Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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A KNG EATiNG G (RNSS. REV. DR. TALMA'3E ON THE DESECRA TION OF SACRED TH|NGS. Two Style-4 of Chtracter to lzuu.rate God's Word-One 1' Like a LIghthoute and the Other is Lke n B1ack t ..y -A Weird Scene. WAsHINGTON, Feb. 1.-D:. Tl mage in his sermon uses a weird an-1. strange scene of ancient timS 0 il lustrate the behavior of modern i'o ple who desecrate sacred things and' for their arrogance get a bad tuml'ie. His subject was "A King Fatian Grass" and the text Iarniel iv, "The same hour was the thug ful filled upon NebuchadnezCYir, and he was driven from men and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' fiatbers an d his nails like birds' claws." Better shade your eyes lest they be put out with the splendor of Baby Ion, as some morning you walk out wjth Nebuchadnezzar on the suspensioni bridges which hang from the house tops and he shows you the vastness of his realm, as the sun kindles the domes with glistenings almost insuf ferable, and the great streets thunder up their pomp into the ear of tie' monarch, and armed towers stand around, adorned with the spoils of conquered empires. Nebuchadnez zar waves his hand above the stupen dous scene and exclaims, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for thi hon or of my majesty?" But in an instant all that splendor is gone from is vis ion,ifor a voice falls from heaven, saying: "0, King Nebuchadnezzar, to the it is spoken, The kingdom is de Darted from thee, and they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling ahallbe with the beasts of the neld. -11 make thee to eat grass as S ,and seven years shall pass over thee, until you know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdorrof men and giveth it to whomsoever he will." One hour from the time that he made the boast be is on the way to the fields, a maniac, and rushing into the forests he becomes one of the beasts, covered with eagles' feathers for pro tection from the cold, and his nails growing to birds' claws in order that he might dig the earth for roots and climb the trees for nuts. You see, there is a great variety in the Scriptural landscape. In several discourses we have looked at moun tains of excellence, but now we look . down into a great, dark chasm of wickedness as we come to speak of Nebuchadnezzar. God in his Word sets before us thebeauty of self denial, of sobriety, of devotion, of courage, and then, lest we should not thor oughly understand him, he introduced Daniel and Paul and Deborah as illus trations of those virtues. God also speaks to us in his Word as to the hatefulness of pride, of folly, of impi ety, and lest we should not thorough ly understand him introduces Nebu chadnezzar as the impersonation of these forms of depravity. The former style ot character is a lighthouse, showing us a way into a safe harbor, and the latter style of character is a black buoy, swinging on the rocks, to show where vessels wreck themselves. Thanks unto God for both the buoy and the lighthouse! The host of Neb uchadnezzar is thundering at the gates of Jerusalem. The crown of that sa cred city is struck into the dust by the '''handT'f_ Babylonish insolence. The vessels of the teinple, which had never been desecrated by profane touch, were ruthlessly seized for sacrilege and transportation. Oh, what a sad hour when those Jews, at the com mand of the invading army, are obliged to leave the home of their na tivity! How their hearts must have been wrung with anguish when, on the day they departed, they heard the trumpets from the top of the temple announcing the hour for morn ing saicrifice and saw the smoke of the altars ascending around the holy hill of Zion! For well they knew that in a far distant land they would never hear that trumpet call nor behola the majestic ascent of the sacrifice. Be hold those captives on the road from Jerusalem to Babylon! Worn and weary they dare not halt, for rounda bout are armed men urging them on with hoot and shout and blasphemy. Aged men tottered along on their staves, weeping that they could not lay their bones in the sleeping place of their fathers, and children won dered at the length of the way and sobbed themselves to sleep when the night had fallen. It seemed as if at every step a heart broke. But at a turn of the road Babylon sud denly springs upon the view of the captives, with its gardens and palaces. A shout goes up from the army as they behold their native city, but not one huzza is heard from the captives. These exiles saw no splendor there, for it was not home. The Euphrates did not have the water gleam of the brook Kedron or the pool of Siloam. The willows of Babylon, on which they hung their untuned harps, were not as graceful as the trees which at the foot of Mount Moriah seemed to weep at the departed glory of Judab, and all the fragrance that descended from the hanging gardens upon that great city was not so sweet _as one breath of the acacia and frankincense that the high priest kindled in the sanctuary at Jerusalem. On a certain night a little while af ter these captives had been brought to his cityNebuchadnezzar is scarea with a night vision. A bad mans pillow is apt to be stuffed with deeds and forebodings which keep talking in the night. He will find that the eagles' down in his pillow will stick him like porcupine quills. The ghosts of old transgressions are sure to wander about in the darkness and beckon and hiss. Yet, when the morning came, he found that the vision had entirely fied from him. Dreams drop no an chors and therefore are apt to sail away before we can fasten them. Nebuchadnezzar calls all the wise men of the land into his presence, demand ing that by their necromancy they explain his dream. They, of course, fail. Then their wrathful king issues an edict with as little sense as mercy, ordering the slaying of all the learned men of the country. But Diniel the prophet comes in with the interpreta tion just in time to save the wise men and the Jewish captives. My friends, do you not see that pride and ruin ride in the same saddle? See Nebuchadnezzar on the proud est throne of all the earth and then see him graze with the sheep and the cattle ! Pride is commander, well plumed and caparisoned, but it leads forth a dark and frowning host. The arrows from the Almighty's quiver are apt to strike a man when on the wing. Goliath shakes his great spear in defiance, but tne smooth stones from the brook make him stagger and fall like an ox under a butcher's lud geon. He who is down cannot fall. Vessels scudding under bare poles do not feel the force of the storm, while those with all sails set capsize at the sudden descent of the tempest. Remember that we can be as proud of our humility as of anything else. Antisthenes walked the street of Ath ens with a ragged clak oenntra eh, Liszi~aii; ' V~ 'a 'Z t(lred he CoL ~?