The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, March 24, 1897, Image 1
T(0L. x11. MANNING, S. C.ARC 24, 1897. NO.____ 35.
THE ASSESSM1ENT ACT.
TEXT OF AN IMPORTANT NEW TAXA
TION LAW.
In Immediate EftcL-Was introduced by
Mr. J. P. Thomas. Jr . of Richland. and
May Add Milious to Taxable Proleb-rty.
An act to provide for the !eturn
and assessment of property for tax
tion.
Be it enacted by the general assem
bly of the State o South Carolina:
See 1. It shall be the duty of all
persons who are required by law to
make returns of personal property to
make full returns of all real estate and
improvements thereon between the
tirst day of Januar y and the 12ma day
of February, 1898, and the same time
in every fourth year thereaf rer. Pro
vided, That for that portion of the
township of Fc rer e , in the e unty
of Florence, lying within the limits
of the city of Florence. like returns
shall also be made between the 1st day
of March and the 15th day of March,
1897.
Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the
county auditor and township boards
of commissioners on or before the
first Tuesday of March in each year to
diligently seek for and disc:ver all
property, both real and personal, in
his county, subject to taxation and
not previously returned or listed with
him; and it shall be his duty to list
the same with taxation, giving the
valuation thereof, with the name of
the owner or person to whom it is
taxable.
Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the
county auditor on or before the first
Tuesday of March in each year to lay
before the township boards of com
missioners and the special boards of
assessors the returns of all property,
both real and personal, made to him,
tcgether with a list of all property,
both real and personal, which he can
discover has not been previously re
turned or listed for taxation, as re
quired by law, stating in the c)lumns
of remarks upon each return and list
what he believes ought to be the val
uation of the property returned or
listed.
Sec. 4. The township boards of c m
missioners and -soccial boards of as
sessors shall meet annually on the
first Tuesday in March, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, at some con
venient place or places,for the purvose
of performing the duties devolved up
on them.,- It shall be their duty to
cirefully consider the returns and
lists laid before them by the county
auditor, and if necessary to compare
the same with the tax returns and tax
duplicates for the previous year or
years. They shall diligently seek for
and discover aU property, both real
and personal, in their respective tax
districts not previously returned by
the owner or agents thereof, or not
listed for taxation by the county audi
tor; and thereupon it shall be their
duty to list the same for taxation in
tn. nfbte of the owner or person to
whom it is taxable. It shall thereupon
be their Turther duty to fairly and im
partially assess the value of all prop
erty, both real and personal, in their
respective tax districts, entering upon
the returns and lists furnished them,
and they shall have the right in per
formingTheir duties hereunder to in
crease but not to lower the valuation
of any property; real or personal, as
fixed by the county auditor or as re
turned by any person; and it shall not
be deemed material whether the re
turn so increased was intentioaally or
unintentionally false, or whether the
property whose value is so raised was
intentionally or unintentionally re
turned at less than its fair cash value
by-the county auditor and upon the
lists made out by them,the valuations
fixed by them; said returns and lists,
-with said valuations, to be by them
laid before the county auditor on or
before the third Taesday in March in
each year, except that for the torn
ship of Florence, in the c~unty of
Florence, for the year 1897, t ae same
to be laid before the county auaitor
on or before the 31st ofMarch. Pro
vided, however, that real estate shall
be valued and assessed by said boards
only in these years whien real estate
is by the law required to be returned,
except that said boards may, in any
year, value and assess any real estate
and improvements thereon which they
may ascertain or discover have not
previously been returned or assessed
for taxation. Whenever the valuation
and assessment of any property is fix
ed by said boards at a sum greater
than the amount returned by the
owner or his agent, or whenever any
property is valued and asseseed for
taxation which has not been previous
ly returned or assessed it shall be the
duty of the county auditor on or be
fore the fourth Monday in March of
the year in which the valuation and
asssment is made to give to tne own
er or agent of such property wr~.tten
notice thereof, which notice may be
served upon such owner or his agent
personally, or by mailing the same tc
such person or his agent at his last
known place of residence; and such
owner or his agent, if he objects to
such valuation and assessment, shal.
have the right of appeal to the county
board of comnmissioners, sitting on the
county board of equalization, which
appeals shall be heard by said county
board. That account of the county
auditor for the necessary stationery
and postage to enable him to give the
notices herein required, shall be a va
lid claim against Lfne county and shal.
be paid as other county claims are
paid. Nothing in this act contained
shialli be construed as interfering with
the duty of the county auditor of ad
ding fifty per cent. to the value of
personal property as a penalty as pro
vided in sections 279, 295, and 297 of
the revised statutes of 1St93, nor with
the duties of the county auditor as
prescribed in section 29u of the revis
ed statutes of 18.
Sec. 5. The county boards of com
mnissioners,while actmng as the county
boards of equalization, shall meet on
the fourth 'ruesday in March in eaeb
year, and at such other times as the
hairman or a majority of the board
shall aiirict. at the oflice of the county
auditor, who shall act as their clerk.
The county auditor shall thereupor
lay before them the returns of proper
ty made to him and all property listed
by him and by the board of townshij
commissioners and special boards o1
assessors. EKch member, having taker
aa oath, bef ore some officer duly qual
ied to administer the same, fail
and impartially to equalize the val
of the real and personal propry 0
thcir county, according to the provis
ions oi law, the board shail immedi
ately proceed to equalize 'he -ralua
tions iixed by the board of townshij
ommisiners, so that each piece n
property shall be entered on the tax
list at its true value Tney shall hear
all grievances and appeals from the
valuations and assessments fixed by
the township boards of commissioners
and special boards of assessors, and
act upon the same. For the purpose
of performing their duties said board
shall observe the following rule:
First. They shall raise the valaation
of such tracts and lots of real proper
ty or ar:icles of personal property, as
in their opinion have been returned
or assessed below their true value. to
such price or sum as they may believe
to be the true value thereof, and due
notice shall be given to the owner or
agent of such property.
