Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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voL. xII. MANNING, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1897. NO. 28. IN THE SENATE. WHA'I HAS BEEN CONE DUSMNG THE PAST WEEK. A Svnopsis of te B1s ot Gtceral Intere-t Intrcduced into and Pessed by the 1 p pver Hcuse. CoLwsmx, S. C., Jan. 29.-Tbe vis it by the legislature to Winthrop col lege came up in the senate Siturday. As the matter iov stood bith houses would probably adjourn today until the following Tuesoay in order to en able the representatives to be at nome Monday, which was salesday. A free excursion would be run Saturday and all the members could go to Winthrop without any time being lost and at no expense to the State. Mr. Sloan sooke in favor of the resolution and Mr. Archer agairst it. By a vote of 20 to 5 the resolution was adopted. Mr. Mayfield was seized with a de sire yesterday to know who got the dispensary rebates. He introduced a concurrent resolution that a commit tee on investigati-n, compcsed of members of both houses, be appointed to investigate the dispensary charges of corruption. It passed without com ment or objection. A joint resolutin authorizing the State treasurer to issue to Samuel Lord, as receiver of the president and directors of the State bank, consolida tion bonds or stock equal in amount to 50 per cent. of the par value of cer tain 6 per cent. State bonds and inter est thereon (which bonds were taken and lost or destroyed by Federal sol diers during the late civil war, and to which the said receiver, by decrees of the court, has been adjudged entitled, and to permit the~ refunding of the same under the acts for the redemp tion of the State debt. Mr. Mower introduced a bill to pro 'ide for the appointment of magis trates and to define their jurisdiction, powers and duties. This bill is the same one vetoed by Governor Evans in every particular, save that the words "should the senate refuse to* confirm any appointee, it aball not be lawful for the governor to reappoint the party so rejected for that term," are stricken out. Inthe absence of the president and the president pro tem, Mr. Moses was called to the chair. It was his for tune to preside over the warmest ses sion which t.e senate has yet held. Two fiery debates over second reading bills was the day's recoi d. The first was brought about when a concurrent resolution to allow to be introduced a bill to incorporate the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad company of South Carolina and toauthoriza the consohdation of certain railroads un der that name, _came up for a second reading. Messrs. Ma-vfield and McCalla of the committee on railroads submitted an unfavorable minority report and Mr. Mayfield moved an indefinite post ponement ofthe resolution. After much talk the resolution was voted on as follows: Yea-Brown. Buist, Dean, Dennis, Douglass, Griffith, Henderson, Moses, Mower, O'Dell, Ragin, Scarborough, Sloan, Stackhouse, Talbird, Walker, Williams-17. Nay-Alexander, Archer, Connor, GiinesEay, Love, Mayfield, McCal 1a, McDaniel, Miller, Pettigrew, Rags dale, Sanders, Turner, Wallace-15. As a two-thirds vote was necessary the resolution failed to pass. The second debate was on a bill to amend the free school law so as to re quire school trustees of each school amstrict to be elected by the qualified electors. After considerable discus cion the ay e and nay vote was taken as to'- whether the enacting words ) should be stricken out with the fol lowing result: Aye-Alexander, Archer, Brown, Buist, Connor, Gaines, Griffith, May field, McCalla, McDaniel, Miller, Mo sesYODell, Pettigrew, Ragin, Sand ers, Scarborough, Stackhouse, Tal bird, Turner, Wallace. Williams- -22 Nay-Dean, Dennis, Douglass, Hay, Henderson, L-ve, Mower, Ragsdale, Walker-9. - .The bill, was killed by thi's over *whelming vote. in the Senate Tuesday when the hour arrived for the election of Unit ed States Senator, Mr. Dean as senator from Greenville arose to put in nom ination Judge Earle. He said: "We are here to execute the will of the people; I, therefore, rise to place in nomination the name of the gentle man who was chosen by the people to reDmesent them in the United States senate. A gentleman whose purity in public and private life has never - bEen questioned ; a gentleman who will reflect honor on this State in the halls of the national legislature. It is my privilege to present the name of the Hon. Joseph H. Earle c f Green ville." Mr.Moses-I second tL e Domination of the Hon. Joseph H. Earle with pleasure. Mr. Henderson-If ability and puri ly of character in public and private life counts for aught, th en the Hon. Joseph H. Earle will ably represent *this State. I second the1: omination. Mr. May field-The gentleman whose name has been put in nomination was chosen by the people after a heated campaign. I opposed hir election then, but since the will of the people has been expressed, it gives me pleasure to second the nomination of the Hon. Joseph H. Earle. -Mr. Buist-The metropolis cf the State unanimously endorses the elec lion of the Hon. Joseph H. Earle. and as their representative. I second the nomination. Mr. Sloan-Representing the Capi tal city of the State. on its behalf it is with pleasure that I second the nomi nation of the Hon. Joseph H. Earle. Mr. Archer-As I understand it, if the roll :s called we will all second the rnomination of the Hon. Joseph H. E arle. The roll was then elled, all the sen ators present voting for Judge Earle. r I all 31 votes were cast. A concurrent resolution from the Louse providing for the appointment of a commission composed of lijiee members of that body and two of the : enate to consider all matters relating to county government to sit in extra ~ession and to have its report printed i.nd mailed to each representattve, was substituted for a similar senate resot-a .tion.