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ESTABLISHED IN 18' I ' I THE SDLQNS OF SOUTH GAROUNA 8ENATE"AND HOUSE ARE BUSILY ENGAGED IN SOME IMPORE1MH TANT WORK. MANY BILLS WERE PASSED The General Assembly Work of the State of South Carolina Told in Brief For The Week That Has Just Closed. Columbia.?The general Atl&nbly heard a special message from Gov. Blease in which he transmitted a copy of a lengthy letter be sent to Senator H. B. Carlisle, chairman of the dispensary investigating committee, in reply to an invitation to come before the committee and give any informs tion he might have which would substantiate the insinuations in his message to the general assembly during the season for 1911. The governor signed the anti-racing bill following its ratification by the general assembly. The measure was passed by the legislature after being amended so as to eliminate the injunction feature, and is desigued to I Iput an end to betting on horse racing In South Carolina. The provisions of the bill become effective on July 1. Two important <ibeasures relating to the finances of the state have been passed by the house and senate and ordered enrolled. Mr. Browning's bill providing for the refunding of the brown stocks and bonds by the sinking fund commission when they fail due on January 1. 1913, was one of the measures ordered enrolled. The other was ine juiui rrnuaiuuu ui inv nvj and means committee, providing for submitting to the people at the next general election the question of handling the old asylum property for $1,000,000 with which to develop the uew site. Over 100 acts of state-wide and local Interest have been sent to the secrei tary of state by the governor. A majority of these do not contain the sig. nature of the ^governor, they having become law automatically. In several instances, the governor made notes on the measures, expressing his opln ion as to their merits. An examination of the mass of acts in the secretary of states' office shows that about three out of every four have not been given the official signature by the governor of the state. Both the house and senate adopted i the report of the committee of free i *3 conference on a bill to create and operate a state warehouse system for 1 storing cotton and other commodities i and the measure was ordered enrolled i for ratification. 1 An important amendment added by t the free conference committee provides that the attorney general shall t institute proceedings against the cot- t ; ton-warehouse commission created by t the bill and determine the oonstitu- t tionality of the act before any of the , funds are appropriated to put the ware | house system iu operation. I The report of the legislative committee on penal and charitable irsti- ] tutions has been sent to the general < assembly. A number of recoinendations are made. The committee investigated the state hospital for the insane, state penitentiary, Lexington reformatory. South Carolina institution for the education of the deaf and blind. South Carolina industrial school and the Confederate home. The members of the committee are G. K. Laney of the senate and Olin Sawyer and O. L. Sanders of the house. The -Senate. The controversy between the governor and several county delegations with reference to the appointment of magistrates was officially brought to an end in the senate during an executive session, when that body refused to confirm the appointees of the governor. The greatest number of cases decided were from Spartanburg eounSchool Work In Orangeburg. Prof. W. K. Tate, State rural school ' inspector, and Miss Marie Cromer, girls' tomato club organizer, are visiting several schools of Orangeburg county. They visited Kowesville, Bowma li. Cope, St. George school, Two Mile swamp school. North Willow school. Livingston, Neeses Magnolia school. South Goodland and Springfield. The meeings are being well attended. Prof. W. E. Swearingen, anu Miss Elise Rudd, of the Rural School Improvement Association visited many school of Orangeburg. Have Jailed A Desperate Negro. About six years ago a negro gen rally called "Black Kidd," alias Charlie Williams, shot Leni Bishop, the big negro formerly employed by the tire department. The "Black Kidd" got away, but he came back i recently and he is now in jail at i Greenwood. It is said he came back i to kill Lem. so Lera evidently feels relieved that he is behind the bars. The 'Black Kidd" landed several days i ago end has been around ever since. < Several days ago he jumped on a negro aud beat him up badly. Two Large Trials For Next Term. The special terra of court of general sessions. *hleh convened at Aiken February 4, adjourned after the rase of Tom Lipford, charged with : the tnurdcr. of Fuller Gregory, a spe- . cisl deputy, at Warrcnville which i had b3*n set for trial, had been continued until the June term of court. The continuance of Lipfo.'d's case sets two big trials for the June term, Lipford's and thr.t of James G. .Seigler, .charged with the murder of Policeman Wade Patterson on the streets of Aiken. I THF 91. ty. The matter was presented to the senate by Senator Carlisle. By a unanimous vote and with no debate, the senate passed the so-called anti-racing bill and sent to