bill changing the name of the "State Iu natic asylum" to "the State hospital for the insane;" the house anti prize fight bill; Mr. Walker's bill to amend the act relating to agricultural liens, which makes no material changes in the present; Mr. Harrison's bill to fur ther protect landlords; house bill to pay urors and State witnesses ferri age; . Stribling's bill pertainmg to building a bridge across a the Keowee river near the mouth of Little river, and the concurrent resolution pertain ing to the time for electing penitentia ry directors. No bills of special interest were in troduced except Mr. Finley's relative to the collection of taxes on municipal property not used for municipal pur poses in accordance with the new con stitution. The house decided to hold day and night sessions henceforth and declined to consider propositions to fix the day of final adjournment and the limit to the introduction of bills. The judiciary committee made a fa voraole report on the new registration bill. It was only a few minutes after the body was called to order when the house struck the second reading bills, there being 97 such bills and resolu tions on the calendar. After several bills had been passed over Mr. Gary's bill to authorize the sinking fund commission to lend the sinking fund on the security of the valid bonds of the State when the bonds cannot be purchased at par was called up out of its order, Judge Townsend saying there was a large amount of money lying idle which should be utilized. Mr. Gadsden moved to strike out the enacting words of the bill,saying it was very dangerous for the State to go into the banking business with the credit of the State. This fund was put aside as a guarantee for the security of the State bonds. It was wrong to touch this fund. It is not certain that the State will at all times have such an honorable gentleman for State treasurer as she now has. It was put 'ing too much power in one man's hands and opened the gates for the gi gatic defrauding of the State. The bonds themselves would be endan gered. After mucn debate and the voting down of Mr Patton's amendment to fix the minimum rate of interest at 6 mpercent., the bill passed to its third reading with a 41 per cent. minimum rate of interest. Mr. Hazleden's bill to provide for the forfeiture of charters of railroads g- higher rates than those fixed by te railroad commissioners was taken up and discussed. The bill was finally passed to a third reading with an amendment, by Mr. Patton, providing for an appeal to courts of competent jurisdiction. A bill to exempt mortgages held by banks from taxation was indefinitely postponed. A resolution providing for the State moving in the matter of erecting a monument to George Peabody passed unanimously. A resolution to appoint a commiittee to examine into the status of the rail roads of the State was introduced by Mr. Burn. THE SCHOOL LA\W. In the Senate this morning the first bill taken up was t hat to alter, amend and prfect the school law. Mr. Efird offered the following see tion, providing for a board of educa tion to take the place of the present school commissioner: Section-The State board of educa tion shall appoint in each county three persons, each of whom shall be com petent to hold a teacher's first grade certificate and to conduct a teachers institute, 'who shall be known as the co ity board of education, who shall hold their term of office for the term of two years from the time of their ap pointment and until their successors shall qualify. Tbey shall take the oath of office prescribed in, section 26 of Article III of the constitution and the oath against dueling. They shall organize by the election of one of their members as chairman and one as sec .ry The county board of educa tion shall meet quarterly at the coun ty seat and shall receive as compensa tion three dollars per day and five cents per mile of necessary travel, to be paid by the county treasurer upon -the warrant of the county board of commissioners: Provicaed, such board is not in session more than ten days in any one year- The secretary of the board of education shall attend at the court house, in the office of the coun ty board, on each and every Saturday while the public school term lasts in lbis county and for one month there after for the purpose of approving teachers' pay certificates or warrants properly signed by the trustees of the various school districts, and to keep an account of the claims so approved Hie shall receive as compensation one hundred dollars, to be paid quarterly by the county treasurer upon the war ranit of the county board of commnis* sioners. Mr. Finley offered what was design ed as a substitute for Mr. Efird's amendment. Its object was to retain the present system of having a county commissioner, but provided that he hold a first-class certificate as State teacher. After some debate the substitute was rejected-17 to 12. Mr. Buist offered an amendment which was adopted, providing that sc far as the Charleston schools were concerned, no certificates as a State teacher should be required from grad xates of the Memmier school. in amiendment -&oered by Mr. Brown requiring the heads of all schools in the State, graded, normal or special, to report to the State superin tendent every summer as to number of scholars, condition, etc., was adopt ed. Mr. Efird's substitute providing for a board of three mnstead of the county commissioner, was adopted by a vote of 18 to 10. Th ptition from the colored Meth odists to have the colored college to be cut oi from Claflin. established at Lancaster. "the garden spot of the State," was referred to the educational committee. The netition from the State fair so ciety for an appreciation of $2.500, which was sent witn a message from the governor, was referred. At the night session the bill was fur ther discussed. Mr. Mayfield offered this amend ment, which was adopted: Be it provided that all school funds other than those arising from the spe cial levy of the several school districts shall be paid