- After considerable discassion ite resolution was indefinitely post poned. The senate bill extending the time for the collection of the commutation r oad tax to the 15th of Marcn was re ceived from the house amenaed by ex tending the time to the 1st of April This amendment was accepted. Some time ago in the Senate Mr. Ncrris intrre::ced a bli requirir all' students at C tem on p pay a tuition fee of -I each per aImnnumf except such indiaeat studens as the boaRrd niaht see fit to exempt. This bi. whic-h bas been en the calendar several days in the absence of its a-uthor, came up for a second reading Vedne.dav. Mr. McCala ctfered an amendment to charge the tuition from -o to $3u. He said it was not ria at and just f(or Clemson to be put on the same footing with the other institions in this mat ter of tuition, for the ta:txpayers wemt, not rcquired to c trxbute to its sap oort. ft was a farmers' colieze. su o ported by farmers. aud should be ruia in the interest of the f armivrs. Mr. Archer took the position that it was rediuulous for the farmers to pay taxes for the s:pport of all the State institutions and then directly keep up Clemson by the special taz tax on fer til:zzrs. He thought this special tax should go into the general fund so that all would bear equally their part of the burden. Mr. Pettigrew moved to table the amendment of Mr. McCalla. He did so, he said, because in every college everyone who was able to pay ought to be required to pay ti* full amount. The motiou prevailed by a large ma jority. The bil then passed its sec ond reading. Mr. Ra:sdale's bill providing that the verdict o' the ju2ry shall not oe set aside or mcdiiei by the presiding judge, upon the ground that such ver dict is contrary to the evidence, or against the preponderance of the evi dence, or that the damsges assessed by the jury are exo'ssive. or insutlicient, 'but the verdic. of *he jury in all civil causes triable by jury shall be as to all issues of fact ;irdl and conclusive, was taken up aL.d killed. Mr. Baist intrecated the following: Be it resolved by the senate, the house of representatives concurring, that this general assembly does re spectfuily urge upon the senators of United States the imoortance of taking prompt action in favor of the ratifiza tion of the treaty of arbitration be tweEen the United States and Great Britain, whereby the sense of the American people mnay be manifested that a resort to war as a weans of de termining international disputes is un suitable to the spirit of the age. Resolved, That a copy of these reso lutions be sent to the senators from this State with a request that they be presented to the senate. Tais passed without comment. An unfavorable report being pre sented on Mr. Ragsdale's bill to regu late the running of trains, so as to re quire fast mail trains to stop at all stations, Mr. Ragsdale asked to hive the bill put on the calendar, as he wanted to see whether fhe railroads belonged to the State or the State be longed to the railroads. The commit tee seemed to think the State belonged to the railroads. Mr. Sloan quickly replied that the committee did its own thinking Mr. Ragsdale aus xered that he meant no offense, and the bill went on the calendar. In the Senate on Thursday a present ment was read from the Spartanburg grand jury calling attention to the lax administration of the law against car rying concealed weapons and report ing that the law was fast becoming a dead letter. It was recommended that the Magistrates of the county rigidt y enforce the law by punishing every violation. The grand jury also recommended that the General Assembly put Magis trates and constables on salaries, in both civil and criminal cases: reduce the cost in such courts and require all eosts to be collected and reported to the County Treasurer monthly. The rebate investigation matter be ing taken up, Mr. May field, the author, stated that he had drafted and pre sented the bill at the request of the of ficers who were connected with the institution. If it was found* that any persoa had dipped ped his hand into the public coffers let him wear the stripes, and by all means let the people of South Carolina know the truth, and relieve those -ho were suffering under insinuations. Mr. Brown moved to strike out the en acting clause of the resolution, stating that he did not believe the investiga tion would amount to anything but smoke. This the Senate refused to do, and the bill was passed. When Mr. Ragsdaie's telegraph bill, which was reported unfavorably, was reachel, Mr. Mayfield, of the commit tee, rose and moved the adoption of the report and rejection of the bill, which was carried by a vote of 24 to 7. A concurrent resolution (House) to allow a bil to incorporate the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Company of South Carolina and to authorize the consolidation of certain railroads un der that name to be introduced was passed. A bill to amend the law relating to hawkers~ and peddlers, placing the iratter of license within the authority o f County boards of commission, and exempting Con f ederate veterans from any license charge was also passed. Mr. Buist introduced a bill prescrib ing heavy penalties by both fine and imprisonment for all sorts of irregu larities in primary election. If this session of the legislatale it not brought to a speedy close, then it will not be the fault of the upper house. The senate several days guo manifested a desire to terminate see:n ingly interminablelegislation by pass ing a resolution prohibiting the intro duction of any new bliis after Feb. 1. Yesterday, under this resolution, was tsne closing day of grace, for when the senators meet again next Tuesday, the first will ha're passed. Then again there was another reso lution Fridav. Senator Brown was its author. 'He initroduced a resolu tion that the present session do stand adjourned sine die on Feb, 12. Sana tor Moses said that to do so would be both imnpra:icable and impossible. All the outstanding work could not be dis posed of in that time. Hie requested that the resclution be withdrawn. Mr. Brown did so. The session of Friday was featureless. For just one hour 3the senate considered second reading bills, passed third reading bills and re Iceleed several new bills which the sen 1ators wished to get in before the op pot tunity clcsed. At 12 o'clock the senate went to the house to elect a judge, and on its return adjourned uti: Tuesday at S p. m. Dubois Defeated, 1'.; Crr y, Jan 28.