University of South Carolina Libraries
VOL. gam, p M LNG, S. C., WWNDAY. FEBRUR8ni2 PASSED AT LAST. Members of the House Vote for the Biennial Sessions Bill. IT IS NOW UP TO THE PEOPLE To Say Whether they Want the Leai-lature to Meet Every Year or Every Two Years. After a bard fight the House of Representatives passed the biennial sessions bill on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The bill passed the Senate at the last ses sion and is almost certain to become a law. If it does it means that ;ne people of South Carolina will be called upon to vote on this question hi the next general election, and if a ma iori ty of the votes cast are in ravor of biennial sessions, the legislature will will meet every second year after 1906. The fight on the biennial sessions bill has come up every year since the sessior: of 1896. There have been in timations that in the past the bill was advocated for "home consump tion," and that the members of the house knew that in passing the bill they would rely upon the senate to kill it. But the action Tuesday was brought about, by conditions that bad to be faced squarely. The senate had passed the bill last year. and the house, -after its repeated kicks on account of the lack of support on the part of the senate on bills which before had been killed-was called upon to de clare itself in favor of the measure without any strings tied to it. Toe number of votes required was 83, and t the bill received 87. Mr. Moses, of Sumter, opposed the biennial sessikn constitutional amend ment. The people do not attend the general elections and they do not take any interest or care about con stitutional amendments. The Legis lature of South Carolina is one of the cheapest. Long terms lead to careless ness and possibly extravagance. He thought it a good idea to bring the people together. The people have a perfect right to have their laws changed when they involve hardship. The people do not demand this leg islation. He wanted the people to vote often on their candidates. Dr. Black said he would favor the bill on the line of economy. Every a two years was enough. Mr. Beamguard wanted to put the whole issue squarely up to the people. b It is in the line of economy and his people want such legislation. He t proposed-to favor the bill before his v people. s Mr. Richards insisted that his peo ple knew what was going on and were fully posted on public issues. His people wanted such a bill. Mr. Efird insisted that he has favored this resolution for seven years and the resolution has passed the a House. All that ought to be done is " to pass the Senate resolution and then take up the matter of tenure later. s All that is asked is to let this whole matter go to the people. Mr. Dorroh urged that it was a" routine bill. The only argument is that the petople want this law. This is a legislative body and ought to con sider this measure on its merits. He was an economist. He regarded the Legislature as a necessity-as much 1. as the grand jury. As to too mucha legislation, iZ we need it we mu~;tr have it. There must be a great deal I of legislation to keep up with the a rapidly changing conditions in this ( State. He thiought there was danger I in leaving too much power to the I Governor. He believed it better to pay me mbers a fixed salary and an unlimited session. South Carolina isJ one of the few States that has annual sessions and it has less statute law than most States. There has. been a I steady growth of crime, and it is as sensible to argue it favor 3f ne ses sion of the grand jury. Tie Legisla tore rreets to provide for changed conditions. Mr. Haskell urged that biennial sessions would lead to hasty legisla tion. Conditions have nct changed since 1895, and the proof ought to be offered to show that there is a necessi ty for changing the sessions. Georgia( changed back to the annual sessionsI and called extra sessions nearly every year. The Legislature may easily I save more tha.n the cost of a session. In Alabama, where the corporativei power is supreme, that corporate power secured quadrennial sessions. Corporations want infrequent sessions. Mr. R. S. Whaley said there was no campaigning in his county. He has previously opposed this bill. In thirty four out of forty- four States there are biennial sessions. lIn Texas they have quadrennial sessions and in five States they have annual sessions. He had letters fromr forty-four States and was now convinced that the demand was for biennial sesssons. He was of the opinion that the majority of the peo ple were for biennmal sessions. This bill would not take effect until 1907. Mr. T. H. Rainsford was convinced that the people want biennial sessions. There was no use to argue that bien nial sessions would not save much money. Mr. Lide, of Orangeburg, was heartily and thoroughly in favor of the State advancing itself and going to biennial sessions. There is no necessity for annual sessions and such matters as are needed can be acted upon for two years. A bill could go over for two years as well as for one year. The people would get along by waiting a little. Mr. Holman favored annual ses sions of the Legislature. Mr. Magill insisted that the people did not want this bill. In response to an inquiry as to how he could read the mind of the people he said he was a hypnotist. The main point was that there is no demand for such leg islation and there is no use to make the change. Mr. Magill made a long and forcible speech for annual sessions. Mr. Quick, of Marlboro, made a red hot speech in the line of trusting the people '.n this measure. He favored the bill vigorously and thought bien nial sessions meant economy