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THE MESS AUK j Ot' Goveinoi McSweeuey to the Oeii eral Assembly THE BEST HE EVER WROTE. ! lie Ad viutceH Pronounced Views on the IjOiiiltiiK truest Ioiin, Which Are I.lkoly to bo DInciinn ed thin Sennlon. Gov. McSweeney's Message was read , before both Houses of the General' Assembly on Tuesday, Jan 13. We! have room only for a synopsis of the' able document, lie made a number of recommendations, briefly stated as1 follows: 1. A compliance with the clear I mandate of the Constitution that "all 1 taxes upon property, real and personal. I shall be laid upon the actual value of j the property taxed"? not 50 per cent j of its actual value, nor tit) per cent, nor yet 80 per cent, as is the case now in ! some parts of the State: but upon the I actual value. 2. A general system of road im- ! provement, to be paid for by a propert v tax, to be levied on all taxable pro perty, whether situated in town or' country. 3. 1 ho enactment of a compulsorv education law. 4. State aid to the public schools and such an appropriation as will "bring up the deficient schools to a minimum standard"'- -t he appropria tion not to be less than the aggregate | amount appropriated for the support I of the State colleges. 5. The creat ion of Count v Hoards of Education and the emplvment of ex pert Superintendents of Education, in t accordance with the recommendation of the Stale Superintendent, so that a ' business in which the State invests nearly a million dollars every year shall not be without capable business supervision. (5. The establisl uncut of Home Schools for Girls and Farm Schools for Hoys in such counties as shall, by special Act of t htt. Legislature, vote upon themselves a tax not exceeding two mills for the, support of such schools. 7. The continued favor of the Gen eral Assembly towards the several State colleges. 8. The passage of a law prohibiting the employment of children in the cot ton mills of the State. I). The building of a now house for the Governor, the present Executive) Mansion being utterly inadequate. 10. An Increase in the number of judical circuits in the State, instead of making any further attempt to re lieve legal congest ion by the expedient of ordering special Courts. 11. The imposition ot a lax of 2 per cent on all outside insurance com panies doing business in the State on the gross premiums collected in the State, instead of the tax now required of these companies; and the payment by each agent or representative of an insurance company soliciting insurance In the State of a small sum for a license to do business. In 1001 these companies collected from tlfe people of the State $2,800,789 47, and paid hack In losses for the same time $1,337,81 The companies realized on the year's business in this State *1,4(33,140 tiii. 12. The cure of certain growing evils of the pension system adopted by the State for the relief of old Con federate soldiers, by having the execu tive ofllcers of the Camps of United Confederate Veterans in each county act. as the county pension board, or having the survivors to elect the members of the pension boards. Lasi year the State paid $200,000 to indigent Confederate Veterans, four times the amount first appropriated for this purpose three or four year ago, and the Comptroller General reported that thero are now 7,750 names on the pension rolls of the State. It is a growing evil against' which -the Gover nor would have the Legislature pro vide. 13. Ample provision for the support of the State militia, upon the strength I of which "rests at last the safety of our structure of civil government/' 14. The creation of the olllce of Stato Bacteriologist, so that the work of the State Hoard of Health may be more effective and the health of the people protected and promoted. 15. Provision for the publication of the Invaluable historical records of the Stato at Columbia which are Inacos slble in their present condition to those who would consult them. 10. The establishment of a bureau of immigration for the purpose of keeping the resources of the State steadily and Intelligently before the in vestment and home-seeking world. The above we take from The News and Courier. What follows below is from The State: The last annual message of Gov. Mc Swoenoy gives a view of South Caro lina which presents many points of gratification and encouragement. The Stato, ho says, "has enjoyed an era of material prosperity which is unprece dented; "new enterprises are l>cing proieotcd and the building of cotton mills goes constantly on; business of every character has been exceptional ly prosperous; peace and good order prevail, and progress has been made along educational lines." The only oonspicuous cause for dissatisfaction is the Inability of the State to meet dur ing the year the obligations it had in curred. As to this the Governor says* The Governor and the State treas urer were forced to borrow the full amount of the $300,000 authorized by the last legislature. This was made necessary by t,ho fact that the last ap propriation act carried with It more than the rovenuo from die levy for State purposes would