the house for concurrence in the amendments. There are two amendments, one eliminating the injunction feature and one making ttfe bill take effect July 1, 1912. The race bill has been in the legislature several weeks and has caused general interest. It is the chief matter of legislation at this term. The bill to provide for auditing the books of the state officials that wan sent to the senate with the governor's veto and his reasons therefor and referred to the judiciary committee was upheld by it and so reported to the senate The senate then concurred in the veto. The senate took up all unconested matters on the calendar and rapidly disposed of it. The debate on the racing bill was the principal feature of the evening. Many senators partlcpated In it, and the injunction feature of the bill was killed by a vote of 33 to 2. The bill to allow the Columbia Elec- ; trie, Gas and Power Company to build a power dam across the Congaree river just below the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers was killed on third reading, but the senate reconsidered its action and adjourned debate on the measure. The introduction in the senate of the bill to place the offlce of the commissioner of agriculture, commerce and industie8 precipitated one of the liveliest fights of the present session. It was Anally passed to third reading unamended. I After considerable debate the sen , ate passed the Joint resoluton provid ( ing for the investigation of the rate? j for the water used by the state from the city of Columbia. ( The senate passed the supply bill, i after haying adopted many amend- , ments, and it was sent to the house i tnr rnnoiirrenpo in th? a menfi men t S. i The joint resohtfion to investigate < the so-called Parker mill merger that was recalled from the senate was killed in the senate by a vote of 16 I to ft. This resolution was the out- j come of a message from the governor 1 in which he charged that the Parker interests had consolidated their cot- I ton mills in violation of the law. This resolution had previously been re- ! ported unfavorably by the judiciary committee, but was later adopted and sent to the house. The House of Representatives. The house took up the Crosson i bill creating the office of state high- i way commissioner. The house ad- i journed without taking any definite i action on the bill. Numerous amend- j ments have been offered. < Mr. Hitt's bill to provide for a tax 1 on standing timber was passed to * third reading in the house. By a vote of 57 to 45, the house ( tilled the judiciary corammee s jojui esolution providing for an amendment to the constitution providing or biennial sessions of the general '' tssembly. Mr. Dobson's bill was tak^i up in ( he house. The bill provides that f he tenure of the county superintendsnts of education expire in July ra- | her than in January. The counties ' ^ vere being rapidly exempted when i>r. Sawyer moved to indefinitely > postpone the bill, and this was lost. . The bill, after many trials and trihu- ^ at ions, was passed and goes to the , senate for concurrence in the amend ments. The Crosson bill creating a state , highway commission was tabled by a vote of 62 to 36 in the house alter a | long debate. The measure, which was introduced last year, passed the ! senate during the present session. It i , provides for levying a tax on automo- j | biles to pay an expert to supervise { road construction in this state. , The house concurred in the senate's amendments to the OsborneErckmann anti-racing bill. One of the amendments abolishes the injunction feature of the orignal bill while the ( other provides that it shall not become effective until July 1, 1912. t On the motion of Mr. Erckmann the 1 house accepted both amendments : and the bill was ordered enrolled and j was transmitted to the governor. Is To Become Convention City. Managing Secretary McKeand, of the chamber of commerce, received I ' - .u- ?... ! iroill lilt* pniuur nit; iirai tuples ui the leaflet to be issued by the newly ' 1 organized Tourist and Convention i ( League, setting forth the new plan j ' under which Charleston intends mak- ; ing the efTort to become a great convention city and presenting in com- ; pact form an argument designed to 1 show why the public in general should he willing to assist in enter- j raining the convention delegates who will come hero In 1912 and 1913 I Telephone Company Loses Suit. The jury in the case of Mrs. Minnie C. Lundy against the Southern ' Bell Telephone Company rendered a verdict of $20,000 for the plaintifT. The suit was for $50,000. growing out of the death of Mrs. Lundy's husband 1 Charles Lundy, in the northern part of Columbia in 1909. The case was preveusly heard in May, 1910. and a verdict for the same amount as 1 awarded this time was rendered. The case was previously appealed by the defendant and a new trial was granted her. i ' Work of Sumter City Council. Postmaster Geo. D. Shore wants a relic from the battleship Maine for the new- postoffice grounds and has asked council to help him secure it. . Clerk Hurst was directed to write Congressman Lever and ask his aid ' in securing the same. A matter that has been annoying the people of Sumter for a long tim?