-The senatori al e->ntest in thie idaho State legisla ture teraminated today by the election of Henry itiettlt, a populist, to suc cec'. Senator Daubois. The ballot was -as folloas: Lieitfelt 33; Dubois, sil ver Republicau, -3i: T. F. Nelson. P lopulist 1. Twenty- i-ge T'opulists, 13 IDemocrats and one Repuuelem voted for thensccesful candidate 1N THE HOUSE. WHAT HAS BEEN CONE DURING THE PAST WEEK. A S no f o the MilN of General Interest Introduced into and Passed by the Low er House. COLUMBIA, S. C., Jan. 29.-The Hcuse of Representatives is now get tinit<own to work in dead earnest and from nowv on will make things mote. Among the new bills intro duced since cur last report was one by Mr. Perritt to require SO per cent. of the ccmmutation road tax to be ex pended on the roads and bridges of the townships froma which it is collect ed. Mr. Burns introduced a bill to regu late the manufacture, insnection, shipment and sale of commercial fer tilizers and manures, the privilege tai on same and oroviding a penalty for violating the provisions of this act. Provision is made in the bill for the trustees of Clemson college, upon the receipt by the State treasur-r of 15 cents per ton on fertilizers sold, to is sue privilege tax tazs. That when so issued.these tags shall be cancelled by the company, selling the fertilizers, stam ping its name across the face of them, and provides for the punish ment of persons issuing fraudulent tags orin any way attempting to evade the tax. The principal intention of the bill is to abolish all of the privi lege tax on fertilizers, escent so much as shall be necessary to pay for the analyses of fertilizers, and thus pro tect the farmers against adulterated goods. This tax being a discriminat ing class tax paid by one class and en joyed by all others. no revenue fea ture is permitted, Mr. Burns holding it an incorrect theory of taxation. The support of all our educational institutions he says, should be be placed upon the same footing and supported by a direct appropriation from the State treasury, according to their several wants and necessities as the legislature in its wisdom may de cide. Mr. Layton introduced a bill to amend the general pension law. The bill provides that applications shall be submitted to a board of three ex Con federates and physician. The chair man of the several camp boards shall be known as examining boards of pen sions, which shall meet on the third Monday in January, 1898, and on the third Monday of January in each suc ceeding year. It shall be their duty to examine all applications under reg ulations prescribed by the secretary of state, attorney general and comptrol ler general, who shall constitute "State bo.ards of pensions," and they shall certify to the State board their ap proval of applications giving in detail the reason which influence them to grant or opnose each application, ac companied by all the evidence upon which they made their decision. In selecting pensioners from aunong the applicants the board shall have regard to their present condition and finan ancial means and also the financial condition of their near relatives, al lowing to each applicant so selected the sun of $S, $6 or $1 as they may be entitled under the provisionof aleict. The sum of $700 is appropriated otit of funds in the treasury to defray the ex penses of the examining boards, which shall be five cents per mile for travel each way in attending the mee'.ing. The several camps shall meet onth third Monday of December, 1897, and the same day in each subsequent year and shall elect three of their members, who shall not be an applicant for pensions, as camp examining board, the chairmen of these several camp boards to be the county examing board When there are no camps, or when they fail to carry out the provisions of the act the State board shall apooint tnree ex Con federatee, non-applicants for penesions, who shall constitute the State board. . Unfavorable reports were presented on the bill to amend the law relating to cotton weighers, the bill to change the boundary line of Broad River township in York county (with min ority'report), the bill to amend the privileged tax act, reducing the tax to 15 cents; tne bill to provide for the election of masters and the bill to re quire the State sinking fnnd commis sion to lend the funds to the counties of the State. When Mr. Harvey's bill to require the killing of dogs bitten by any ani mal suffering with rabies was called up for a final reading, Mr. Pollock moved toindefinitely postpone it. The house refused to do so. however, and the bill was ordered to be sent to the senate. When Mr. Stevenson's bill te render uniform the mcdeof taxation in towns and cities in accordance with section 6, article VIII of the new Constitu tion, was taken up and passed to a third reading. Mr. Timmerman's bill to forbid the couty supervisor, the board of town ship commissioners and the county board of commissioners from entering into or making any contract or audit' ing any claim against their respective counties for any fiscal year beyond or in excess of the appropriation made by the general assembly for such year, and making a violation of such forbid' den acts a misdemeanor was then taken up, and Mr. Timmerman defended his bili at some length, Mr. Graham hay ing moved to strike out the enactin2 words. Mr. Graham thought the bil. would do the county government sys temn more harm than good. He thought it would work a great hardship onth county cticials. Mr. Cushman of Aiken said his county was between $t0,000) and 912, 000 in debt and they felt that some thing shouli. be done. Mr. Cush man moved to add at the cnd of section 1 the words "out nothing in this section shall be construtd to include cases where ex penditures are renderea ne ces sary by the act of Gocd or the public enemy." Mr. Crum favored the bill. He said if there were not .restrictions along this line they would soon have al. counties badly in debt. Mr Rogers asked what coulnty oVici. als would do in taking care of prison ers if the fundsgave out two cr three months before tihe year was up; would they starve them or turn threa loose Mr. 