The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, March 13, 1901, Image 2
Lx S~a iii1 i.e3
yot. xv. MANNING .C ENSAMRH1,10.N.5
HELD IN SLAVERY.
Result otths investigei:>n of the
Anderson Grand Ju'y.
A PLAIN RECITAL OF FAC TS
Direct Charges Preferred Ag Jinst
Those Guiity of False
Imprlscnms n - and
of Barbarity.
The special cmmittec of the Ander
son County Grand Jury appointed by
Judge Benet to investigate certain
charges against large land owners in
that coanty made its report last Thurs
day to the court.
The committee-'says that in the case
of Magistrate J. J. Gilmer we find that
for some time past he has been in the
habit of issuing warrants and causing
arrests and fr qtuently commi'ting ac
cused persons to jail without ever enter
ing the case upon his daket. This is
especially true where the cases have
been comprom: *d after the arrests
were made. 11 :Ind that from Sept
16, 1899, to Jan. 12, 1901, he made
payment to the county treasurer of a
number of fines and items of costs col
leeted by him, but that during that time
he collected through the sheriff's offe
alone $34 80, which properly belongs
to the county and failed to pay them
over to the ecunty trt asurer as rcquired
by law. He also colle:ted $18 S0, which
he failed to turn over.
We find that Feb. 19,1901, after this
investigation was begun, the said J. J.
Gilmer paid to the county treasurer the
sum of $53.20 to cover these amounts
While we have not been permitted, for
the lack of time, to make a full inves
tigation of all the irregularities of this
office, we are convinced he has been
guilty of the grossest irregularities,
and we would suggest that a complete
investigation of his books and accounts
shuh d be had and that he should be
presented for misappropriation of the
funds so collee'ed by him.
THE FATE oF 1ILL HULL
Regarding the arrest of the Negro
Will Hull, which you were directed by
the court to invarigate, we find that
a warrant was issued by Magistrate
Gilmer for the arrest of this Negro
upon an affidavit of A. T. Newell,
charging him for a violation of labor
contract, and that W. S. Newell, a
brother of the prosecutor, was depu
tized by the Magistrate to serve said
warrant; that the constable so deou
tized requested the deputy sheriff, J.
A. Dillingham, to go along with him
and assist in making the said arrest
and representing that said Hall would
probably create trouble when arrested
and that the assistance of the deputy
sheriff would be needed.
The arrest was made on Friday night
and the Negro was brought to Anderson
on the same night. The deputy sheriff
suggested that the prisoner be taken to
jail, but the Negro said that he would
prefer to go on with W. S. Newell, and
that Mr. Newell informed the deputy
that the magistrate had instructed him
that he should carry the prisoner on
home with him.
Subsequently the magist-ate was in
formed by the prosecutor that the case
had been compromised and that the
Negro had agreed to stay with him and
work out his c~ntraot. The rest of the
facts were brought out in open court.
We exonerate the deputy sheriff from
all blame in the matter.
The princiral work of this commit
tee has been the investigation of the
stockades of the county and the abuses
of laborers under tyrannous contracts
that has grown out of the farming cut
of convicts and the working of free
laborers with them. We have taken
the testimony of more than 50 persons
-that of the landlords, their overseers
and guards, together with a large
number of laborers and a few other
it'zens. In these investigation we
have been treated with every courtesy
and generally we have found no dispo
stion to obstruct our work upon the
part of those whose farms and stock
ade: ive visited.
A moet careful inquiry failed to re
veal that any general abuse of the la
boring class exists in this county, so
that our work soon narrowed down to
those places where stockades exist d
and free laborers were employed. We
visited the farms of J. Belton Watson,
A. T. Newell, P. B. Allen, 3. R Miller,
Elias Maiee, W. Q Hammond and J.
. Fowler.
THESE EXONERATED.
We were unable to find any abues
at the farm of J. B. Watson. He has a
stockade and works free laborers also,
but we found no svidence that free la
borers were put in the rtockales and
worked in line with the convicts, or
ubjected to any illegal restraint or
abuse.
The same thing was true at the farm
of P. B. Allen. We found that he had
taken two contracts in which the la
borers agreed to work under guard and
be looked up at night, but his own ev
idercee and that of all the, laborers so
far as we could ascertain, was that
these provisions had never been en
forced.
A. T. Newell works State convicts
and has a stockade, but he has worked
no free laborers along with the con
victs recently, when he has taken two
contracts of that sort. One of these
was the case of the unfortunate Negro
Will Hull, who was killed by W. S
Newell a few weeks ago and whose
case is referred to above.
"FREE LAnOR!'
J. R. Miller formerly worked con
vits, but they were taken away by the
State, and he now employs only "free"
labor, if indeed we may use the word
free to describe those lab~orers who
have signed his contracts and subj doted
themselves to the conditions existing
on his farm. He has a stockade which
was originally built for his State con
vits and his contracts provide that the
"free" laborers will work under guard
and will allow themselves locked up at
night.
Our first investigations at this place
were met by a statement from the ne
groes that they'-were satisfied with
their treatment, but their manner indi
ated coercion and subsequently we
made further investigations whioh con
vinced us that J. IR. Miller, and his
overseer, J. A. Emerson, had been
,,,,ty of whipping negroes, looking
them up at night, woiking t- em unc r
guard and puttirg shseckles upon them.