\ and especial ly during the bad weather for the las! three months, has been that on Main street gutters discharge water ont' the pavement. Council will give owne rrs 15 days to install draios. LEO F< A 6111 ELEVATOR THE BUSINESS MEN OF THE STATE DECLARE THAT IT IS BADLY NEEDED. IT WILL BE LOCATED HERE This Project Will Be Necessary For South Carolina In Two Years Be- , cause of the Increased Production of the Corn Industry. Colu?bia.?The production of corn in South Carolina has advanced to the point where a grain elevator will be needed within two years," said F. S. Terry in discussing the increase in this state. Accordlug to statistics prepared by the state department of agriculture, the corn production for last year was about 45,000,000 bushels. Statistics obtained by the department show that about $6,000,000 worth of corn is brought from the West to this state eacty year. This means that the farmers buy about 7,000,000 bushels of corn annually. With average conditions it is expected that the corn production will reach 55,000,000 bushels this year, which would eliminate the Western corn producers from this territory. Practically all corn produced in this state is consumed by South Carolina farmers. Little corn is shipped out of the state. Reports have been received in Columbia from time to Lime that farmers in various sections of the state experienced trouble in i finHincr a murbot fr?r thoir mm tinning ? 1?M?( AVV *v. v?v.. vw. ... First of all, the elevator would be erected in Columbia because this is the logical and geographical point. A. farmer in the Piedmont or Pee Dee sections, with an elevator here, would have little trouble in disposing it his crop. "The elevator should be erected with a view to handling all kinds of grain," said Mr. Terry. "Within two yearR' time this state will be in a po- 1 sition to ship corn out." Study of Rider Spider Goes On. Bjitesburg.?The planters of this section are pleased to learn that Con- | gressman Lever has been successful in his efforts to have the red spider pest investigation continued. About two years ago Mr. Lever's attention was called to the existence of the spider in this section and the damage threatened by its presence. Owing Lo its alarming increase in the vicinities of Bate8burg, Leesville and Lex ington, Mr. Lever was enabled to se:ure an appropriation for an investigation. The work has already cov;red a period of two years. During he past season the investigation was :arrled on by E. A. McGregor. Not Much Fertilizer Being Sold. Yorkviile.?Little or no fertilizers lave been shipped to this point this ear up to this time. Inquiry of a ealer, who is among the largest in he county, reveals the fact that so ar he has not had exceeding a dozn inquiries as to prices and has not aade a single contract with farmers, 'he outlook is that farmers throughiut this section will buy the ingredints and mix their own fertilizers his year on a larger scale than ever ?efore, and as a result the demand ' or cotton seed meal is unusually arge and will likely continue unless here should be an extraordinary adance in the price. A/ill Give a Freight Bureau Hearing. Charleston.?The joint committees )f ways and means and railroads of :ity council will give a hearing to hose business firms who may have jrguments to submit for the continued operations of the freight bureau, 'or whose abolishment a bill has been ntroduced in city council by Alder- ' nan Pinckney. Charged With Violating Liquor Law. Columbia.?"Bill" Pot was arrested ; >n a charge of violating the dispen- ! wry ordinance. Bond was put up in : he sum of $40.75 for his appearance 1 it recorder's court. A quantity of ?eer was seized at the club. Files Suit Against Southern. Charleston.?D. E. Riley ha* filed ! lult against the Southern Railway for ?2,000 damages on account of alleged nistreatment he claims to have re..J>iA.I n I.An..1 a t,oln KAta>aan ' oitcu rtuwdi u a uciiii uvi n vvu vji vv?i rille and Seneca at the hands of a icket collector. It seems that the dificulty arose over the question of are between the two places, Mr. Ril?y claiming: that the agent at Sjiaranburg had taken from his mileage I 100k sufficient mileage to cover the iistance to b? traveled, and the ticket -uditor claiming that he did not. Women's Club Board Meeting. Greenville.?The South Carolina ! iYomen's Clubs' executive board is lolding its meeting in Greenville. The xecutive boatd is composed of. Mrs. 'ulius M. Visanski, president, of 'harleston; Mrs. Alexander ixtng, irst vice president, of Rock Hill; i tlrs. John Ruiisell, corresponding sec- , etary. of Greenville: Mrs. L. I). ; 'hilds, second vice president, of Co- i umbia; Mrs. Frank B. Gary, treas- i tier, of Abb?ville: Mrs. Mary E ; A'aterhouse, recording secretary, Mrs lobprt A. Chandler, auditor. Low Priced Cotton Did Not Hurt. Yorkville.?Low priced cotton did tot hurt the majority of the white arnters of York county so badly as t did those it. some other sections of he state, except in their minds. The: rere hoping for 12 to 15 cents anc vere hurt by disappointment. They used a big corn crop in 1910, ditto egs, and their store accounts were afhespondingly less than the all-cot>n farmers in other sections Last aar they raised the