out of the county treas ury on the warrants duly vouched by the school trustees of the respective school districts. Mr. Archer moved to ctrike out sec tion 52. This section relieved school teachers and young men who might be attending school from working roads or paying a commutation tax. Teachers, he said, were not idiots: they were working on salaries and were able to pay their part towards keeping up the roads. Young men, of the age which made them liable to road duty, who were able to attend to attend school, were as able to pay the commu tation tax as those young men who worked in stores. Ie was opposed to deadheads. The motion prevailed with out discussion or division. Mr. Harrison moved to indefinitely postpone the bill. It was complicated and needed most careful consideration. The present school law was working very well, and he thought it would be to the benefit of the State schools to have this bill postponed. Mr. Harrison, it was at first thought, intended this as a little diversion to make a break in dry offering of amend ments that had been going in by single file of an hour and a quarter. President Timmerman put the ques tion in the gravest manner and declar ed the motion lost. Mr. Harrison, as gravely, demanded a division, and stood up with a little ring of five sena tors representing the greater portion of the Piedmont. "No further count demanded," an nounced Mr. Harrison, and the sena tors laughed. An amendment by Mr. Barnwell was adopted providing that members of the State board of education appoigt ed by the governor shall receive as compensation the same mileage and per diem as is provided for the mem bers of the general assembly. On the final assage of this bill Mr. Finley demanded the ayes and noes. He believed the law on the statute books was better than that contained in this bill, and he could not vote for it. The result of the vote was as fol lows: Yeas-Barnwell, Barton, Brice, Der ham, Douglas, DuBose, Efird, May field, Miller, Moses, McCalla, McDan iel, Pettigrew, Sloan, Williams-16. Nays-Archer, Finlay, Fuller, Har rison, O'Dell, Stribling-6 The Senate passed a number of bills -among them the following: House bill to exempt certain por tions of Pickens county from the op eration of the general stock law of the State. To amend an act establishing the county of Berkeley, so as to define boundaries between Charleston and Berkeley counties. House bill to require petit jurors for the last week of circuit courts to remain till all eases requiring jury trials are disposed of. To provide for the settlement of is sues between citizens of this State by arbitration. To regulate the election of wardens in the towns of this State. To incorporate Converse college. IN THE HOIsE. A resolution stopping the introduc tion of new measures after the 15th inst. was adopted. RAILROAD FARE. Time bill introduced by Mr. Jarris, to fix passenger fares on railways was much discussed. It passed its second reading in the following shape: Section 1. That from and after the passage of this act the rates for trans portation of passengers by railroad companies chartered and doing busi ness in this State shall be for first class fare three (3) cents per mile every mile traveled, and for second class fare two and one-half (24) cents per mile for every mile traveled, and shall sell first and second class tickets: Pro vided, This rate may from time to time be altered and changed by the railroad commission, as toany railroad or rail roads, as in the judgment of said rail road commnission the circumstances of such railroad or railroads may war rant or require. Sec. 2. Any railroad company charg ine higher rates for passenger trans portation than those herein fixed, or such as may be hereafter fixed, by the railroad commissions shall suffer all the penalties provided by law. Sec. 3. Nothing herein contained shall prevent any railroad company from selling excursion tickets and mileage tickets of not less than one thousand miles for lower rates than those herein fixed. Sect. 4. All acts or uarts of acts in consistent with this act are hereby re pealed. THE "JI1 CROw" CAR. Mr. Otts' "jim crow" car bill was called up. The house had passed it last year and sent it to the senate, whichi body killed it. The bill was reported unfavorably. Mr. Skinner thought it would in flict a hardship on the railroads. Dr. Wyche said that the Constitu tional conventiion had emphasized the the fact that the two races should be kept apart. He had voted against the bill, but proposed to vote for it now. The State should enact such laws as would forever keep down social equali ty in this State. HELP FOR THE sTATE FAIR. At this juncture the following mes sage was received from the governor: Gentlemen of the General Assembly -I herewith transmit to your honor able body the petition of the State Agricultural and Mechanical society of South Carolina. I had the honor to call your atten tion to this matter in my' inaugural address at your last session. I can add nothing more to my recommendation then made. I trust that time petition will receive your favorable considera tion. ' R~espectfully, Jso. GARY EvAss, Governor. The memorial referred to is published elsewhere in this issue. The discussion of the " Jim Crow Car" bill was resumed. Judge Townsend said the committe had a good many railroad men before them on this bill at the last session. lie detailed the disadvantages that would come from the operation of this bill. Mr. W. J. Johnson said that this was a necesary hill;- the railroads were the only corporations that sub jected the fair women of the State to the necessity of riding in a car with an inferior race. Mr. Otts said that the bill had been discassed and passed by this house on more than one occasion. He demanded the roll on the adop tion of the bill, the call resulting in the adoption of the bill by the follow ing vote: Yeas 58, nays 32. CHECKS TO LABORERS. Mr. Miles' bill to regulate the issu ing of checks, scrip and due bills to laborer5 and wageworkers was then, taken up and ordered