The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, March 04, 1896, Image 1

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VOL. XL _MANNING. S. C.. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4,18 OUR LAWMAKERS. WHAT THEY ARE DOING FOR SOUTH CAROLINA. Several Very Important Matters Consid ered and Settled- -Adjournment in Sight. The Governor Vetoes a Tax Bill--Other Proceedings. Cox-rnmrA. S. C., Feb. 25.-Special: The house today finally passed the general pension bill. appropriating $100,000. Efforts were made to re duce it to $50,0100 and increase to $15, 000 and both failed. After a great deal of debate it was ,decided to repay t ,t expenditure made at Atlanta from Governor Evans for $6,000, if so much be necessary. and that the exhibit be used at the Chicago Cotton States Exposition. A long fight was made on the South Carolina college appropriation. Leon Williams wanted it cut to $20.000. This was voted down, but no further action was taken in the morning. The general hope is that the general assembly will adjourn about Wednes day or Thursday. The ways and means committee re commend a four and a half mill levy. The senate devoted the morning to the considerati'>n of the insurance bill and the road bill. The former came back from the house with amendments knocking out the provision to exempt cities of over 15,000 inhabitants and upon motion of Mr. McCala, the sen ate concurred in the amendment. The road bill was then taken up and a number of amendments were adopt ed before the whole batch were recom mitted. The metropolitan police bill then came up and Mr. Barnwell got through amendments to give the city authori ties some control over the new police in such matters as requiring reports to be -ade to the mayors by the chiefs re tii-wing accounts of expenditures to be amitted, records to be kept open for the inspection of the city authori ties and making them subject to such ordinances as are passed to regulate the duties of police. Debate on the bill was adjourned to the night ses sion. Then the first matter of any general interest considered was the bill to repeal the free pass bill, which came up saddled with an unfavorable report and died without a groan. The metropolitan police bill then came up again, on motion of Mr. Barnwell, and passed. The house bill to fix the passenger rates for railroads then came up as the special order and the unfavorable re was indefinitely postponed and e bill, after being amended by Mr. McCall to fix the rate at 3J and 21 cents for first and second class fares respectively passed by a vote of 14 to ~13. ComtXIa, Feb. 26.-Special: The senate struck a snag on the railroad rate bill yesterday and stuck to it nearly all day until a motion to take recess preyailed. Immediately after the morninglhour the report of the conferencecommittee oa the bill relating to-the adoption of chil ~, recommending concurrence -AT ehouseamendments was adopted. Non-concurrence then being voted in the house amendments to the pen sion bill, Messrs. Norris and Douglas were appointed on the committee of conference. A bill to exempt certain portions of Hampton county from the operations of the general stock law was then kill ed on i unfavorablegreport. A bill relating to the conveyance and admission of patients to the State hospital for the insane then came up and was amended by Mr. Jordan to fix compensation of attendants at $2 per day and 12 cents per mile, with $1 per day for guard where one is neces sary. -Mr. Buist then introduced a bill to incorporate the Roman Catholic church of St. Joseph's of Charleston, which was placed upon the calendar without reference. Mr. Barnwell also introduced a bill to declare the law in reference to the revision of the acts of 1893. -The question whether the bill should pass its final reading tben came np. Tne yeas and nays being called, the bill passed by the following vote: Yeas-Archer, Barton, Brown, Der ham. Douglass, DuBose, Finley, Full er, Harrison, Jordan, Mayfleld, Mill er, McCalla, Odell, Saunders, Stack house, Stribbling-18. Nays-Barnwell, Brice, Buist, Den nis, Kirkland, Mauldin, Moses, Mc Daniel, Pettigrew, Ragin, Sloan, Tur ner, Verdier, Walker, Watson, Wil liams-16. The house resolution to fix the 7th of March as the day of final adjourn ment was then agreed to. NEW BILLS. The following new bills were intro duced during the day: By Mr..Moses-To require certain hetaspassed during the session of 1894 to be published with the acts of 1896. By Mr. Archer-To validate and confirm certain acts of the Spartan burg and Rutherford Railroad Com By Mr. Barton-To authorize the board of trustees of Claflin university to sell or lease the oroperty of that university to the Colored Normal and Industrial college of South Carolina. THE FIRST VETO. The first veto of the session came up lastnight, when the following message was received from the gvernor: Tthe Honorable, the Snate: [ herewith return without my ap proval, "A joint resolution (Senate) to remit the unpaid State and county taxes for the fis::al year commencing November 1, 1S92, in Beaufort county and part of Colleton county." I re gret that I am compelled to do this, as I am satisfied, so far as Colleton coun ty is concerned, the resolution is a proper one; but Beaufort county stands in an entirely different posi -tion. The resolution on its face pur ports to relieve the sufferers from the storm in the year 1892, and if this could be effected. I should not hesitate to approve it. Upon inquiry, I find that in the county of Beaufort over $36,000 of this tax has been paid and there remains in round numbers $S, 000; of this sum, over $6,000 is due by large taxpayers, merchants and corpo rations in the city of Beaufort, who are amply able to pay their taxes and should be made to do so. It will thus be seen that the real sufferers, the poor people of the county, have paid their taxes and it would be clearly unjust to remit those of the wealthier class, unless the arnounts raid by the poorer class were refunded. The res olution does not do this, and upon the request of a majority of the dele gation in the house and the county of ficers of