in what ever way it is figured. His people favored-the change. The House called the pre vious ques tion. The question was whether the Senate resolution should be passed or not. On ordering the question to it third reading the House first killed the House substitute bill, and then took a direct vote on the proposition whether the joint resolution should be ordered to its third reading or not. and on this an yea and nay vote was necessary, which resulted: Yeas-Speaker Smith, A ull, Bailey, Banks, Barron, Bates, Beamguard, Bennett, Black, Bomar, Brown, Bunch, Callison, Carwile, Coggeshall, olcock, Culler, Davis, Dennis, De Vore, Doar, Doyle, Edwards. Edrd, Ford, Fox, Gaston, Gauge, Glover, Haile, Harrellson, Hendrix, D. 0. erbert, J. E. Herbert, Hill, Hum phrey, James, Jarnegan. Johnson, Kibler, King, Kirby, Lanham, Leve ett, Lide, Lofton, Logan, McCain, AcColl, - Mace, Mahaffey, Mauldin, \iddleton, Mims, Morgan, Moss, Sicbols, Parnell, Patterson, Pearman, Eurifoy, Pullock, Quick, Rainsford. Eankin, Ready, Richards, Richard hon, Russell, Sarratt, Sinkler. Jere niah Smith, W. C. Smith, Stackhouse, strong, Stuckey, Tatum, Towill, Traylor, Tribble, Walker, Whaley, Wingard, Wing:, Wise, Wright, You nans. Nays-Aycock, Bass, Clifton, Jooper, DeBruhl, DesChamps, Don iald, Dorrob, Fraser, Haskell, Hin ,on, Holman, Irby, Kelley, Lancas er, Lesesne, Magill, Moses, Potts, ?yatt, Rawlinson, Seabrook, Thomas, Goole, Wade. Wall, Webb, Williams. It is to be noted that Richland, unmter, Aiken, Spartanburg and larenaon farnished most of the votes against biennial sessions. The bill failed to pass third read ng Wednesday morning when it was irst called up, but the matter was econsidered and on the second vote he bill received the two-thirds ma ority required by the constitution. When the vote was tirsttaken there vere 79 in favor of giving the bill its ird reading and 27 opposed. Mr. oggeshall quickly changed his vote o the minority as he wanted to be in position to move a reconsideration. This was done before the vote was ,nnounced, and the vote as recorded vas 78 to 28. There were 18 absen ees. When the friends of the bill saw hat it had not received the 83 votes ecessary to its passage they immedi tely moved for a reconsideration rough Mr. Coggeshall. The point of rder was raised by Mr. Thomas that motion to reconsider is not in order s the bill had failed and that is the nd of it. The point of order was overruled, at Mr. Moses male the further point f order that it would require a two hirds vote to reconsider. This, too, ras overruled and the house recon ideredits action whereby it failed to ive the bill third reading and to or er it enrolled as an act for ratitica ion. Mr. Pollock then moved to adjourn be debate for 15 minutes, which was greed to and in that time the friends f the bill went out into the commit ee rooms and lobbies and brought in everal members who voted for the ill when it came up again at the ex iration of 15 minutes. The final esult was yeas 83 nays 26. Thus the ill passed and now is awaiting signa ure before becoming a law. The t will bear the name of Senator Varren. Those who voted in favor of the ill were Hon. M. L. Smith, speaker, ,nd Messrs. Aull, Bailey, Banks, Bar on, Bates, Beamguard.. Bennett, lack, Bomar, Brown, Bunch, Cri ion, Carwile, Coggeshall, Colco. uller, Davis, Dennis DeVore, Doar. )owling, Doyle, Ed wards, Efird, Ford, pox, Gaston, Gause, Haile, Harrell on, Hendrix, D. 0. Herbert, J. E. erbert, Hill, Humphery, James, arnegan, Kibler, King, Laney, Lan iam, Leverett, Lide, Lofton, Logan, cColl, Mace, Mauldin, Middle on, Mims, Morgan, Moss, Cicols, Parnell, Patterson. Pearman, ~eurifoy, Pollock, Quick, Rainsford, tankin, Ready, Richards, Richard on, Russell, Sinkler, Jeremiah Smith, V. . Smith, Stackhouse, Strong, ;tuckey, Tatum, Towill, Traylor, Eribble, Walker, Whaley, Wingard, gingo, Wise, Wright, Youmans-83. Those who voted in the negative re: Messrs. A vcock, Bass, Brooks, 11fton, Cooper, DeBruhl, Deschamps, Jonnald, Fraser, Haskell, Hinton, lolman, Irby, Kelley, Lancaster, ~esesne, Magill, Potts, Pyatt, Raw inson, Sarratt, Tool, Wade, Wall, ebb, Williams-26. Those who added to the affrmative n the second ballot were Messrs. loggeshal, Parnell, Richards, ribble, and Whaley, who were not voting on the first ballot. Just Had Some. General Gordon said that, on one >ccasion during the Civil War, a bhreatened attack of Federal troops rought together a number of Confed rate officers from several commands. After a conference as to the proper iisposition of troops for resisting the ~xpected assault, the Southern offcers withdrew into a small log hut stand g near, and united in prayer to Al nighty God for His guidance. As aey assembled, or.e of the generals was riding within hailing distance, md General Harry Heth of Hill's orps stepped to the door of the log abin and called to him to come and 2nite with his fellow offcers. The :nounted General did not understand the nature of General Health's invita Gion, and replied: "'No, thank you, reneral: no more at present; I've just nad some." Private PostKal Cards. The following information knocks out, after a certain date, a large class of advertising mail matter, and all private postal cards which imitate the regulation postal cards. "The law ocer of the postoffce department advises that cards issued by private peisons, bearing on the address side the words, "United States of Amer ica,' are in 'likeness or similitude' o: the regulation United States postal cards ard therefore in violatinn of the law and unallable. However, in or der to give owners of such cards rea sonable time to dispose of those oi hand, postmasters