Among these unfortunates were John
Harrison, Will Wright, Warren Sloan
at d LIege Jones. We found several of
Mr Miller's contracts left blank as to
the tinme of service and amcunt to be
p.d, though the contracts were duly
sip 'ad and witnessed.
In the case of Warren Sloans he
gemed to have been arrested by J. R
M1:lcr and another man, whose name we
ocuid not sscertain, near Central, in
P e ensc:unty. There is testimory that
no marran t-was exhibited, if any exi ted,
but he was handcuffed ard taken to Mil
ler's stockade and kept there until t'is
investigation began. Since our first
visit to this stoohaie he was turned
loos, and allowed to go home In our
judgement, the sail J. R Miller and
J A. Emerson should be presented by
the grand jury for the cifanses above
mentioned, and wee so recommend.
ELIAS MCSEE S PLAN.
In many respects the most remark
able case coming under our notice is
that of Elias Megee, who has never em
ployed Scate convicts, but who built a
stockade and prepared to treat his la
boreis a' convics. His contracts pro
vide that the laborers shall be worked
under guard and locked up at night and
6tcre was abundant evidence to show
that he had locked up in the stockade,
worked under guard and whippped his
aborers Among those who suffered a
art or all of these abusese were Wesley
Nornao. Handy Earle, Yate Smith,
George Tilly, John Clinkscales, C ar
once Gailliard, Evins Wood, Louis
Alexander, Morris Tordan. Some of
these negroes bad been arrested and
signed contract- after being put under
rrest. John Clink oales was accused
by E-ias McGee of stealing a-ra, was
brought to Anderson handcuff :d and
after he had s'gaed a contract, but
without any trial, turned over to W. Q
Hammond, who carried him to the tat
per's stockade. We think the grand
jury should make presentment against
Elias NlcGee, and we so recommend.
W. Q Hammond runs a large farm
in this county and employs a consiler
ble numoer both of State convicts and
'free" laborers. His contracts provide
:hat the "free" laborers shall be worked
nider gcard and locked up at night,
and they. suffer th's illegal imprison
nent and more, for the evidence shows
:hat a num'- er o:t these unfortunates
Have been worked under guard and gin,
save been looked up at night and on
undays and have b.en shackled and
whipped. Among those who suf 3red
hese thir gs at the hands of Mr. Ham
nond ar d his overseers, Wm. Bailey,
ames Martin and Day, are the
ollowing: Ishan Aberer ynbie, Pink
Rogers, J-mes Clintion, John Hewey,
Pom Parks, Charley Johnson and John
Thnkscales. Several of these were in
sail at the time of our examination.
'hey had been indicted last fall for
;amblirg, had been taken out of jail on
)ond by Mr -Hammond and kept at his
arm without trial until the investiga
ion began, when he surrendered them
ack to the sheriff.
The negro, Tom Parks, whose case
was called to the attention of the grand
jury by the preidicg judge, was re
eased almost immediately thereafter.
He was taken forcibly and without trial
:uder one of the labor contracts above
'ferred to and confin yd in the stockade
worked with the convicts and saffered
the other abuses above mentioned n
til this investigation was begun. We
earn that perhaps a score of other la
borers held under similar contracts
have left this farm during the j ast few
weeks. One of them, Pink Rogers,
states that he was given a whipping of
50 lashes by Win. Bailey at the stock
ide.
We think that the facts disc'osed de
ad that vV. Q. Hammond, James
Martin, Win. Bailey and--Day
should be presented by the grand jury
for the violation of law above mention
ed and we so recomm-nd.
J.. S. Fowler, who first ubed the con
tract providing for free laborers to be
treated as convicts, worked under
guard, locked up, etc., employs a con
siderable number of couvicts and also
f the so-called "free" laborers. He
has two stockades, one of which is un
der the supervision of James Coiok and
which was formerly managed by Willis
McGee. The other is under the charge
of Levi Thomas. At these farms the
convicts and "free" laborers have been
worked together under a guard who
carries a gun, they have been locked
up at night and some of them whipped.
There was no evidence of any of them
having been shackled. Some of them
had been accused of trivial offnses
and were put under contract to work
out debts or to repay money advanced
for them. James Evans, Bay lis Arter,
Alonzo Lark, Frank Bowlan. John Bell,
Robert Brown, Foster Butler, Dan Hill,
Wilis Harper, Joe Whitfield, Jim
Rice, John Gilliam, Turner Walker,
Andrew -Dobbs, Deck Freeley and
Drayton Wheeler are some of the ne
groes who have been confined in Mr.
Fuwer's stoakade.
Willis McGee, James ZDook, Levi
Thomas, George Thomas and Mike
Robbins should have presentments
made against them by the grand jury
for whipL ing different ones of .these ne
groes. Willis Mc~ee was especialy
ruel. It was testified that he had
given the nergo Baylis Arter 100 lashes
on ore occasion and that he whipped
Robert Brown most severely and
cruelly and on one occasion shot five
times at Drayton Wheeler, one of the
bullets passing through Wheeler's hat.
The testimony goes to show that
Qeorge Thomas shot at Dock Freeley
and that he was also ready at the whip
pings.