Beaufort I am forced to with Shold my approval. As to the county of Colleton, I would respectfully recommend that a joint resolution be passed by your nonorable bo y giving them the re lief desired, as in that county the tax payers are unable to pay and the county affairs, I am rEliably infor:n ed, will not be embarrassed thereby. Respectfully, John Gary Evans, Governor. The senator from Beaufort county being, absent consideration of the message was postponed. The frst bill considered at the night session was Mr. Fuller's bill to regu late the movements of cars, trains and traffic between lines connecting with in this State, and to prevent any dis crimination in the rates charged or facilities offered such connecting lines. and to prevent all discrimination, and to require equal facilitiesand advanta ges to all railroad companies within or without the State with which they directly or indirectly connect, and to provide for the issuance and recogni tion of through bills of lading by all railroads doing business in this State, o prevent the diversion of freight, to prevent violation of this act by any railroad in this State, to constitute the same a misdemeanor and to provide punishment therefor. Of especial interest is the penalty clause, which imposes damages of $500 for each violation of the law-and permits any person to bring suit for said violation. The original bill pro vided for a penalty of $5,000, which was reduced to $500 )n motion of Mr. Mayfield. The bill passed to its third reading as amended. Messrs. Finley, Efird and Harrison were then appointed a committee of free conference on the new county bill. The second reading biils were taken up, and the following ordered to their third reading: Mr. Fuller's joint resolution to re quire the penitentiary authorities to lend 10 convicts to the Winthrop Nor mal school. The senate bills then being exhaust ed, the house bills were taken up and the following were qui kly passed: House bill to authorize and empow er cities, towns and other municipal corporations to issue negotiable cou pon bonds for the refunding or pay ment of bonded indebtedness existing at the time of the adoption of the present Constitution. House bill to provide for the drain age of Middle Tiger river and its trib utaries. House bill to provide for the inspec tion of beef and mutton in any of the cities and towns of this State, with amendments by Mr. Finley, was made the special order for tomorrow at 1 o'clock. Mr. McDaniel introduced a bill to enable J. Baxter Westbrook of Ches ter county, a minor, to apply for ad mission to the bar. The senate then adjourned. HOUSE PROCEEDINGS. When the house met, a message was received from the senate stating that that body had killed the bill to repeal the anti-freepass act, the jim crow car bill and the bill looking to the chang ing of thenames of towns and villages. A' conference committee consisting of Messrs. Carroll, Ashley and Hardy was appointed on the bill relating to the adoption of children. A similar committee was appointed to adjust the differences between the two houses on the penitentiary inves tigation committee's expenses. An unfavorable report was present ed and adopted on the senate bill re lating to punishment for embezzlemnent. A simnlar report was also presented on the bill looking to the adjustment of differences by arbitration. An unfavorable repcrt was adopted on the bill to make the chairman of the medical committees of the two houses members of the State board of health. There were but two third reading bills-one being the general appro priation bill. .This was given a third reading without any discussion and was ordereli to be sent to the senate. The pension bill was likewise given a third reading and ordered to be sent to the senate. THE QUESTION OF ADJOURNMIENT. The senate resolution fixing next 'Wednesday as the day for final ad journment was called up. Mr. Thurmond moved to table the senate resolution and take up the house resolution fixing Saturday week. This was agreed to. Mr. Tatum moved to make it the 5th. He said all they had to do was to work like they had heretofore worked when Christmas stared tnem in the face. Mr. Sturkie moved to table this amendment, saying he wanted noth ing left undone. The amendment was tabled, and the resolution fixing Saturday week as the farewell day was adopted. SINKING FUNDS. When the ways and means commit tee's substitute bill to regulate and con trol county sinking funds created for the purpcse of placing the finances of the counties of this State upon a cash basis, was called up, Mr. L. J. Wil liams moved to strike out the enacting words of the bill. Mr. Connor then spoke in favor of the bill. He was satisfied that this was the most economical way his county could get on a cash basis. Every safeguard was thrown around the matter by the bill: no .power was given to the county commissioners to make the levy. Mr. Willhams finally withdrew his motion. The bill was then slightly amended and ordered to a third reading in this shape: Section 1. Whenever provision is made by law for the levy and collec tion of an annual tax to create a sink ing fund for the purpose of placing the finances of any county of this State. upon a cash basis the sum or sums so raised shall be kept by the county treasurer upon a special account, sep arate and distinct from other county funds, and shall be protected by the official bond of the county treasuser as other county funds, and sthall be known or designated as the "county sinking fund." "Sec. 2. After the creation of said fund it may be lawful for the county board of commissioners in any year to borrow in advance of the collection of taxes for that year from said fund and to apply to ordinary county expenses an amount which shall not exceed such a sum as can be repaid to said sinking fund on or before the 1st day of the following January out of the collection of taxes in said year. The amounts so borrowed from said sink ing fund during any current year shall be repaid to said sinking fund on or before the first day of the following January, and all amounts realized for the purpose of creating said sink ing