'rice said, his county had got ten into trouble and he wanted some thing done along this line. All over the house memoirs rose to speak or the same line. Mr. Pllock sugested the bi!! cn inued for a fev days. lf this bill be came law the county oflicials must let t~he county stand still, or else mnake themselves liable to imprisonment. D)r. hiderton said there should be som restriction and some limitthou id be placed around the cflicials. He favored the amendment. Mr. Edrd was opposed to the bill. He thought expenditures on roads. etc., were in the line of "money well spent " He asked howv may county otlicials in Mr. Timmerman's county. besides the county supervisor bad de faulted. He also asked Mi. Goodwin if the extra amount expended in Green ville hadn't been of great permanent benefit to the county. Mr. Goodwin replied at sorr.e length. He detailed the affairs of Greenvilie ccunty very fu'ly. Mr. Price disclained any in :ention of rE iltcting on the otiicials in his county; the county was t:t7,000 be bind: he thought perhaps they had oeen a little extravagant. Mr. Ea'rd said that such expenses were expected to arise during the first two vears under the new county gov erinent system. He thought this bill would so bamper the officials that they inight as wed go back- to the oid system. Finally. Mr. Rgersrnoved toindefi nitely postpoue the bill. The house declined to do so. Mr. White moved to recommit the bill, which was done by a vote of d6 to 29. The ouroose Is to I perfect the bill. Mr. Westmoreland's bill to require certain officers t- keep an itimized ac count of their income by virtue of their office, and to req-ire thnem to make a quarterly report of the sate was taken up. After some slight amendments had teen made Mr. Stevenson moved to strike out the whole cf section 4 of the bili, saving it was impracticable. Mr. Prict of Orangebarg was heart i1y in favor of the provision. He said he had had personal exoerierc! i trying to tiad out the receipts of the various ollices. The people wanted to know the income of tLe various offi ces. There was no hardhip about the provision. Mr. Sterenson said all the people wanted to know was the income of the offices and not what was on the books The house refused to accept Mr. Stevenson's suggestion. Mr. deL->ach thought annual re ports sufficie, t and so amended the bill, and it finally passed in this form: Section 1. That on and after the passage of this act. each county officer shall be re quired to purchase and keep in his office, open to public inspection during of;ice hours, a book in which shall be kept an itimized account of all money received by him,whether as salary, costs, fees or in any other manner. as pay to him for his services bv virtue of his office. Sec. 2. That at the close of every fiscal year each county officer shall transmit a copy of said account, under oath. to the office of county scpervisor. Sec. ". That the county supervisor, in ad dition to other books kept in his office, shall keep a separate book ih which he shall enter upon his books the total amount of each zc count so furnished opposite the name of the officer furnishing the said account, and file the 'i.;count in his office as other county records are kept. Sec. 4. That at the end of evory fiscal year each county officer shall also furnish, under oath. an itimizel statement showing all moneys due to said officer and at the time unpaid, to which shall be entered and kept as other county records are kept. Sec. 5. That any county officer neglecting or refusing to comply with any of the pro visions of the foregoiug act shall be deemed tion shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $200, or imprisoned in the coun ty jail not less than two nor more than six months, either or both, at the discretion of the court. See. U. That this act shall be deemed a public act, and shall take effect immediately upon its approval by the governor. When the atbove bill was taken up for a final reading Mr. Perritt moved to reconsider the vote, whereby it had been ordered to a third reading. Then thae counties of Marlboro. Darlingtcn, Richiand, Chesterfield, Hlorry, Abbe ville, Charleston, Lancaster, Barn well, Edgefield ar d Lexington asked to be exempted from the provisions o f the bill. Mr. Wy che asked that if this was a good bill for one county it was good for all He movedl to recommit the bill. This motion prevailed by a vote of SS to 32. Mr. Patton's much talk of redis tricting bill was introduced Monday. It will be noticed that the territorial designations long in use have been selected for the districts. This is to prevent persons from confusingr the districts with the numbered judicial circuits, there being no requirement preventing such nomenclature. Here are the districts proposed: Pee Dee District-Chester field. Mar) boro, Darli ngton, .Florence. Marion and Horry. Santee District-Georgetown, Will iamsburg, Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester. Edisto Dirtrict-Orangeburg, 1Barn well, Colleton, Hampton and Beau fort. Wa teree District-Fair feld,1Kersh aw, Richland, Sumter and Clarendon. Saluda District-Larens, Green wood. New berry, Saiuda, Loxiunon and Aiken. Northern District -- Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, York, Chester and Lancaster. Piedmont District -- Greenville, Pickens, Oconee, Anderson and Abbe Mr. Rainsford's anti-trust bill was taken up and passed in the following shane Se'etin 1. That from and after the pa ag f hs al arrangemet, contrac, atreeet.t trust orcotai:: ni' onetween p'erso'ns or corpor:siuns maLde with a ieto lessen or which tends to lean flliI free comnpetition in the imra.ti r d 0f artiles import ed into this State, oi inth manufacitre or sale of articles ot domesti growth or of domne::,ic raw m atrial and all arragernnts, contracts. agreemet.i trusts or c-ti-ations het ween peonorcrr tron deaine-d, or whichi tend to ad vance. icduce or :otntrol the piee or the cos to -h iroducer, or to the co~nmer of ainy -uch prodct or article, are hecreby deLa red to be agins~'t pubic policy, unlawfui and void. See '' henever complan -s made- upo -utlictent aL idavit or aitidav it , hwina p ri m-ia facie ca-c of violiati-n o. th provision t th-le -ecton of this act. by an cotrpra to-, dotee-itc or foreign, i t hal be the duty of the attorney gener-al to bein an actiion .eintsch domesc-tie crportioto ffi . ic -harer, and in case suchd vioilationl hall be etblied the court sall-i adudge theL charer of -uch