will accept them for mailing until July 1, 1904, upot the payment of the postage at the proper rate. On and after July, 1, 104, such cards will be treated ai AS HE SEES IT. The Brooklyn Eagle on Political Conditions in South Carolina. WE ARE ALL, NOW AT PEACE Four Leaders Named Who IC Is Claimed Has Gotten the sections Together in sarmony. The following article was recently published in the Brooklyn Ea;le. It :vas written by Mr. N. C. Tenning, a staff correspondent from Columbia. It is an interesting review, but where he gets his facts from we do not know. Read what he says: Evidences are not lacking that the Democratic feuds of a half century, which have estranged the people of the eastern district of this state from those of the up-country, are nearing an end. Significant as this is, it is less important in its bearing on the results of elections than it is on the social, commercial and industrial wel fare of the people, for South Carolina is invariably Democratic, despite its sectional and class differences of opin ion. It is largely due to the influence of four men, two of them life-long con troversialists and two of them peace makers of a younger school, that this condition is approaching. They are Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, Gover nor D. C. Heyward, J. C. Hemphill, editor of the Charleston News and Courier, and Mayor R. G. Rhett, of Charleston. They are men of strong individuality, differing in the view points from which they regard politi cal affairs, but possessing in equal de grees the equalities of state pride and party loyalty. This year these im portant South Carolina Democrats, whohave hitherto represented Bryan ism on the oneside,Clevelandism on the other, and the idea of a compromise of Democratic factions between, will be in unison in all the essentials of Democratic policy. They will favor such action at St. Louis as will restore the integrity of national party lines, the adoption of a platform of live principles as distin guished from e:perimental theories, and the nomination. of candidates for president and vice-president who will appeal to the "onservative business men of the country. Nothing but the overwhelming con trol of the national convention by rad icalism could this year swing Senator Tillman to Bryan or to any Bryan can didate, according to his close friends here. He was a free silver Democrat in 1896 and 1900, but he does not re gard the old issue of im.pori.ance now, except as it may become an instrument of damage to Democratic prospects at the polls. t Nothing could induce Senator Till- e man, according to these same home t friends, to support ex-President Cleve- c land for the presidential nomination. t The statements made here on that 1 head are very positive. President Cleveland and he were at odds over patranage in the last Cleveland admin istration.C Cleveland influences manifest them selves most conspicuously in the prin-t ipal towns of South Carolina-Char- I leston, Columbia, Spartanburg and I reenville--where the idea of a coin mercial Democracy in the South, fos- C ered by President McKinley and sup ported by Mr. McLaurin while he was in the United States' senate, was en- 1 ertained for awhile. Whith the re irement of Senator McLaurin the last semblance of organization of the 1 Commercial Democrats disappeared. 1 It was made uis exclusively of Cleve-C land Democrats in the beginning, and C it did not attract during its life any oft the uncompromising regulars of the state Democracy. The Cleveland Democrats have not however, caanged their opinions of Mr. Cleveland. They. regard him as the best man who could be nominated. They are inactive be-< ause they believe that his letter toI the editor of the Eagle cannot be dis regarded in justice to him. Chief Judge Parker's admirers here say that he more nearly represents the doubtful Northern states than any other man. The Democratic farmers' Iof South Carolina are regulars of the old war-time school who look upon Mr. Cleveland's separation from the Democracy in 1896 as a bar to his eligibility. What they believe, they consider to be the belief of Democratic farmers in New York, New Jersey,3 Connecticut and Indiana. On these promises they reason that Mr. Cleve land would be knifed mn South Carolina, while Chief Judge Parker, who voted for Mr. Bryan in 1896 would be loyal ly supported. Conferences are to be held this week. by Senator Tillman and his lieuten ants, with respect to the make-up of the state delegation to the national convention. The men who are most mentioned for delegates at large are Senators Tillman and Latimer, Gov ernor Heyward and State Chairman Jones. It is now understood that the delegation will be uninstructed and will be made up of the state's best known and most conservative Demo crats. It is to be remembered, how ever, that South Carolina's anti-con vention politics is the most uncertain of the South. But for the early and general recognition of the Democratib need of reunion in the state and na tion it would be useless to speculate at all, at this time, on what the state will do at St. Louis. It may safely be said that in any event the action which South Carolina will take the national convention will not be imitative. This state will fol low that Northern leadership which best suits Senator Tillman. A Fatal Fall. Cha.rles Holcombe, a nine year od lad of Ashville N. C., died Saturdeay night as the result of an injury receiv ed while out skating two weeks aga. Young Holcombe, In company wit b numerous others, went to the ponds and lakes about Asheville during the extreme cold weatber the first of Jami uary, and while skating he fell, strik