fund shall immediately upon col lection be placed to the credit of said fund. All unexpended balances of taxes raised for ordinary county ex penses and all unexpended balances of taxes raised for any special county purpose excepting school purposes shall at the end of the year be carried to the credit of said sinking fund. Sec. 3. Whenever the said sinking fund shall accumulate to such an amount as to equal the amount of the ordinary annual expen:s3 of the coun ty, thus enabling the finances of the county to be placed upon a cash basis, then the said fund shall be carried to the credit of the general account of the county, and the said sinking fund shall be closed and this act shall cease to be operative. Sec. 4. All acts or parts of acts in consistent with this act are hereby re pealed. Sec. 5. This act shall take effect im mediately upon its approval. Mr. :Pollock called for the income tax bill but the supply bill was de manded. Upon a division vote the supply bill was taken. The section making the general State levy reads as follows: Sec. 1. That a tax of 4J mills, exclu sive of the public school tax hereinafter provided for, upon every dollar of the value of all taxable property of this State be, and the same is hereby levied for the purpose of meeting appropria tions to defray the current expenses of the government for the fiscal year commencing January 1, 1S96, and to meet such other indebtedness as has been or shall be provided for in the several act and joint resolutions passed by this general assembly at the regu lar session of 1S96 providing for the same. The bill was then ordered to a third reading. THE INCOME TAX. Mr. Pollock's income tax bill was then called up, and Mr. Magill moved to strike out the enacting words. M. J. G. Saunders moved to indefi nitely postpone the bill. At the night session the speaker ruled that the educational bill could be made a special order. It was then made a special order for noon tomor row. Then the income tax bill was taken up again, but the debate was suspend ed temporarily to allow the report of the committee on conference on the new county bill to be read. The com mittee had failed to agree. A commit tee of free conference was asked for. Mr. Patton suggested that there was only one such place. Mr. Pollock-What country, France? Mr. Patton-No, heaven. Laughter. The roll call was demanded on the motion to strike out the enacting words. The bill was then _illed by a vote of 60 to 30. The clincher was then put on and the waste of time ended. Those who voted for the bill were Messrs. Blackwell. Bramlett, Burns, Brown, Ellerbe, Fowler, Hammettt, Hardy, Harvey, Connor, L. S.; Hiott, Hollis, Lemmon, Lesesne, Moore, Mc Intosh, Nunnery, Pickens, Pollock, Price, Sturkie, Tatum, Thompson, Thurmond, Tyler, Warr, Williams. T. S.; Williams, Fred; Wolff and Speaker Gary. After further discussion the bill was killed by a decisive vote. The subsequent proceedings were of no public interest. Preparing for the Fray. WArsHTON, Feb. 25.-"We have touched bottom and are now on rising ground" is the cheerful sentiment ex pressed by the national Democratic congressional committee, which is now completing its organization for the campaign. Representative Mc Rae of Arkansas presided over the caucus. A number of vacancies were filled and a special committee of five, of which Mr. Hutcheson of Texas is chairman, was appointed to fill the remaining vacancies in State and Ter ritories which have no representative in the house. The other members of this committee are Senators Mitch ell of Wisconsin and Representatives Wheeler of Alabama, Maddox of Gor gia and Dockery of Missouri. The fol lowing is the personnel of the com mittee by State as far as it has been completed: Jos. Wheeler, Alabama; Thos. McRae, Arkansas: Jas. G. Mc Guire, California; Jas. F. Pigot, Con necticut, S - M. Sparksman, Florida; John W. Maddon, Georgia; Fims E. Downing, Illinois; Albert S. Berry, Kentucky; Adolph Meyers, Louisiana; H. W. Rusk, Maryland; John F. Fitzjerald, Massachusetts; 0. M. Hall; Minnesota; John C. Kyle, Mississipni A. M. Dockery, Missouri; Amos J. Cummings, New York; F. F. Wood ward, North Carolina; W. N. Roach, North Dakota: Fred C. Layton, Ohio; C. J. Erdman, Pannsylvania; W. J. Talbert, South Carolina; Benton Mc Millen, Tennessee, C. K. Bell, Texas; Win. A. Jones, Virginia. The special committee will select the remaining members through corres pondence with the State and national committeemen and Democratic ex members in the several States that now have a solid Republican delega tion in congress. 'The committee will report upon the better method of col lecting funds for the autumn cam paign, and they are empowered also to select a treasurer, who, it is under stood, will be Dr. James Norris of the District of Columbia, who formerly held that office. The committee elect ed Senator Faulkner of West Virginia permanent chairman and Lawrence Garniner of this city permanent sec retary.____ Fire Kills Two Little Girls. MONTGOMlERY, ALA., Feb. 21-A special to the Advertiser from Gads den, Ala., says: Little Katie Green, whose parents live in St. Clair County, was playing with her doll before the grate, when her clothing caught on fire. Her mother and aunt extinguish ed the flames and the child's wou.ads were pronounced very slight. She played around the rest of the day, but about midnight she was seized with spasms and in an hour was a cur pse. In Etowah County little Amy Dara nell was so badly burned as to leave no hopes of her recovery. Her clothes were burned from her body and the fiesh peeled off in slices. CrimTAOOoA, Feb. 21.-A few days ince the remains of two men burned beyond recognition were found lying on the cinder pile of the Look out Rolling Mill at Harriman, Tenn. Their identities were to-day establish - ed by some miners' checks as C. A. Curry, a coal miner of Richmond, Va., and Frank Glozier, of Forest ville, N. Y. The men had evidently gone to sleep on the hot cinders, the escaping gas from the pile acting as an anaesthetic. THE VETO SUSTAINED. LIVELY DEBATE OVER THE BEAU FORT AND COLLETON BILL. Plain Statement from the Senator from 'Beaufort-The Measure Finally Ltc. Other Proceedings. CoLIBiAsm, Feb. 27.