realize. It, is not good business judgment for the State to borrow money to meet current ex ponsoa. Knowing the total assessed property of the State, the levy should bo sufficiently large to meet, t he appro priations. Or If It Is desired to fix (moaning, we judge, to maintain at ? P.roilG"t fate) the levy the appro priation bill should be kept, within the amount such levy will realize You should so regulate the two that the State will not be compelled to bor row monoy for current expenses and bo forced to pay Interest, charges. Which Is sound advice, obviously de manded by the occasion. The gover nor goes on to make a good argument m favor of such a measure as The Btato has for years advocated, to wit-, tho assessment of property at its act ual value as required by the constitu tion. "Why not follow/' asks the gov I)'a'n 'ftnK,,nge of the con stitution? Ho shows by Illustration that a great, variance exists between tho tax burdens laid on different coun tiea, the basis for taxation In some lx> Ing 80 per oont. of actual value and In otnere as little as 50 per cent, or less. ro adopt a more percentage of actual value id, as he says, "a plain violation n!??8 ?.?th0 "Onstitutlon." It maKes little difference to the tax payer what tho basis of valuation Is so that all proporty Is assessed In the ?amo ratio of value, for a certain amount of money lias to bo raised to meet the expenses of government, and If the valuation is high tho rate is low, ana vice vorsa. The inequality which now exiata, howovcr, makes the bur den bear unevenly, and tho l>est plan is to reqbiro that tho mandate of t he poMtitution be followed, ir one coun ty l? assessed at 80 per cent, and an other at 50 per cent, of actual value. One 11 paying too much or tho other Is paying 100 little of It* proportion of trie State tax." All this should hardly need the say ing There is but otic nominal objec tion to assessing property at its true value, ami that. U not really an objec tion. but u recommendation. It is that the receipts from the 3 mill tax for public schools will be largely in creased thereby. We all know that our school system is defective, that the schools need more money, that everv community in the State which is resolved upon having good schools must now levy an extra tax, and that ( the wavs and" means of improving our i educat lonal system form an engrossing | subject of thought. The solution of rtie wjiole matter is to obey the con stitution in the matter of assessments of property and thereby increase the general school fund. This would per mit nearly all special school taxes to j be done away with and would provide i for even t lie most baakward communi- 1 ties a suHiciency of public instruction.] If it should prove that the constitu tional :> mill tax provided under a full assessment a larger sum fort lie com mon schools than was required it would b ? no ditllcult matter to amend the constitution so as to reduce that tax to - mills, the former figure. Hut meanwhile l he legislature owes it to its own pledge to obey the constitu tion. to the educational interests of the State and to equity between man and man. county and county, to pro vide for the assessment of property at its true value. The total assessments for 1!>02 were $luo,*>:i7.o?>l. being an increase during the year of ?t0.2o:i.,.i.i2. Realty is re turned at *l07,i>lt>. -jus uiul personalty at *oi.ol8.."i?'?o, and railroad property is assessed at i!27,.j0S,20;j. It is fair to as sume, what the census figures will show, that instead of less than $200, ooo.ooo of property South Carolina has more than $400.000,000 subject to taxa tion. i'nderthe present system the i ax-dodgers get the benetit of the dif ference, leaving honest citizens, will ing to hear their share of the public burdens, with the weight of taxation upon t lietn. The governor devotes several pages of his m"S-?age to a considerat ion of l tie quest ion of road improvement .and lie advocates a property tax to furnish tiie means of 'systeiuat ically and per manently providing the State with good highways. The plan at present followed in most counties of tinkering on the roads involves, he rightly says, mere waste of money, "The chain gang should be required to do perma nent road work, starting from the county court houses as the geographi cal centre and building out in each direct ion permanent roads. If only a few miles are built each year it will I be so much contributed to the general welfare. The State convicts could not he put to better public service, even if it necessitated selling some of t lie State farms. We can never have any permanent road work done until we change the present system and make provision to raise money by a property tax, and make it mandatory that said money shall be put on permanent road improvement , and also make it man datory that the chaingati|?s shall be put oil t he same work." 