Andrew Dobbs was found to be suf
fering from rheumatism which ha says
was brought on by being compelled to
stand almost waist deep in mud and
water in cold weather ditching. He
was arrested by A M Baile:y, who has
been acting as a sort of constable for
J. S. Fowler but was never t ried. J. A.
Rice is a negro of rather weak mind
who was captured somewhere in Geor
gia and charted with having escaped
from J. S. Fowler's stockade in this
county. Upon being brought here it
was found that he was not ::be man he
was suspected of being but neverthe
less after being kept for several days
in the stockade he entered into one of
the labor contracts and has been in the
stockade for several months, though
unwillingly there. A number of "free"
laborers have lef:, Mr. Fowler's farm
since these investigations were first
begun but some unwilling ones were
still in the stockades when we visited
A TRUE INDICTMENT
Of the Ui.ed States in Her Deal
ing With Cuba.
"LIARS AND HYPOCRITES'
Is What France and Spain Truth
fully Say We Are. Our
Country Disgraced Bs
fore Nations
The dealing of the United States
with -Cuba is infamous. If you don't
think so read what we print below fiom
the Columbia State:
The Latin races are accustomed to
sneer at the hypocrisy of the Anglo
Saxon. Frenchman, Spaniard and Ital
ian regard cant as a characteristic of
B-itish and American expression, and
they marvel much at the curious bent
of mind which causes the men of these
nations to cloak all their evil purposes
with the pretence of high and holy mo
tives. Even more do they marvel at
this becau-e the cloak is threadbare
from overmuch use and utterly fails to
conceal that which it attempts to cover.
The solemnity of this moral pretence is
made even more absurd by its utter
fatuity. Does the Anglo Saxon sue
coed in fooling himself? asks the La
tin; how can he? And as he can
neither delude himself nor the rest of
mankind by the assumption of holiness
in hs worst works, what is the use of
it all?
The Latin is right. In this respect
the Anglo Saxon is his inferior, for he
not only sins as freely as any other in
dividual of the human family but he
aids to that sin the further vice of hy
pocrisy--and all to no effect except the
creation of a universal disgust. The
Latin does not trouble himself to be
hyporit'c d. He takes a pleasure
rather in being frank about the mo
tives for his wickednesses. If he
wishes to conquer another he admits
that he does so for the sake of glory;
if he wishes to seize upon the property
of another he acknowledges that he is
actuated by. the desire for loot; if he
wishes to appropriate the rights of
another he proclaims that he does it
for the sake of power. He is above the
contemptible meanness of alleging that
he indulges these appetites simply for
the good of the victim.
When the United States went to war
with Spain in orderto "liberate" Cuba,
Spaniards and Frenchmen, relying
up n their generalization of the Anglo
Saxon character, insisted that the
pledge contained in the Teller rrsolu
tion would be violated and that a way
would be found to hold the Cubans in
subj -etion to the conquerors. Time has
proven that they were right; time has
shown that the honor of the United
States, pledged in this matter, is as
little regarded as it was when the Uai
ted States administration in the spring
of 1861 pledg-d itself not to disturb the
status quo regarding Fort Sumter and
telegraphed south, "Faith as to Sumter
fuly kept," when an expedition was
actually in making to violate the
agrement. Spanish official paper~s
which we read in the interior of Cuba
before the close of the war, appealing
toi the Cubans to make ommon cause
with Spain for the reason that they
would be betrayed by the United
States and placed under alien control,
were prophetic in. their warning. The
Cubans refused to believe this, and
we could not imagine such bad faith
in view of the professions with which
the war had been entered upon; but
the event proved that they were right.
For a concentrated exhibit of Anglo
Saxon hypoerisy in its most loathsomne
form we commend to the public the in
auural address of President McKicley
deivered recently. Nothing in DYck
ens is more illustrative of that con
temptible vice than this deliverance of
the chief magistrate of the United
States on his assumption of the powers
of government for a second term. The
whole address is permeated with cant
and false pretence. It gives one the
creeps to read it. The president is
"glad to be advised by the recent act
of congress of the policy which the
legislative bra-ach of the government
deems essential to the best interests of
Cba and the United 3Wates"-a palicy
which the president himself formulated
and fcrced through cngress by m aans
which can be characteriz ed only as
bribery. The same nauseous pretence
of obeying the mandate cof congress is
made in regard to the Philippines
when congress in this matter, as in
the Cuban matter, acted only upon the
cobined influences of menace and se
duction proceeding from the exeeontive.
The address fitly concludes with the
assertion that "the government's rep
resentatives, civil and military, are do
ing faithful and nobli, work in their
mission of E MANCIPA TION and merit
the approval and support of their coun
try men." Faughit
We conclude with an editorial from
tha Chicago Times-Herald, whose edi
tor. Mr. Kohlsaat, is a. personal friend
of President McKinley and a Republi
can. Let the administration be judged
byau honest friendl
But yesterday the word of this re
public might, like that of Caesar's,
have stood against the world. Today
who so weak or simple in all the courts
of nations as to do it reverence?
The Times-Herald has a word of
comment to offer upon the Cuban
amendment to the armyv bill as an orig
inal proposition. It may contain the
wisest provisions that, could be devised
for establishing peaci arid giving a
stable government to the island.
What we insist upon is that the Uni
ted States was not free to adoot any
such conditions and hang the~m about
the neck of Cuba. It was pledged to
strike the Spanish fet ters from an op
pressed and shamefullyr abused people,
with a solemn disavo'wal of any pur
ose of substituting American rule,
however beneficent, in its place..