to a third read ing without debate in the following shape: Section 1. That unless otherwise provided by special conract, it is here by required of a:1 persons or corpora tions who employ laborers or wage workers by the day, week, month or year, or by tne job or piece work, to pay st-ch laborers or wazeworkers in good and lawful money. Sec. 2. That if any person or cor porations, after the approval of this act, shall give to any laborer or wage worker, except as provided in the preceding stetLion, as compensation for labor or service performed, any due bill, check or scrip of any des.rip tion which is intended to be in lieu of good and lawful money, and which is not paid or redeemed in cash for its full face value when presented. the said person or corporation so otfend' ing shall be deemed guilty of a misde meanor and upon conviction shall be punished by line or imprisonment in the discretion of the court. SUNDAY TRAINS. When Mr. B. J. Jobnston's bill to prohibit the running of freight trains in this state between the hours of 12 o'clock Saturday night and 12 o'clock Sunday night, was taken up. Mr. Johnston made a vigorous speech in its favor. He said there was now a law against running trains on Sunday, but the law was being constantly vio lated. The railroads violate the law every day. Judge Townsend said that the pre sent law on the subject covered the case exactly. He read the law. The bill was further discussed by Messrs. Bocot Williams and Magill Mr. Magill moved to indefinitely postpone the bill. On this the roll call was demanded. The house re fused to indefinitely postpone by the following vote: Yeas 33, nays 53. Mr. Gadsden made an earnest plea in behalf of the truck farmers in the lower portion of the State. Ihe truck farmers would lose more tnan the rail roads. Mr. Watson said other farmers had things which got ripe on Saturday and Sunday also. They had to suspend work on Sunday. This argument was all poppycock. The poor men work ing on railroads needed protection. They should reverence and hod invio late the Sabbath day. Judge Townsend called attention to the palpable manner in which the bill would conflict with the United States interestate commerce law, which would cause a discrimination against the State of South Carolina. The de bate was interrupted by the arrival of the hour for the joint assembly At the night session it was resumed. Final ly the enacting words were stricken out and the bill killed by a vote of 46 to 41. THE COLORED COLLEGE. After much debate the bill to estab lish the college for colored students was passed in the following shape: Section 1. That Claflin college be andj is hereby severed from Claflin University; provided, that this sever ance shall not operate so as to inter fere with the teaching and instruction now being given during the present session. which closes in the month of May, this y ear. Section 2. That during the year A. D. 1896, there shall be established within this State a normal, industrial, agricultural and mechanical college for the higher education of the colored youth of the State, and that said col lege shall be known as the Colored Normal, Agricultural and, Mechanical College of South Carolina. Section 3. That the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechani cal College of South Carolina shall be a branch of the university of South Carolina, but shall be under the man agement and control of a separate board of trustees composed of seven members, six of whom shall be elected by the general assembly, whose term of office shall be six years. But the general assembly shall at its present session elect two of said trustees for two years, two for four years and two for six years, so that two of them shall go out of office every two years. The governor of the State shall be ex-otli cio the seventh member of said board of trustees. Section 4. That the board of trustees of the South Carolina college now in control of the property belonging to Claflin college shail turn over to the board of trustees of the Colored Nor. mal, Industrial, Agricultural and Me chanical College of South Carolina all of the real and personal property be longing to Claflin college. Section 5. That the board of trustees of the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina are hereby author ized and empowered to take charge of, manage and control all of the real and personal property belonging to Clatlin college, in whosesoever hands or cus tody the same may be now or hereaf ter found, and shall hold the same in trust for the benefit and uses of the said Colored Normal, Industrial, Agri cultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina. Section 6. That the board of trustees of the Colored Normal. Industrial, Ag ricultur-al and Mechanical College of South Carolina shall have and are hereby given full and ample power to do and to peform any and all acts whatsoever necessary to affect a com plet3 and final separation of the inter ests of the State from those of Clailin university, and if found necessary to protect or promote the interest of the State, the authority here given shall authorize said trustees to sell,purchase or exchange real estate. Section 7. That the Colored Nor mal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechan ical College of South Carolina shall have all the rights and privileges pos sessed by ClaIlin college, and be enti tled to receive all the funds set apart for the support of Ciaflin college un der the acts of the general assembly of this State and the said college shall forever be and remain free and sepa rate from Cllin university and all other colleges, schools or other insti tutions whiich are wholly or in part under the direction or control of any churcn or r-eligious or sectarian de nomination or society Section 8. That the board of trustees of the Colorel Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina are authorized and empowered to provide all necessary suitable buildings upon a proper site for the purpose. to establish a course of study covering the Normal, Indus trial, Agricultural and Mechanical sciences, and provide the necessary appliances for proper instruction in the same; and to select a proper corps instructors and fix their salaries. The principal or president and the corps of instructors shall be natives of South Carolina and of the negro race. Section 9. That the sum of $5,000 be annually appropriated for five years for the purpose of erecting the neces sary buildings, if su much be necessa ry; and that the authorities of the State penitentiary be, and they are hereby, required to furnish, on the demand of the board of trustees of said college. 