'J his is the system which lias been adopted with so great success in Uichland county, ami its results point t lie opportunity and the duty of the general assembly. The governor's conclusions in this matter are those which The State reached years ago and has from time to time submitted to t lie considera tion of the law-making body. Compulsory education is championed by (Jov. McSweeney. lie shows from census tig tires that the illiteracy of native whites over ten years of age is 18.1 per cent,, and declares that he cannot see how in t he face of this fact there can be opposition to compelling t lie attendance of children on the public schools. "It. is not necessary," lie proceeds, "to worry about the ne gro. lie is getting all the education which is provided now and could get no more under compulsory attendance. What we should be concerned about Is the education and the moral uplifting of our white hoys and girls. Ignorance is a menace and a burden to civil lib erty and the good morals of the coun try. In addition to t his, every boy or girl in this country has a right to the opportunity to do something and to be something. Such a law cannot inter fere with the rights of parents, be cause no parent has the right to make a slave out of his off-spring or to rob his child of t lie right to make a useful citizen or to have the opportunity to live a useful and happy life. We levy a tax and enforce the collection of it for public education; then why not en force attendance so that all the child ren may receive the benefits and have t he money put to the best possible use and for the greatest possible good to the greatest number?" In this matter also the position of the governor is that- of The State. Compulsory at tendance on tlu: public schools would greatly enlarge the benefits of the schools to white children while not materially increasing t he already great attendance ot negro pupils. "With the constitutional school tax levied on property at its actual value there would be an abundance of money to maintain the schools nine months in t he year and thus a law to compel at tendance would have its full and de sired effect. For the improvemont- of the com mon schools ' 'ov. McSweeney, in ad dition to the l roe mill constitutional tax for school purposes, asks a legisla tive appropriation equaling the aggre gate appropriations for the State col leges. lie also says that it would lie "in the Interest of economy to expend *1 ,000 a year in each county to insure t he proper supervision and direction of all the, money that is now being ex pended In schools." lie endorses the plan of the State superintendent of educat ion of home schools for gi l is and farm schools for boys in the several counties and urges legislat ion permit, - t log each county to vote upon itself a t ax not exceeding two mills for such schools. All t liese and ot her improve ments, as we have intimated, would result- wit houl further legislat ivo en act inenl from the assessment of prop er! 3' in Soiit-li Carolina at. Its actual value in money. A paragraph In the message is de voted to each of t he State Inst itut ions of higher learning, and as to each the governor displays the friendly inter est he lias exhibited throughout his admlnlst rat ion. On the subject, of child lai>or, one of the most. Important, to come before t he general assembly at, this session, (low McSweenry, we are glad to find, not-only adheres to the position ho took a year ago but emphasizes it. The question, he sftys, must be met, and solved, and "the tfooner it, is done t-he less ditllcult of solution It will lie. * ? ? We cannot longer avoid the responsibility. That the State has the right to interfere, no thoughtful citizen will question. No one can suc cessfully controvert the position that t, his labor of long and constant hours is Injurious to thcohlldren and, there fore, affects t hr citizenship of the future. Tli Is being true, the St,ato lias the right, to come in and say It, shall tie stopped." Looking at, It. tlrst from tho nuroly commercial stand point,, he shows that to meet tho com petition of other communities In manufacturing we must have skilled and Intelligent lal>ot, which "can only lie secured In the operatives of tho future by education and preparation of the children of the present. Then, from tho standpoint, of humanity, he shows It to l>o the duty of the State to protect, the children of the mill com munities*, It is a fallacy, ho argues, that a child labor law Is an interfer ence with family government. "Tho child Is not a chattel or an accident, but It- h, 'is rights in the dlvino plan which even che parent must respect. It- Is hero for a purpose, and should have opportunity for t he. best possible 1 t raining and education to fit It, for the a<^ompllihm#:it of that pUrtknw, TherH too, It Is sometimes a question Wither ; the State or the corporation shall sar I what Is to be done with the child, foY ! many times the -parent who lives in t he mill community must be governed by what the mill company says, and cannot always send his children to school, even if he desires to do so. if the labor of the child Is needed in t lie mill." After presenting statistics showing the great and increasing evil of child labor in the south in contrast I with its reduction In other sections, the governor concludes: The question must be met. There' is only one way to solve it, and that Is on