Iing his head on the ice. The boy was rendered unconscious by the fall, and was taken to his home, where he has lain in the same~ condit~ion until Sat uray. when death ensued. A BIG HAUL. Twenty-Three Gamblers Up Before the Recorder in Columbia. The trial of 22 negroes who, wit] W. R. Watts. a white man, were ar rested Sunday morning between 2 and 3 o'clock in the midst of an alleged all-night gambling session, in Watts place on upper Main street, came of Tuesday morning on schedule timi and with considerable ecla,. W. R. Watts, charged with keeping a gambling house, asked fd:- a continu. ance of the case against him. It was not made quite clear whetl er the -on tinuance was wanted on the grcund that it would be distasteful to hi; more refined sensibilities to be tried it connecticn with the 22 nEgroes whc had been making themselves at home in his place all night, or because he desired C.dditional counsel, as he hac Dnly one attorney at the morning ses sion and two at the afternoon session. He presented no witness. When the case was called a platoor f 22 coons "fell in" in irregular ouble formation without regard tc height, size color or previous condi ion. They were all there--the short 3hunky specimen adorned with a red sweater silhouetted against the tall, slim sport; the big, heavy fellow and the little thin-voiced negro whose whisper rattled the tin on the roof; the leery-eyed individual who was 3razy to take the recorder' into his ionidence, and the melancholy mem ber "who had just arrived when the police busted in." When the recorder opened the game ,very player, while seemingly intense y interested, hesitated before playing: he pikers, contrary to custom, start ;d in just to see how luck was runnin Lnd were early joined by bettors on he side, the lookers-on soon queered be game and Recorder Stanley called or a new deal, which so rattled the ,tire bunch that they "shoved in' heir "stacks" and took the conse uences-which was a forfeit of $7 or [5 days for the "plungers" and $10 or 0 days for the "lookers on." The case against Watts was trans 'erred to the magisterial side of the ;ourt, and Recorder Stanley, having urisdiction in both, Watts gave a reliminary hearing Tuesday after ioon and bound him over to appear t the April term of court. -Columbia ;tate. THE FATAL FALL )f a Cage to the Bottom of a Mine Shaft Causes Fifteen Deaths. At Victor, Col., by the falling of a age Monday in the Stratton Inde endence mine located near the cen re of the city, 15 men are dead and e other Eeverely injured. In the nain shaft 16 men were being hoisted n a cage from the sixth, seventh and :ighth levels. When the cage reached .he surface the engineer, for some an :xplained reason, was unab'e to s :op ,he engine and the cage with its lead if human freight was drawn up into ,be gallows frame where it became odged temporarily. The strain on he cable finally caused it to part, ; nd be cage release d, shot dowr: the sh ft ith terriffic speed. Two of the oc ~upants, L. P. Jackson and Jan es 3ullbelz, had become entangled in ;he imber rods near the top of the jal ows frame. Jackson was crushed to leath by the sheave wheel, while B ill >ek had a marvelous escape from leath, but received painful injuries efore being rescued. 'The other . men were hurled to death down ,he 1,500 foot shaft. As soon as possible the shift boss md a number of miners went dcwn .he mine through another comosart nent of the shaft. They found 14 lead, the bodies scattered ini differ~mt lirections. Arms and bodies had be~en ~orn, heads crushed and clothing str ip )ed from she victims. Fromn the 700 'oot level ~o the bottom the shaft was ~pattered with blood. The bot tom of the shaft stands in n 25 feet of water and into this ;he age plungzed, carrying sorne of ;he nen into she water with it. Frank ielles, engineer in charge, :surrender ad himself to the military oi~cers in he district and was locked up. He would not talk. The militia has tak m chargc of the mine and a rigid ex Lmnination will bec made. Smallpox Deaths Increasing. The Columbia State says Dr. James Evans of Florence, secretary of the tate board of health, who is here with Dr. T. Grange Simons, a mem er of the board from Charleston, t0 ook after the appropriation for the oard for the ensuing year, says thai the number of deaths in smallpo3 ases in this State outside of the cities d towns has increased to 5 per cent. since the first of January. In 1903 the deaths were only 1 per cent. of the reported cases, this also being the situation in the north. Since January rhe death percentage has gone up tc 13 per cent. In the north and to'5 per ent. in South Carolina. Dr. Evans says that the disease Is now of a more virulent type all over the country. For the year ending the 31st of last December there were 1,922 reportec cases in this State outside of then cities and towns, and of this numbei 15 resulted fatally. In the 27 days 1 January there have been 193 cases, 01 which 9 resulted fatally. The Shad Bill Passed. In the Senate on Wednesdlay aftel the calendar had been read, the Gaus< bill was brought up as a special order Senator Walker of Georgetown, wh< has been active in fighting this mes ure, which prevents the shipping o1 shad out of the State, was on his feel immediately and renewed his motioi to have an amendment passed delay ing the enforcement of the bill unti February 20th of this year. He realiz ed that the bill would itself be passet and asked of the senate to grant hin this concession for the political famill of Georgetown which he represent~ed The bill was passed as amended b: Senator Walker. Ship on Fire. A dispatch from Charleston says tha