Second. They shall reduce tue val
vations of such tracts and lots of real
property and articles of personal pro
perty, as in their opinon have been
returned or assessed above their true
value, as c)mpared with the average
valuation of the property of such
county, having due regard to the rel
ative situation, quility of soil, im
provement and natural and artificial
advantages possessed by each tract or
lot of real property.
Third. They shall not reduce the
aggregate value of real and personal
property below the aggregate value
thereof as returned to tne county au
ditor. The auditor shall keep an ac
curate journal or icord of the pro
ceedings and orders of said board.
Any person whose property has
been or may be assessed above its true
value who cannot secure relief from
said board shall have the right to ap
peal to the comptroller general, to
whom shall be forwarded all testimo
ny relative to each alleged grievance
and who shall act therer oma.
Sec. U. The said returns and lists of
taxable property, with the valuations
fixed as hereinbefore provided shall
thereupon be adopted by the county
auditor for the purposes of taxation
for the ensuing year, and shall be per
manently entered oa record by him
upon the tax books of his county.
It shall be the duty of the county
auditor to mare up and complete the
tax books of his county on or before
the 13th dy of Jane, as provided in
section 285 of the revised statutes of
1893. Nothing in this act contained
shall be construed as interfering with
the provisions of sections 299 and 314
of the revised statutes of 1893.
Sec. 7. Each member of the town
ship board of commissioners and of
the special boards of assessors shall re
ceive for his services in performing
the duties devolved upon him by this
act two dollars for each day actually
employed, not exceeding three days:
Provided, that in those townships or
tax districts in which is situxted an
incorporated town or city of 1,000 and
less than 5,000 inhabitants they shall
be paid for not exceeding five days;
and in those townships or tax districts
in which there is an incorporated city
or town of 5,000 and less than 10,000
inhabitants they shall be paid for not
exceeding 10 days; and in those to wn
ships or tax districts in which there is
an incorporate.d town or city of 10,000
inhabitants or more they shall be paid
for not exceeding 20 day: Provided
further, that no per dien shall be paid
unless accompanied by the affidavit of
such member giving the number of
days actually employed. and by the
certificate of the county auditor to the
effect that such member has fully per
formed all the duties required by this
act.
Sec. 8. Nothing in this act shall be
construed to affect the p~wers and
duties of the county auditor of Char
leston and of the special boards of
assessors of the city of Charleston as
defined in section 311 of the revised
statutes of 1893 and in any act or acts
amending said section tnat may be
passed at the present session of the
general assembly.
Sec. 9. That from and after the pas
sage of this act the governor shall ap
point, upon the recommendation of
the senator and the members of the
house of representatives from the re
snective counties, three discreet elec
tors in each incorporated city and
town in this State having a popula
tion of not less than 500 inhabitants,
who shall be known as the board of
assessors of such cities and towns,
whose term of office shall be cotermi
nal with that of the governor by
whom such assessors shall have been
appointed and until their successors
have been appointed and qualified.
The duties heretofore devolve upon
the township board of commissioners
as assessors shall be devolved upon
the board of assessors herein provided
for within the limits of their respect
ive cities and to wns.
Provided, That noihing ccontained
in this section shall be construed as
affecting the special boards of assess
ors in the cities of Charleston and
Columbia.
Sec. 10. All acts and parts of acts
inconsistent with this ac: are nereby
repealed
Sec. 11. Tnis act shall go into effect
immediately after its passage.
He Feli Qnalckly.
COLUM1BIA, S. C.. March 18.-When
Governor Ellerbe reorganized the
constabulary a few days ago he an
nounced that he would use his official
broadaxe to chop off the head of the
very first appointee who got drunk.
Under such circumstances he little
dreamed that he would have to use his
axe in less than a week.- But he did.
all the same. One of the members of
the new force got cn a spree after
getting his commission. It was
promptly reported to Governor Eller be
and yesterday he chopped the offend
er's official head off without a word.
Another man will be selected to fill
the place. The man was one of the
-members of the former force who had
been retained. Governor Ellerbe says
that he expects to take similar action
in every case of such character that is
brought to his attention and the con
stables may as well understand it.
State.
An Heiress Kidnaped.
S-r. Louis. March 17.-Ella Burden,
11 years old, heiress to $100,000, has
been inexplicably missing from her
home since Monday. She lived with
her grand-mother. Mrs. Burden, at
5032 Mineirva street and left home
Monday for the Dozier school, where
she is regarded as one of the orightest
Iand prettiest of the several pupils. At
3:30 o'clock in the af ternoon, the usua.
jhour, she left the school for home and
>went part of the way with several other
grls, to a point where she usually~
I took the car for home. Nothing has
b een heard of her since. Mr. Bairden
has every agency possibly at work~ for
ner discoverv. Hie declares the only
posible theory for her disappearance
is that she was kidnapped and is being
- held by her captors until a sutlicienm
rewardi is oifered. Ella is a beautif u.
> child and well grown for her age. A
M'KINLEY'S MESSAGE,
STRIKES FOR HIGH TARIFFS AND
MORE REVENUE.
A Point Made Pla!n That the Government
Hust Either Spend Much Less or Receive
Much More.