We wish The Times-Herald had the
space to reproduce one tit.e of the
fervent utterances that accompanied
the adoption of the now notorious res
olutions of A pril 20, 1898. They fill
pages and pages of the Congressional
Record, and in the light of the action
of the senate this week they ring falser
than the kiss of Judas.
How the senators hoped and prayed
ta the starved and scourged people
WP found no evidence to conne:ct
Mr. Fowler in any way with the whip
pings of these laborers, but he was a
party t) these cotracts which provided
for the illegal imprisor meat and work
ing under guard of the laborers and is
responsible for these provisions being
enforced and that presentment shouli
be n ade against him therefor.
We submit herewith the mrmyranda
of testimony which we have taken
which will show to the court and salic
itor more fully the facts which we have
reported and will enable them to get
the names of the witnesses to prove
such facts. It is proper that we shou'd
add that much of the abuse has already
been corrected as a result of this in
vesiigation and that some of the par
ties have been to us with the assurance
that they would immediately correct
the evils existing on their farms to
which we have called attention.
Owing to the widespread influence
and eff ct that follows any public .is
cussion of the question of farm labor
in this State and the result that many
follow a presentment such as we pro
pose it is proper that we should in clos.
ing this roport enter into a br'ef ds
cussion of the infinences that have
brought about the evils reported i.nd
make suggestions as to the remedies
therefor. We have heard rumors that
this investigation has already created
a widespread interest and that the can
diti:;.s have been dismussed with some
feeling cut we have as far as possible
avoided reading anything publishes. or
said in this respect in order that we
might pursue our investigations without
any irfluerce or bias from any quartcr.
The question of farm labor in this
State is a very eifficult one and the
present laws regulating the same are
insufficient.
The negroes whom we found con
fined in the stockade were composed
largely of a class of shiftless debtors
who, are subject to indictment for petty
offense, and who could not be success
fully workel under ordinary contrasct=.
They are men who have no property,
and men who evade their debts unlcss
compelled to pay them. Against them
the process of a civil court is worth
less; that of the criminal court under
existing laws is inadeqnate. Sone
thing should be done by the legislature
to grade the punisl ment of this class
according to the offence. Bat the worst
trouble has not been in the defect of
the provisions of the law so much as
its enforcement. It has come to be a
settled policy in this county that in
dictment for violation of contract and
for disposing of property under lien
should be compromises, and not tried.
We are convinced that this is wrong in
principle and dangerous in practice.
Whatever injustice may be done an
individual by disposing of property on
which he has lien, or by the violation
of a contract by one of his employes,
and whatever force might be given to
the effect of penal 'statutes to induca
payment of debts or fulfillment of con
tracts that never has bien the true in
tent and purpose of the penal statutes.
They are enacted to prevent public
wrong, and when a prosecution has
0-ice been instituted and the power of
the criminal court invoked, the ques
tion of private recompense should dis
appear, and the public interest alone
sbold be considered. While this may
result in occasional hardships, it is the
only safe policy. Abuses will other
wise grow up until the criminal courts
are degraded into machines for private
gain, and often for extortion and op
pression. In our judgment it should be.
a crime to compromise any ease aifter
indictment found with a view of pri
vate gain.
Nor can we condemn too severely
that other fruitful source-in fact, the
origin of the abuses herein reported
the leasing out of conviets to work on
private farms. Evils already detailed
are too eloquent to necessitate a dis
ussion to prove this. Snch a syste m
should not be tolerated after its results
have been expsed as in this county.
We have heard it intimated that our
inestgations and exposures would
ditturb the labor conditions to such an
extent as to. create trouble in this
State. We do not believe that it is
true, but if it were we would not hesi
tate to declare the evils we fine and to
demand that they should be ab~iished.
The duty of this body is plain: We
must stop the violations of law that,
new exist, and if others begin on the
part of the laborers themselves, then
we will unite with the law abiding
citizens of the county in punishing and
terminating these evils.
The result of our investigations show
that the system o~f working them in
stockades does not exist in this cc unty
further than we have reported. Prob
ably not as many as twenty men, either
as principal or agent, either directly
ar indirectly, have been engaged in
this abuse. On the ether hand, the
numbers of laborers and lienors who
have violated the law will double that
number mnany timnes.
We therefore rei'era'e that the in
flunce of this grand jary, and we do
not hesitate to say of the court also,
will not be extended to enable any man
to avoid a just contract, and that we
have found that most of the labor con
tracts of the county are legal and just
If violat'ons of just contracts begin as a
result of the investigation we have
made, we suggest that warrants be
sworn out and prompt punishment
given. We have not undertaken to as
sume the responsibility of prosecuting
the laborers who l'ave violated their
contracts, because the position and in
flence of the landlord makes them
fully able to do that without assistance
from us. This special report his been
brought about be'oause of the oppres
sion and abuse of men who were too
poor, too friendless, too ignorant and
often too degraded to act for them
selves, but who are nevertheless en
titled to the full protection of the law,
and who because of their weakness
have a peculiar claim to our pretection.
All of which is respectfully sub
mitted.
Drunk at the Throttle.