corpora'tiont to e forfie -I an uh corpo-iat.in shl -- dive and coprto1 h eontf -o its c cr. ex-tnc in nycot c: 0aw inea eXtate. Butt ccothing in hi:-ci :a aontrueo to ift any right ' of action theni -xi--ting' aginstr-~ -uh corpoa-on clared to be destructive of full and free coin petition and a conspiracy against trade, and any person or persons who may engage in such conspiracy, or who shall, as principal, manager, director or agent, or in any other capacity. knowingly carry out any of the stipulations. purposes. prices, rates or orders made in furtherance of such conspiracy. shall. on conviction. be punished by a fine of not Less than $!O0 or more than $5,000. and by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than six months nor more than 1 years. or. in the judgment of the court, by either such fine or such imnprisonment. Sec. 4. That any person or persons. or corporation. that may be injured or damaged by any such arrangement, contract, agree ient, truct or combination, described in aec tion 1 of this act, may sue for and recover. in any court ofeompetent jurisdiction in this state, of any person, persons or corporation operating such trust or combination the full consideration of sum paid by him or them for any goods, wares, :merchandise or arti cles the sale of which is controlled by such combination or trust. Sec 5. kThat any and all persons may he coinpqlable to testify in any action or pros ecutiouiunder this act: provided, that such testimbay ahall not be used in any other ac non dorprosecution against each witness or witneses and forever be exempt from any prosedution for the act or acts which he or they testify. Mri Livingston's concurrent re solu tion gelating to apoointment of joint comtrittee to consider all acts and parts'of acts relating to county and township government. icelusive of fees (nd salaries of county officers was adope.d without debate. A tncurrent resolution offered by Mr. Rainsford was adopted requiring the directors of the State penitentiary to exanmine into the cost and feasibili ty of'erecting a plant at the peniten tiaryI for the purpose of converting phcsphnte rock into acid phcspbate, reporting at the next session. The house-adopted the senate resolu tion to extend the time for tee collec tion. of the commutation roaa tax in tne everal cotnties after changing the date from March 15 to April 1, by an amendment offered by Mr. Cush man. Without debate the senate bill to amerad the act to authorize and em power cities, towns, townships and other-municipal corporations to issue negotiable coupon bonds for the re funding of paymeat in whole or in part of bonded indebtedness and any unpaid past due interest thereon ex istin at the time of the adoption of the present Constitution was ordered to a third reading. Among 'he new bills introduced in the House Tuesday was a measure to protect the ctildren of the State from the baneful influence of false and partizan instruction. The bill should pass. Another important measure intro duced Tuesday was a bill to allow county boards of control to purchase cere.in-tiquors for the county dispen sers under certain restrictions. A 'ill was introduced providing for the payment of tuition fees by all per sons atLendinr the State educational collezes and ~universities. except the instiution for the deaf and blind. M:-. John P. Thornas, Jr., presented a bill to further provide for the return and eassessment of property for taxa tion. This bill provides for the fur ther return of property for the pur pose of taxation and defining the.du Lis ofoUr.rds of assessors. The niar object of the bill is t3 require the re turn and reassssment of real estate during the year 1898 and in every further year thereafter. As the law now stands there is no provision at all under the new Constitution for the re turn of real estate. The bill also de fines the duties of to wnship commis sioners while acting as boards of as sessors. It requires these boards to overlook all returns made to the audi tor and to add to those r urns all real and personal property that has not been returned or has escaped taxa tion. The bill seeks particularly to secure fuller returns of personal prop etto the end that the burden of taxation may not bear so heavily up on the real estate owner. A bill was introduced to repeal the act to prevent the use of a free pass, express or telegraph frank on any railroad by any United States senator or member of congress from this State or by members of the general assem 'bly of this State or by any State or county official or by any judge of a court of record in this State. There were a number of other new bills introduced on Tuesday, but the above are the most important. Mr. Sinkler's bill to regulate and limit the hours of work of certain em plovees of electric and other street car companies was then taken up and passed to a third reading. Mr. Livingston's resolution to limit the time for introducing bills and joint resolutions was taken up, amended so as to fix Feb. 5, as the date beyond which they could not be introduced save by committee chair men, and then adopted: The hour having arrived, Mr. Pol lock suspended and the election of a United States senator to succeed Sena tor Irby was prcceeded with. The election consumed only 10 minutes of the time of the house, and it was mere ly a mnatter of form. Mr. Blvthe of Greenville rose and addressed the speaker thus: IMr. Speaker: I nominate Hon. Joseph H. Earle of Greenville. A sis well known to the aeneral assembly, Judge Earle was nominated for this position at the late Demcoratic prima ry election held for that purpose, I take it. therefore, that the duty of the members of this general assembly in custing their baliots will be largely perfunctory and that they will con firm the action of the Democrats at the primary by the unanimous ehe tiun of Judge Earle. Mr. E D. Smith seconded the nomi natioua on behalf of the Sumter dele gation. Dr. W::che moved that nomina tions n~osv close. This was agreed to and Messrs. Wyche, E. D. Smith and Policek a ppointed tellers. Tihe colored member, Mr. Ander son, voted for G. WV. Murray. The rest of the vote was cast for Judge Earle, as follows: E arle, 97: Murray. 