-The feature of today's business was the Senate's re fusal to override the Governor's veto of the bill for the relief of the taxpay ers in Beaufort and Colleton. Mr. Verdier, when the governor's veto of the bill relieving portions of Colleton and Beaufort from the pay ment of taxes due in the cyclone year and whose payment had - been from year to year postponed, came up, took the floor. He had known nothing of the introduction of this bill till, on returning from a'leave of absence, he found it on the calendar. It had been introduced by Mr. Sanders in the sen ate anfd Mr. Cooper in the house, and these representatives of Colltton had justly and generously included Beau fort in the exemption which they asked for Colleton. False representations had been made to the governor and on them he had vetoed the resolution. One of the prime movers against it was a large speculator in county funds-one W. H. Lockwood-who styles himself president of the Bank of Beaufort. He had bought up this paper, county ob ligations, and was anxious that the collection of taxes be enforced. There were also at least two county officers who, for some reason unknown to him, were opposed to the passage of the res olution. Of the storm-swept sections of the State, relief had been given to George town. Berkeley and some sections Cf Charleston, but none had ever gone to St. Helena parish. He said this and defied contradiction. But St. Helena had never asked for anything but the postponement of taxes. The p:operty of St. Helena parish had been sold to pay the taxes of the State at large to the Federal government. The State of South Carolina had never lifted its finger to relieve them of this burden. Two or three years ago that section had been swept by a cyclone which not only destroyed vast amounts of property, but something like 1,000 lives. The whole country had re sponded to appeals for relief. Mr. Barnwell had said that she had re deemed herself by remitting the taxes in certain sections. He was not well posted, but he thought that in certain portions there had been relief given from South Carolina to certain por tions of Georgetown, Berkeley and Charleston counties, but he was sure that no relief had come to St. Helena parish, Beaufort county. Mr. Jordan said he had received a letter in reply to what Mr. Barnwell had said the day from Mr. Martin, chairman of one of the relief commit tees in Beaufort county, that he had received $2,000 for relief in his section. Mr. Verdier replied that none of this went to St. Helena parish, but was used in a section as little hurt as any in the county and to which two ship ments of provisions had been made by Beaufort people. Mr. Finley asked what number of people would be relieved by this reso lution. Mr. Verdier said he would answer that directly, when he would show some written evidence which would prove the representations made to the governor were false. The only relief that St. Helena parish had ever re ceived was a postponement of taxes. They had never asked for any relief that the taxes be remitted until their neighbors from Colleton had included them under a bill for their own relief, and in their kindness tied a millstone around their own necks that had dragged them down with Beaufort. Now the representations that induc ed the governor to veto this resolution were false and made solely by specu lators in county paper. He knew that the president of the Bank of Beaufort, W. H. Lockwood, had approached him on the matter and stated that he had a lot of county paperon hand and that it was of great importance to him that the taxes should be paid. His people were accustomed to sufferings; they had made no public appeals and would not have been here today ex cept for the kindness of their Colleton neighbors, and whom on behalf of his people he wished to thank for their action. In answer to the question of the gentleman from York, he would say that it was conceded that the coun try sections should be exempted, but that there were men in the city of Beaufort who could and should be made to pay. He would submit an official list that he had and ask the senate if the per sons in it should be made to pay. Glancing over it he found 30 small estates, some of them widows and not wealthy merchants, who were able to pay. He could only find some three or four on the list who could come forward and pay their taxes if they would. They were very few. He asked if they wished to make it a rule that the poor should be made to pay, in order to get what the rich owed and would not pay. He found on the list the banker-this Bean Lock weed -whose taxes amounted to over $100, who was the Bank of Beaufort-direc tor, stockholder and everything this man, who had come to Columbia and made these representations to the governor. This man not only never lost 25 cents by the storm, but made money out of it, because he handled all the money that came to Miss Clara Barton, and got the exchange for it. The storm was a Perfect financial god send to him. But, he asked, was it prcper to make the widows and or phans pay their taxes to make that man pay. Must these people suffer from this man's actions: There was something said of rich corporations. He could tind only one corporation on this list, and that was the Postal Telegraph company, which was down for the pitiful sum of S8. This would be a monstrous burden for these people to carry. Much of the property on which these taxes were levied was wasted away by the storm-gone, destroyed, lost forever. "Talk about rich men," he said, "I don't believe there is a single rich man in the town of Beaufort." He himself-he had a right to speak for himself-was as poor as any man in South Carolina. Mr. Buist-"You don't look like it." Mr. Verdier-"Now, you are right! I don't look it and I don't intend to look it as long as 1 can help it." (Laughter.