~~AAi. ho~ IC hole~ si luis c a would all "ur elves s 'il hn We Were as phlsoh. a as e em peror of Lin~e vo sid a - cose Of his life, --' h'ave ben ery <ig, an d every h s not: And w hen the urn th-a vas to c ntamt his ashes was at hi;s convmnd brou ht to him he said, "' r u saltcetain one cr wInom the wor l was too little. Do you nct al-so learn from the mis --rtat o is king Cf BabVon what A terribl t n is the loss of reason There is no calamity that can possibly befall us in tis world so arrat as de rangement of intelleet-to have the body of man and vet to fali even b low the instinct of a brute. In this world of horrible h the mos: hor r:ble is the Idot's stare. In t world of horrible sounds the most orrible 'is the maaniae's augh. A vessel drivea on the rocks, when hutn1reds go down neer to rise fnd other hu ndreds drag their mangled and shivern bodies upon the wners be'ch, is noh coipmred the foundering lects full of v-ast hop? a:: atain ments and capxeities. Christ's heart went out toward these who were epileptic, f11inz into the ire, ')r iaes, cutting !hemselves among the tombs. We are accustomed to ha more grateful for physical health than for the proper working of our mind. We are at to take it for granted that the intellect which has served us so well will always be faithful. We forget that an engine of such tremendous power, where the wheels have such vastness of circle and such swiftness of motion and the least impediment might put it ou: of gear, can only be kept ia proper balance by a divine hand. No human hand could engi neer the train of immortal faculties. How strange it is that oar memory, on whose shoulders all the misfortunes and successes -rad occurrences of a lifetime and are placed, should not oftener break down, and that the scales of judgment, which have been weigh ing so much and so long, should not lose their adjustment, and that fancy, which holds a dangerous wand, shoula not sometimes maliciously wave it. bringing into the heart forebodings and hahucinations the most apoalling . Is it not strange that this mind, which hopes so much in its mighty leaps for the attainment of its objects, should not be dashed to pieces on its disap nointments? Though so delicately tuned, this instrument of untold har mony plays on, though fear shakes it, and vexations rack it, and sorrow and joy and loss and gain in quick succes sion beat out of it their dirge 'or toss from it their anthem. At morning and at night, when in your prayer you rehearse the causes of your thanksgiving, next to the salvation by Jesus Christ, praise the Lord for the preservation of your reason. See also in this story of Nebuchadnez zar the use that God makes of bad men. The actions of the wicked are used as instruments for tae punish ment of wickedness in others or as the illustration of some principle in the divine government. Nebuchadnezzar subserved both purposes. Even so I will go back with you to the history of every reprobate that the world has ever seen, and I will show you how to a great extent his wickedness was lim ited in its destructive power and how God olorified himself in the overthrow nd disgrace of his enemy. Babylon is full of abomination, and wicked Cyrus destroys it. Persia fills the cup of its iniquity, and vile Alexander puts an end to it. Macedon must be chastised, and bloody Emilius does it. The Bastille is to be destroyed and corrupt Napoleon accomplishes it. Even so selfish and wicked men are often made to accomplish great and glorious purposes. Joseph's brethren were guilty of superlative perfidy and meanness when they sold him into slavery for about $7, yet how they must have been overwhelmed with the truth that God never forsakes the righteous when they saw he had be come the prime minister of Egypt!1 Pharaoh oppresses the Israelites with the most diabolic tyranny, yet stand still and see the salvation of God. The plagues descend, the locusts, and the niail, and the destroying angel, showing that there is a God who will defend the cause of his people, and finally, after the Israelites have passed through the parted sea, behold in the wreck of the drowned army, that God's enemies are chaff in a whirl wind ! In some fianancial panic the rihteous suffered with the wicked. Houses and stores and shops in a night foundered on the rock of bans ruptcy, and healthy credit, without warning, dropped dead in the street, and money ran up the long ladder of 25 per cent, to laugh down upon those who could not climb after it. Dealers with pockets full of securi ties stood shouting in th~e deaf ears of banks, Men rushed down the streets, with protested notes after them. Those who before found it hard to spend their money were left without money to spend. Laborers went home for want of work, to see hunger in their chair at the table and upon the hearth. Winter blew his breath of frost through fingers of icicles, and sheriffs, with attachments, dug among the cinders of fallen storehouses, and and whole cities joined in the long funeral procession, marching to the grave of dead fortunes and a fallen commerce. Verily, the righteous suf fered with the wicked, but generally the wicked had the worst of it. Splendid estates that had come to gether through schemes of wicked ness were dashed to pieces like a pot ter's vessel, and God wrote with let ters of fire, amid the ruin and destrue tion of reputations and estates that were thought impregnable the old fashioned truth, which centuries ago he wrote in his Bible, "The way of the wicked he turneth upside down." As the stars of heaven are reflected from the waters of the earth, even so God's great and magnificent purposes are re lected back from the boiling sea of human passion aud turmoil. As the voice of a sweet song uttered among the mountains may be uttered back from the cavernous home of wild beasts and rocks split and thunder scarred, so the great harmonies of God's providence are rung bark from tne darkest caverns of this sin struck earth. Sennacheri b and Abimelech and Herod and Judas and Nero and Nebuchadnezzar, though they strug gled like beasts unbroken to the load, were put into a