The Moscow correspondent of the
London Daily Mail says: 'During the
recent heavy snowatorms 50 men were
sent to clear the snow out of a r ailway
cntting near Wolovo, on the Riasan
Ural lire They were just leaving the
cutting when the train came down
at full speed and crushed about 80 men
into shapeless masses, their e othing
linging to the axles and stoppirig the
train. Inquiry shows that thxe engine
driver a all the guards were drunk."
of Cula would not be betrayed with
tie promise of freedom only to be
taught to look with suspicion and ha
tred upon the Stars and Stripes as they
had looked on the hated yellow flag of
Spain!
The air of both houses of cngre~s
was surcharged with electric eloquence
that contrasted American honor with
Spanish perfidy.
Such a cool headed senator as Knute
Nelson of Minn-sota declared that
there were "better and stranger
grounds for our recognizing the Cuban
rcpublia than there was for recogniz
in.i the United Sates by France in
1778. To ignore Gom. z and the Cuban
republic," :aid he, "teems to me to be
cold, icy heartlesstees, unworthy a
great na'ion and a great people."
Intervention and independence for
Cuba were on the lips and in the votes
of a maj rity of the senate, and almost
a unanimous house during the night
of April 18, 1898, when the famousreso
lutions went back and forth between
the two houses until they came to a
final agreement which let slip the ar
mies of the Unitea States for the
emancipation of the Republic of Cuba
from the thrall of Spain.
Senator Stewart regarded "the re
cognition of the independence of Cuba
as a onadition precedent to any inter
ference whatever." He repudiated all
suggestion of- "hostile constraint en
patriots who have struggled as the
Cuban patriots have."
It was "with much hesitation and
much sadness" Senator Hawley dis
cussed the declaration of the independ
ence of Cuba which he opposed.
Our own Senator Cullom denounced
Sain-as a robber nation, and appealed
to every "lover of freedom and hu
manity the world over" to further the
sacred cause of Cuban independence.
In concluding hisespeeeh on the q les
tion April 15, 1898, this what Sena
tr Teller said in repudiating the idea
of a war cf aggrandizement:
'Mr. President, I want the senate,
before we conclude this debate, to say
to the wori.d in the mo-t emphatie
manner that we do not in'end in any
way or manner to deriwe benefit from
this interv nt-on. Spain is toy weak
and too poor to pay indemnity. I want
the Eenate to say that we do not in
tend to take that island; that whatever
we may do as to some other islans;
as to this island, the great bone of con
tention, we do not intend to take it
rrom the legally constituted authori
ties of the island as now established.
"At the proper time, if no one else
does so, I propose to offer so ne amend
ment to the j tint resolution that shall
make it clear to the world that it shall
not be said by any European govern
ment when we go out to make battle
for the liberty and freedom of Cuban
patriots that we are doing it f r the
purpose of aggrandizement for our
selves or.increasing of our territorial
holdings."
And Mr. Teller was as g od as his
word, as the concluding disavowal of
the resolutions of April 20, 1898, testi
fies.
Yet Senator Teller last Tuesday voted
to rivet American suzerainty on Cuba
in the place of Spanish shackles.
By that vote he and his associates
have str'pped the intervention of the
United Slates on behalf of Cuba of the
ast vestige of disinterestedness and
have written hypocrisy and shameless
prfidy like a blister across the hitherto
fair and untarnished brow of Ameri
an honor.
WHAT Ii A GENTLE3MAN?
unner Morgan Has Proven Himself to
be Eiatitledto That Honor.
What is a gentleman? 'ihe question
has been variously answered. Admiral
Sampson's view is that it rEquires cer
tain specific r.dvantaves of early educa
tion and training to make a gentlem in.
f that is so, then gentlemnanliness is
an acquaired art, niot a natural gift.
This is not a great advance on the old
English social doctrine that gentlemen
re born, not made. Bat in this dem
ocratic age and c )unt-y neither high
birh nor li'oeral education is essential
to the making of a true gentleman.
When Gunner Morgan, in spite of the
unfavorable endorsement of his letter
to Admiral Sampson, cal'e:l on the lat
ter and expressed his regret that the
correspondence should have been so
published as to annoy the admiral, he
went so far to s o y himself a gentleman
in the true sense of the term. it was
a gentle deed, justifying Steele's o'b
servation in the Tfatler that "the ap
pellation of gentlemsn is niever to be
affixed to a man's circumistances, but
to his behavior in them." Old Chan
cers curiously spell opinion~. That he
is gentil that doth gentle dedis still
holds gooe in the high court of common
sense. We speak of men "behaving
like gentlemen," but the phr ase is un
happy. A man cannot behave like a
gentleman unless he is one-f or a ffec
tation or insincerity is itself bad man
ers. "Nothing can consititute goed
breeding that has not good nature for
its foundation," says Bulwer.
Thackeray's definition of a gentleman
is one to which thousands of men meas
ure up who never saw the inside of a
college or even a high school and have
no distinction either of bithor wealth.
"T.o be a gentleman," says the author
of Vanity Fair, "is Co be honest," to be
gentle, to be generous, to be brave, to
be wise, and, possssing all these quali
ties, to exercise them in the most grace
ful outward manner." The great scien
tist Huxley puts it a little different and
makes a just distirnction when he says:
"Thoughtfulness for others, generosity,
modesty, and self respect are the quali
ties which make a real gentleman or
lady, as distingui'hed from the veneered
article which commonly goes by that
name.".
Judged by these high standards it is
quite probable tbat there are as many
real gentlemnen among the gunners as
among the -commissioned officers of
Unle Sam's r avy. -New York World.
Five Killed.