1. ITLCe session of the Ihouse Wed nes day was devcted to diseassion. There was talk and no end to it. Among the new biils introduced of general interest may he merntioned the follow .A bill to provide for the ciii -o~f bac~king and insurance ~assion and to deline the du of the same. IMr. Ktnard bas- imtroduced a bill to require all comafohn carriers to pay all los: or damg's for loss or breakageo uny article shipped Over their lines. Mr. Mc White introduced a bill to authorizs and require the county treasurer- of the sen ral counties of this State to pay out the prohts of the dispen ary hc a paid over to him for certain claims, and the county sunervisors to draw their warrants first for said claims. The committee reported unfavora bly upon the joint resolutions to au thorize the general assembly to estab lish new counties pending the further election for the location and name of the county seats. The unfavorable report was adopted and the resolution rejE c'ed. Among the many matters unfavora bly report d by the committees were the following: Mr. Witherspoon's bill rilating to the free school law. The bill fixing the fees of witnesses attending the courts of general ses slons. The bill to authorize the purchase of bloodhounds. The bill to require 80 per cent. of the road tax to be applied to the im provement of bridges and roads in several townships of the State. As members of the special commi. tees to whom all bills and matters re lating to the dispensary law and pen sions are to be referred the speaker an nounced the appointment of the fol lowing: Aiken. A. W. Cushman; Laurens, 0. P. Goodwin; Fairfield. J. G. Wallins; York, S. H. Epps, Ches ter. P. T. Hollis, Pickens, Jcel H. Miller; Greenville. H. P. Goodwin; Horry, Jeremia.h Mishoe: Darlington, A. J. A. Perritt: Fiorence, B. B. Mc White; Richiand, L. D. Childs; Barn well, J. M. Skinner; Kershaw, D. M. Bethune; Abbeville, 1. J. Speer; New berry, John F. Banks; Marlbora, J. F. McLaurin; Berkeley, B. H. Hen derson; Charleston. W. H. Sinkler; Anderroi, R B. A. Robinson: Claren don, C. M. Davis; Spartanburg, R. A. Lancaster; Saluda, B. L. Caughman; Lexington, D. F. Efdrd; Williamsbarg, J. L. Graham; Oconee, C. R. D. Barns; Georgetown. M. W. Pyatt; Chesterfield, W. P. Pollock; Lancas ter, C. H. Plyer; Uzion, C. W. Whi sonant; Marion, J. D. Uaselden;Sam ter, W. A. Nettles; Edgedeld. W. H. Yeldell; Beaufort. W. C. Vincent; Oraneeburg, A. F. H. Dukes: Colle ton, E. J. Limehouse; Hampton, T. A. Hamilton. When the house got ready for busi ness on the calendar it tackled the third reading bills and Mr. Sinkler's bill relating to the hours of labor of the street car employees was pass-,d without a word. On its final reading the senate bill relating to the aboliton of the office of referee in certain counties was amend ed by Mr. McWhite so as to strike out Florence and was then passed. It was 11:30 o'clock before the house got to "unfinished business," taking up Mr. Bedon's bill to amend the act relating to fishing at certain times in Aiken, Barnwell, Darlington, Colle to 'tid Orange burg counties. It was prompbiy ordered to a third reading without debate. M:. Timmerman's bill to forbid the county supervisors, the boards of township commissioners and the coun ty board of commissioners from enter ing into or making any contract or auditing any claim against their re spective counties for any fiscal year beyond or-in excess of the appropria tion made by the general assembly for such year, and making a violation of such forbidden acts a felony was taken In the House Thursday Mr. Kibler's bill to piovide for an insurance and banking commissioner was unfavora bly reported, as was also Mr. Robin son's bill to repeal the anti fr ee pass act. Mr. W. S. Smith introduced a bill to provide for a new judicial circuit to be known as the niuth judicial cir cuit and to define the ]imits of the first, second and third judicial cir cuits. Mr. Verner'introduced a bill to pre vent the charging of usurious rates of interest under certain penalties. The bill provides that those charging and collecting usurious rates shall be guil ty of a misdemeanor and upon con viction before a magistrate shall be fined $100, to be collected by the mag istrate and paid into the county treas ury for school purposes. The second section provides that - it shall be un lawful for any person or.corporation after said conviction, either to loan money or to do any other banking business within this State." Mr. Verner introduced another bill to require railroad companies to pay for crossties within a certain time The bill provides: "That whenever any person or persons or corporation under a contract with any railroad company owning or operating a rail road within trjis State shall deliver crossties, bridge timbers, or other con structing an d operating materials upon the line of any railroad co pany, it shall be the duty of said rail road company to receive and pay for such material within 60 days af ter the same shailhave been delivered, either to the party oaniug or delivering the same, or his or ner assignee. Mr. Thomas introduced a bill to prc vide for the sale of native wines in the county dispensaries, the producers to receive a percentage of the profits, such percentage to be fixed by the State board of cntrol. Mr. Crum introduced a bill to esta b lish Bamberg County. Mr. McCailough presented a prctest from 1,200 operatives of the Piedmont cotton mills 'against any kind of labor legislation in this State. Mr. Miles presented a similar petition from oper atives in Spartanburg; Mr. Ashley presented a like petition from opera tives in Anderson and Mr. Towns-nd one from mill empioyes in Union. Mr. Toole's bill, unfavorably r ported ,to provide for the election of masters was taken up and Mr. Magill moved to strike out the enacting words, which was carried by a vote of 58 to 47. Mr. Skinner's bill requiring tbe sinking fund commission to lend fun ds to the several county tr-easure-rs of the State for the use of their counties in preference to lending some to other applicants for such funds, which had been unfavorably reported, was called up and the fight of the day begun. After considerable discussion the bill was passed to a third reading in this shape: Secin 1. Thiat ti:e si-akin.r f: d o ai Mion are hereby