yoke, where they were compelled to help (draw ahead God's great project of mercy. Again, let us learn the lesson that men can be guilty of polluting the sa cred vessels of the temple an d carryingz them away to Babylon. The sacred vessels in the temple at Jerusalem were the cups and phates of gold end silver with which the rites and cere moies were celebrated. The laying of heathen hands upon them and the carrying them off as spoils was an unbounded oifense to the Lord oflh temple. Yet Nebuchadnezzar comn muitted this v-ery- sacrilege. Thouigh tha; wicked king is gone, the sins he inaugurated walk up and idown the earth, cursirng it fromc 'enur to cen tury. The sin of desecrating sacred th:ngs is commiuted by those who on sacramental day take the communmon and while their conversation and deeds all show that theyiive dowvn at ment' It is a time for vows, a time Lor reDetance, a time for faith. Sinai stands near. with its fire split clouds, ind Calvary with its victim. The &v Splirit brook over the sceae, and the glory of heaven seems to gather in the sanctuarv. Vle inde d must that man b, who will cmne in from his idols and unrepeited follies to take hold of the sacr d vesels of the temple. O thou NebaIchadnezzi: Back with yoa to BIylon Tt:ose also desecrate sacred things who use th Sabbalh ftor any other than r-1igious purposes. This holy day was let doxn from a:nid, the ia tentense seculari ties of the week to re mind us that we are immortal and to allow us preparation for an endless state of happiness. It is a green spot in the hot desert of this world iat ,ushes with fountains and waves with ali trees. This is the time to shake Li:e dust fronm the robes of our piety and in te teuts of Israci sharpen our swords for future confl iet. Heaven, that s s so ftr o!f on other days. aligh:s umn the. eart'. and the son of teaveuiv choirs and the hosanna of the white robed see n to mingle with our earthly worship. We hear the wailing infant of l3thlahe:n, and the bammer stroke of the Carpenter's weary son in Nazareth, and the prayer of Gethsenane, and the bitter cry of Golgotha. Glory be unto the Lora of the Sabbath With that one day in seven God divides tnis great sea of business and gayety, so that dry shod we may pass between the worldly busiuess of the past and the worldly business of the future. Bat to many the Sabbath comes only as a day for neighborhood visit inc, field rambling, hotel lounging and political caucusing. This glori ous Sabbath, which was intended only as a golden chalice from which the thirsty should drink, is this mo ment being carried down to Babylon. I do not exaggerate the truth when I siv that to tens of thousands thereis no distinction between the Sabbath and the weekdays, except that on the Lord's day they do not work, while they eat more largely and dissipate more thoroughly. Sibbath breakers are like hunters who should compel their hounds to take rest while them selves continue on the weary chase, for men on the Sabbath allow their bcdies, which are merely the animal nature, sulicient repose, while their immortal nature, which should be fed and refreshed, is compelled to chase up and down this world's high way. How shameful to rob God of his day, when he allows men so much lawful acquisition, even of a worldly nature, on the Sabbath, for, although men themselves are commanded, to rest, the corn and the wheat, and the grass grow just as rapidly on the Sab bath as on other days, so that while they sit in the sanctuary they are ac tually becoming richer in worldly things! While you are doing nothing your bonds and mortgages are all accumulating interest for your es tate just as fast as on other days. Men hired by the month or year are receiving just as much wages while quiet on the Sabbath as they are the harkworking weekday. No, I say how unutterably mean it is, when God is adding to your worldly estate on the Sabbath as certainly as on other days, that any should not be satisfied with that, but attempt to seize additional secular advantage from the Lord's day ! Have you never noticed the curious fact that our worldly occupation frcquently seems to be divided into sections of six days each? Every week we have just enough work given us to do in six days. God makes just enough breaks in our con tinuous occupations to thrust in the Sabbatn. If you have not before no ticed, observe hereafter that when Saturday night comes there is almost always a good stopping place in your business. All things secular and spir itual in providence and revelation seem to say, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." When the six days of creation had passed, God stop ped working. Not even a pure flower or a white cloud would he make, be cause it was the Sabbath, and, giving an example to all future times, he rested. He who breaks the Sabbath not more certainly robs God than robs himself. Ine vitably continuous dese cratica of the sacred day ends either in bankruptcy or destroyed health. A great merchant said, "Had it not been for the Sabbath I have no doubt I should have been a maniac lone ago." This remark was made in a company of merchants, and one of them said: "That corresponds with the experience of my friend, a great importer. He often said, 'The Sab bath is the best day of the week to plan successful voyages.' He has for years been in an insane hospital and will probably die there." Those also repeat the sin of Nebu chadnezzar who in any way desecrate the Holy Scriptures.- There are men who use the word of God as an instru ment of angry controversy. Bigots at heart and zealots, in the advocacy of their religious peculiarities they meet other sects with the fury of a highwayman,thrusting them through and through with what they consider the sword of the Spirit. It is a won der to me that some men were not made with horns to hook with, and hoofs to kick with, and with claws to grab with. What Christ said to rash Peter when he struck off the ear of Malchus he says to every controver sialist, "Put up again thy sword into its place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword." Rev. William Jay met a country man who said to him: "I was ex tremely alarmed this morning, sir. It was very foggy, and I was going down to a lonely place~and I thought I saw a strange monster. It seemed in motion, but I could not discern its form. I did not like to turn back, but my heart beat, and the more I looked the more I was afraid. Bat as I approached I saw it was a man, and who do you think it was(" "I know not." "Oh, it