WAsINGTON, March 15.-Both
branches of Congress assembled to
day in extraordinary session in obe
dience to the President's proclama'.ion
convening it. After the routine busi
ness cf the two Houses were gotten
through the following message was
read in each House:
To the Con-gress of the United States:
Regrettiug the necessity which has
'equired me to call you together. I
feel that your assembling in extra
ordinary session is indispensible be
cause of the condition in which we
find the revenues of the government.
It is conceded that its current expendi
tures are greater than its receipts,
and that such a condition has existed
for more than three years. Witn un
limited means at our command, we
are presenting the remarkable spectacle
of increasing our public debt by bor
rowing money to meet the ordinary
outlays incident upon even an econo
mical and prudent administration of
the government. An examination of
the subject discloses this fact in every
detail, and leads inevitably to the can
clusion that the c~ndition of the rev
enue which allows it is unjastifiable
and should be corrected.
We find by the report of the secre
tary of the treasury that the revenues
for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1893,
from all sources, were $125,865,260.22
and the expenditures for all purposes
were $115,953,806.56, leaving an ex
cess of receipts over expenditures of
$9,914,453.66. Daring that fiscal year
$40,570,467.98 were paid apan the Dub
lie debt, which had been reduced
since Mirch 1, 1839, $259,076.89J, and
the annual interest charged decreased
$lt,684,576.60. The receipts of the
go rernment from all sources during
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1893,
amounted to $461.716 56 L ani its ex
penditures to $159,374,837, showinz
an excess ofreceipts over expenditures
of $2,311,674.
Since that time thereceipts of no fis
cal year, and, with few exceptions, of
no month of any fiscal year, have ex
ceeded the expenditures. The receipts
of the government from all sources
during the fiscal year ending June 30,
1894, were $372,802,498 and its expen
dituras $142,605,75S, leaving a deficit
-the first time since the resumption of
specie payments-of $69,803,260. Not
withstanding there was a decrease of
$16,769,128 in the ordinary expenses of
the government as compared with the
previous fiscal year, its income was
still not sufficient to provide for its
daily necessities, and tae gold reserve
in the treasury for the redemption of
greenback was drawn upon to meet
them. But this did not suffice, and
the government then resorted to loans
to replenish the reserve. in Febru
ary, 1S94, $50,000,000 were issused,
and in November following a second
issue of $50,000,000 was deemed neces
sary. The sum of $117,171,795 was
realized by the sales of these bonds,
but the reserve was steadily decreased
until, on February 8, 1895, a third
sale of $62,315,400 in bonds far $65,
116,244 was announced to congress.
Tne receipts of the government for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895,
were 390,373,203 and the expenditures
$433,178,426, sho wing a deficit of $13,
805,223. A further loan of $100,000,
000 was negotiated by the govern ment
in February, 1896, the sale netting
$111,166,246, and s welling the aggre
gate of bonds issued within three years
to $262,315,400.
For the fiscal year ending June 30,
1896, the revenues of the government
from all sources amounted to $109,
475,408, while its expenditures were
$431,678,615, or an excess of expendi
tures over receipts of $25,2J3,245. 1a
other words, the total receipts for the
three fiscal years ending June 30, 1896,
were insufficient by $137,811,729 to
to meet the total expenditures. Nor
has this condition since improved.
For the first half of tne present fiscal
year the receipts of the government
exclusive of postal revenues were
$157,057,603 and its expenditures ex
clusive of postal service $195,410,000,
or an excess of expenditures over re
ceipts of $37,902,396. In January of
this year the receipts exclusive of pos
tal revenues were $24,316,991 and the
expenditures exclusive of postal ser
vice $30,269,389, a deficit of $5,952,395,
for the month. In February of this
year, the receipts, exclusive of postal
revenues, were $24,400,997 and expen
ditures exclusive of postal service,
$28,796,056, a deficit of $4,395,059; or a
total deficiency of $186,06 1,5S0 for the
three years and eight months ending
March 1, 1897. Not only are we
without surplus in the treasury, but
with an increase in the public debt,
there has been a corresponding in
crease in the annual interest charge
from $22,823, 883 in 1892, the lowest of
any since 1862, to $34,387,297 in 1896,
or an increase of $11,493,414.
It ma~y be urged that even if the
revenue of the government had been
sutlicient to meet all its ordinary ex
penses during the past three years the
gold reserve would still have been iL
sufficient to meet the demands upon
it and that bonds would necessarily
have been issued for its repletion. Be
tuis as it may, it is clearly manifest
without denying or aflirming the cOr
rectness of such a conclusion that the
debt would have been decreased in at
least the amount of deficiency and
business confidence immeasurably
strengthened throughout the country.
Congress should promptly c orrect the
existing conditions. Ample revenues
must be supplied not only for the or
dinary expenses of the government,
bat for the prompt payment of liberal
pensions and the liquidation of the
principal and interest of the public
dept. In rraisimg revenues, duties
should be so levied upon foreign pro
ducts as to preserve tne home market
sa far as possible to our own produc
ers, to revive and increase manufac
tories, to relieve and encourage agri
culture, to increase our domestic and
foreign commerce, to aid and develop
minimg and building and to render to
labor in every field of useful occupa
tion the liberal wages and adequiate re
wards to which skill and industry are
justly entitled. The necessity of the
passage of a taritf law wich shall
proviue ample revenue need not be
turther urged. Tne impoerative de
mand of the hour is the prompt enact
ment of such a measure and to this ob
ject I earnestly recnmmend that con
gress shall matke every endeavor. Bia
fore other business is transacted, let
.us first provide suflcient revenue to
without the contracting or further
debt, or the continued disturbances of
our finances.
WILLIAM MCKINLEY,
President of the United States.