British steamship Manhattan, loades with 30,000 bales of cotton and 40,00 sacks of grain on fire came into por Wednesday morning. She left Ne' Orleans Jan. 16 for Bremen. Fir boats are at work trying to save th argo The loss will be 1feavv. FREE SCHOLARSHIPS At Clemson College Is Provided for by the Legislature. PASSED AFTER A LONG DEBAIE The Bill Provides for as Many Schcl arships in Each. County as These Are Members in the House. After a iong debate in the House on Wednest aylMr. D. 0. Herbert's bile to provide 1er scholarships at Clemson college passed second reading. Mr. Cooper, in a strong argument against paternalistic features of the - bill, declared that the State should foster its public schools and should maintain its State colleges, but it ought to stop there. The prac tical effect is that these scholarships will go to those who have had the advantage. If Clemson has more money than it needs, the revenue should be reduced or there should be some other disposition of the funds. He is opposed to all free scholarships at the hands of the State. Mr. Logan favored the bill. He proposed an amendment, but he op posed giving preference to those who will take the agricultural course. The ambitious son of a farmer should not be confined to a particular course but should be given wide latitude. The history of all agricultural colleges is that the young men do not wish to 'take the course. The wish of Mr. Clemson was that this should be a mechanical as well as an agricultural college. Mr. Mauldin opposed the bill. It will fall. short in its application. M1any young men have been educated at the citadel whose parents are am ply able to provide for them. He submitted the proposition that a man can support a boy at Clemson as cheaply as he can at home. He thinks the legislature had better keep its hands off. Mr. Bomar thought that the re marks which he had heard seemed to be good politics but not much busi ness. He suggested the need of a journal into which the speeches could be p it for home consumption by those who are always talking of the "poor farmer." The trustees want to be let alone in the management of the in stitution. The proposition is not a good one. Mr. Herbert corrected Mr. Bomar by saying that members of the board who had opposed the bill are now in favor of it. Mr. Bomar continued that if they favor it they have not recommended it in their report. The college is more than full now. The history of colleges which have offered scholar ships proves that it is not wise. Trin ity college in North Carolina has done away with free scholarships although it has plenty of money. These schol arships would breed a race of office seekers who would say to the State, "You owe me a living." Mr. Wingo. hailing from the rank and file of the farming populace, stat ed that he iiad acquainted his con stituents with the nature of the bill. His farmer friends do not want it. The farmers feel that it will be the favored few -.ho get the scholarships. In reply to a question from a member, Mr. Wingo repelled the intimation that he oppcsed the bill on account of his friends hip for denominational in stitutions. What South Carolina needs is practical men. He is in fa vor of higher education, but the great structure of education in this State is top-heavy, lie cited the case of a farmer who wrote to Mr. Wingo to. favor the bill and concluded his letter by saying th4~ he has $2, 000 worth o cotton and .vants to know if now is. the time to :;ell. That is the kind o. man who expects to be benefited b3 the bill, not the really poor man. Mr. Toole was surprised at the posi tion taken by Mr. Wingo, who Is a farmer. lie favored the bill but-op posed the proposition to require the beneficiaries to study agriculture alone. Mr. Richards, the author of a bill to increase the Winthrop scholarships from $46 to '.8100 each, favored-Mr. Herbert's bill. He- wanted to make it certain that none but the extremely poor would be benefitt~ed and none but those who propose to take the agri cultural course. However, he feared that it would be unconstitutional to give the scholarships to farmers' sons alone. Mr. Jeremiah Smith favored the bill. Hie made a very strong speech in advocating it as a whole and par ticularly amendments which he offer ed.- He wanted to give these scholar ships to sons of farmers but not to re strict them in the course which they should elect. He wanted to see the sons of farmers given advantages to become men of education in technical branches. Mr. Smith wanted to give these scholarships to farmers' sons. Mr. D. 0. Herbert thought the sar castic flings of Mr. Bomar were un worthy. lie accords the highest mo tives to others and asks the same for himself. He read a letter from a trustee favoring the bill. Senator Tillman himself upon the laying of the corner stone of the agricultural hall had expressed the hope that it would turn the trend of education to ward the agricultural department. Col. R. W. Simpson, president of the board, declares in his annual report that there is nothing lacking to make the course attractive. It is compul sory upon members of the freshmen cls.The trustees want to teach agriculture. This bill would carry out their purpose. .There was a mass of amendments on the speaker's desk, and the hpuse decided that as it was20o'clock further action had better be deferred unti] evening. At the night session the Clemson college scholarship bill was hamme~red upon again. The "previous question had been ordered and there was nc discussion, but on the speaker's desb were no less than two score proposed amendments. These were taken up t in order and were rejected with great v