was my brother John." Then Mr. Jay remarked, "It was early in the morning and very foggy, and how often do we thuts mnistage our Christian brethren." Just in proportion as men are wrong will they be boisterouis in their religious contentions. The lamb of religion is always gentle, while their is no lion so lierce as the roaring lion that goes about seeking whom he may devour. Let Gibraltars belch their war ilame on the sea, and the Dardanelles darken the IHellespont with the smoke of their batteries, but for ever and ever let there be good will among those who profess to be subjects of the gospel of gentleness. "Gory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, gocd will to men." What an embarrassing thing to meet in heaven if we have not settled our controversies on earth. So I give out for all people of all religions to to sinz Jlohn Fawcett's h ymn, in short meter. composed in 1772, but jist as appropriate for 1Sf97: WORK OF THE HOUSE. FENSION CHANGES AND MAGIS TRATES D'SCUSSED. A Ad1j ournmenIt in i: pect to the Memo ry of the Late . ad&ge Aldrich-Trip to Charleton--0ther 11usinless Traima-cted. Con ,u Feb. 20-Wahen the House met Saturday morning Mr. lofLon's shad and sturgeon bill which had been so fully and exhaustively discassed the preceeding day, was then called up. Mr. Pyatt moved to recommi the bill. Mr. Stevenson though: ihat the House shoald not do this: it should either pass or kill the bill without. further delav. Mr Hen derson then amended the bill so as to ma:ke it apply only to the coast coun ties of the State and it was thereupon ordered to a third reading. The clin cher was put on the final vote by De Sturkie. The House then took up and passed Mr. Price's joint resolution authoriz ing and requiring the comptroller general to draw his warrant on the State treasurer to pav certain balances of salaries of supervisors of reeistra tion of the several counties of the State and to require the State treasur er to pay same, whereas many of the supervisors of the State cntinued to perform the duties of their oflices from Nov. 1, 1895, to March 1, i%, and have received no compensation therefor. The senate bill to provide for the appointment of magistrates and to de fine their jurisdiction, powers and du ties, being a special order, was called up and a good many amendments were offered. After many other amendments had been made Dr. Wyche moved to amend by striking out the provision: "Should the senate refuse to confirm any appointee it shall not be lawful for the governor to reappoint the par. ty so rejected for that term." He said tne House had stricken out this pro vision last year. Hie wanted the House to say whether it was willing to allow the senator from a county to dictate who the magistrates should be. Mr. Rogers said Mr. Gadsden was in error in his argument as to what the constitution meant, Mr. Rogers said the responsibility rested primari ly with the governor. Mr. Gadsden said that be was not favoring secret sessions. The consti tution required them, no act could change that. Mr. Pollock wanted the charges against a man openly preferred and not secretly. The House then struck out the clause and the bill was ordered to a third reading in another column as published. The pension committee's bill to amend the general pension law was then called up and Mr. Leyton offer ed an amendment to have township boards consist of four old soldiers and one nhysician. Mr. Cushman said that the commit tee had thought it best not to have physicians on the township boards, but to have one on the county board. Physicians at home would be influ enced by their patrons. Mr. Leyton said his oject was to keep the old soldiers from going to the county seat to be examined. The amendment was then tabled and the bill passed as printed in another col umn. The senate concurrent resolution re lative to the Peabody fund was adop ted in this shape: Be it resolved by the senate of the State of South Carolina, the house of representatives concurring: That the lion. J. L. M. Curry, as agent of the Slater and Peabody educational funds and the gentleman associated with him in the distribution of the same, be, and they hereby are, respectfully requested to appropriate to the Color ed, Normal, Industrial and Mechahi cal college of this State all of said funds that are applicable to the edu cation of the negro youths of this State, as in the opinion of the general assembly said college is the only school entitled to said portion of said funds; and, further. that an engross ed copy of this concurrent resolution be forwarded to the said agent by the clerk of the house of representatives. Mr. Phillips at this juncture offered a resolution eulogizing the late Judge A. P. Aldrich who was at one time speaker of the house and declaring that the house stand adjourned out of respect fo his memory. The resolution was unanimously adopted. The ways and means committee's bill to provide for the redemption of land sold for the payment of taxes was taken up and ordered to a third reading without debate in this shape: Se::. 1. That where rer any lands or tenements shall hereafter be sold to enforce the payment of taxes, the owner, his heirs or assigns, or any person or corporation having a lien upon or interest in said premises so sold, shall have the right to redeem the same by paying to the sheriff or otner officer making such sale within one year from the date thereof the full amount of the purchase money with 10 per cent. penalty thereon, which said sum shall be paid by the said sheriff or other officer to the par ty who purchased at such delinquent sale. Sec. 2. That whenever such redemp tion shall be effected as hereinbefore prov~ded the title to said lands shall instantly reinvest in the former own er thereof, subject to all the incum brances and liabilities that existed thereon at the time of said sale: Pro vided, however, That whenever re demption is made by a person other than the owner, his heirs or assigns, the amount so paid for redemption shall constitute a prior and preferred lien upon the said premises. Sec. 3. That in order to allow for such redemption all sheritfs or other olicers making such sales shall hold the surplus proceeds thereof, if any, for one year from the date of such sale, and in case no redemption shall be then made, shall pay over the same as now provided by law. Sec. 4. All acts and parts of act in consistent with the provisions of this act be, and the same are hereby re pealed. On Tuesday a message was received from the senate announcing that it had killed the bill to repeal the anti free-pass act. Some members laughed when the message was read ; otners looked serious and thoughtful. CuLcoma~, Feb. 2t.