authorized nu re .urd. when unable to purcha-e vaiibnd f:i s uc an -e aproe byr. :-r The frm of thi C'edze Thimi l pre thei attorney, general of thi-s '- ,3si a ~ CONTINUtED ON PAGECR VERY DAMAGIN3 EVIDENCE A gainst the Murderer of Treasurer Robert Copes. CoLUMA. S. C , Jan. 28 -Some lime ago, Capt. J. H. Fanning of Orangeburg. in connection with a re porter of tae Register, called upcn D.C. Murphy, the convicted murderer of Treasurer Copes, of Orangeburg, and asked him for a siatement, in view of the fact that the Supreme Court had determind that he was not entitled to a new trialand that he had ben re sen senced to be hanged in March. Mur phy, wbo is in the Penitentiary, led them to believe that if they got certain dcuments from certain parties his innocence would be proven. Capt. Fanning went to the trouble to write to the parties mentioned and even came to Columbia to show the answer to Murphy, but he resolutely refuses to make any statement, and unless he doez. he must hang in March. Murphy stated that the Sheriff of Putran County, Florida, could prove an alibi for him. Capt. Fanning wrote to this sheriff and received the following reuly: Palatka, Fia., Jan. 22. 1897. Mr. J. II. Fanning. Orangeburg. S. C. Dear Sir: Yours of the 20th inst. to hand and ontents carefully noted and in reply will say that I did have ). C. Murphy, of whom you refer to, in custody, September 25th to Sentember 27th. 1891. After we-re leased him he skipped out. and I am satisfiud went straight to South Carolina, and I at, also, satisfied he is guil:y of the murder. .1 am the one who located him under the-prom ise of getting half of the reward, which was to be -750. But I never have received a penny tor my services, which I am satisfied has been long paid to other parties. Detec tive Lam)ert th:it was sent here, had given np all hope of ever getting him when I taken the matter up and located Murphy in 24 hours and put him dead on to him with the promise of h-ilf of the reward. I would like to have you tell me who did get the reward, and how much "as received. etc. Yours vy truly, Jo.- V. Iloo.N, Sheriff. Murphy also stated that he had been employed by F. W Wagener of Charleston and that they could give some information as to his where abouts on the night cf the murder. The following reply was received from Lbem: Charleston, S. C., Jan. 2, 1897. Mr. Jas. HA. Fanning, Orangetvrg, S. C. Dear Sir: Your esteemed favor of the 20th inst. 's just to hand, and we have read the marked article in the Times and Democrat sent us, but cannot account for Mr. Murphy's statement. We presume he has had an at torney for his case, and if there is any infor mation we can give him, we will do so with pleasure. In fact, we think it a part of our duty to do this. We will say frankly, how ever, that we have no idea what he is refrr ing to, but if you can give us the name of his attorney, we will correspond with him. Yours truly, F. W. VAGENER & Co. Murphy was called on at the Peni tentiary yesterday and Was shown the above letters. He was found in a cell on the second tier, and would say noth ing after seeing the reporter for The Register, whom he did not know,.but who be thought was a detective. Capt. Fanning showed him the letters and in the presence of Capt. Westfield read them to him. Murphy took them in his cell, and after perusing them still had nothing to say. Capt. Fan ning, after expressing his personal hope that Murphy would make some statement and getting nosatisfaction, had to leave. Murphy appears to be in the best of health, and seemingly does not realize what a serious Dosition he is in. But as he will say nothing, and as all the evidence is against him, the probabilities are that he will be ex ecuted next month. Murphy is in the Penitentiary for safe keeping, and has been for t wo years. He has made one attempt to 'cut his way out and since that he has been closely watched. Under ordinary circumstances, it will now be impossible for him to get out. -Register.________ Goes for Morton. WASarsGTois, Jan. 28.-In the Honse today Mr. Dearmond, Demo-I crat of Missouri, made an attack, in thel course of a speech, on Secretary of Agriculture Morton. With biting sarcasm and rasping irony, he scored the Secretary of Agriculture,. taking as his text a recent publication issued by the Secretary and sent out over the country under a frank, entitled "The Farmers' Interest in Finance." The pamphlet reviewed the silver agitation to show that "poverty and illiteracy" characterized the States which had been foremost in the demand for the restoration of silver. Mr. Dearmond asserted that the demand for silver came chiefly from the farmers whose interest the Secretary of Agriculture was supposed to look after, and asked contemptuously what excuse there was for issuing to them "this slander, this travesty on facts." No one took Secretary Morion seriously nowadays. The world was no longer interested in his views on finance, although it might look with exnectation for any obser cation he mniiht make on the Iwoodchuck, the hedge hod' or the eye o.f the potato. Addressing~ the Repub lican side, he appeale' to them to re cogzn iz Secretary Morton's services, even though they refused to accept the responsibility for him. "Of course." said he, "y ou will not keep him in his present position, but you might put h'm in the national museum." In conclusion, Mr. L'earmond commend ed to the prayerful consideration of the Republicans "this curiosity of modern political life, whose peculiarity was that he talked when he was not writ ing and wrote when he was not talk ing, and did both wheL: he was -not thinking. Full many a whim cf purest ray serene, Th 'iark,' untuahomed dreamus of MIorton Ful :nny a. wvheel is formed to whir unseen. yn wat u:Retczess neath .J. Stereng Great laughter and applause.) A Rtailroautisaughter. - NEw HAvEN, Conn., Jan, 27.-The Coonial express,on the Consohidated Road, east bound, struck and killed ive men at East Nortwalk, about 2 o'clock this af ternoon. The men had been working on :he trackc and step pedi out of the way. of one train trect ly ine front of anaber.u At this point there are four' :.rck, and the tramn theb" men d esired 'o 'void and the one which killei 'hr were both moving a tu''e same direcon.