largest crop of otton and the largest crop of corn. "5 Mgr*?; ' f fro JL JL "JRT MILL, S. C., THUR FRO* ALL OVER THE ShiF A Column of Short Paragraphs That Were Collected With Very Much Care By the Editor. Chester.?The adjutant general. W. YV*. Moore, has fixed Thursday, April 11, as the date for the inspection of Company G, First infantry of this city. Columbia.?Dave Lucious, who sl.ot his stepfather, Wash Hightpwer, was fined 595.75 in recorder's court or given a sentence of 90 days. The shooting occurred on Assembly street at the house of Lucious' mother. She had married Hightower the night before. Newberry.?The rain fell in torrents and the wind has been blowing hard for many hours. Farmers are, - # * II k 4 Un.f Ui uuiiinf, letrmiK uiur, uetauBc iucj have not been able to do any work of preparation on their farms. The area planted in wheat and oats this season was not up to the average. Columbia.?At a meeting of city council it was announced that representatives of the Southern railway would arrange for a suitable steel bridge at the foot of we6t Elmwood avenue. At present the line is crossed by a wooden structure, and it is probable that at an early date a steel bridge will be constructed. Yorkville.?The representatives of a carnival company was here and undertook to persuade the town council to allow the aggregration he represented to come here for a week during the near future. After hearing his proposition and giving the matter due consideration the council decided they would not allow the outfit to come. Orangeburg.?The political cauldron is beginning to boil in Orangeburg county and the election this year promises to be one of great interest and vigorous contest. As yet no announcements have been made except M. E. Edwins, who will be a candi- , date for supervisors of Orangeburg county. Rumor is that practically all the officers of the county will have opposition. Chester.?W. E. T. Wade, who was recently appointed canvasser ior cotton reduction pledges in Baon Rouge township has finished his canvass. His figures indicate, in 1011, 2,447 acres were planted in cotton, whereas during 1912 the farmers pledged themselves to make their aggregate acreage not greater than 2,952 acres. This is a reduction of 15.09 per cent, or 525 acres. Waterloo.?Reports'from a number of the best farmers in this section, say the recent cold snap has greatly injured the wneat and oat crop. Where the ground will permit oats being sown in the hope of making a Bpring crop. It seems that oats have suffered more than wheat, as they will not stand as much cold. Mer- j chants ar* busy selling; seed oats, , and prices range from 80 cents to $1 per bushel. Gaffney.?Postmaster Thomas Hester is in receipt of a lettter from the Inspector in charge at Atlanta, replying to the application made by Mr. Hester for an inspection of Gaffney with a view of free delivery of mail, in which the inspector states that a man will be detailed for service here within the very near future. The city j is in readiness for the inspection and there can be but little doubt as to whether or not the system will be secured. Bishopville. ? Bishopville's new hank. Merchants' and Planters' bank, has opened for business with capita! : stock of $50,000. The officers of the bank are: J. S. Corbett, president; A. M. Lee. vice president; \V. J. DuBose, vice president; W. \\\ Watson, j cashier. The directors are as follows: S. L. Austin. E. \V. Tisdale, i W. \V. McCutcheon, A. M. Lee, Geo. j McCutcheon, Dr. A. C. Baskin. J. E. ' Cousar, W. .T. DuBose. R. W. McLen- i Jon, J. S. Corbett. Columbia.?Rain for three days and two nights has caused the rivers in this vicinity to rise and .4Pf&t/rions are being taken to prevent the flooding of warehouses close to the river banks. The Congaree river is up to ; 20 feet, which is several feet above flood stage. The Wateree rivpr is 30 feet at Camden, where the flood stage is 24 feet. The rains continue and flood warnings come from the local office of the weather bureau, saying the streams will continue to rise. Mallory.?It is now just about six weeks until the time to begin planting cotton and practically no farm work has been done here. Some oats have been planted but only a small part of what would have been planted had weather conditions been good. Orangeburg.?Orangeburg is experiencing a coal famine. All of the local dealers exhausted their supply a few days ago and some suffering from the cold weatliPr is being experienced. Just when the supply will be replenished is not known, but the Ucra ICI3 o i c rAj/uvinife ? Cici; day. Charleston.?In the United States district court in the case or the Huber Manufacturing Company vs E. J. Corley and John P. Corley, an order was taken giving the plaintiff 30 days n which to file additional argument, otherwise the case will be dismissed i on a technicality. Greenville.?Former Sheriff J. I). Gilreath has gaain announced his candidacy for that office and will enter the primary this summer against the incumbent. J. Perry Poole, Hendrix Rector and probably one or two otn- ! ers. Mr. Gilreath was defeated for j the office four years ago. Charleston.?County Supervisor W. j P. Cantwell opened bids for the repainting of the interior