the side of right and justice and humanity. The sooner it Is done the : better, for it can now be managed and a <vise and just bill be passed. If the matter is postponed from vear to year ! we may i'egret it. Not "may"' but "shall." This is! the time of all times to dispose of the matter. Whoever in the legislature) may advocate postponement will thereby out himself in the position of opposing the reform and continuing an 1 evil winch if neglected will grow to I blighting proportions. The case is' clear, and so is the duty of the general ! assembly. We are Democrats and , the Democratic party of the State has | declared for this reform. Let its rep- J resentatives in the legislature keep the ' party's faith with the people and ful li U their own duty toward the future citizenship of South Carolina. In a brief discussion of the expe diency of establishing a lx>ard of par dons, provision for which was made in the constitution, but which has not l>een carried out by the legislature, | Gov. McSweeney takes occasion to de i fend the liberality of his pardon policy and to question the expediency of creating t lie board. He recommends the erection of aj new executive mansion on grounds owned by the South Carolina college and suggests a joint legislatives com- i mitteeto investigate the matter and renort a plan. Fhe demand for extra courts in vari- 1 ous counties causes the governor to I suggest an increase in the number of I [circuits. We have the same number J I now as in 1870, he says, when the pop* I ulation was but half its present tigure, and there were only J1 counties in comparison with 4t in li>o;t. He concurs In the recommendation of the comptroller general that in stead of the present system of licens ing insurance companies a tax of 2 per cent, on the gross premiums collected be imposed. Other recommendations by the comptroller general are ap proved. In t lie matter of pensions Gov. Mo Sweeney declares that "it is not the purpose of our pension laws to pen sion all who were deserving Confed erate soldiers, but only those who are needy." "We started with an appro priation of $50, (XX), the last year it had reached $200,000. That there are many on the county rolls who do not need the assistance of the State is a mat ter which is attracting the notice of many Confederate soldiers t hemselves, and this fact is in violation of t lie In tention for which our pension laws were enacted." He rightly placesthe responsibility for this condition upon the county boards, which often argue that as the money is already appro priated "the more they can get for their counties the better, and thus put on the rolls those who, though they come within the strict letter of the law, under its intention should not be there." There are now 7,750 pensioners on t he rolls. The governor suggests a change in the constitution of the county boards and concludes with the statement that while no Confederate soldier should be permit ted to suffer for lack of the necessaries of life it is "not the intention of the law to give bounty to those who do not need assistance, however deserv ing they inav be." In this position, again, Gov. McSweeney Is In line with a he State. We believe that a proper dispell tion of the pension . fund would save $100,000 a year to the State with out depriving any veteran victim of the war of the money ho needs for his support . The work of the various departments and public charitable and correctional institutions is briefly considered by the governor, his remarks, however, calling for no special comment. The most Important of his further recom mendations is that a department oi immigration be established. This is and has long been one of the State's most serious needs, and it is to be hoped that the general assembly will take, some action to promote the com ing to South Carolina of desirable im migrants. A Sensible Declnlon. The supreme court of Maine is com posed of a level headed bench of judges. Recently it reviewed and settled as far as it could a much con troverted questeion, the right of a wife to take money from the pockets of her sleeping husband. From the report of the case it appears that one Godfrey Harrison negotiated a sale of certain garden and farm truck with a gentleman who paid in cash and that there passed from him to (iodfrey the neat little sum of $581. In theguile lessness of his heart says the Spartan burg Journal. Godfrey told the wife of his bosom of his transaction and the cash, which he left in the pocket of ills troussers, placing the. same un der his pillow, and slept the sleep of the Just and honest farmer of Maine. His awakening was somewhat rude, and the scene that followed is no part of the record. It Is sulllclent tostate, that Penelope Harrison, the wife of his bosom, during the still watches of the night had taken the trousers from nnder-nearth her husband's pillowed head, suhstracting therefrom the sum of $500 and returning to its abiding place the balance. Then Godfrey 'haled Penelope to court in an action to determine whether she was guilt y of the trover and coh version of the money of said (iodfrey, and the su preme court said she. was