The message occupied the undivid
ed attention of the senators and of the
audience in the galleries, but no dem
onstration followed its conclusion.
Then, on motion of Mr. Allison (Rp )
of Iowa, the senate at 3:25 p. n. ad
journcd until to morrow at noon.
THE NEW PENSION LAW.
It is More ComplicAted Than the One it
snPersed3.
COLUMIA, March 19.-The latest
pension law is creating more compli
cations than the previous one, which
it was supposed to simplify. In fact
there are so many irregularities and
inc msistencies in it that it is doubtful
if pensioners will get their money be
fore some time in August, though
there is some chance of them getting
it about the latter part of July. The
contemplation of the law is that pen
sio-ers should receive their quota in
June, but in the new law the year is
made 1896 instead of 1897. This is an
error from carelessness and will not
affect the payment in the least. but
there are other things to be c nsidered.
The township ooards are required to
meet on May 1 aLd the County Board
meets ten days late. All pensions al
lowed will then have to pass the in
snection of the State Board, and as
there are so many of them, it will be
utterly impossible to have the lists
ready by June 15, as required by law.
Another c )mplication; arises from
the formation of new counties and the
division of to wnships As it is likely
that but one or two of the new coun
ties will be organizad by May 1, it is
not known exactly what procedare
shall be taken towards organizing
county boards. Comptroller General
Norton is giving the subject serious
study and it may result in him ignor
ing the fact that new c)unties have
been formed and have the towrships
organize just as if they had not been
cut off from the o:iginal cunty.
Again, there are many townships,
especially in the lower section of the
State, where there are practicilly no
Confederate soldiers, and if they do
not organize township boards the State
Board is required to do so. Thus the
latter board, before acting, will have
to ascertain all these facts and that
means further delay.
The State Board nad all its blanks
printed and sent out to the various
counties oefore the new law was pass
ed,and these blanks had nothing about
township boards. Mr. Norton hopes,
ho wever, to make them answer all pur
poses and save the printing of addi
tional ones.
The whole machinery of the pension
department has to be done over by
reason of the new law and while there
was a great deal of kicking last year
over delays, there is likely to be a
mighty howl this year. Bit it can't
be helped.
The following is a brief synopiis ot
the law:
1. The surviving soldiers and sail
ors who were in the service of the
Confederacy or the State during the
late war between the States are to
meet on a convenient day prior to
May, 1897, in the several townships
of this State, and after organizing by
the election of a chairman and secre
tary, they shall elect by a majority
vote three of their members or reputa
ble citizens who are not applicants for
pensions, who are to constitute the
examining board of pensions for each
township.
2. The township boards are to elect
one of their memby rs as chairman.
3. All applications for pensions are
to be made to the township boards
whose duty it shall be to decide to
which class the applicant belongs.
4. The several township boards are
to meet before the first Monday in
May, 1S97, for the purpose of consid
ering _applications, and within ten
days thereafter the county examining
board shall meet to settle all disputes
and contests.
5. In selecting pensioners from
among the applicants, the board shall
have regard to their physical condi
tion and nannial means, allowing to
each applicant so selected the sum of
$6, $1 and $3 per month, as they may
be entitled to under tho law.
6. The members of the township
boards are to serve without compensa
tion.
7. The chairman of the township
boards are to meet at the county seat
within ten days after their own elec
tion, and shall organize by electing a
chairman and secretary. When or
ganized they are t> elect four of their
members and a regular practicing
physician, who are to constituite the
county examining board, whica is to
meet on the first Monday in May,
1897.
S. The members of the County
Boards are to rc:ive $1 per day and
5 cents per mile one way,the per diem
and mileage not to exceed $S each in
a year.
t. The pensions are to be paid not
later than June 15.-Register.
Charve a For Some Town
Cor.UnuA, S. C., March 18.-"At
the annual meeting of the South Car
olina State Teachers' association a
committee of three men was appointed
to see what could be done toward
securing a permianent home-grounds
and buiiding-f or these annual meet
ings. such Lomaes as the teachers of
North Carolina and Georgia have.
From 200 to 300 teachers from the
common schools, high scaool, acade
mies and colleges ot the State attend
these meetings. Ihow many to wns in
the State are interestedl in this
movement? Taiscommnittee makes
its report in June." The State
yesterday rezeived the above
which is given for the in formation of
the p-ublic. There is scarcely any
necessity of pointing out the great
benetit im mny ways that will come
to the town or city which has tneC
nuiuber of teachers indicated to ga:her
therein once a yearr. Alt basiness
concerns would prodt directly from
the presence of such people.
Easslanu S tudenits Arrested.
LONDON, March 18.-A dispatch to
the London Times from St.
Pettersourg says that over a thous
and studenxts of the LUniversity and
other institutions have been arrested
at the very doors of the Cathedral of
our L idy of Kazan. Tuere were en
deavoring to attend prayers said for
the soui of a gzirl student name Vt
roi, wnlo, it is alleged. set lire to ber
bauket and burned nerself to death in
ner prisou cell to escape the insults
and violence of a prison ollicial. She
has been imnprisoned since Decenmer
on the charge of being a political agita
tor
TILLMIANON M ARK HA NA.
THE DISGRACE OF THE LATE PRES!I
DENTIAL ELECTION.
The Ohio Statesman Is Rewarded for the
Wholesale Prositution of the American
People-Senators Should be Elected by a
Direct Vote.
Senator D. R. Tillman wrote as fol
lows recently to the New York World:
The attitudle of the World in the last
cimpaign was a disappointment to its
friends who had expected tiat it
would finally come out for free silver
and then give Mr. Bryan a hearty
support.