and exterior of the court house building. Four bids were received, and the contract awarded to A. Duffy & Son, >1,992. Spartanburg. ? The demand for coarse goods corning into the mills of the Spartanburg district duriag the last two weeks is said to be almost unprecedented in the history of cotton -piods manufactured in this section, "he demand is said to be from China, ue merchants of the country buying 11cre heavily than they have a; any ime within the last three years. MJLL SDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 191 PRESIDENT TUFT SELECTS PITNEY JERSEY CHANCELLOR CHOSEN TO SUCCEED JUSTICE HARLAN ON THE BENCH. ABLE RND POPULAR JURIST The Iowa Federation of Labor la Pro- ; testing Against Placing Pitney or, the Supreme Court?Governor Wil on Speaks a Good Word. Washington.?President Taft sent to ; the Senate the nomination of Chan i cellor Mahlon Pitney of New Jersey to be an associate justice of the United j States Supreme Court. In executive session, the Senate without discussion, referred Chancel lor Pitney's nomination to the com mittee on judiciary which probablj 1 will make a report in the near future Trenton, N. J.?Governor Wilson gave out the following statement rela' tive to the appointment of Chancellor Pitney to the Supreme Court bench: "I have known Chancellor Pitney : ever since we "were young men together at college and I feel that both I In character and in attainment he j is singularly fitted for the great poslj tion for which the President has chosen him. I think New Jersey is to be congratulated upon this choice of a representative and that the court will find itself enriched by hie presence." Chancellor Pitney, besides being recognized as an able jurist, is popular because of his geniality. B?fore going on the Supreme Court bench he was active in politics and I represented the old fourth New Jersey district in Congress. Des Moines, la.?A. L. Urick, presi dent of the Iowa Federation of I>abor, i addressed Senators Cummins and Ken- | yon at Washington, protesting against i the appointment by President Taft of Chancellor Mahlon Pitney of New Jersey to succeed the late Justice Har- ! lan on the Supreme bench. Court of Honor Has Been Revived. New York?The business men's court of honor, a court without a judge, lawyer or jury yet recognized by the law of ihe state, has been revived in New York after a lapse of 17 years. The court is conducted by the chamber of commerce for the purpose of settling disputes between merchants and, so far, as Ib known here, there is no other court like it in the world. The business men's court was established in 1768 and for more than a century the merchants adjusted their disputes there. In 1874 the legislature voted a salary of $10,000 a year to the official arbitrator of the court and when this salary was dis- , continued in 1895 the court passed out ' >f existence. Hiram Johnson For Roosevelt. New York.?Hiram Johnson, gov ernor of California, hertofore an ar- j dent supporter of Senator La Kollette, I issued a formal statement here say- j Ing that in his opinion Theodore Roosevelt should be the next Republican nominee for president of the United States. The statement was Issued, he said, with Mr. Roosevelt's knowledge. One Killed In Wreck of Building. Pittsburg. Pa.?One man was killed And four were hurt in the collapse of a three and a half story concrete and steel office building of an Etna steel plant. The building which was Hearing compietion. was a thousand feet long and without warning about 500 feet of it crumpled up like an egg shell and crashed into the eel a r. Conviction of Power# Confirmed. Washington.?The Supreme Court Affirmed the conviction of John Pow ers Of tne > lrgiuia. muumaiua urni (he Kentucky line, on charges of connection with an illicit distillery. Powers claimed that his constitutional rights were violated when he was compelled in cross-examination at a preliminary hearing to tell about his connection with a still a year before. Young Lady Found Murdered. Dothan. Ala.?The body of Miss Es telle Brown with two bullet holes in her head and rifle resting across her chest was found in her home near here. It is thought she had been murdered and a lynching is probable if a n?gro seen in the neighborhood is raptured. The body was found by the young woman's mother when she returned from a visit. Rumors that | she bad been assaulted caused a mob to visit Dixie, a nearby settlement? and ran all the negroes away, one be-B tng killed and several injured. A Triple Murderer Pays Penalty. I Mobile. Ala.?Refusing th>* offers ol a minister, who labored with him all night, his own son, a Catholic pries and members of the Salvation Army, ! Lawrence Odom. a triple murderer. went te his death here on the gallows. On the gallows the condemned man, when asked to say his last prayer, answered by requesting that his flve-year-old daughter. Hazel, Le brought to him to remove the black cap from his face. He mount 'I the gallows stoically and laughingly asked to see his wife. Taft Supporters In Milwaukee. Milwaukee, Wis.?A large number of Taft supporters are in Mlwaukee to select delegates at large to the national Republican convention. There will be a banquet at which Attorney General