-Among the most important features of legislation yesterday was the passage of Mr. Kib ers bill for a bank and insurance in specter. Mr. Garris's dispensary bill was brought up and attempts were made to amend it by having the legislature 'to elect the commissioner; put~ting constables under the control of the Board of Control rather than the Gov ernor, but both of these failed. Con sideration of the bill was not finished, bt w.hen deoate was adjourned the pending question was an amend ment by Mr. Wi nkler to prohibit the coun ty dispensers from making more than 33; per cent. on the original cost of the liquors. An amendment was adoptea making the commissioner's salary $1,900J instead of 52,500n. Greenwood, Cherokee and Bamberg county bills have passed both houses become realities. An important bill with reference to forfeiture of abandened railroad prop ',rty was passed after quite a lively debate. Mr. Winkler oilered a resolution that hereafter no member be allowed to speak more than five minutes on any subject, but ten members objected and the resolution xent over for con sideration. The bill to provide for the collec tion of past due railroad taxes was or dered to a third reading. Mr Henderson moved to reconsider the vote whereby Dorchester county bill was ordered to a third reading. He said he wanted it to go on record and for that purpose he wanted to call the ayes and nays as well as to offer some amendments. He wanted the county site to be s lected by a two - thirds vote instead of 1y a majority as provided for in the bill agreed on. The amendmient was lost by a vote of 73 to 74. The appro-priation bill was read the third time, after the appropriation of $,10 for the directors had been stricken out on motion of Mr. John P. Thomas, who said Saperintendent Neal had informed him that the ap propriation was unnecessary. Mr. Caughman called up the reso. lution making Feb. 26. at 10 A. M., the day of final adjournment. Mr. Pollock moved to make it Sat urday 27th. Mr. Bacot suggested that as the House was in some confusion owing to the trio to Charleston, he thouzht it could be better considered on Fri day. He moved to adjourn debate. Mr. Caughman thought members ought to know vhen they were going to leave here, the Ways and Means committee ought to know. Dr. VY yche said that the House still had some of the most important meas ures to consider, and the House ought to attend to its business. He did not believe members should tie themselves down to any day of adjournment un der the circumstances. Mr. Bacot's motion to adjourn debate was carried by a vote of 4S to 42. Mr. Pollock called for the special order-the bill to incorporate the At lantic Coast Line. Mr. Pollock said that by an Act of last year, it was required that all rail roads owned by a common company operate a continous mileage rate. The roads want to consolidate into one actual system, which the railroad commission agreei to. The commis sion practically took the initiative in compelling the roads to unite. Mr. Garris's Dispensary bill being the special order it was called up and Mr. John P. Thomas offered the fol lowing, which was promptly killed: The State Board of Control shall have the right to appoint special lager beer Dispensers, who shall give bcnd for the faithful discharge of their duties. and who shall have the right to sell lager beer under rules and reg ulations established by the State Board of Control. The State Board of Con trol shall also have the right to per..ait the sale of wine made from grapes grown within this State by County Dispensers under such rules and regu lations as they may establish. Mr. Pollock offered an amendment which would place the election of the Commissioner in the hands of the Legislature rather than the Board of Control. Mr. Thomas thought all the responsibility for the conduct of the Dispensary should be put on the Board of Ccntrol. Mr. Garris thought it would be a financial mistake if any change was made. Mr. Toole favored electing as many of the officers as possible by the Legis lature. Dr. Wyche moved to table the amendment, which was agreed to. Mr. Skinner offered an amendment reducing the salery of the Commis sioner from $2,500 to $1,900. Mr. Garris opposed the reduction because if there is to be a good man at the head of the Dispensary-one above suspicion, he must be well paid. Mr. Winkler held that the duties of the various State oilicials were as onerous and as responsible, and _he saw no reason wby an exception should be made in favor of the com missioner. Mr. Sullivan wanted it to read "so as not to exceed $1,900." He stated that he understood that a good man could be gotten for less than $1,900. This was agreed to. Mr. Gadsden moved an amendment which would place the appointment and control of the constables in the hands of the Board of Control, rather than of the Governor. He held that it would be a good business move and would take the constabulary out of politics. Mr. Garris held that this would completely- revolutionize the law in this State. The Governor is the Ex ecutive and should have power to en force the law. The amendment was tabled. Mr. Bethune offered an amendment that members of tbe Board should be men not addicted to the use of intoxi cating liquors. Mr. Garris and Mr. Magill held that it is an impracticable and useless amendment. The House refused to table the amendment by 70 to 26 onr-a aye and nay vote. Mr. Winkler introduced an amend ment that County Dispensers should not make a profit of over :33 1-3 per cent, on the original cost of the li quor, but pending that motion the House took a recess. During the day the follo wing bill was passed: Section 1. That any person, com pany or corporation owning operating or controlling any line or railroad in this State which shall tear up or re move its track, or discontinue a regu lar freight and pasenger service there oi for the period of live days except when prevented by the act of God or the public enemy, shall be deemed to have abandoned the same, and be cause of such abandonment shall for feit to the State its charter and all the tracks, engines, cars, rights of ways, lands, depots and all other property connected with or belonging to said railroad. Sec. 2. Whenever it shall appear to the Attorney General that any such person, company or corporation has abandoned