Bat while Democrats were disap
pointed that the great Democratic
daily of New York city assu-med the
attitude it did, the telling blows which
it has dealt to trusts and monopolies
and the courage and persistence with
which it leads the fight against corpo
rations and their high priest, Mark
Hanna, must command the admira
tion of every true patriot.
We are making history very rapidly
in this closing lustrum of the nine
teenth century and the two opposing
forces in American politics, the peo
ple and organized capital, are alrea'dy
marshalling their forces for the con
test of 1900. The last election, al
though it witnessed the triumph of
money, is ackaowledged to have set
tled nothing, and every student of
current events must realize that the
condition of antagonism bet ween man
and money of our country is becom
ing more and more aczentu ited every
day.
As soon as it became known that
Senator Sherman would receive the
portfolio of State in the Cabinet of
Mr. McKinley the question of his suc
I ccs1r came prominently to the front
and for two months the figure of
Mark Hanna has loomed portentious
ly above the horizon as the man who
was to take Sherman's place in the
American House of Lords.
There has been reports, interviews
and surmises almost daily leading the
people to believe that Governor Bush
nell and Senator Foraker would re
sist the demand for Mr. Hanna's ap
pointment to fill the Senatorial va
cancy. There were patriotic Ameri
cans trained in the old school of our
politics, both Democrats and R epubli
cans, who hoped that official subser
I viency would not stoop s far that the
great State of Ohio might have as its
representative in the Senate one wor
thy to succeed John Sherman.
I But the '"business methods," for the
first time made familiar to the Ameri
can people in the recent Presidential
canvass, have been too strong. Tae
news came to us witnin a week that
Hanna is to be the next Senator from
Ohio. Organized capital flaunts in
the face of American people the com
mission to a seat in the Senate wrung
from a reluctant executive, and the
4th of March, which will witness the
withdrawal of Sherman, will. be fol
lowed swiftly by the entrance into the
Senate chamber of a man who boldly
and unblushingly bought the Presi
dency for his friend and patroa.
I say patron, for I am not ready to
use a harsher term which, however, is
flating in the minds of the people,
nor to believe that Mr. McKinley will
permit himself to become the mere
puppet and tool of Hanna and the
men he represents
The two men are very intimately
associated and one owes the other
much, very much, but I shall hope to
see the new President perform the
duties of his high otfie in a manner
that will reflect credit upon himself
and the millions of true Americans
who voted for him, rather than lend
himself to the scheme of the conspira
tors who are pressing madly onward
either to defeat or revolution.
The American people have done a
great deal of thinking siuce the No
r emnber election and tne masses have
learned a great deal about the true na
ture of the ismues presented in the last
campaign.
It is fortunate for those who have
not despaired of the Republic and who
believe in the capacity of men for
self-government that Mart Hanna is
to enter the Senate. His advent
marks a further step dowvnward, a
"lower deep" in the debauchery of
Ameriean politics. The elec:ion to
the high otlice of his Democratic pre
decessor y bribery has been charged
with mucn sho w of truth, and no evi
dence to aisprove it ever sa w the light
of day.
What, with the fact that Ohio cast
one vote in the recent election for
every three and three-quarter inhabi
tants and now sees the manmpulator of
that election transplanted to the Sen
ate-it is easy to see that the do wn
ward course, the "easy dcscent to
hell," is being rapidly trod. The
business metnods" which have
brought about these rerults and the
reward claimed and obtained so un
blushingly must mark an epoch in
American nistory.
The seat tilled" oy blutf, honest old
Ben Wade and "Grand Old Man
Allan Thurman, is to be occupied oy
Mark Hanna and the question natural
ly presents itself, what is the reason
or thus honoring this man? Is it be
cause he has oppressed and robbed la
bor? That he is in fact the embodi
ment of modern Repubiicanism which
is more cruel than the ex-slavenolders
of tne Soutn and knows no (kod bat
Mammon:
Let the cause be what it may. the
American people have only tuiem
selvsto blame for the e ndmtons in
which they now lind themselves. The
struggle for the control of the govern
mem~ by the trusts and corporations has
caused us to witness stranige sights with
in recent years. The Federal patronage
and the p-ossession of the veto pow
er are the prizes iougnt for in the
Presidential election.
A seat in the Senate, which is tie
fortress of the wealthy classes and fa
vored interests, is becoming so valua
ble thlat the election of a Senator in
any Smate, North or South where
money can be used, is no longer left
to the peopie or their representatives.
Partsan leeling runs so migh as to
threaten rioting and bloodshed. Wit
ness the scenes in Kentucky last
sp ing, and see the situation in Ore
gon now. Tnen the elections for den
ator in Souta Dakota, ldahio and
North Carolina are too recent to need
more than an allusion. 'They all cry
with trumpet voice for the election of
Senators og a direct vote of the peo
The robbery of the people by still
more oppresive legislation taan they
now endure cannot be accomplished
by legislative action, and a vote in
the Senate in the equally-ballanced
conditio of partie becomes moreand
more a prize to be fought for and-,
alas, I must say it-bought. The Re
publican chairman, who is to become'
Senator, has been actively at worn,
securing votes in that body. I
When Congress convenes in extra!
sesion he will himself be a member of
it, and his intimate relations with the
new President will naturally give
him more weight than any other man
in the Senate. Thus bribery, the
wholesale debauchery of the ballot,
is rewarded by the highest honor and
influence. Tte highest honor in the
2ift of the Suate is the priz? for the
wholesale p-ostitution of the A-meri
ean people.