-) He asked if his people were to be burdened with this tax because some of the refuse of the war-some of the relics of the freemen's bmureau left high and dry in the town of Beaufort have been speculating in county claims and want to make their profit out of it. This man (Lockwood) was an agent of the freedmen's bureau, who came there from the north, a Republican to make money, and is now trying to suck the life blood of the people. He referred to one large taxpayer on the list who does not today own the house that he is livinz in-having lost everything by the storm-but who is assessed for the property that has been swept away. He knew merchants in that list who had their goods swept away, and who were existing today, finan cially, by the generosity of their nor thern creditors. He represented some of them, and held claims against some of them that would wipe out every thin- in the world they nad, but for the sympathy of their creditors who stayed their hands. He knew one man, whose name was on the list, who had lost $30,000 worth of goods out of one warehouse,and it was upon these goods that he was assessed and would be forced to pay the taxes. He was stating these facts that his people might be understood. He did not pro pose that money grabbers and money lenders should come here and mis represent tuem without his defending them and setting them right. As he had said to his friend, he did not in tend to look poor, though he was as poor as any man in his county. He intenced to keep a stiff upper lip and go down with his flag flying. But all that he had made since the war, to which he had gone as a boy, in which he had served for four years in the army of Northern Virginia firing per haps the last shot fired of the Missisip pi near Raleigh-had been swept away by that storm and he represented the people of his county truly in that he had never received any assistance one way or the other, with the exception of a box of law books which a gentleman in far away Masachusetts had shipped him without saying a word about it. His friends had afterwards wanted to raise a fund and buy him a library, but he thought he was already unfor nate enough without being held up as an object of public charity. He had no idea that it had ever occurred to the governor that the values upon which those taxes were levied in 1893 had been destroyed, but such was the fact, and he hoped the senate would consider it and overrule the veto Mr. Mayfield drew a graphic picture of the damage that the storm had done in Barnwell county, from which, he said, there had never came an. appeal for aid. He found on the list four men who paid taxes amounting to over $400 a year, and 11 who paid over $100. He wanted to know if it was justice to give 16 men back their taxes add leave only a balance of a little over $2,000 to be returned to the poor people. Mr. Verdier said that much of those large tax lists represented property that had been swept away. They had lost it, and now-to make them pay it would be'a hardship. Mr. May field-One of the men on that list is Congressman Elliott, who is g atting $5.000 a year. Is he to be exempted? Mr. Verdier-Because there one such instance, are you going to make all the others sell their homes. Is that your idea of justice? Mr. Mayfield said that in Barnwell county that year they had not made money enough to pay for their fertil izers. He thought this joint resolution an injustice to the State of South Car olina; it was time to call a halt. There was Congressman Elliott whose salary was $5,000 a year to be exempted. (I ask the reporters not to take that down.) He did not believe it was just and for these reasons would vote to sustain the governor's veto. Mr. Verdier said he would state on his own responsibility that not one of those merchants whose taxes were from $100 to $500 had lost less than $2,500 in that storm. The lost proper ty is the property on which these tax es are due to a large extent. Mr. May feld asked if these men were not able to pay their taxes. Mr. Verdier replied that if they were sold out under the sheriff's hammer their property would doubtless bring enough for that purpose, but he would ask the gentleman if that would not be a burden. Mr. May field-All taxation is a bur den. Mr. Verdier-I mean an exessive burden to collect taxes for property that has been swept away. The veto was sustainedl by a vote of 18 to 13 as follows: Yeas-Barnwell, Buist, Denis, Der ham, Finley, Kirkland, Moses, Peti grew, Sanders, Sloan, Turner, Ver dier, Walker-13. Nays-Archer, Barton, Brice,Brown, Douglass, DuBose, Fuller, Harrison, Jurdan, Mayfield, Miller, McCalla, McDaniel, Norris, O'Dell, Stackhouse, Stribling, Williams-18. A recess was then taken to8 o'clock. The house bill to provide for the inspection of beef and mutton was killed. IN THlE HOUSE. The senate sent a message stating t' at it had concurred in the resolution in-regard to adjourning on Saturday week, the 7th. The following bills passed a'third reading and were ordered sent into the senate: The bill to regulate and control county sinkin.g funds created for the purpose of p1acing the finances of the counties of this State upon a cash ba SlS. The bill to raise supplies and make appropriations. The joint resolution to authorize the superintendent of the penitentiary to borrow money upon the Reed planta tion and to mortgage the same. The Saluda county bill, the very last on the calendar, was taken up owing to the necessity for its passage, and ordered to a third reading without any debate. SALARiES OF COUNTY OFF-ICIALS. The house then took up Mr. Shu man's bill "to fix the compensation to be received for their services by the ,heriffs, clerks of courts of common ple.as and general sessions, registers of mesne conveyances county supervis ors, school comnmissioners, cororners, auditors and treasurers of the several counties in the State, and to make tne same uniform in proportion to popu lation of the several counties and nec essary services re ceived." The bill was tuen turned over to a committee consisting of one from each county. It was then decided that each dele gation select its members of the com mittee. THE VOTING PRECINCTS. The sen-ate bill to amend the law in relation to the location and names of voting prrecincts in this State was then caU d up and some slight amendments thereto was made, the bill then being laid over to