not. The learned judge laid it down as a fundamental principal of law that I i us band and wife are one and the same matrimonal entity in the sight of the law and that as a man cannot steal from himscl so neither can wife steal from the husband, l>elng one with him, as he is one with her. So ids honor gave verdict In favor of Penelope and muloted Godfrey for the costs of litigation. Johnny W nn i)lH(M>uinKO(l. An aftermath feature of every con gressional campaign is the crop of good old Rt-ories? ancient and honor able. that, have done yoeman service in many a political campaign which come back to the Capital cloakrooms In new garb, says the Philadelphia Press. Here Is one brought back by Mr. Landls, of Indiana: "A school teacher out In my dis trict, was (giving the class a disserta tion on the ofTlce of president, and the selfmado men who had filled it. "Now all who would like to be president when they grow up, will raise their hands," said the teacher. Every l?oy responded save one. " 'Why, Johnny, don't you wish to be president?' ' 'Shucks; 'tain t no use for me to wish,' said Jhonny, disgruntedly. "'Why? Any poor boy might In come president..' "Not me,' said Johnny, Tarn a Democrat.' " And then the old members In the group arose and walked sadly away. THE WILCOX TRIAL I A Review of a Most Interesting and Pe.uliar Case. NOW UP FOR THE SECOND TIME. , A (J rent Muny IVople Ai o ofj the Opinion Thai t ho Defen dant Murdered Mis* Nellie Cropm-y. The second trial of J ames K W'i! cox, sun of former .sheriff Thomas 1'. ? Wilcox, of Pasquotank county. N. C., ? charged with and convicted of the! murder of Klla Maud ur Nellie Crop- j sey, of Elizabeth City. N. C.. began I at Hertford, Pcrquimas county Wed nesday. The trial was removed from Pasquotank on account of the feeling there against the defendant. It will be recalled that Wilcox was tried and convicted at Elizabeth City last March. The case was appealed to the supreme court and a new trial granted. The Charlotte Observer says the Wilcox-Cropsey case is wrapped in mystery. Because of the prominence and the standing of the families eon cerned and the veil of mystery that surrounds it, the case has attracted at- j tentlon throughout the country. Thousands of people would be willing to give liberally of their means for the facts in the case. The case has been discussed in almost every reading home in the State. Is Wilcox guilty or not? That is the question. What will be the result of the scond trial, time will tell. The tirst jury brought in a verdict of guilty. The bill of indictment against Wil cox reads: "The Slate of North Caro lina, Pasquotank County. Superior Court, March Term, 15)02. The jurors] for the State under their oaths pres ent James Wilcox, late of the said county and Slate on the 20th day of | November. HUM, with force ami arms | in the county of Pasquotank, in said State, feloniously, wilfully and with malice aforesaid, did kill and murder Klla M. Cropsey, against the statute I in such cases made and provide 1. and against the peace and dignity of ihe State." The facts in the case as brought out in evidence during the tirst trial are about as follows: Mr. James Wilcox, the defendant in the case, wenir to the home of W. II. Cropsey, father of the dead girl, on the night of Novem ber 20th, 1 !>U 1 , to call on Miss Nellie, to whom he had been paying consider able attention for several years. W hen he arrived at the Cropsey home, say about 8 o'clock, the family was in the sitting room. Young Koy Crawford was there calling on Miss ollie Cropsey, a sister of Miss Nellie. Soon aftjr i) o'clock all the members of the household except Miss Ollie. Nellie and Carrie Cropsey, a cousin from New York, who was visiting there at the time, retired and left the young people alone. Therefore the party in the room was composed of the following named: Wilcox and Misses Carrie, Nellie and Ollie Crop sey. Later, after having made two or three attempts to excuse herself, Miss Carrie went to her room. This left Wilcox, Crawford and the two sisters In the room. It was said that, Wilcox and Crawford were at outs with each other at the time. They did uot speak when they came to gether. At 11 o'clock sharp, Wilcox, who had appeared restless and moody, during the evening, rose from his .seat, saying: "I must go home; my mother will be uneasy about me If 1 stay out after this hour." This was said in a jocular way. Continuing, Wilcox said. "Miss Nellie, 1 would like to sec yon in the hall." He rolled a cigarette and went out, followed by the girl. After that moment Nellie Cropsey was never seen again by any one save Wilcox. Her dead body was found floating, just beneath the sur face of the water of Pasquotank river, on the morning of the 27th day of December. Thirty minutes after Wilcox and Nellie left the room Miss Ollie bade Crawford good-night, saw him to the door and went up-stairs to her room, thinking that her sister had gone ahead of her; but not finding her there she concluded that she and Wil cox, who had been having lovers' quarrels, had made up, crossed the hall into the parlor for a quiet talk, and were still there. However, after