Again I say it marks an epoch in
our country's history. and it remians
to be seen whether the triumph of
wrong over right, of fals2hood over
truth, of dishonesty and corruption
shall be p rmanent. I repeat that the
brazen effrontery which has brought
about this object lesson is fortunate
for the cause of humanity and natriot
ism.
"The mills of the gods grind slo p.
but they grind exceedingly fine."
The people of great wealth who use
such unscrupulous methods to ia
crease their ill-gotten gains are only
damming up the water.
State Board of Edccatlon.
ColumimA, March 18.-The follo v
ing communication to County Super
intendents of Education will prove of
especial importance to teachers
throughout the State:
COLUMBIA. S. C , March 15, 1S97.
Dear Sir: The State Board of E lu
cation will meet at Columbia on
April 2, and will examine applicants
for Teachers' State cerfificates on
April 3, begining at 9 o'clock a. m.
At this meeting the County Boards of
Elucation will be reorganized as re
quired by the Act passed at the last
session of the legislature. If you have
any matters to submit to this board at
this meeting please send them in time.
The regulir exmination of appli
cants for Teachers' County certificates
will be held by the County Boards of
Education on April 16. Decide where
the County examination will be held
and give ample public notice of the i
time and place of both the State and
County examinations. The ques~ionS
for the County examination will be
prepared by the State Board of Eluca
tion and sent to you, by mail or ex
press, in due time. Yours very truly,
W. D. MAYFIELD.
The meeting of the S:ate Board of
Education as is seen from the above
is to be a most important one, as all
boards will be reorganized under the
new school laws passed by the last
Ligislature. The follwing is the call
for the meeting of the board:
Dear Sir: Please take notice that
the State Board of Elucation will
meet at the Governor's Mansion at 8
o'clock p. m., April 2. at the office of
State Superintendent of E lucation at
9 o'clock a. m. on April 31. Among
other things that will come before the
Board at this meeting will be adoption
of quesiions for tne regular County
examination of applicants for teacn
ers' certifcates. This examination
will take place on the third Friday in
April. Please prepare and b-ing
with you some questions to be adopt
ed by the Board.
By order of Governor William H.
Ellerbe, Chairman of the Board.
Yours very truly,
W. D. MAYFIELD.
Very Important Dacidlon.
COLUMiBIA, March. 19.-In the Su
preme Court yesterday the follo wing
decision was handed: "W. H. Pep
pr, plaintitf, apllant, vs. Miss it
lie Shearer, styling herself Mrs. Salie
Pepper, defendant, respondent; af
firmed. O~ainion by Ira 13. Joces, As
soiate Justice." Behind this is the
sad story of a woman's betrayal and
the perfidioas attempt of the man ia
the case to heap further igaomy and
disgrace u pon his condiing vic tim.
Several years ago, in Anderson Coun
ty, Pdpper paid inarked attentions to
the defendant in the case mentioned
Under the promise of marriage he be
trayed her, but her father and orother,
accompanied by a prese ae: and a
couple of guns, persuaded Peppe:r that
it was best to right the wrong he had
done, as far as possib.e, by marrying
the girl. Shortly after this Pepper
skipped off and went to Texas. Last
year he applied to Judge Witherspoon
at Anderson to annul the marriage on
the ground that he had been forced
into it and had not entered into the
contract of his own free will and con
sent. 'The Judge righteously decided
against him and an appeal was taken
to the Supreme Court, which has just
confirmed the decision of the loiver
court. It is understood that Pepper
has some property in which he does not
wish his wife to share and tuat is why
he wants the niarriage annulled, but
in this the courts hiav biosked himz.
He is still in Texas, 'saa even snouid
he get a divorce in that State at wi
not atffct his wife's riggits to heri per
sonal share of what he might o w' in
this State, for Soutn Carosina reecg
ni s no uivorce or any kind, no mat
ter where or for what granted--Reg
Ister.
MrEte.xi, Tenn., Marcsh 1i.- 2 ie
worig of rescuing t.he pesople in the
looded district is beira~ carried on
night and day and tuiis miorning halt
a dozen steamiers brought to Mmphis
Iover 1,000 refugees. inlC sesteam 2Oat
-e ei ome horro-,i'ng stories 0o
saferng nddeath. On~e wo'man
who was rescued froan I ndian
mound. 15 miles west o here, held mf
her armas a dead iafant that~ nper
shed from cold and hungr cre
family of four wnen r-seaed, r-elated
hat two small children wer -ro- 'wnta
in sight or taeir helpiess parents. IL
lands Nos. 4), :37, 350 and ;l in t1'i
Misiss~sippi riser are comifztely s-a -
merged andI the inhabntauts to tce
nuoer of about C00 have abandoned
their homes- Rain oegan to fall nere
yesterday afternoon and at noon Lu
day there nad been no cessation 01
the downpour. The river no-v marks
3. 9. Tae Ievaes are standing the
strain much better than was expectedi,
but a break is lhauie to caur at a.ny
momnt
An Elephant strau:;ied.
BahmzE'onr, Coan., March 10.
Tip, a monsar elepnt wnica has
been shown turougnout the conr
-Or many years nast. was nu' to d-- t
y stran~guiatlon to day .~d i n
brut's eet were chained tosaesam
ly driven into tne ground med a
block and lac-kie dre'--a rope ,tau
about his5 neck, unltil he was '-a .
The operation was comnpletd m
teen minutes. *o2p ha der-\e
vicious tenaerncies. Yetr -e wa
give poion but vmilnou makd
FOUR SU'RVVED.