Five men were killed and two- others
seriously injured in a mine accident at
the Eigleside zinc mine in Centre Val
ley, Mo. The five men killed were con
fined in the drift and the others were in
the main shaft. Early this morning two
shots had been fired, but the whole
charge failed to explode. This afternoon
a whole box of powder was sent into
the mine. One of the men ac oidentally
discharged an unexploded shot and the
box of -powder was set off, resulting it
terrile destrutio1n
TAX MACHINERY.
The Changes in the Law as
M. king Returns.
THE ACTS RECENTLY PASSE
What is Ncw Provided as to i
Regaremants for inaurarice
Companies Woi king in
This State.
The following is the text of the :
passed at the recent session of the gi
eral assembly in regard to the maki
of returns of property for taxation,
measure which is of concern to the p
pie of the entire Seat:
An act to amend section 4 of an :
entitled "An act to further provide :
the return of property for taxation
approved the 2nd day of March, A. J
1897, so as to make township assess;
equalizers as well as assessors of pr
erty.
Section 1. Be it enacted by the ge
eral assembly of the State of Sot
Carolina, that section 4 of an act e
titled "An act to further provide :
the return and asacssment of prope
for taxation, approved the 2nd day
March, A. D., 1897, be amended
striking out in line 20 the words "b
not" and inserting in lieu thereof t
word "or," and by inserting on line
between the words "greater' a
"them" the words "by one hundred d
lars or more," and that said section
further amended by inserting the f
lowing words between the woi
"them" and "said" in line 27 of t
section, to wit: "but they shall not :
duc3 the aggregate value of real -a
personal property below the aggregi
value thereof as returned to the coup
auditor," so that said section 4, wh
so an:ended shall read as follows:
Section 4 The township board
commissiorers and special board of :
sensors shall meet annually on the ft
Tuesday in March, or as soon the:
after as practicable, at some convenie
place for the purpose of performi
the duties devolved upon them.
shall be their duly to carefully o<
sider the returns and lists laid befo
them by the county auditor aLd
necessary to compare the same, wi
the tax return and duplicate of t
previous year or years. They sh
diligently seek for and discover
property, both real and personal,
their respective tax districts not p
vicusly returned by the owner
agents thereof or not listed for tai
tion by the county auaitor, and the:
upon it shall be their duty to list t
same for t xation in the name of t
owner or person to whom it is taxab
It shall thereupon be their farther du
to fairly and impartially assess t
value of all property both real and p
sonal in their respective tax distri
entering upon their returns and Ii
furnished them. And they shall ha
the right in performing their duti
thereunder to increase or to lower t
valuation of any property real or p
sonal as fixed by the county auditor,
as returned by any person; and it sh
not be deemed material whether the:
turns so increased was intentionally
unintentionally false, or whether t
property whose value is so raised v
intentionally or unintentionally:
turned at less than its fair cash val
by the county auditor, and upon I
lists made out by them, the valuati
fixed by them "but they shallnotrtedi
the aggregate value of real and p
sonal property below the aggreg:
value thereof as returned to the coui
auditor," said returns and lists, w
said valuation, to be by them laid
fore the county auditor on or bef
the 3rd Tuesday cf March of each y
except that for the township of Fiorei
in the county of Florence for tha y
1897, the same to he laid before
county auditor on or before the 31st
Niarolh. Provided, however, that r
estate shall be valuted and assessed
said boards only.in those years wlh
real estate is by law required to be
turned, except that saia boards may
any year value and assess any real
tate and improvements theieon wh~
they may ascertain or discover had
previously been retured or assesi
for taxation. Whenever the valuati
and assessments of any property
fixed by said boards, at a sum gres
by one hundred dollars more than
amount returned by the owners or
agents, or whenever any property
valued and assessed to taxation wh~
has not been previously returned,
shall be the duty of the county audi
on or before the fourth Monalay
March of the year in which the va
ion and assessment is made, to g
to the owner or agent of such prope:
written notice thereof, which notice n
be served upon such owner or his ag<
personally, or by mailing the same
such person or his agent at his -l
known place of residence, and at
owner or his agent, if he obj eats to st
valuation and assesasment, shall hi
the right to appeal to the county bo:
of commissioners sitting as the aoui
hoard of equalization, which app
shall be heard by said county boa
The account of the county auditor
the necessary stationery and posts
to enable him to give the notice her
reguired, shall be a valid alaim agai
the county, and shall be paid as ot]
county claims are paid. Nothing in t
act contained shall be construed as
tei fering with the duty of the county
adding 50 per cent. to the value of p
sonal property as a penalty, as p
vided in sections 279, 295 and 297,
the Revised Statutes of 1893, nor w
the duties of the county auditor as v
scribed in secti n 290 of the Revii
Statutes of 1893.
"Sec. 2. That all acts and parts
acts inconsistent with this act be, a
the same arc hereby repealed."
iNSURANCE COMPANIES.