__ I o: -hi 'estie Thnomas Woods to evals o his housekeeper, Miss Aic se at, a distant relative, svas a geati~prie.Judge Woods has orewi;h gipand was quite siek iaath ad to be propped on pil-. ows ad rem in bed while the cer emony was being performed. This is STARTLING FIGURES. THE RAPID GROWTH OF CRIME IN THE UN!TED STATES. A Methodist Conference Calls for Thous anda of Sormons on the Text 'Thou Shalt Not Kil." ATLATA, Ga., Jan. 27.-The Meth odist Episcopal conference, which has been in session at the Loyd street col ored church. before adjourning took action on a very interesting subject. The delegates discussed the great ques tion or the increase of the crime of murder in this country, and, while the causes for the increase were not develoned in their action, the resolu tion adopted makes good reaaing, and will attract the attention of the pen of the country. During the final session of the conference Rev. Dr. Mason in trcduced a resolution which was unanimously adopted, upon waking up the country to the importance of the murder questic.n. It rEquired the Episcopacy, as a body, to instruct Methodist Episcopal ministers throughout this country there are 20,000 pulpits-to prerch one sermon a year on the 6th command ment, "Thou shalt not kill," as a means of producing a correct public opinion as to the value of human life and as a warning of the great danger of national judgg.nt for unrequired ;Aood. But here aire e resolutions in full: "Whereas, the crime of murder ~i*---z increasing in the land and becoming the most popular of crimes because of the venial character of our criminal courts, by whom many murderers are allowed to escape, while many suffer no penalty at all-ahowing a greater number of murders and homicides-to the million of inhabitants than any European nation which keeps a record of the matter, when measured by this rule the United States leads the list, being the most bloodthirsty nation in matters of private war. "The following figures show the growth of the crime. In 1886 the numbers for the first time exceeded 1,000: "In ISS7 it was about 2,335. "In 1888 it was about 2,884. "In 1889 it was about 2,569. "In 1890 it was about 4,290. "In 1891 it was about 5,906. "In 1892 it was about 6,791. 'In 1893 it was about 6,615. "In 1894 it was about 9,800. "In 1895 it was about 10,212. "The report for last year has not been made up, but we have abundant evidence that the bl6od stained record grows and will no.doubt exceed the previous years of crime. "And whereas, we know from the Word of God, that a blood-stained land, which in its courts and by its practice boldly tramples under foot the sixth commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill,' must thereby attract to it self the judgments of AlmightyGa!q impending events which should be .voided by repentance and reforma tion: "And whereas, the Gospel and Di. vine Law are the only instruments' which will create a just public opin ion on this subject, a thing much needed north and south; therefore, "1. Resolved. That we earnestly and respectfully request our Episcopal board at its meeting in the fall, to in struct all Mehodist pastors nder its supervision, to preach one sermon in the year on the sixth commandment, 'Thou shalt not kill,' so as to strength en the hands of just magistrates and courts, and to recover this root law, of the amenities and peaceful meas ures of life, whether domestic or in ternational from disrespect, neglect and oblivion. "2. Resolved, That whilst anxious to correct a great evil at home we are not insensible of the evils and demor alizing influences of foreign war-and as ministers of the Prince of Peace we tender our support to all measures looking to the arbitration of interna tional strife-and thus from our hum ble place amongst men we freely con gratulate the government at Washing ton on the happy issue of threatened trouble with England, and as citizens we recommend the adoption of the pending treaty of arbitration. "3. Resolved, Tnat we respectfully ask our sister conferences to unite with us in this petition, and to that end that a copy of this action be sent by our secretary to each conference in our American work-conscious as we are that the deliverances of fifteen thousand or more pulpits in one year on this momentous subject, will be a volume and measure of moral power of such magnitude as will cause be ligerants, courts and juries to reflect and reform-whilst tflis practice if continued annually will in time intro trod uce the golded nwe of peace." A Family Poiso.. -. JEFFEfisoNVlLLE, Ind., Jan. 26.-A terrible tratgedy took place last night at the home of George Madison, near thiis city. Yesterday Mrs. Madison had been out workting. When she returned she brought apples for the children' The family ate supper, the children eating the fruit with the peel ings on, while the parents peeled those they ate. Immediately after Artie, 19 months old; James, 4 years old; Lulu, 8 years old, and a boy -of five were taken severely ill with signs of strychnine poisoning. Before a phy sician could arrive the fii-st two named children were dead. Lulu died dur ing the night and the boy is very ill. Mrs. Madison is also ill. W. .J. Br.yan in Austin. ArsTL, Texas, Jan. 27.-The Hon. W. J. Ervan visited the Texas Legisla ture this morninr, and all business was suspended wile he made the two houses a ringiog speech similar t~o those delivere.t d uring thle late Presi dential camossazi. Hie took occasion to say -iat he nted with pride that ~Texas wais in the lead in the mat. trkf la'vs to regulate the corporations that were doing the country the most harm. lie stated that in his State and other's during the last twelve months crortos had stepped out of their charteedrigtsand i'nto politics, and that he favored the enactment of a law to prohibit any corporation from con trbutig mosey to a cam paign fund. N-w A Jan. 27. -The general c u itee of ~Tmmay Hall for 1897, met tonight and organized. The fol lowi.tg me1sage f-r 'dr. Bryan was would express to Tamnmany my appre caion cf the service rendered by the oanization during the campaign just closed. They did their duty and did t well. andi are not to blame for our defeat.'To you I am' speciahlly in das OAm- caue wiu ye' triumph."