Thirty- five IPO-yte Battledl With ThIrst
NEW Y-ca March D -Out of the
ightytwo pers. onprisim:, the
passengers and cr-.-w Of the steamer
VIle de St. Nai rmwich sailea from
this nort onr for Port Aux
Prince. Hayo, only foir are known
to iavo surviel th- disaster which
befel* the craft a for. y-eight hoars
le T-ese foar passed through an
ex-orience sc "s has fortunately
fahen to the Jot of fe ', sceing one af
ter another of t irty-one others
who left he iaar in the large boat
r~erish" of mume to the cold or die
of hun r, SOn.- su!ferinz during the
seven days in w'ien they drifted help
lessly, without sait or compass. pangs
that dro.-e them to madness before
death came to their relief. Among the
sur vivors is Senor Pagado, a San Do
minyan, who was compelled to wit
ness he death of his wife and four
children without being able to allevi
ate their suIf frlags. What became of
the forty-four persons besides those
mentionea above can be only too well
surmised, although there is a remote
iossibility that one or more of the
three boats in which they left the
sinking steamer in the midst of a ferce
March storm, off the always periious
Cape Hatteras, has been picked up by
a sailing vessel which has not yet
made a part and made known the res
cue. The other known survivors be
sides Togad-o are Captain Berri, Mr.
Stauts. the third engineer and the
ship's djctor, Maire.
Tne St. Nazaire was one of the West
Indian fleet of the French Trans At
lantic Steamship Company and plied
between this and West Indian p~rts,
commainded by Captain Jacquaman.
She clearei from Ne v York for Port
de France, MArch 6;h. Oa the follow
inog day, according to the story told
by one of the survivors, a leak was
discovered, but it was not thought to
be sutli-ienily serioas to warrat a re
turn to port. By the middle of the
se:ond day, howvever, tae leak had
increased to a dangerous extent and a
ortion of the cargo oa the port side
of the vessel was damagei by the wa
ter which had co-mencel to ooar in
in great qaantties.
A terriole storm arose on the nignt
of the second day, and the heavy seas
together with the big leak, readered
the escape of the vessel from sbi9
wreck an impossibility. Realizing that
the shio was doomed the captain or
dered the four life boats to be lowered
and into them crowded the passengers
and cre w. Tne boats were soon s wept
apart by the wind and waves. Tne
boat which was found by the Hilda
six days after the sinking of the ship
is the only one of.the four that has
been heard of.
The Ville de St. Nazaire was valued
at $300,000. Her cargo was valued at
$50,000 and sh3 carriel -$5,00) in
gold. The agent said he did ncl kaow
whether the cargo was insured or not.
Captain Jaq aanan was a wido wer and
two of his daughters are said to be
married and living in the south of
France.
Engineer Stauts and Dr. Maire hive
so far recovered from the edfects of
their terrible exposure as to be able to
be up and around the saloons of the
steamshio La Nrmandie, to which
they have been taken to recuperate.
Captain Berri is resting easily at the
Hotel Martin.
To his physician,Captain Brr said:
"The supply of food and water on the
small boats was exhausted the first
day, and then bcgan the awful strug
gle in which thirty-one out of the
thirty-five persons in the boat perish
ed. Mrs. Tagado and her four chil
dren were among the first to succumbo.
After the water gave out r. few bis
cults remained. Many of the men
were almost choked in s wallo wing the
dry sturT, and in desperation they
drank of the salt water. Tnose wno
commenced to drink the brine could
not stop, and in a few days they be
came maniacs and died in maniacal
cnvulsions. Others who resisted the
tem'otation to drink the salt water
culd not stand the deprivation and
died from hunger. Those who remain
ed had not s:.rength enough to move,
aud when the boat was picked uc
there wera four of the dead with the
living. I did everything I could to
induce the unfortunate people tO keep
from drinking the salt water and to
set themselves to fight ,death, but what
I said had little etfect."
Daring Attempt at Kidnapping.
HorsTos, Tex., March 18.-The
most daring attempt at crime eve'
known here was frastrated this morn
ing at 3 o'clock when detectives killed
Walter liaghes as he was in the acl
of entering the house of Frank Dann,
a wealthy resident of this city. The
police received information some time
ago that a scheme was on foot to kid
nap Dann's little daughter. The pur
pose of the kidnappers was to keep
th girl in captvity and demand 4l0,
t00 ransom for restoring her to her
o~rents. Detectives have been or
-ur -a r Dunn's house for several
nguard bt no developments oceurred
unstil this morning, when it was dis
covered that a man was attenapting to
foc one of the windows of the Dan
residence. One of the officers i nad
vertently attr-acted the attention o0
the miarauder, who. ilnding he was
dicovered, drew a revolver and tired
Sicea the detective. The detectives
thn opened tire and the intruder fet
dead. ' ugh was a railro'ad man, bu
ha -tl been working as a carpen
ter He ad rented a house aa
Dun- an'd under the floor of one 'o
the room s had dug a cave in whici
ther -idnap"ped child was to be saccetec
u til thernsam was paic. At a poin:
somea' distance fron at'e city Hutghe:
had errue a number of tabxe
where he intended to direct -that is
tres at would result in uc da1 a
the child. *Wn Hughes' body wai
searched a~ re'olver, a keecdg
utcher knf sud a baotte of cnloro
ar -
1- o Mrc -E-The trial o
tw re oen and' -r men was com
manced a vasar;nely, on L e adodos
to aa.Te priSouers ar enarget
wi~ oisoning their husba~nds. o
naer of their relatives in order t<
oaiisurance mone.v Somae o:
'e rison ers are accoused of four c.
ae 1'narders. Tne chtief prisoner is
midwie, named Marie ajer, who i
energe'd with supyn the poisor
wit which1 the murders wecom
mtted. About MG witnesses ye 'r
WAS A GREAT SWELL.