And here is the act amending i
law in regard to insurance compani
throwing further protection around i
policy -holders:
An act (o amend an act entitled ".
act to amend sections 1 and 2 of an
entitled 'An act to require any ins
ance company or association to be p
Isessed ef one hundred thousand doll
Isurplus or capital, or in lieu thereol
Ihave one hundred thousand dollars
deposit with some State for the ben
of all ponicy holders, or in lieu ther
to deposit with the treasurer of this
State valid State securities aggregating
ten thousand dollars, said securities to
be subject to any judgment against said
to compsaies; and said indgment shall
operate as a loan on such seaIrfk
and providing a penalty for the viola
tion of the provisions of this act.' "
Section 1. Be it enacted by the gen
D eral assembly of the State of Soutq
Carolina, that section 1 of said act as
amended, be further amended by add
he ing to section 1 the following proviso:
Provided, however, that all five inur
ance companies incorporated under the
laws of this State, with a capital stock
of $25,000 or more shall not be com
pelkld to deposit certain valid securities
or bond as above required; provided,
said company shall procure and file
ct with the comptroller general a certi
n- ficate of the county auditors in coon
ng ties where stockholders reside; that the
a majority of the stockholders in the
capital of said corporation are free
-o holders, and reside within 'he State,
are worth the amount of their stock
*ot subscribed to the capital of said cor
?,r poration over all their debts and liabili
ties, and exclusive of property exempt
by law from etxecution; so that when
amended said section will read as fol
'p- lows:
n. Sec. 1 Be it enacted by the general
th assembly of the Btate of South Caro
n lina, that it shall be unlawful hereafter
or for any insurance company or associa;
ty tion tQ transact any business in this
of State unless possessed of at least one
by hundred thousand dollars or surplus or
ut capital, or in lieu thereof, shall file with
he the comptroller general the certificate
40 ef the official of some State of the
ad United States, under his hand and offi
al. cial seal, that he holds on deposits or is
be trust, for the benafit of all policy hold
al- er or members of such company or as
ds sociation, securities worth at least one
be hundred thousand dollars, or in the
re- absence of such capital or deposit, then
ad to deposit with the State Treasurer of
ite South Carolina, valid Securities aggre
ty gating $10,000, or a bond for said
en amount made by a solvent security
company, said treasurer to be the judge
of of the validity of such securities and
s. bonds, whist bond shall be conditioned
st to pay any jadgment entered up in any
e- court of competent jurisdiction in this
nt State, upon a policy of insurance issued
og to any citizen of this State by any such
it company, and said judgment shall be
n. a lien-upon such securities: Provided,
re however, that all fire insurance corn
if panies incorpcmsted under the laws of
th this State, with a capital stock of $25,
he 000 or more, shall not be compelled to
ail deposit said valid securities on bond as
ill above rcq-ired, provided said company
in shall procure and file with the comp
.e. troller general the certifioates of the
or county auditors annually in counties
a. where stockholders reside, that the ma
e- jority of the stockholders in capital of
he said stockholders are free holders and
he reside within the State, and are worth
le. the amount of their subscription to the
ty capital of said corporation, over all
he their debts and liabilities, and exclu
tr. sive of property exempt by law from
,t,. execution.
is
ve A Warning.
es The secretary of state asks that at
he tention be called the fact that a law
tr- was passed by the legislature prevent
or ing any officer from discharging the
ll duties of his position until be had
e- given bond and had been commission
or ed. College trustees, members of State
hie boards, constables,.eto , are considered
as officers under the law, so are other
e- members of boards of various char
ue acters who are provided for by the
he legislature. They get but little per
on diem or mileage, but they cannot le
ce gaily assume duty of act until they
r- have been duly commissioned by the
te secretary of state. They do not have
ty to pay any for this commission; it is a
th mere matter of form. A great many
e- members of various kinds of boards
re have neglected to carry out the pro
~ar visions of the law, and their attention
ce is called to the fact. The new act in
~ar deed makes it unlawful to fail to file
he the oaths and get a commission before
of attempting to discharge the duties in
~al dicated.-Ehe State.
by
en Decided Decrease.
ien The clerk of the State board of pen.
s. sions stved Tuesday that the approved
ch rolls ot pensioners had been sent iu by
ogmost of the county boards. It is note
ed worthy that these rolls show a decided
on decrease in the number of pensioners as
is compared with last year's list. This is
te probably due to the operation of the
he. provisions of the new act now of force
is throwing greater safeguards around the
is dibbursement of the pension appropria
h tion. Despite . the fact that many of
it the counties have sent in their lists,
tor the lists will have to be returned for re
in visien, owing to defects. This of
Lu course, will of necessity delay the
e meeting of the State board, and con
ty sequently checks will likely reach the
ay pensioners later than usual.-The
mt State.
Forest Fires.
oh The winds of the past few days have
hk been pioductive of very serious and
ve extensive forest fires in various per
rd tion of this and Lexington counties
ty and much loss of property has resulted.
sal News of the fires in this county reach
rd. ed Columbia Wednday. They have been
for very destructive in the turpentine and
e, saw mill sections near Killian's on the
sin line of the Southern rialway and also
ist upon the line of the Seaboard towards
te Camden. After hard fighting the citi
is sens managed to check the onward rush
in- of the flames, but not before much
of valuable timber had been lost. Over in
er- Lexington considerable damage of this
ro- character has also been done. For soy
of eral nights the glare of forest fires has
ith been visible from high points in this
re- city.
edIn a Bad Way.
nd county, which is bankrupt and in MneoahsaovlyiBeta
condition bordering on anarchy. A
court decision which allows logging
he companies to avoid the payment ci
es, back taxes has caused the trouble. The
he county has nc money and no-fuel for its
offices, and merchants have long since
i.n refused to accept warrants. The county
ict jue and jurors have gone out on strike
or- and most of the offices have been closed
os- by their occupants. The sheriff, who
ar has been caring for his prisoners at his
to own expense, threatens to turn them
on loose so that he can hunt foi a job that
fit will support his family. The legiula
.of tur is being supplicated for aid.