regularity. e The most important amendmente submitted came from Mr. Jeremial mith who wanted to confine t.hE scholarships to farmers and sons of farmers. These amendments were overwhelmingly defeated. Mr. Sarratt wanted to exempt all students at Clemson to have free tu tion. This too was voted down. Mr. Webb's amendment to make the course received instead of confin ing scholarship students to agricul tural course was adopted by a vote of 58 to 49. I Mr. Efird moved to continue the bill. This was lost by a vote of 67 to 48. The house voted down Mr. Dorroh's amendment to require the recipients of the scholarships to enter into bond to repay the college the amount of the scholarships. The bill then passed second reading by a vote of 82 to 26 and the house then adjourned. TO CONTROL TELEPHONES. A Bill to That Efect Will be In troduced in the Senate. For some time the joint committee from the house and the senate has been at work on Senator 'Hydrick's bill to put telephone companies under the supervision of the railroad com missioners who now have jurisdiction over the railway systems, express com panies and telegraph lines operating in South Carolina. Wednesday the senate committee on railroads and internal improve ments, of which Senator Hydrick is chairman, reported favorably on the bill submitting an amendment largely increasing its powers. It is pro rided in the proposed act that the commission shall have the same powers as over the corporations already indicated, and shall require reasonable corrections to be made and maintained between such lines, sta tions and exchanges, and to fix and regulate reasonable rates, tolls or compensation therefor; and to require reasonable connections to be made and maintained between such lines, sta tions orexchanges, and the lines or stations or private individuals, firms or corporations desiring such connec tions," etc. Section two stipulates that "until otherwise fixed and regulated by said commission the rates, tolls or charges per month (and proportionately for fractional parts of a month) for tele phones service (which shall include all charges for the furnishing, putting in and maintaining of telephones and necessary parts and equipments at stations, and wire connecting the same with the central office of an ex change and the furnishing of telephone service to each subscriber, his family, guests, agents, servants, and repre sentatives) shall not exceed those fixed in the following schedule: "Where an exchange has less than 250 bona fide subscribers, 81.50 for each residence telephone and $2 for each business telephone. "Exchange of 250 and less than 400 subscribers, $1.66 for residence 'phone and $2.25 business 'phone. "400-800 subscribers, $1.75 resi dences 'phone, 2.50 business 'phone. "800-1,200 subscribers, 82 residence 'phone; $3 business 'phone. "1,200 subscribers or over, $2 resi dence 'phone; $3.50 business 'phone. "For each 'phone on party lines in incorporated cities and towns, two thirds of,. the foregoing rates will be charged, and for each 'phone on rural party lines, the same, provided sub scribers build and maintain the line to the limits of the city or town where the exchange is located. "For each 'phone where there is only one on a rural line, the regular rates of the exchange will be charged if the subscriber builds th'e line to the town limits." The conversation rates are also given, long distarnce for i 0 miles be ing 15 cents for three :ninutes, for 100 miles 30 cents., to any other pomnL in the State, 45 cents, and 5 cents per minute over three. Night conversa tion (between 6 p. mn., a.id 6 a. in.) cost two-thirds of these rates. Mes senger service within one mile will cost 10 cents additional, over one mile, "a reasonable charge." Violations by telephone companies or corporations or owners of the pro visions of act, or of the orders of the commission, will be punished by a fine of $25 per diem to be recovered by suit. The sum recovered, however, must, after the expenses of the suit are paid, be turned over to the State, as the attorney general and solicitors will conduct prosecutions in such cases. The commission may, if it deems advisable, cancel franchises granted to telephone companies. The same obligations as to the -salary and ex penses of the railroad commission as are now carried by the express com panies, railways sund tetegraph com panies will be placed upon the tele phone companies. Rryan Comingr Here. Mr. Win. Jennings Bryan said a few days ago la New York paper that e would visit, South Carolina some time next month, and arrangements will accordingly be made for his re ception in Columbia. He will speak at the Gridiron club in Washington on January 20. and a Frankfort, Ky., on February 3. Mr. Bryan said. "I have accepted an Invitation from the legislature of Kentucky to speak be f'ore a joint assembly there. The occasion Is the~ third anniversary of the killing of Governor Goebel. I shall go as far South as South Caro lina and will speak in Virginia and North Carolin s and that is as far as I have my plans made." Mr. Bryan is to deliver free lectures wherever he goes, says the paper, and will pay his own expenses. TreacheroUs,Moros. A dispatch from Manila says it has just been learned that Ieut. Camp bell W. Flake of the Twenty-second Infantry, was kIlled while trying to enter Moro Cotta, Mindanao, for the purpose of examining the locality. He was accompanied by Private Foy of the same regiment. Lieut. Flake wasshot treacherously, the Moros fir ing on the party while Maj. Bullard was parleying with them. Moro Cotta was at once taken by assult, with no further loss to the expeditionary forceB. The