its line or railroad, he shall proceed to forfeit the same as aforesaid by rule against such person, company cor corporation in a court of competent jurisdiction, requiring them to show cause why the same should not be forteited: Provided. This Act shall not apply to street rail ways. The Committee on Offices reported a bill to prohibit manufacture of distill ing of any liquor or liquors containing alcohol in this State, except wvine for one's own use made from grapes and other fruits. The bill provides tines not less than $500U nor more than $1,000 and imprisonment frorn two to nyve years. John Wannamaker has said: "To discontinue an advertisement is like taking down a sign." That is just the idea. You have a sign above your door to let people know who you are and where you are, and wnat you are doing. That's what your ad. does. Space in newspapers merely multiplies your sign. I' lets thous ands of people know what you have to seL SLASHING AT SALARES osTINLtEl OE the Samih Carolina college, but it should be run economically. A mani should pay for higher education. Ile took Ekskine college. which ran on an income of $9,000 and graduated about 17 students. He cited other State institutions and then said that with $25, 00 the South Carolina col lege liad graduated only "two and two halves" students. These would not b3 worth such a sum to the State, no matter who they might be. Mr. Rogers was a friend of the col lege, but would be willing to cut to $2u0, bu:t not below. He favored tuition fees and thought that they should be paid by every student. Mr. Bacot said that many of the students the-e now paid tuition fees of $)10 a year. Over $2,00 was paid in fees iazt year. Mr. Blythe thought that $21,000 was suicient to ne-t all the expenses for the prcper maintenance of the college. He quoted some figures to sustain his posmon. The roll call was then denanded on the motion to reduce to $17,000. The house voted as follows, tabling the amendment: Ayes-Isheley, Carraway, Caugh man, Davis. G. W.; Graham, J. S.; Hamilton, Kennedy, Kibler, Kinard, H. J.; Kinard, J. D ; Lester, Moore, Plyler, Stevenson, Williams-15. Nays-All. Anderson, Armstrong, Asbill, Austell, Bacot, Bailey, Bedon, Blythe, Breeland, Burns, Colcock, Crum, Cashman. Davis, C. M.; de Loach, Dukes, Edwards, Eops, Fairey, Fox, Gadsden, Gage, Gasque, Glenn, Goodwin, H. P.; Goodwin, 0. P.; Graham, T. A.; Hiott, Hollis, Hum phery, Ilderton, Johnson, Lancaster, Limehouse, Livingston, Lotton, Ma gill, Mauldin, Meares. Mehrtens, Mi ler, J. H.; Mishoe, Mitchell, McDan iel, McKeown, McLaurin, McWhite, Nettles, Patton, Phillips. Pollock, Prince, Pyatt, Reynolds, Robinson, Rogers, Russell, Seabrook, Sinkler, Skinner, Simkins, Smit., J. R.; Smith, E. D.; Speer, Sturkie, Sulli van, Thomas. J. P., Jr.: Thomas, W. H.; Toole, Townsend, Verner, Vin cent. Wolling, Wessmereland, Whi sonant, Wilson, Wingo, Winkler, Yeldell-87. The roll call was demanded then on the Ilderton amendment to cut to $21. 000. The house agreed to the amend ment by the following vote: Yea-Hon. F. B. Gary, speaker; All, Armstrong, Asbill, Ashley, Aus tell, Bethune, Blythe, Burns, Cara way, Caughman, Crum, Cushman, Davis, C. M.; Davis. George W.; Dukes, Edwards, Epps, Fairey, Fox, Glenn, Goodwin, H. P.; Goodwin, 0. P.: Graham, J. S.; Hamilton, Hol lis, Humphrey, Ilderton, Johnson, Kennedy, Kibler, Kindard, Henry J.; Kinard, J. D.; Lancaster, Layton, Lester, Limehouse, Mauldin, Miller, Joel H.; Mishoe, Moore. McKeown, McLaurin. McWhite, Phillips, Plyler, Pollock, Prince, Robinson, Rogers, Russell, Skinuer, Stnith, J. R.; Smith, E. D.; Speer, Sturkie, Sullivan, Tim merman, Toole, Verner, Welch, West moreland,-Whisonant, Wingo, Win kler-66. Nay-Anderson, Bacot, Barkley, Bedon, Breeland, Colcock, Davis, W. C.; deLoach, Edrd, Gadsden, Gage, Gasque, Graham, Thomas A.; Hiott, Livingston, Lofton, Meares, Mathrt ens, Mitchell, McDaniel, Nettles, Pat ton, Pyatt, Reynolds, Seabrook, Sin kler, Simkams, Stevenson, Thomas, John P., Jr.; Thomas, W. HI.; Town send, Vincent, Wolling, Wilson, Wii liams, Wyche, Yeldell-37. Mr. Layton moved to increase ithe appropriation for the deaf dumb and blind asylum from $18,000 to $19,000. The commnittee held with all lights before them that $18,000 was insutfi cient. Messrs. Thomas and Wilson explained the position of the commit tee. The amendment was ta bled. On motion of Mr. Crum the appro priation for the expenses of litigation of the attornev general was cut from $2,500 to $2,000. Mr. Ashley moved to strike out al together the appropriation of $7,500 for the new building for the colored male insane at the State hospital for the insane Mr. Ilderton was opposed to this. He could not see whye they would be wasting any money to build this structure. He pointed out the danger from lire. Mr. Wilson also spoke against this amendment. The committee had sent for Dr. Babcock and he had convinced them that the buildi'ng was an abso lute necessity. This ouilding was for the benefit of those whom God had touched. Many brick were already upon the ground. Mr. Efird disliked to oppose this, but felt it his duty. Finally Mr. Ashley withdrew the amendment. Mr. Philips' amendment relating to the State Fair society's appropriation came up again. Mr. Thomas was op posed to the amendment. Mr. Ilderton said that Mr. Phillips amendment was in the words of the previous act on the subject.- He did not know whether this money would come back or not if it was notneeded. Mr.- Thomas offered a substitute providing that all surplus remaining after the premiums had been paid be covered back into the State treasury, and that all be returned if the gate re ceipts etc., were sutliiient - This was adopted. Mr. Polloca then endeavored to have the whole appropriation stricken out. After a spat with Mr. Thomas about the provision not being there, Mr. Pollock proceeded to read, with great empressement, a section pointed out to him by Mr. Thomas of Charles ton. Suddenly he stopped and the whole house broke into a i-oar of laugh ter. The section had turned directly against himi. When the house quieted somewhat. Mr. Pollock said his friend from Charleston had played a joke on him and soon after sat down. The house rejected the amendment of Mr. Pollock. The total amount of the appropriation was then changed to $2,400 by consent. The vote was clinched. Thnthr was anbe.fort to recon amendment was adopted. It ended after much talk in the clinching of the vote whereby Mr. Thomas' amend ment had been agreed to. Mr. Timmierman then moved to cut