allow Richland to get in her provision. The only counties in which changes are made are Abbeville, Aiken, Beaufort, Berkeley, Charles ton, Chester, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Georgetown, Kershaw, Florence. Lancaster, Lau rens, Lexington, Marion, Marlboro, Newberry, Oconee, Saluda, Spartan burg, Sumter and Union THE GENERAL SCHOOL LAW. The general school law which was the special order for noon was then taken up. The first committee amendment agreed to was one to cut the salary of the superintendent of education from 131,900 to $1,800. THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS. The next amendment looked to put ling back in the bill the provision for county school commissioners. Mr. Otts thought this was an unwise effort to go back to the old system. Mr. Sturkie thought a school com missioner was an aNolute necessity. Mr. Fred Williams had been a school teacher. He could see no ne eessity whatever for this officer. Mr. Wilson said his county wanted 'he office badly. His people wanted the office elective. Mr. L. J. Williams said the house should consider well before it abolish ed this office. They were at the be ginning of a new era in the public school system. Every department of the government should have a head. This was the wrong time to experi ment. Mr. Ellerbe said this was one of the few questions to provoke discussion on this bill. It was now more neces sary than ever to have this office. Mr. Otts' idea was to have a board in each county, having general super vision of the schools. He could see no use of having a school commis sioner. Mr. Townsend thought that this was one of the most important matters of the session. He did not want to con centrate so much power in the hands of the superintendent of education. Thes official, as the bill stood, could appoint all the county boards. It would be taking the matter out of the hands of the people. They were start ing out on a new educational era. More time ought to be allowed for making such radical changes. Mr. Thurmond feared that they could not get along without a school commissioner. After much debate the committee's amendment, retaining the school com missioners was adopted. The amendment to increase the mem bership of the State board of cducation from five to seven and to provide that there should be one from each congres sional district was agreed to. After some discussion the house ad opted the committee amendment to have one depository in each county. Mr. Pollock offered an amendment that the county superintendents should be paid out of the funds of the State and not out of the county funds. Mr. Rainsford moved to strike out the provision for $100 a year each for the traveling expenses of the county superintendents. The debate was then adjourned un til the night session. THANKS TO CHARTESTON. Mr. T. P. Mitchell offered a resolu tion of thanks to the people of Charles ton for their trip to Charlestona last week, which was adopted. It read as follows: "This house having accepted an in vitation to visit the. city of Charleston on the 22d day of February, 1896, it is, therefore, "Resolved, That the thanks of the hcuse of representatives of the State of South Carolina, be, and the same are hereby, tendered to the managers and prejectors of such visit." The senate sent a message saying that it had refused to agree to the re port of the committee on conference the cotton weigher bill and asked for a committee of free conference. An unfavorable report was presented and adopted on the bill to prevent the alien ownership of land in this State. The house then took a recess tillS8 p. m. THE NIGHT SEsSION~. At the night session the committee of conference on the registration bill reported that they had failed to agree and a committee of free confereno was appointed. The general education bill was then taken up and Mr. Rainsford withdrew his amendment relating to the expen ses of the county superintendents. Mr. Skinner tried to amend the com mittee amendments so as to g'ive the governor, instead of the State board of education, the right to fill vacancies in the office of county superintendent for the unexpired term, but failed. Mr. Otts tried to get in a provision to require the county superintendents to deliver a public address on educa ion at least once a year, but it was tabled. THESE WERE ADOPTED. The following new sections were adopted, being proposed by the com mittee. Section 13. At the expiraiion of the terms of office of the school comnmis sioners of the several counties of the State, there shall be elected by the qualified electors of the county supe intendent of education for each county who shall hold his office f or the terma of two years and until his successor is elected-and qualified. He shall, before being commissioned and ertering upon the duties of his olilce. give bond to the-State for the use of the county in which he is elected, for educational purposes, in the penal sum of $1,U000 with good and sutficient sureties to be approved by the county board of comi missioners, conditioned for the faith ful and impartial discharge of the dut ties of his office, and shall take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed in section 26, article 3. of the Constitu tion of this State, which he shall file in the office of the secretary of state. When commissioned, he shall immedi ately enter upon the discharge of his duties. His failure to qualify within 30 days after notice ot his election shall create a vacancy. Sec. 14. The State board of educa tion shall al1 all vacanciss in the cf floe of the county superintendent of education for the unexpired term. Sec 15. The salary of the county su perintendent of education of each county shall be the same as that now fixed or hereafter to be fixed by law for the school commissioner thereof. payable monthly by the county board of commissioners out of the ordinary county funds; and he shall be allowed $100 per annum for traveling expens es, if so much be necessary, payable in the same manner, upon an itemized tament ofenuch expnss being filed with said board. See 16. It shall be the duty of each county superintendent