Wickersham is scheduled to deliver the principal address on the subject of "trusts." The delegates tc be elected at the Republican conference must go before the primaries in opposition to those selected by the LaFollette conference held at Madi son several weeks ago. 233 2. CHANGE DATE OF MEETING The Teachers of the State Will Meet on April 15.?Change Satisfactory to Mr. W. W. Finley. Orangeburg. ? The date for the meeting of the state teachers' association which was to have been held in Charleston, March 28 to 29, has been changed to April 25 to 27, or account of the first named date con flicting with those of other important gatherings. When the change of date was decided upon, Prof. A. J. Thackston of this city, who is president of the slate teachers' association and a member of the state board of education, notified those who were to make addresses on the occasion, and received favorable answers from all of them. The following telegram was received from President W. \V. Finley, of the Southern Railway Company: 'Your letter and telegram received. Change of date for my address to the evening of Friday, April 26. is satisfactory to me." The Southern Railway Company has arranged to rward agricultural college scholarships in the states through which its lines pass, and the company is taking a general interest in educational affairs. While the meeting is in session, the hospitable Charleston folk have announced, there will be boat trips to the islands, Fort Sumter and Magnolia Gardens, and numerous other things to add to the pleasuer of those attending the meeting Spartanburg Wants To Win. The Spartanburg chamber of commerce is going to back the farmers of this county in a coinpetiton to win prizes at the big corn show in Columbia next year. At a meeting of 20 or more of the leading business men of the city it was decided to go in to win by employing the services of an expert in corn growing to Instruct and direct 50 or more of the most progressive farmers in the county on the raising of at least one acre of prize corn. A committee of 12 was named to direct the organization of the corn growing forces. Interest in Humane Work. The Richland Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals held its quarterly meeting in the directors' room of the Carolina bank of Colum bia, the president, Capt. W. D. Starling. presiding. Some of the women who belong were present and expressed deep inlerest in the cause for which the society stands. A committee, appointed by the president to bring in new m?mbers is composed of Mrs, Edwin T. Seibels, Mrs. Arthur Williams Hamby and .Mrs. Hen ry Warren Richardson. Police Charged With Murder.. H. W. Holcomb, ex-chief of police of Townville, and Justin Woolbright, I. B. Spears and Jim Baldwin, who charged with the murder of a white man named Doc Welborn, were bound over to the higher court by Magistrate Muldrow after a preliminary hearing. Judge Memminger granted bail in the sum of $2,000 for Holcomb and Woolbright, and $1,000 for Spears and Baldwin. Three well known citizens of Townvillp signed their bonds, and the men were released. Columbia.?The steel frame for the building of the state fair grounds, a structure 400 feet long and 168 wide which had just hern completed, fell with a crash and is considered a total loss. Contractors in charge of the construction gave the opinion that the wind caused the building to fall. Th< building was valued at $25,000. The heavy steel girders supporting the structure were bent and twisted. Many of the steel beams were snapped. The minor supports were bent aand broken. Brakeman Had Leg Cut Off. J. P. {Jrownin?, brakeman on tlx switch engine at Branchville wat thrown undpr a car and his left, leg cut off just below the knee. While switching in a side track he was knocked off by a car standing at the , end of another side track. He was given immediate surgical attention b> Ur. J. S. Wimberly and is reported tc be doing as well as can be expected. American Berkshire Congress. A telpgrani received by Secretan Hamby of the Columbia Chamber 01 Commerce announces that the next meeting of the American Berkshire congress will be held in this city or the same dare as those announced for the National Corn show. The tele gram was received from John F. Monroe of the agricultural depart men' or me soutnern railway ano was in response to an invitation ol um^fpun^ilo^o^rouf m?? business was disposeri of. The scholarship to ! Orangeburg college- that is given by ; the chapter was awarded to Miss Inez Westbury, of this county, the success ful contestant. The Kdisto district conference will meet at St. Matthew on March 27. The musical and liter ary programme rendered at the meet ing was a very good and entertaining one. Convention League Getting Busy. The tourists and convention league is getting busy, planning a campaign , to bring a number of state and in- j terstate associations to Charleston. ! Professional and merchants associa tions and fraternal organizations are on the list, to be invited and lo be especially urged to meet here or at the Isle of Palms during the present year. The officers of the Hardware Dealers' Association of the Carolinas were in Charleston, making arrangements for their meeting