the salary of the phosphate commis sioner from $1, 500 to $1,200. Mr. Crum thought that the duties of the commissioner were such that he should r eceive the salary recommend ed. The amendment was agreed to, ic wever. Mr. Winkler moved to increase the assistant attorney generi's salary from $1,:150) to $t,500. He said that this of ticial was the hardest worked man for his salary in this State. Mr, Cushman had been reliably in formed that all the time of this olieial was not occupied in work for the State; therefore he was opposed to tiuls increase. Mr. Lringston thought that such services were worth more than those of an ordinary clerk or bookkeeper. IAfter some further discussion the house rejected the amendment. ITne entire bill was then ordered to a third reading with notice of amend; ments by the committee on the tiri TERESTING FIGURES. STATE TREASURY, SINKING FUND AND T-'E DISPENSARY. itepor oftitu CominIttee to Exam I ne these Offliz 4 .Iaks a Rri'ort to the LpgIAl ture. CGtN1 mII, Feb. 20 -The comnittee to examine the oilices of the State Treasury, Sinking Fund and Dispen sary, made the following report: To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives: We, the undersigned joint commit tee, appointed to examine the offices of the State Treasurer, Comptroller General, Sinking Fund Commission and Dispensary receipts and disburse ments. as shown by the State Treasur er's oimce, bez leave to respectfully submit the following report: Our examination of the abovede part-menis of the State government were made during the months of De cember and January, and for a period of fourteen montris, beginning the first day of November, 1895, and end ing the 31st day of December, 1S90. Inthe Treasurer's; oilice, we have carefully scrutinized all the cash re ceipts and expenditures, examined the vouccers for every disbursement, also vtrifying the additions. We find that the Treasurer has collected for the above named period the following amounts: General taxes..........$1,136,226 61 P -osphate royalty to gen eral account........... 4,158 92 Phosphate royalty to S. Fund for red uction.... 58.629 04 Insurance license fees.... 10,625 00 Railroad assessments.... 7,109 10 Fees, office Secretary of State................. 4,349 32 Privilege fertilizer tax... 54,524 37 Morrill fund............ 22,000 00 Clemson bequest cash.... 258 79 State permanent S. fund. 21,387 62 Comms. Sinking Fund., 2,343 75 Sinking Fund for reduc tion, etc.............. 18,168 38 Dispensary, S. C., from Dispensers............ 1,555,721 61 Loans, general account. 100,000 00 Loans, Constitutional Convention, Dec., 95.. 30,000 00 Other sources........... 1,633 30 Paid by Dispensary to gen. acct. State Treas ury............... 150,000 00 Amount refunded....... 1,596 10 Cash balance, Oct. 31, 1895.......... ... 272,196 01 Totil.................$3,450,930 92 Total disbursements for same period have been, as shown by itemized statement in Treasur er's report, p. 13 to 19..$3,080509 43 Cash balance, Dec. 31, 96.$ 3S0,421 49 We have examined the Treasurer's deposits in banks at the close of busi ness on the 31st day of December, 1896, and find that he had the above cash balance to the credit of the State. The books and accounts are well and correctly kent by the experienced and well trained clerical force, in the knowledge of the intricate duties con nected with this ctli-e. We note, however, that some of the County Treasurers are tardy in remitting tax es due the State, and recommend that the Comptroller General take such action as will secure prompt remit tances on the first and fifteenth of each month as the law now directs. 2. In the Comptroller General's of flce, our examination was confined to the examination of the vouchers for insurance fees and licenses collected, and of the contingent and civil con tingent funds of the Govern ment and for the public printing. The other minor contingent ac counts, and expenditures for salaries and. specific appropriations, we did not examine further than to ascertain that in no case did the disbursements exceed the appropriation. We corn pared the disbursements, item by item, of the fiscal year, and find that the several amounts have been in strict compliance with the termas of the apnropriation bill, and in no case has it been exceeded. We would re spectfully recommended that addition al case? be furnished this'otlice,for the preservation of vouchers and other documents of great importance dIed therein. In making this examination, we were courteoasly treated, and every assistance cheerfully rendered. 3. We have examined the Dispen sary transactions, in so far as they re late to the amounts remitted by local Dispensers in the several counties of the State, to the State Treasurer, which we find to be as follows: Dispensary balance,Nov. 1, 1895..........-$ 7:,076 58 Received from local Dis pensers........... 1,555,724 61 Total..............j1,628,801 19 Paid warrants of State Board of Control...1,547,307 65 Cash Dispensary balance 31st. Dec. '96..........$ 81,493 54 We further and that the above state ments appear on the records in the ofice of the State Board of Control, except as to the reported Dispensary balance of cash in the Treasurer's of fice. The State Board of Control only show the balance as $78,265.41, mak ing a difference of $3,228 13, which is readily explained as representing out standing warrants, drawn by the State Board of Control, and for which they have charged against their ac count, but wha has not been pre sented to the Treasurer for payment, before toe close of business on the 31st day of December, 1 G. 4. By reason of the a:lel charges of injurious interference, coniict and friction, between the ordinary Sink ing Fund and the tax department, your committee has made a e- -eful, thorough and extended invesb at~~ion of the workings of the Sinking 1- and commission, and find that under the operation of the Act of 1892 and 18:O. in reference to unpaid taxes tuat the Commission, through its ageut, tne Secretary of State and hissubordinates, have administered the laws in a thor ough and efficient manner, by indus triously seeking out all property whereon taxes are due and unpaid for over twelve months, and not stayed by thieaction of acy j - ial process. The character of the w-j, of the Com mission is in the nature off a gleaning machine, which follows a h 4rester, and operates to collect sueni :npaid taxes remaining in the hahd . M the current machinery of the tax u. part ment stili uncollected, after the