40 able-bodied convicts to said board of trustees. the convicts to be used in erecting the necessary buildings, and to. be transported, guarded, clothed, fEd and attended free of any cost to the college. and to be returned to the peniLentiary when the buildings are completed. Section 10. That a majority of the whole board of trustees shall be nec essary for the transaction of any busi ness. TIE JOINT ASSE3IBLY. At one o'clock today there was a joint session of the two houses, to elect directors of the penitentiary. Nominations were asked for to fill the unexpired term of the late Mr. Sprott. Senator Finley nominated Mr. J. J. Ashe and Mr. Ilderton Mr. J H. Blackwell. Mr. D. W. MeL-aurin nominated Mr. James Stackhouse, but withdrew the name later. The sen ate voted pretty solidly for Ashe. The vote resulted as follows, and Mr. Blackwell was delared elected: Black well 69; Ashe 51. Nominations were then made for successors to Messrs. Garris and Wil loughbv. M 'Gaston nominated Mr. W. 0. Tatum. Mr. Shuman nominated Mr. J. W. Whitmire of Greenville, Mr. Cooper renom' d the incumbent director, Mr. Senator Norris nominated Mr. J.7 ribling. Sena tor Watson nominated Mr. T. 0. San ders, Sr. The balloting resulted as follows: Tatum 68, Whitmire 26, Garris 82, Striblins 34, Sanders 52. A great many members then changed their votes, the result having not yet been announced, and as a final result the vote was declared as follows. Ta tum 85, Garris 84, Striblidg 29, Sanders 30, Whitmire 23. Messrs. Tatum and Garris were declared elected and the joint assembly dissolved Messrs. Tatum and Blackwell are both members of the house at present. Mr. Garris has been a member of the boasd since the last election. TROUBLE IN THE JOINT ASSEMBLY. Scenes Brought About by the Change of a Vote--Lively Times Expected. FRANKFORT, Ky., Feb. 4.-The roll call disclbsed the presence of 126 members in the joint assembly today. Senator Heyward voted for Buckner, Holloway for McCreary and Stone for Evans. When the name of Mr. Jones (Dem.) of Floyd who had been voting for McCreary and other "sound mon ey" Democrats, was reached, he arose and made a short statement reviewing his reasons for his course up to the present time in refusing to vote for Senator Blackburn, but declaring that the crisis had been reached. He was almost ready to announce his vote for Blackburn when Lieutenant Governor Worthington, who was in the chair. auped the Floyd co.unty member to oraler, ruling his remarks out of order. A sharp spat then passed between Senator Bronston and the lieutenant overnor on Senator Bronston's in isting that the Floyd county member ad the right to explain his vote. Several representatives joined in the :efense of the presiding officer. Mr. Bronston said the lieutenant overnor had exceeded his authority and he made a fiery speech in which e hurled defiance into the faces of he Republican side. The lieutenant governor replied that e would not be intimidated by the remarks of the senator from Fayette. Senator Bronston then denounced s untrue the statement that he had ndertaken to intimidate the chair, and with much feeling invited the lieutenant governor to come down from the chair and give his place to some one who would preside with fairness. The Democrats crowded around Sen tor Bronston and the Republicans around the lieutenant governor and the most intense excitement prevailed. The wai of words finally passed off by Mr. Johns being allowed to finish his speech and after a brief ex planation e cast hijs vote for Senator Blackburn. Rice also voted for Blackburn. The ballot resulted: Hunter 62: Black burn 56; scattering S. Serious trouble may occur at tomor ow's joint session if the house Re publicans unseat Tompkins and Kauf man as it is stated they intend to do. t is said that within five minutes after the unseating the senate Democrats ave arranged to expel four Republi :an senators, appoint extra doorkeep ers to keep them out of the joint ses sion, and tflen take a ballot for United States senator. Ladies are warned to keep away tomorrow. 31urderer and Bigamist. ROANoKE, VA., Feb. 3.-Jasper J. Hale was married on Sunday evening to Elvina Adams, aged 16 years, and this morning left the city. Shortly after lhe left an elderly woman com plained to the police that Hale had been married to her a number of years. She also stated to the police authori ties here that he was the murderer of Thomas G. Massie, who was cruelly killed on a cold wintry night in De ember, 1890), on one of the principal streets in this city. This murder has always been a mystery to the peo ple of this city and now it seems that a solution of it is near at hand. An oficer was put on Hale's track and lie was overtaken at Radford and arrest ed just as lie was lifting his bride of a day from the train, she having follo w ed him to that city. He wvas brought back to Roanoke on the midnight train and lodged in jail. Shot Him in the liack. WALwo. 1FLA., Feb. 5.