at the Isle of Palms June 11-14. MES OFFERS AN INSULT ~ TO THIS COUNTRY 3RAVE SITUATION PRECIPITATED IN BY ACTION OF COLOMBIAN MINISTER. ? ? -? MAKES PROFOUND SENSATION Smarting Under the Panama Canal Zone Differences the South American Republic's Representative Takes a Ra?.'i Step Toward United States. Washington.?A grave diplomatic Mtuation between the United States ind Colombia has b^en precipitated by the publication of a letter which Senor Pedro Nel Ospina, the Colorn biati Minister, has written to Acting Secretary Huntington Wilson of the State Department suggesting that it might be "inopportune" for Secretary Knox to visit Colombia during his projected tour of Central America. The Colombian minister, first drawing attention tq the fact that the views are his own and not officially those of his government, seriously criticises the United States for not submitting to arbitration the differonces with Colombia growing out of j this government's acquisition of the Panama canal zone. Inasmuch as the letter, admittedly, Is the personal expression of the minister, written without having communicated with his government, it was received at the State Department in the nature of a personal insult to this government. No action has been taken and no official would comment on it for the present, but the incident is known to have stirred officials of the United States to such an extent that the recall of the Colombian minister is expected as a matter of course. At present. however, the United States is disposed to wait until Senor Ospina receives the instructions he has asked for. Are Hiding the Real Situation. Mexico City.?Kmilio Vasquez Gomez, declared that he would accept the provisional presidency in case the reoeiB succeeded in lorcing president Madero from the national palace. This declaration has gone far toward convincing unofficial residents of the capital that a general rebellion is in progress. Mexican officials, however, : continue to characterize as local dlsj orders every insurrection in the country. Although rebels now are [ operating in eighteen states the Department of Interior countiues to give out news denying trouble in a great part of these. Lubricating Oil# Prey to Flames. Philadelphia.?Haifa million gallons of lubricating oils wpre destroyed by flames which raged for more than tewlve hours in the works of the Atlantic Refining Company at Point Breeze in the southern section of this city. When the flames finally died* out for lack of further fuel, the still house, receiving works and pump house, together with numerous buildings and large tanks, had been destroyed. Loss about $80,000. Situation in Manchuria Acute. Nanking.?The situation in Manchuria has become much more acute since Kang Yu West, leader of the reform movement in 1.898 and grand head of the Umpire Reform Association, has thrown his lot with the new regime. The latter, according to a dispatch from Tien Tsin, refuses to give up his office. The Manchuria Prince Su is financing a movement to establish a constitutional monarchy In .Manchuria. To Develop Potash Resources. Washington. ? To develop more thoroughly the fertilizer and potash resources of the United States, Secretary of Agriculture Wilson has ordered the establishment at Reno, Nev., of a government laboratory v.here natural material supposed to contain potash will be examined without cost. Thoso sending samples must prepay transportation charges, however. A Jerseyite May Be Appointed. Washington.?.Mahion Pitney Chan- j cellor of the state of New Jersey, I member of Congress for two terms, a lawyer and jurist of thirty years' 1 practice, looms up as the man whom President Taft will appoint to the Supreme Court bench to succeed the late Associate Justice John M. Harlan, j Among friends of the President, ft : was reported as practically certain i .1 /-.I II I.t or,, i IllclF. V I lllir* muuiu IJ\Z n\t | pointer! and the nomination, according to excellent authority, will be sent to the Senate in the near future. Pinchot Is Now For Roosevelt. Washington. Clifford Pinchot, in a signed statement, made public, announces that he has withdrawn his ; support from Senator LaFollette's presidential candidacy and that he j will hereafter advocate the nomina- j tion of Theodore Roosevelt, Mr. | Pinchot declares that the events of ' the last month have made it apparent that Senator LaFollette's candidacy ! will neither hold the progressive Re- j publicans together as a fighting force, ; aor prevent the nomination of a "reactionary Republican." Denounces Hi? Mother and Sister. St. Louis, Mo.?Andrew J. White, claimant in the Kinimel mystery case, now on trial in the United States district court, renounced Mrs. Estelle Kimmel and her daughter, Mrs, Edna Bonslett, mother and sister of the missing George A. Kimmel as hie mother and sister "These women are no longer my mother and sister," the claimant said, "1 mean, of course, that they t.r? my blood relations, but I feel no kinship for them. Our relationship is dead. It was killed by their action | toward me in this litigation." $1.25 PER YEAR A ? FROM THE PALMETTO STATE The Latest General News That Has Been Gotten Together For the t., People of the State. ^ Conway.?William F. Simmons, skidder engineer for the Conway Lumber Company, was arrested on the charge of infanticide. Simmons denies his guilt. He is in jail. Lexington.?The first quarterly conference of the Lexington circuit was held in the Methodist church here. Presiding Elder Wallace M. Duncan preached. Chester. ? Mary the 3 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank MoFadden. of Fort Lawn, was so frightfully burned that she died in a few hours. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. D. A. Phillips at the El Bethel Methodist church at Hichburg. * Winnsboro?Joel McMeekin, a highly respected citizen of this community, was burned to death when his residence, near Strothers. was destroyed by fire. He is supposed to have become overcome by the smoke and found himself unable to leave the burning dwelling. Mr. McMeekin was 80 years of age. The origin of the fire is unknown. Anderson. ? Ed White, a colored brakeman on a freight train of the Charleston and Western Carolina Railway, received probaly fatal Injuries when he was caught between a moving car anu ine siauon piaiiorm The negro suffered three broken ribs and was painfully and very seriously injured internally. Medical aid was secured at once, but it is believed that the injured man cannot survive the injuries. Rock Hill.?The committee on programme and arrangement for the celebration of XVlnthrop's 25th anniversary has decided upon May 3 as the date, at which time the cornerstone of (he new Training school will be laid and the dedication of the new industrial arts and science building will occur. Many of I he leading educators and speakers of the country will be 011 the programme and a large j attendance is expected. Greenville.?A week ago track-laying was commenced at Greenwood on the interurban, and by this week it is estimated that arrangements of contractors will have so far progress ed that record of a mile a day will be made. This week also, work of truck-laying will begin at Belton and in a few weeks at this end of the ' line, sq that three crews of men will be at work at the same time. This means that cars will be running within six or eight weeks. Orangeburg. ? Another star mail route is soon to be established from ; Orangeburg to Bowman. The new service will be inaugurated about July 1, and will be & double dally ; service. The government is now advertising for bids from persons who desire to carry the mail between Orangeburg and Bowman. The flat mail will leave Orangeburg at 7: ilN o'clock in the morning anr return trip N x will be made by noon, while the sec ^ ond mail will leave Orangeburg at 5 ! nVnl/>k in thn atfprnnnn "w,v" v"w A nderfion.?According to several successful fanners, the recent cold weather has greatly injured the wheat and oat crops in Anderson : county. Oafs will not stand as much cold as wheat, and have, therefore, suffered most, being spewed up out of the ground in many Instances and turned black. The wheat in some places haR alfto spewed up and has | turned white. More grain than is usually planted in this county was sown this year, Spartanburg. ? In the preliminary hearing of the cape against H. K. Jackson, charged by John G. Harris, his former business associate, with being short to the extent of $1,275, part of which alleged shortage ia due Mr. Harris, as a member of the firm, Magistrate Rawden reserved his decision. Mr. Jackson is charged with breach of trust and with obtaining money under false pretenses. The prominence of the defendant caused much interest in the case. He is one of the leading members of the younger society set and is very popular. Columbia.?Leslie Hammond, the 12-year-old daughter of Mrs. Joe Hammond, 1120 College street, was struck by the auto patrol of the city of Columbia at the intersection of Senate and Sumter streets. Her injuries are not thought to be serious. Saluda.?During the past week hundreds of bales ot cotton were marketed here. Since railroad transportation was opened February 1 close around $40,000 worth of cotton has been bought in this town. The establishment of a cotton market here hss caused a wonderful activity in every line of business. Orangeburg. ? Moultrie chapter. Daughters of the American Revolution, of this city, at Its recent meeting held at the home of Mrs. A. C. Liaon. decided fittingly to celebrate Washington's birthday. The exercises will be held at the Klk' home. Florence.?A small blaze, causing slight damage, about $75 in amount, gave the new automobile fire engine itB first work several days ago. The fire started within the wall* of the storage vaults, and was hard to get at, giving the firemen about two hours hard work in dense smoke, but they prevented its spread, Clio.?Very little farm work has been done up fo this time this year. A very limited amount of fertilizers bought, so far and practically none has been hauled. Columbia.?John Samuel Verner, a well known resident, of Columbia and prominent in South Carolina, died at his home ai Colonial Heights after a long illness. The funeral services were held at the First Presbyterian church, the Rev. J. O. P.eavis, D. !>., pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating, assisted by Rev. K. c. Held, b. D? of the Columbia Theological Seminary