HOW A SHARPER CUT A WIDE SWATH
IN COLUMBIA.
s-veral Legislators Have Remembrances
in the Shape of 1. 0. U's-A Draft for a
Board Bill Which Was Worthless.
ComUma'i 1. March 19.-Daring the
session of the Legislature a well
dressed man, apparently about 40
years old, came to Columbia and reg
istered at the Grand Central. He had
dark hair, sprinkled with grey, whis
kers of the same kind, which he part
ed in the middle, wore glasses, and on
first sight had quite a distinguished
appearance about nim. His autograph
on the hotel register alleged that his
name was Galp. Mr. Golp seemed to
have money, in fact he did, for he
smoked good cigars and wined and
dined himself sumptuously, both at the
hotel and restaurants in the city.
That is, he did it for a while, but be
fore he left he wasn't quite so swell,
though he tried his best to keep up ap
pearances on the small amounts he
had borrowed from conading new
made friends. They and the hotel
would like to renew acquaintance
with Mr. Golp for a brief moment,
long enough at least to introduce him
to some policeman or other officer c.
of th- law whom he failed to meet
during his sojoura hera. Mr. Golp
went away leaving sad rememberane
es, a two week's unpaid board bill and
sundry sm. amounts lie had "touch
ed" various people for, he forgot to
return.
As the zentleman had apparently
notbing to no but loaf around and en
joy himself, it soon became noised
aboit amoag legislators that he was a
man of wealth and position. Mr.
Golp helped along this delusion by
telling about the confidential relations
which existed between himself and
George W. Vanderbilt and let out a
gentle hint tnat the millionaire's purse
strings were right in his hands. He
spoke knowingly of the wondersof
Vanderbilt's palace at Asheville, and
his discrip ioa of the luxurious furn
ishings and equipment of the mansion
and tbae lavish way in which money
had been spent on it, made his hear
ers' eyes balge out in amazemnent and
they held their mouths open in utter
astonishment, for his auditors, as a
rule, couated themselves mighty
lucky to have a three or four room,
common, ordinary plank house in
which to live and rear their families.
Having thus established himself as
being about the only Debble lying
about on the beach, Mr. i-olp proceed
ed to inform everybody who cared to
listen that he was in Columbia for
recreation and that one ot his princi
pal ways of getting a little change out
of the monotony of living was to
write for the newspapers. He re re
seated two or three big N r gr --
pers and several Earopean jouraals,
lhe said, though as far as anybody can
remember he never happened to men
tion the name of any of them. Iatha
excess of his coai~dence, he informed
people about the hotel lobby that he
had been an officer in the German
army, cavalry serice, and spoke very
intelligently and correctly, it is said,
about the Emperor's war machine.
That he spoke with a German acccent
lent some color to his statemera -wvi----em
those who didn't suspect him of being
a sharper.
IFinally he became very intimate
Iwith legislators and others about the
Ibotel. It was "Hello, Jim," or "How
is it, old man?" with his new made
familiarity at last became unbearable
to some legislhtors, and they "called
him down." Some remarks he made
to others, with no intention of of
fending anybody, caused them, how
ever, to threaten to knock his head off.
Little things like that didn't phase
him a bit, and he' continued to walk
into members' roomns and engage in
their conversations often to their dis
gust and late into the night, but they
were too considerate to ask him out.
It was during inese meetings that he
" touched" several members for small
amounts, explaining that he had ne
glected to draw enough out of tb~e
bank during the day to last him. If
all he got this way was aggregated
into a single sum it would not amount
to much, but it was not his fault.
Legislators don't carry wads of green
'backs around with them at any time,
but to the extent of their ability he
got them. He told them what a great
Legislature South Carolina had, and
how he was going to write glow
ing accounts of it in those domes
tic and foreign journals he represent
ed. This was a bait he threw out in
order to catch suckers but few bit,
and those who did have several weeks
since realized that they had been
duped.
G Uolp stayed around Columbia some
time after the Legislature adjiourned,
and finally left, supposedly for Ash
ville. He owed two weeks board and
gave a draf t on the Battery Bank at
Asheville for the amount. It was re
turned as no good, and since that
time an effort has been made to locate
Mr. Goip. He was heard of in several
towns in the upper part of the State,
but before he could be arrested he had
skipped, for he is a very slick fellow,
and. will not come back to Columbia
if he can help it.-Register.
Deed of a Madman.
Aca usn, Ga., March 18.-Wright
Smnith, an old, one-legged Confeder
ate soldier, had a dispute with his wife
in Suinmerville, a suburb of this city,
thisa'ternoon, which resulted in him
silln nis two young children and
:hen committing suic-:de. Smith has
not livel happily with his wife, who
is hi econd.' his first wife having
di ed soe years ago. He went out
int ty ard and seeing his two chil
'e yis second wife playing, dealt
eaa of them a blow with his crutch,
>raining them, then pulled a revolver
from hais pocket and blew his own
brains out. The oldes; child was
about five and the 1youngest three
years oi age.
Foul Flay suspected.
LIDEan', S. C., March 16.-A re
port has reached here of a man named
Wakecuster being found dead on the
Southern Railroad, three and a half
miles West of here, on the 14th. He
was near the track and had a jug near
him. There is suspicion of foul play
- as it is thought his body was put
hnere to make it appear he was struck
;a train. Coroner Jones was sum
uioned and held an inquest but I have
noi heard the verdict. He had a wife
and one child at Piedmont factory and
was moving and tihe man who was
moving him has not been heard of
round here since Saturday.-Regis