-Last night E. L. Melvin met the wife of .J. P. Coemnan clandestinely near thfis place. While Melvin was talking to the wo man, some one concealed near by shot him in the back, killing him instantly. Coleman yesterday learned that his wife was to meet Melvin and disap-j eaed. He as not heen een since HOUSE AND SENATE. SOMEOF THE WORK OF THEGENER AL ASSEMBLY. Legislation Which Afdcts su ne in portait Intere-its--outliue of he Pro ceedings. COLD.IBIA, February G. -Special: One thing may be said about ihe de bates in the General Assembly-they most frequently relate to matters of importance. Such has been the case this week. THE VOLDIE OF PRINTING. Senator Moses introduced the follow concurrent . resolution which was adopted and sent to the House. B2 it resolved by the senate, the house of representatives concurring, that a committee consisting of two on the part of the senate and three on the part of the house be appointed a spe cial committee to inquire into the sub ject of printing the reports of various departments and to inquire if there is any unnecessary printing, and if it is practicable to cut down the cost of the sante without impairing the public service, said committee to report by bill or otherwise. This was immediately considered and adopted. A concurrent resolution, offered by Mr. Finley. immediately considered aud adopted, fixed Feb. 20 as the date for the legislature to adjourn sine die. The resolution from the house pro posing the erection of a monument in Wasbington tgshe Southern States to George Peabodv and appropriating $1,500 as South Carolina's quota, was presented. At being a concurrent res olution and carVring a proposed ap propriation, wat ineffective, and was recerred to a senate committee to re port it in the shape of a joint resolu tion. The house was invited to ratify acts at 1 p. im. and accepted. The special order-relating to roads and highways-was called up imme diately after the morning hour. It contained 29 formidable sections. After some debate the further con sideration of the bill was postponed. The bill to allow directors of State banks to be borrowers caused some de bate. The bill 'assed with the follow ing provision: "The directors or other officers shall not be indebted collectively to the bank of which they shall be at the time directors or officers, to an amount exdeeding in the aggregate one-third of the capital stock actually paid in and surp us." These bills passed a third reading: To provide for the examination of the banking corporations of the State. House bill to exempt certain por tions of Pickens caunty from the op erations of the general stock law of the State. - Tp further protect landlords in the collection of rent. House bill to require petit jurors for the last week of circuit court to remain until all cases requiring jury trials are disposed of. To provide for the settlement of is sues between citizens of this State by arbitration. To regulate the election of wardens in the towns of this State. To incorporate Converse college. These were the acts ratified: To amend section 3.540 of the gen eral statutes of this State relating to legal holidays. To prevent lynching in this State. Joint resolution to provide for print ing, and sale of copies of the new Con stitution. To amend charters of cities and towns with regard to the sale of fresh meats. Relating to the disposition of the balance remaining unsold of the gen eral statutes of this State of 1882. To provide for a change of venue in civil and criminal cases in the civil and magistrates's courts. To authorize and provide for the erection of a new county jail in Spar tanburg county. Joint resolution to authorize and re quire the comptroller general to draw his warrant for $1751in favor of the commander of the Santee Rifles. To provide for the election of code commissioners. TiHE PENSION BILL. The night session of the Senate was taken up in the consideration of the bill to pension Confederate soldiers and the widows of such. After many changes the bill was passed in the fol lowing shape: Section 1. That section 939 of the re vised statutes of 1893 be, and the same1 is hereby amended, so that said sec tion when amended shall read as fol lows: Section 9:39. The following persons,] sold iers aud sailors, now citizens of South Carolina, who were in the ser vice of the State or of the Confederate States in the late war between the States, shall be entitled to receive from the treasurer of the State a monthly payment of four, six and eight dollars, to be paid in the man ner and on the terms and conditions1 nereafter set forth. Section 2. That section 940 be amend ed. Section 940. In order to obtain the benfit of this chapter. such soldier or sailor mnkst show: First, that he was a bona fide soldier or sailor in the ser vice of the State of South Carolina or of the Confederate States in the war1 between the States; second, that while1 in such service he has lost a leg or arm: or roceived any wound causing a per mnanent disability, incapacitating him1 for earning a livelihood ; that neither himself nor his wife is receiving anI income exceeding the amount of $2501 per annum: Provided, That the word income shall be held to include any] amount received as wages, salary or from any other source. And all such persons shall receive as pensions $41 per month. to wit: All ex-Uonfederate soldiers and sailors,and the widows ofi such soldiers and sailors, who are resi-1 dents of this State, who have reached the age of 60 years and who are not recetying or enjoying the benefits of] an annual income of $100 from any1 sour-ce. ob) All ex-Confederate soldiers and1 sailors who are residents of this State < and who have lost one arm or one leg< in the said service, $6 per month (c) All ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors who are residents of this Statei and who have lost both arms, or both1 legs, or who are physically helpless, shall receive $S per month. td) All ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors, in addtion to said pension,< shall be exempt from road or street duty or the payment of a commuta tion, road or street tax. Section tI. That section 950J of the re vied <:tatutes of 189)3 be amended so ] that said section when so amended shall read as follo vs: Section 950. The State of South Car olina shall annually appropriate the sum of $100,000, which shall be ap portioned among the several counties in the proportion of the claims appro ved in such coanties, and shall be dis tributed