period of twelve months has elapsed. and after which ti-ne, under the~ Act of 190. it beemuies ase-ts of tat?said ine ing Fand Commission- 'Uus it col lects taxes, which otherwise would be lost, and for this importauit work to be most efliciently performed, should remain as at present. independent of the current tax department. which it follows. The property owners who attempt to evade, or dodge the pay ment of their taxes, and thus fail into the hands of this agency, we find to be, usuallyv, large property owners, and specuiotors and corporations. We Uind many thousands of dollars of real estate nave been discovered and placed upon the duplicates, which have escaped taxation for years, but will hereafter ield an bAKIlN0 POWDER Absolutely Pure. Celebrated for I great eaveniog strength and healthfulness. Assurei the food against alum and all forms ot adnl teration common to the cheap brand<. ROYAL LAKING POwDEr CO , NEW YORK. While the initial cost of this impor tant work of collecting unpaid taxes, and in placing the property upon the tax duplicate, is expensive, we find that enough has been done to pay the entire cost and expenses of the work, incleding salary of agents, and has also, during last year, paid a net amount into tne Treasury, of $2,100 over and above the amounts paid to county and school fund, and other disbursements to county officials, re quired to be made out of net collec tions of the Sinking Fund. After a careful investigation of the work per formed under these Acts, we commend the m as wise legislation, supplyinig a material deficien--y in the tax laws, and going far to perfect the tax system. The I.ws are being administered by the Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller General, Chairman of the Finance Committee of the Senate, and of the Wavs and Means Commit tee of the House, who, ex-officio con stitute the Board of the Commission ers of the Sinking Fund, their work is carefully systematized, and provided with checks and safeguards to prevent any abuse in the performance of their duties under the law. All important matters are acted upon by resolutions adopted by the Board, and each and every act of the agent is submitted to the Board for review, and for its ap proval. There is, however, much fric tion between the Comptroller Gener al's Department and Sinking Fund Commission. V. There was created by Section R S. L., Vol. XXI, p. 24, for reduction and payment (by investment) of South Carolina Brown 41 per cent. Brown bonds and stocks, amended by Act, approved February 25th, 1896, and is a fund cumulative in character, and derived from ohosphate royalty, a spe cial Cumulative Phosphate Sinking Fund, also under the management of the Commissioners of the Sinking Fand. The total value of the assets of the Phosphate Cumulative Sinking Fund, on December 31st, 1896, $212,528 81. Of this amount. temporarily invested, $1 3,984 22; permanently, $35,728 5o; amounts invested. $209,712.78; cash balance on hand, $2,816.03; amounts, $212.528.81. We commend the Act of February 25, 1896, permitting the holders of Brown 4- per cent. bonds, to deposit them with the Commission and borrow this fund at the same rate of interest named in the bond. We would also respectfully recommend that addition al legisation be made to permit the neveral counties in the State, by bor afowing such funds at a rate of interest not exceeding six nor less than five per cent., upon a pledge of the county taxes. and upon such terms as will en title each county to borro w a fair por tion of said funds, if it so desires, un der such regulations as may be pro scribed by the Commission, in con formity with such legislation as the General Assembly may enact - Respectfulty submitted, S. G. MAYFIELD, Senator, C. R. D. Buass, R. M. CARROLL, Representatives. A Convenient invention. An Ohangeburg farmer comes to the front with a new invention in the shape of a Lubricator for oiling ve hicle wheels without taking them off the axle. It is inserted in the hub between two of the spokes. When you want to grease ycur wheel all you have to do is to withdraw a plunger, which operates with a spring, ana pult as much oil as is needed on the axl.. Upon being released the spring close& up the oil hole until it is opened for oiling up again. It is a very ingeni ous and clever device, and is bound to be used generally. With these lubri cators a vehicle can be oiled up any where along the road in less than one minute. The patent for this valuable invention is owned by the National Lubricator Company of Orangeburg, S. C. Mr. Jas. L. Sims, Elitor and Proprietor of the Orangeburg Times and Democrat, is the maager of the company, which is a guarantee that it . is all right. The company wants an agent in this covaty to sell the L-abri cators. See advertisement in another column. ________ Hurrah for Greece. ATHENS. Fe b. 16.-The first definite ne ws of a Greek victory in Crete was received this evening and the wildest enthusiasm followed the intelligence. The Greeks, it is said, attacked and captured Fort Aghia, taking 400 Mus slmans prisoners. Among the num ber are 100 Turkish troops, the re mainder of the prisoners being Mos lems, who had refuged in the fort Details of the engagement are tacking. One report states that no fighting oc curred, the garrison surrendering upon the demand of the Greek commander. As no mention of any losses is made in any of the dispatches it is surmised that this report is true. The Christ ians received the news &' the Greek victory with great joy. ill~ed by a Fire Engine. CHARLESTON, Feb. 19.--Eddie Mc Sweeny, the 12 year-old sn of W. J. McS weeny, was crushed to death un der a tire engine this afternoon. The engines were responding to an up town call, and little Eddie tried to cross in front of No. t;. The herses struck him down and~ two wheels passed over his stomach. lie lived an hour or t wo and died in his mother's arms. A Fast Ruin. GLvESToN, Tex., Feb 16; -The hatj tieship Texas, which arrived this morning, anchored last night about 25 miles cut. Her run from New York to this port is said to be the fast est ever made by a battleship, the average run being 121 knots an hour from the time she left New York un til she anchored otr the bar. JaJ Delivery. Cotoni. S. C., Feb. 14.-A dis patch fromi 'jorkville, S. C., to the State says thirteen prisoners broke jti there this mnorniug. M. RC. d~eese and J. C. Liackie, uader life sentence were among the number. The others, who were nygreadwere charged with mnnor critnes. None have been re