WHAT IT COSTS.
Congress Expended Nearly a
- .Iliion and Haif Dollars.
IMPERIALISM COMES HI0H.
Congressman Livingston Says
That the Half That is Con
templated Has Not Been
Put In Operation.
Representative Cannon, chairman of
the house committee on appropriations,
and Representative Livingston, the
senior Democratic member of the com
mittee, have prepared statements of the
appropriations of the 56th congress.
Both place the total appropriations
for the congress at $1,440,062,545, plac
ing those for the first session at $710,
150,862 and for the second a $729,911,
683. Mr. Cannon publishes a table
showing the expenditures of the pre
vious congress at $1,568,212,637 and
Mr. Livingston makes a comparison
with the 5tth congress which appropri
ated $1,044,580,273.
In his statement Mr. Cannon says:
"Of the total appropriations made at
this session, at least $30,000,000 will
not, in the light of past experience, be
expended. This considerable margin
between actual expenditures and appro
priations made by congress indicates
a sum total of expenditures during the
fiscal year 1902 of not exceeding 1699,
911,6$3 07. Thissumincludes$53,000,
000 on account of the sinking fund re
quirements for the fiscal year 1902,
which, of course, under she teras of
the law, will be met only to such extent
as surplus revenues in the treasury
may permit. After meeting the full
eat ordinary requirements of the public
service under the appropriations which
have been made, there will surely re
main suicient revenue for 1902 to meet
not less than $30,000,000 of the require
ments of the sinking fund.
"The most marked increase indicated
in the appropriations. for ordinary ex
penses of the government made for the
two years 1901 and 1902 at the two ses
sions of this congress over those of the
two preceding years 1899 and 1900, pro
vided for by the 55th congress, is for
the postal service. The necessity of
these increased appropriations to meet
large business 'demandsis referred to
as a cause for congratulation. The ap
propriations have been reduced $128,
150,091 by this congress under those
previded for by its predecessor and
this bas rendered possible a reduction
of taxes in the sum of $41,000,000.
"With a continuance of the wise ad
ministration enjoyed by the counitry,
there is every reason to anticipates ~
further reduction of public expendi
tures in the near future and a corre
sponding further redaction of taxes."
MR LIVINGSTON SAYS:
"The 54th congress was the last one
that made appropriations for the sup
port of the government prior to the
beginning of the Spanish-American
war.
"The 56th congress is the first con
gress appropriating for the support of
th vernment since the lse of the
so-aledSpnih. mian ar -The
difference between the appropdiations
made by the 56th congress and these
made by the 54th congress are $395,
482,272.
During the session just closed the de
mands of the people, through their
representatives, for the construction of
the Nicaraga canal, have gone un
heeded, and those for new public build
ings have been persistently denied.
The river and harbor bill has been
permitted to fail. The payment of just
claims of honest people against she
government has not been provided for.
"T'he most casual examination of the
table makes comment practically un
necessary. Is shows that the army for
each of the two years prior to the
Spanish-American war cost a littde .
over $23 000,000, and but little more
than $46,000,000 for the two years ccv
ered by the 54th congress, while forthe
two years sinee thzat war--1901and 1902
-it cost $115,000,000, or $230,000,000
for the two years, exclusive of the de
ficiencies that have been provided for
in large sums out of appropriations
made for expanses of the Spanish war
during the 55th congress.
The navy cost for the two years
1897 and 1898, $63,362,000, while for
the years 1901 and 1902 the appropria
tions reache I nearly $144,000,000.
For the payment of pensions the ap
propriations show an increase of nearly
$8,000,000 for the two years.
"In aword, this table showsethat the
price to the people of the j~olicy of this
administration gahat has been thrust
upon them by the Republican partyis,
in round numbers, $400,000,000 within
a period of two years, and the half that
is contemplated has not yet been put
in operation."
Wagon Train Ambushed.
A wagon train and a detachment of
the signal corps, together with six Ma
cabebe scouts were attacked by the in
surgents about midway between the
towns of Silang and Damasmarinas, in
Cavite provine P. I. Three 'Ameri
cans were killed and two of the Maca
bebe scouts were wounded, while one
man is missing. Four horses and one
mule were killed. Capt. Mair, with de
tachiments-of infantry and cavalry from
Silang, wrived at the scene of the sur
prise too late to intercept the enemy's
retreat.___________
Chinese Cruelty.
The empress of India, arriving from
China, brings an accoant of the barbar
ous murder of Capt Watts Jones. It is
said that he was received with apparent.
friendliness in the yamen of Shan 8i
and was in the act of receivng his pass
pert when his hands were struck ofE.
He was then taken outside the yamen,
sliced in several pieces and his head
ut off. His companion, a Roman
Catholic bishop, was put to a lingering
death, his tortures being inflicted so
gradually that it was four days before
death relieved him.
Convicts Mutinied.
A dispatch from Florence to a news
agency says a serious mutiny of con
vits has occurred at Santa Caterina
prison, resulting in the military being
called out and 10 of the convicts being
killed and 57 wounded. The mutiny
is atruted to poor faod at the prison.