as hereinafter provided. Section 4. That section 951 of the revised statutes of 1893" be amended so that said section when so amended shall read as follo ;s: Section 951. On salesday in October in every year the surviving soldiers and sailors who were in the service of the Confederate States,or of this State, in the late war between the States, re siding in any county in this State, shall be authorized to meet in conven tion in the court house of such county at 11 o'clock a. m., or such hour thereafter on such days as will pro cure as large an attendance as may be had, and organize by electing a chair man and secretary. after which they may elect by ballot two of their num ber, who shall receive a majority of the ballots cast in such election, who, together with the county auditor, the county treasurer and a practicing phy sician, (the latter to be selected by the other members of the board) shall compose a board of pension commis sioners for such county until the next ensuing election hereunder. After first being duly sworn fairly and im partially to discharge the duties here in prescribed for them to the best of their ability, and filing such oath in clerk's office in such county, they shall meet as soon as practicable with the county examining board of pen sions, and, with them, examine the pension roll for such county, and shall select therefrom such number of the most needy applicants as will be sufficient to consume the appropria tion for such county, allowing to each applicant so elected the sum of three dollars per month from such appro priation. In selecting such applicants for pension the said board shall have regard to their physical condition and financial means, and also to the finan cial condition of their near relatives, and shall, in every instance select the most helpless and needy applicants for aid that can, in their judgment, be found upon the pension roll. A ma jurity of the members present com posing the two said boards shall be neccssary to determine any matter presented to them, and a majority of each board shall be necessary to form said joint board. As soon as such board completes its list as above they shall certify the same to the clerk of court for such county, who shall rec ord the same in a list to be designated "A pproved pension roll for 18-" and shall certify such list to the secretary of state, and such persons shall con stitute the pension roll entitled to re eive the aid herein provided for the ensuing fiscal year. If from any cause the meeting herein provided for should not be held on salesday in Oc tober in any year, the same may be held on salesday in November follow ing, and the action of such meeting shall be as valid as if held in October. Said board, or a majority of them, are to decide all questions relating to pen sions in their respective counties, sub ject, however, to the right of review by the State board. The compensation of the two veterans and the physician shall be three dollars for each day's service. HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. The following bills were then or lered to a third reading without dis sent: Mr. Garris' bill to fix the rate for Lhe transportation of passengers by railroad companies in this State. Mr. Otts' bill to require railroads in .his State to provide separate first ~lass coaches for the accommodation >f white and colored passengers. Mr. Miles' bill to regulate the issu ng of checks, scrip and due bills to taborers and wage workers. The bill relating to t' severance of 3aflin college from Clzflin university md the establishment of a normal, in ustrial, agricultural and mechanical ollege for the colored race. When the second reading bills were reached at the request of Mr. Good win the bill relating to school claims was taken up out of its regular order. 'he bill was ordered to a third read .ng without any trouble. It permits he county treasurer, supervisor and chool commissioners of all the coun ies save seven or eight which are nentioned, to borrow money to pay ~chool claims. AS TO LABOR CONTRACTs. Mr. Thurmond's bill to amend the aw so as to increase the penalty for he violation of agricultural labor ~ontracts, giving jurisdiction to the orts of sessions, was then taken up. ~Ir. Thurmond said that at present the enalty was too light. He thought if aborers left their employers in busy easons they should be punished. if few of them were put on the chain ang it would have a good effect. He aid the present penalty of 30) days had ioefect. Mr. Breazeale thought that thme pas ~age of this bill would mean giving he stiong power to oppress the weak. He moved to indefinifely postpone he bill, and Mr. Thurmond demanded he roll call on this. The bill was in leinitely postponed by a vote of 74 to WORK OF RAILWAY EMPLOYES. Mr. Riast's bill to regulate the hours f labor of trainmen on railroads in his State and to provide for the viola-] ion of th.e same was call up, and Mr. danning wanted it to go over, saying e thought they had enough railroad alk the preceding day to last for i1 pell. He said thme railroad men had een before the committee, and the 1 ill would do no good. A fter a lengthy debate the bill was >assed to its third r eading in the fol .owing shape: Section 1. That from and after the 1 >assage of this act it shall be unlaw 'ul for any railroad doing business in his State to require or permit its em loyes, who are engaged in the busi iess of operating its train over its 1 oads. to make runs of over thirteen iours, or make runs aggregating more han thirteen hours in twenty-four iours, except when such trains is de ained by reason of casualty or other ause, from reaching its destination: m schedule time, and no trainman. fter having been on a run or runs 'or as much as thirteen hours out of] .wenty-four hours, shall be requtired< o again go on duty until after :en tours' rest, except inl case abc ve stated. Ko employe of any railroad conmanmy hall be deprived of his right to re&o'er lamages for personal injury by rea on of the fact that he, at the