estimated loss among the mores is twenty killed. BENEFICIARY SCHOLARSHIP3. A Full Text of the Bill as It Passed the House. Col. D 0. Herbert's bill to provide for beneficiary scholarships at Clem son college passed third reading Tues day and was sent to the senate. The bill provides: Section 1. That there are hereby established and created 124 beneficiary scholarships in the Clemson Agricul tural college of South Carolina, and each of the said scholarships shall be of the value of $100 per annum, and shall be apportioned and distributed among the se-eral conuties of the State in the sa:ne manner as the mem bers of the- bo ise of representatives are apportionec: so that each county shall have as many scholarships as such county is entitled to members in the house of representatives. Sec. 2. That the said scholarships shall be awarded by the State board of education, upon the recommenda tion of the county board of education of the several counties, to the most worthy and needy young men, not less than 15 years of age, who shall have passed an approved entrance examina tion upon the common school branches and made at least 50 per cent. upon such examination; and- preference shall be given to those young men who desire to take the agricultural (and mechanical) course. Sec. 3. The questions for such ex amination shall be prepared by the president or some member or mem bers of the faculty of the said Clem son Agricultural college, under the direction of the president, and shall be forwarded to the respective coun ty boards of education on or before the 15th day of July. in each year, to gether with a statement showing the number of vacant scholarships to which each county is entitled; and the said county boards of education shall hold said examinations, and thereafter read and grade the ex amination papers of all applicants and forward the same to the State board of education, w :th their. recommen dation of the award of 'the scholar ships. Sec. 4. That before applying for the said scholarships applicants shall make proof under oath to their re spective county boards of education, as required by law for scholarships in the South Caroli ia Military academy, of their financial inabiliky to attend college, before they shall receive from said board permission to stand such examination. Sec. 5. That the said scholarships shall be paid fron the regular income of said Clemson Agricultural college, as now provided by law, and shall each continue for the term of four years, or for such length of time as the beneficiary shall be able to main tain himself and comply with the rules of the college; and the said sum >f $100 per annum shall be placed to the credit of each of said beneficiaries and applied toward the payment, of is board and other necessary school expenses. Sec. 6. That this act shall go into effect from and after the first day of July, A. D. 1904. Raiding the Treasury. A special dispatch from Washing ton to The State says "there appears o be real danger of the passage by the Republicans of the service pen sion bill, a. measure which makes pos sible an annual grab from the treasury f upwards of $60,000,000. The pro osition Is to pension every soldier ho fought on the union side in the Civil war whether he fought for a day r year, and whether he is sick now or was ever sick or unabled. It this bill s passed there will be no public build ings bill. There is to be no river and arbor bill accor ding to the announce ment of the chairman of that commit tee. Speaker Cannon is said to favor the pension service bill and the presi dent is also qucted as approving it. t will be put forward so far as the Republicans are concerned, openly as a good vote gett 3r. The argument has been made thai a Republican cam paign fund could not be expended in a better way; moreover this fund will be contributed by the government." Cotton Fire on Wheels. A special to The State from Spar tanburg says Wednesday morning shortly after 1 o'clock fire was discov ered in one of the box cars of the sec ond section of through freight No. 74, by N. Tillotison, night baggage mas ter, as that train pulled into the Southern yards preparatory to going its northward course. The train was halted and the car, which was pack ed with cotton, examined. It was dis covered that a number of bales of cot ton were on fire. The fire alarm was given and the train shifted into a sidetrack nearest to the city and here the department hastened to come. The car was quickly unloaded and 60 bales were discovered on fire. The fire was extinguished and the damage was about as great from saturation by water as from the fire. The cottor came from some point in Mississippi and was being shipped to some factory in Gastonia, N. 0. The origin of the fire is unknown. Wanted an Old One. "Yes," said the old man address ing his younger visiter, "I am prouc of my girls andwould like to see then comfortably ma'ried and as I have little money they will not go to theil husbands penniless. There's Mary, 2: years old, and a :eal good girl; I shal give her $5,000 when she marries Then comes Bet, who won't see 3 again; I shall give her $10,000; and the man who takes Eliza will havy $15,000 with her." The young ma reflected a moment and then inquired "Yu haven't one about 50, have you" Caused by Blizzard. According to the officials of the Burlington road, the collision of local passenger train and the Denvel express Tuesday night at DardeenE creek, 38 miles naorth of St. Louis it which four were killed and ten in jured, was the result of the territ blizzard weather and no blame resti on the crew. The blinding snowstorn made it impossible for the engineer os