of education to visit the schools in his county at least once in each year, and oftener if prac ticable, and to note the course and method of instruction and the branches taught, and to give such recommenda tion in the art of teaching and the method thereof in each school as shall be necessary, so that uniformity in the course of studies and method of in struction employed shall be secured, as far as practicable in the schools of the several grades, respectively. He shall acquaint himself as far as practi cable with the character and condition of each school, noting any deficiencies that may exist, either in the govern ment of theschoolor the clasification of its pupils or the method of instruction employed in the several branches, and shall make such suggestions in private to the teachers as to him shall appear necessary to the good order of the school and the progress of the pupils. He shall note the character and condi tion of the school houses, the sutli ciency or insufficiency of the furniture and shall make such suggestions to the several boards of trustees, as in his opinion shall seem conducive to the comfort and progress cf the several schools. It shall be the duty of each county superintendent of education to aid the teachers in all proper efforts to improve themselves in their prof:ssion. For this purpose he shall encourage the formation of associations of teach ers for common improvement and conduct teachers' institutes,. He shall attend the meetings of such asso ciations and give such advice and in struction in regard to their conduct and management as in hir judgment willl contribute to their greater effi ciency. Sec. 25. There shall be a county board of education in each county composed of the county superintend ent of education and two other persons to be appointed by the State board of education, who shall hold their ofii-ce for the term of two years from the time of their appointment and until their successors shall be qualified un less sooner removed by the State board of education. No person shall be ap pointed a member of the county board of education unless he is qtalified to hold a first grade certificate. The rest of the committee amend meats-some 30 or more-were agreed to witiout trouble. They were simply ameudments to make the bill conform to the provision for the county super intendents. THE5 EYROLLMENT QUESTION. Mr. Whitmire offered an mendment to define enrollment as meaning "an attendance of at least 10 school day6 during the preceding scholastic year,' instead of 20 days as reccommended by the committee. The pupils in the country could not attend the schools as well as those in the cities. Mr. Ellerbe said that it would be manifestly unfair to base enrollment on the average attendance. They thought it but fair that a pupil should come tc school at least t wenty days out of 10C school days. That was what the com mittee wanted. It would encourave the people to send their children tc school. Mr. Bacot made quite a strong speech in favor of the 20 day requirement. He said the interests of the rural dis tricts should be looked after. They should not put a premium on children staying at home. Mr- Burn said that the 20 days pro vision would give the town and cities an advantage. The schools in the cities would always have a great ad vantage. Mr. Thomas regretted very muchn that the line between city and country should have been drawn. Mr. Fred Williams wanted the 1C day provision or a lower one. The ayes and noes were then called on Mr. Whitmire's amendment. Tht house agreed to the amendment by a vote of 55 to 36. When the committee amendments had been adopted Mr. Sturkie offered one to require a man to be a patron of the school in his district before he could be eligible to election as a trus tee. Mr. Ellerbe said there were some men who had no children to educate. The amendment was then tabled. Read This, Boys. The following extract from tract ad addressed to young men and all is worthy the attention of all yon men, particularly to the very young who are so anxious to aprpear like nent. "The boy who spends his money for beer, wine, whisey, or tobaucco, sad dles upon himnself an appetite which can never be fully gratilled without most seriously endangering his life, and is quite sure, if he lives until he is fifty or sixty years of age, to spend the sum of which would give him a cornfortable home. Many a house holder and farmner has slo 7iy but sure ly spent his money on the above poi sons until his property has had to be sold to pay his debts-a sad day for him and his family. Boys and young men, do you want to follow in the footsteps of suchi If you do not, kee p away from saloons and let intoxicat ing drinks and tobacco alone. '-Touch not, taste not, handle not." The boy or young man who commen ces spending his money for toOacco or itoxicating drinks as a rule, handi caps himself for life. anid pov-e:ty and sorrow very frequently result. It is very easy to get into the habit of us ing such poisons, but it is very ditl cuit to get out, for they enslave mind and body, and not a few have been driven to despair by the last of suffer ing which follows an attempt to re gain freedom. Boys and young men, strive towards a noble mianhood; do not become slaves; let intoxicating drinks anid tobacco alone. Such poi sons are not necessary, they will do you no good. You will enjoy much better health. and, as a rule, will live much longer without than with themn, as has been abundantly demr>nstrated by statistics." Fatal Practical Joke. MARION. 0., Fe.b. 24.-As Orlan de Weese was escortinr a young womran borne from churea last nighit. \irgil Eberly and two friends stepped fromr behind a tree. Drawing a revolver, Eberly cried: "Hold io your hands." De Weese then shot Ebe-rly through the lungs, anid he will die. Eberly and his friends were simply tr-yinrg to frighte-n De Weese. A Life for a Collar Button. LEx[N'roN. Ky., Feb. 2.