time of uch injury, was mnaking a run of nore than thirteen hours, or making< run aggregating more thtan thirteen mours in twenty-four hours, or had gone on duty after a thirteen hours' run, or runs aggregating thirteen hours, before ten hours' rest. Sec. 2. That any railroad violating any of the provisions o.. section 1 of this act shall be subject to a forfeiture of not less than $500 nor more than 4500. That one-half of all for feitures collected under the provi sions of this act shall be paid into the State treasury, to the credit of the school fund, and the other half to the informer. THE ENGROSSING DEPARTMENT. The senate bill to provide for the or ganization of the engrossing depart ment was taken up. Judge Townsend said that the only object of the bill was to relieve the State of about 2,000 annual expense. He said last year the engrossing de partrment cost $3,700 and under this bill it would cost aoout $1,5110. The bill proposes a saving, of -2,000. The attorney general has this year. receiv ed abot t 500 applications for positions in th- department and clerks are now employed who cannot spell correctly. This bill restricts the number of clerks to one for each solicitor and that nu m ber cannot be increased. The reply ing to applications and entertaining visitors urging the claims of applicants consumes one-third of the attorney general's time. It is an outrage as to the money spent in this department. The attorney general favors this bill and will overlook the work. It is to be presumed that the solictors will bring competent men. Here, too, there was much debate -hiefiy on the question whether wo men only should be employed. The bill finally went through in the fol lowing shape: Section 1. That the engrossing de partment of the general assembly shall be under the direction and supervision of the attorney general, and shall con sist of the attorney general and a chief elerk to be appointed by him, and of the solicitors of the State and of one female clerk resident in each judicial circuit. Sec. 2. The attorney general shall notify such number of solicitors and clerks so appointed to attend upon the meetings of the general assembly as he may deem necessary from time to time to properly perform the work of the department. Sec. 4. The solicitors, the chief elerk and the clerks of the engrossing department shall receive for their com pensation the same per diem and mile age as the members of the general as sembly for the time they are actually employed in the work of the depart ment. Subsequently an effort was made to reconsider the vote passing the bill, but the House refused choosing school teachers. When Mr. Sturkie's bill to allow patrons of the different public shools of the State to select their teachers was taken up, Mr. Whitmire moved to strike out the enacting words. Mr. Sturkie defended his bill. He could see no rational reason why there should be any objection to the bill. He said it was of the greatest impor tance to allow the patrons to select the te'achers of their children. The ma jority should rule in this matter. Mr. Hough said that this thing of se lecting teachers was one thing in which intelligence should rule. The intelligent board should have charge of this imnortant matter. Pass this bill and you will mark the .downfall of the pu blic schools in South Caroli na. After farther debate the bill was re jected. ABOl-T FREE TUITIoN. Mr. Holloway's bill regulating free .uition in the institutions for higher ~ducationi within this State was taken ip and Mtr. Watson moved to strike >ut the enacting words. Mr. Holloway said he had hoped the >ill would have passed without oppo ~ition. The argument had been made hat the State was not able to carry so naisy beneficiary institutions. Mr. J. W. Mitchell said he was no mnemy to higher education, but he vanted the poor people's. children to get the benefit of the State's school uinds. They were not there to educate 'ich men's sons. He did not know hat Clemson would do what they vere expected here to d:>. The provisions of the bill are as fol ows: Section 1. That no charges for tui ion shall be made against or collect ~d from any of the youth of this State >y any of the schools or colleges for iigher education supported and con rolled by the State unless the parents >f such youth shall h-ave a gross annu d1 income of at least .31.000, or shall >wn property of the value of at least ~2,000, o::- unless in the case of no par unts liiing the youth has held in trust or hia~ or her an estate or incomie of ike value. Sec. 2. No youth shall become a )eneficiary in any way whatever in nyl of said schools or colleges unless ~ntitled as above to free tuition and jualified otherwise as may be required y law or the rules and regulations )rescribed by the boards controlling aid institutions. Sec. 3. That this act shall take ef ect immediately upon its approval. Suoseguently the bill was rejected. Appalling Disaster. BRISTCL, CoNN., Feb. 6.--A most ippalling disaster occurred here short y after i) o'clock tonight, in which 20 vorkmen were precipitated into Pe tuaback river from the East Bristol >ridge and from 10 to 12 of them are >robably lost. This afternoon the tructure was found to be shaky and lie 4:42 train on the New England oad had a narrow escape from wreck Ls it crossed on the way to Hartford. f'or someC time the bridge has been ooked upon with suspicion and at. >resent the new bridge was in process >f re-erection and was almost complete. twas close alongside the bridge *hich vas tonight carried away. After the astbournd passenger train had passed onight, one side of the old bridge gave vay to the current andl with a crash vent boiling down stream. The Farmner/' Al liance. WvAImNGTON, F'eb. t.