the local train to see the danger sig nal in time to stop from crashing nt( the express train, which had stoppe a a water tank. FISH AND GAME LAW. It Is Now Being Discussed by the House of Representatives. IT WOULD RAISE SOME CASH. It is Claimed That a Large Amount of Fish and Game Are Taken Off of State Preper'ty. It is estimated that the bill now be fore the house regar ling the taxation on the coast for profit will in a few years raise the state over $200,000. The bill has been before ways and means committee of the house and has been favorably reported with mi nor admendments and it is now up for consideration. Its title is "a bill to grant the com missioners of the sinking fund exclu sive jurisdiction for the protection of shell fish, migratory fish, ducks and others game fowl in the public waters and lands of the state." As it stands now a very large industry on the coast is doing business on state. land without cost. The principal pro visions of the bill are as follows: Sec. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in the business or practice of gathering oysters or -. clams or catching crabs or terrapin, shad, or sturgeon, or killing ducks or other game fowl in or about the pub lic waters, navigable rivers or public lands of this state, for sale within' the state or for shipment, or for sale without the state without first procur ing a license therefor, to be issued - and signed by the secretary of state and countersigned by the county < treasurer of each county in which. said license is to be used and exhibited as a permit which licenses shall be good for one year only from the da it is countersigned by the count. treasurer; the license fees to be paid to the county treasurer shall be as follows: For each person gathering oys ters...... ................$10 00 For each persons gathering clams,..................... 10 0? For each person catching terra pin...................... 10 00 For each person catching shad, ........................... 1003 For each person caching stur geon................. 1000 For each person killing ducks, . ...................... 10 00 For each person killing game - fowl ...................... 10 00 -:' For each boat of one ton or less to be used gathering clams or oysters, $5.00, and for each additional to $5.00. For each boat to be used in catching shad or sturgeon, $5.00, that each boat used under license as afore said shall be numbered in large plain figures, at least ten inches long, on a conspicious part of such boat, by the' owner or manager of such boat, and each person engaged on any such boat shall first procure a license as afore said; and the licenses shall be number ed and have corresponding stubs to be retained by the county treasurer as exhibits and vouchers, 'and each county treasurer shall report and re mit the fee to the secretary of state for the use of the commissioners of the inking fund. Sec. 3. That it shall be the duty of the commissioners of the sinking fund to enforce the provisions of this act strictly, and to that end they shall establish such' rules and regua tions as in their judgment and discre tion will best believe the object of this act; they in their discretion may exepend such part of the funds realiz ed from license fees as may be neces sary and proper 'for the enforcement of this act; at their discretion they may fix and grade a suitable license fee and require a license for each dealer, wholesale dealer in oysters, clams, terrapin, shad, sturgeon, and ducks and other garie fowl, and for each factory for canning shell fish, shad or sturgeon, and it shall be un lawful to carry on any such business in violation of any rule or regulation adopted or required by the commis sioners of the sinking fund in the premises. Sec. 4. That all licenses now extant from the county board of com missioners of any county shall hold good until they expire by their own limitation, but no other license on the subject of this act shall be granted by the county board of commissioners of any county. Sec. 6. That any person violating the provisions of this act shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a mis demeanor, and shall be fined not ex ceeding one hundred dollars (one-half of each fine to be paid to the iniformer, who shall be the prosecutor), or shall be imprisoned not exceeding thirty days, and each boat found used in vio lation of the provisions of this act shall be deemed forfeited to the com missioners of the sinling fund for the use of the state, and shall be disposed by them as in case of the forfeiture and condemnation of teams and vehicles seized in this state while transporting contraband alcoholic liquors. 1Dad's Old Breeches. A Missouri boy puts it like this.: "When dad has- worn his breeches out they pass to bud John], then mi tu.rns th~em round about and Bill puts 'hem o-2. When Bill's legs so long has grown the trousers fall to hide 'em then George claims them for his oj wn and styles himself inside 'emn. Next Sam's fat legs they close invest, and when they stretch no tighter, they're turned and shortened, washed and pressed and fixed on me, the wri rer. Ma works them Into carpet rags when I burst out the stitches; a1 :loom's day we perhaps will see the last of dad's old breechess."' A Sorry Cass. The following is from a Texas edi tor whose 'name we do not know: "The sorriest cuss on earth Is the One who sits around and cusses hIs town. If we lived astride of the north pole we would be ready to boost it up. If we couldn't say anything else good about It, we would say that our Ice bill didn't come high. We would not live in a town we had to euss while the world il is big aa It is now."