-At Chiheburg, this counity, Sauday, Heu ry Benton was shot and killed by Robert Toomey, both colored. The row grew out of the loss of a collar button two years ago. Toomey sur rendered himself to the authorities her toay. ,FIFTEEN THOUSAND LOST SPANISH SOLDIERS IN CUBA WHO CANNOT BE ACCOUNTED FOR. The Authorities Have No Record of them A Search for Thein Going on Day and Night-The War So Far a Great Success for the Cubans. NEW YORK. Feb. 26.-A dispatch from Havana to the Mail and Express says there are 15,000 Spanish soldiers missing somewhere in Cuba. The fact has been communicated to the Madrid government and the search for their whereabouts is going on day and night. They are perhaps, lost only so far as the record is concerned, and may be accounted for in time, but such care lessness or worse, as may be revealed in the investigation, has upset official circles in Haoana to something ap proaching a state of alarm, for 15,000 men with 15,000 rifles and 500,000 cart ridges is an enormous item in the Spanish army. The disappearance of the men will ultimately be traced to one or three causes: Deaths in bat tle, the real number of which has been concealed to hide Spanish losses; de to ils to positions in various parts of the island, of which no record has been kept, or deserters to join the in surgents. It may be that all three causes have contributed to the discrep ancy. It is entirely improbable that the whole 15,000 have gone "to the woods," although the Spanish reords show that entire garrisons have joined the rebels with their arms in every province in the island. Possibly the extent of this loss has been purposely kept out of the records although there is no reason that, offi cially, it should not be known to the administration. It is said that Cam pos stationed small bodies of 50 or 100 men in numerous places, often doing so in circumstances which resulted in no official record of the division of a detachmemt being placed in the books at the palace; bat carelessness of that a ture on such a grand scale not only seems out of the question, but the bal ance would have been shown before this as a result of the order issued by General Weyler several days ago for a report from every commander show. ing the number, position and condi tion of his force. The responses t3 this, it is said, have increased the confusion, and there are reports now from reliable sources that there are 20,000 men instead of 15,000 to be accounted for. The expectation that many losses in engagements have not been sent in re ceives support from the known falsity of those reports, which has repeatedly been pointed out. That 700 Spanish should attack 5,000 rebels, that a little battlet lasting seven hours should ensue, and that only one Spanish sol dier should be wounded (as was told in a report from Santa Clara last week) indicates that the Spanish soldiers have-charmed lives, or that an enor mous- amount of I4 ing is being done. How far this has been carried in the past can be shown by a few figures; and they may account for the present difficulty. THE TEN YEARS' WAR. During the ten years' war a profes sor of languages here in Habana, an American of Cuban birth, kept sys tematically a record of the Cuban losses reported in the authorized nub lications in Habana. He made it all in detail, giving the date of each enga gement, the locality, the number of men on each side and the Cuban losses in killed, wounded, prisoners and horses. At the end of the war his to tals were as follows: Cuban losses 395,856 killed, 726,490 wounded, 451, 000 prisoners, and a little over 800,000 horses killed or captured. The entire population of the island was only I, 250, 000, or less than the number df killed, wounded and prisoners. In curious contrast with this are the Spanish figures of their own losses, which follow. To show their real signiticance I give also the number of men the Spanish army had in the is land during each of the years for which the losses are given: Losses. Men. 1869................5,504 35,570 187u.................9395 47,242 11...................6574 55.357 1872.................7,780 58,708 1873.................5,902 52 500 1874.................5,923 62.578 1875................6,361 63,212 1876.................8 482 78,099 1877................17,677 90.245 1878.................7,500 81,700 Total............81098 625,211 Of this number, the official record indicates that only 6,488 died in a bat tle or from wounds. In other words 92 per ceat. of the Spanish losses were from fever. There never was a time when less than 14 per cent. of the army was in hospitals, and in 1874 18 per cent, of the force was ineffective from sickoess. A corn arison of these losses with the alleged Cuban loss is hardly more icteresting than a comparison with the Spanish losses in this present way. The con flict lasted just one year. The Spanish loses are now given for 1.2 mon ths as 3,500, or at the extreme, 4.000 killed or mortally wounded. The e-xac figures cannot be available until the present cases in hospitals have completed their record. This is at the higher figures only 4 per cent. and a fraction of losses from all causes, out of her army of 113.000. The lowest percentage reported in the ten years' .var was 9 2-5 in 1874. The curious differences here may be disposed of on the basis that 1S years have inter vened between the two wars, that the improved methods of dealing death have been: introduced, that hospitals are beeLr. and that the deficient arms of the rebels are to be taken into con siderauo. Howe-ver, the relative conditions of the t'xo armies more closely resemble each other than would at first be sup pord a:nd where they do differ they indi-s'.e that the record of Spanish ossin this .war should be greater than re ported, and greater proportion ately than it was in the ten years war. In both wars the insurgents have managed to keep themnselves armed with prac'ically the same weapons as their adversaries have had. Their cry now is that they have not enough .> hey would have an army'of 1,000, U00 men in the field. la the 10 years' war nothing like the present extent of the revolution was attained. Gourz was only so far vest as Matanzas, retreating instantly, l'oday the whole island is in the hands of the Cubans, except a few cities. Even Hlabana is in a stage of seige, jfor the rirst time in 100 years.