-The Nation Jl Farmner< Alliance a~nd Industrial :invich has been in session here hr--e days, adjourned tamis afternoon. .aiportaE t action was taken d uring the osiug session. Among these, the sultreasury plan," to which the Alli nee has been committed for a numn-] ,er of years and the demand for an in-] r-ease of the circulating medium to *5a per capita, were elimuinated from hie platform. Resolutkns were adopt d opposing the refunding of the Pa ific Railroad debt and agreeing to neet next year at Dallas, Texas if that ity will makea snuia nt~ers. THE ACREAGE OF COFTON. LATHAM, ALEXANDER & CO. ADVISE CONTINUANCE OF ITS REDUCTION. - Interesting Circular from that Leading Cotton Firm--They Endose Heartily and in Toto the Resolutions of the Memphis Convention. NEW RORK, Feb. 3.-Latham, Alex ander & Co. have issued the following circular: We have the pleasure to submit for your information thle following com parative positien. of cotton and prices on January 31st for the past four years: Total visIble supply in United States, Europe and at sea-1896, 3, 949,258: 18t5. 4.943,539; 1894, 4,581, 0.0; 1893, 4,320,094. Total exp )rts-S96;$2,750,33; 1895, 4,620.70S; 1t 94, 3,53s,223; 1893, 2,773, 633. Stock in United State- ports-1896, 989,500; 1895, 1,048,281; 1894, 1,108, 530; 1893, 1.069,923. Stock in Liverpool (all kinds) -1896, 1. 103,000; 1895, 1,569,000; 1894, 1,587, 000; 1893; 1,645,000. A float for Europe (American) -1896, 3 6,000; 1895, 692,000; 1894, 531,000; 1893, 283,000. Middlino uplands in New York 1896, 8 1-4c; 1895, 5 5-8c; 1894, 8 1-16c; 1893, 9 7-16c. Middling uplands in Liverpool 1896, 4 5 8d; 1895, 2 32-12d; 1894, 4 1-4d; 1893, 5 18d. From this Statement, the total visi ble supply of cotton in the world is 994,281 bales less than last year, 631, 729 bales less than in 1894, and 370, 836 bales less than in 1893. - The exports this year are 1,869,975 bales less than last year, 782,590 bales less than in 1894, and 22,900 bales less than in 1893. The stock in United States ports is 58,781 bales less than last year. 119, 030 bales lesq than in 1894, and 80,453 bales less than in 1893. The following was the price of cot ton for future delivery in New York, basis middling, on Jan. 31st of each year: 1896. 1895. 1894. 1893. February. ..7.95 5.46 7.76 9.23 March..........7.99 5.50 7.82 9.34 April...........8.03 5.54 7.89 9.43 May ...........8.08 5.58 7.96 9.52 June......8.10 5.61 8.03 9.58 July...........8.13 5.65 8.07 9.62 August.........8.11 5.69 8.11 9.64 September......7.74 5.74 7.98 9.42 The price of cotton is now 2.49 cents dearer than last year, 0.17 cents dear er than in 1894, and 1-35 cents cheap er than in 1893 for March contracts. The amount of cotton that has been marketed from September 1st, (five months) for the cotton years mention ed below, was as follows: 1896, 5,550. 599: 1895, 8.014,470; 1894, 6,254,172; 1893, 5,356,207. The amount, therefore, that has come into sight this year to February 1st is 2,463,871 bales less than last year, 703.573 bales has than in 1894, and 194,392 bales more than in 1893. The average percentage of the total crop marketed by February 1st for the past ten years has been 82.10 per cent., and if the 5,550,599 bales that has come into sight to February 1st should prove to be 82.10 per cent. of this crop, the actual total crop for 1895-96 would be 6,760,778 bales. We cannot commend too emphati eally the action of the Cotton Grow ers' Association of America recently convened at Memphis, Tennessee, and we wish it were in our power to com pel every cotton planter of the South to read carefully the address issued by that convention and lay its valuable truths to heart. We have written on this same line most urgently for years. Our interest in the South and the Southern people is genuine, and we bhave endeavored to show to the plant ers of the South what was indisputa bly to their best interests. Under date of November 2nd, 1892, we issued a circular to the planters of the South, and what we said in that paper we had substantially written re peatedly before and have written fre :iuently since; hence, we can say nothing new at this time in support of ~he address issued by the convention it Memphis on January 21st. The South has a virtual monopoly n the production of cotton, and there s no reason why this incalculable ad. rantage should not be turned to the vast enrichment of that section. Any such good result, however, will never e realized so long as overproduction >f the staple threatens the world, and .hereby hangs a weight to the market ralue of cotton. In other words, if ;he cotton planters of the South insist .ipon making more cotton than the world has any use for, the surplus will invariably make the price for the whole supply, and thereby depreciate ;he value of the unnecessarily large :rop below the value of the reasonable . ;mall crop, and the planter will find airnself at the end of each croe season >ut his labor and his pains without m~y profit. The importance of this matter can 1ot be exaggerated, for the whole fi aancial welfare of the South depends .ipon renumerative prices for the cot :onzrop. E very banker and merchant through ut the cotton region should feel it his >ersonal duty to reason and argue with all the cotton planters with whom 1e has relations, persuading them if 3ossible to keep the cotton crop of aext year within the protable demand *or it. There should be a protest from svery town and hamlet in Lhe South lgainst any increase of the cotton tcreage next year. If the catton plant wrs will listen to such appeals remu 1erative prices for the cotton they do ntake will be guaranteed by the in lexible laws of supply and demand; >ut~if they insist upon making anoth r) 000,000 or 10.000,000 bales crop ext year, they may look for a ruin ,is return to five cent cotton and >ankruptcy. saved by the Paper. NA~IsuILLE, Tenn., Feb. 4.-State 3enator L. B3. Morgan of Tullahoma vas shot today by Henry Holder, and r'as saved from being killed by a copy >f the Atlanta Constitution, which vas folded in the senator's left breast >Ccket. The ball passed through the aper and grazed the skin. Morgan is eading counsel for defense in the case Lgaiast Hlolt, Gunn and Gibson harged with conspiracy and the mar ler of Laporte Dickson. Holder is a >rother-in-law of the murdered man. he shootin g arose over feelingaroused