having taken a short nap, and wak ing up, she heard the clock strike 12, missed her sister and gave the alarm. Soon the whole family was up and searching everywhere for the lost girl. Hut their efTorts were In vain. No trace of the girl could be found. About 1 o'clock Mr. Cropsey went across town to the Wilcox home and told Mrs. Wilcox, mother of the defen dant, that Nellie had disappeared and asked to see James. Mrs. Wilcox went alone to James' room and soon returned to say that he declared that he knew nothing of the girl, that lie had returned to her an umbrella and a picture she had given him, and left her leaning against one of the posts to the front i>oreh, of her home, crying. Wilcox did not get out of bed, arid seemed indifferent. At the trial be fore t,lie mayor of the town he said that he. turned over after his mother left the room and was asleep hi two minutes. After visiting the Wilcox home Mr. Cropsey reported the case to the police department. Chief Dawson went to Wilcox's room during the ear ly hour.\of the morning and asked him fx i accompany him to the Crop sey residence. Wilcox crawled out of bed, 'put on his working clothes and went. Ills room was never searched until the dead Inidy of the girl was found, 37 days later. It Is not known whether his visiting suit was wet, or not. At the Cropsey home he declared that he knew nothing of Nellie's whereabouts. In order to understand tho evidence that will be given In the trial one must fix tho location of tho Cropsey house, relative to the town and the Pasquotank river, In his mind. It Is prc.spersous little elty of 8.000 Inhabi tants, situated on the banks of the Pasquotank river. If you will turn your back to the court houso of the county, cross Tiber and Herrlngt.on creeks and go out Klvervlew avenue, along the river, toward the southern lK>u '''ary of the county, you will pass the Cropsey home. As the crow flies it Is about a half-mllo from the court house, but as tho road winds It Is more than a mile. The house faces the road and the river, and to get to the river from tho front steps you must cross the road, which Is about 20 yards from the house. A little to the right of the Cropsey house, and 13ft yards from the steps, and about .*0 yards from the water, the body of the fflrl naa found, It was not in the I main channel of the river, but In a ' sldepocket of water. The counsel for the State In the case contend that Wilcox struck Nellie Cropsey on the heal with sutue blut Instrument, car ried her to the place where her body was fuund and dropped her Into the water in an unconscious condition. The defence held that the State did not prove that the girl was killed at all. James Wilcox is a small, well-built man, about 30 years of age. He Is not a prepossessing looking man. His records has been that of a model young man, but no one had charged him with ;iny criminal act up to the time of the death of Miss Cropsey. The people who know him and have known him since his childhood believe that he Is guilty. Four out of every live per,ons believe him to be guilty. His old school mates, his associates in the citv lire department and his boon companions frankly admit that he Is capable of committing such a crime as he Is accused of. They say that he was always cruel and seltish. Hut none of these things were proven on the witness stand. He did not testify in his own behalf. THE COMMITTEES. Of the Hoime of Iteprene nt atlves Appointed by the Speaker. The following are the appointments of eommlttess in the House of Repre sentatives : Committee on Judiciary ? R S Wha ley, T V Williams. M 1' DeBruhl. J P Thomas, Jr., J (.) Patterson, Robert Llde, T B Fraser, B A Morgan. J R Coggeshall, E J Dentils, Jr.. H L Bomar, 1 C Blackwood. J W Devore. W C Irbv, Jr.. A L (J as ton, W 1' Pol lock, G L Toole, 1) I) McColl, Jr., 11 Spann Dowling, B Frank Kelly. Committee on Ways and Means ? Altamont Moses, I) 1^ Rtird, T 11 Rainsford, W () Tatum^ W J John son. J (J Richards. Jr., R A Cooper, W T Logan, W E James, J C Wingo, ST I) Lancaster, Jeremiah Smith, J C Lanham. W Judson Sarratt, .1 E Beamguard, K H Aull, A C Lyles, L W Haskell, 1' B Calllson, George M. Stuckey. Committee on Argiculture? E M Seabrook, I) F Etird, W M Brown, W R Fox, J F Banks, J R llaile, J H Brooks, B F Holman, TO Middle ton. J B Leaverett, Q W Potts, W 1) Bennett, J A Hinton, R S DeChamps. Committee on Public Schools ? J G Richards, Jr., Arthur Klbler. T T> Fraser. E L Culler, T II Rainsford, T F Stackhouse, J B Towill, FC Bates, J M Rawlinson. Committee on Privileges and Elec tions ? J () Patterson, D II Magill. R W Nichols, O W. Potts, W B Cause, J B Wingard, J W Hill. Committee on Claims ? .1 O Wingo, II C Little, W R Fox, Theo B Gourd in, C J Bailey, E L Culler, J M Ma hatTey, G R Davis, J W King, G R Webb. Committee on Roads, Bridges and Ferries ? G W Richardson, J () Wingo, T F Stackhouse, J M Humphrey, Matthew ILendrix, B F Holman, Wel come Quick. S M Pearman, Cyrus Mlmms, R S DeChamps. Committee on Incorporation- R A Cooper, .1 R Coggeshall, E J Dennis, Jr., 1)11 Magill, R M Lofton. Theo B Gourdln, Lewis Dorroh, M G Don nald, John McMaster, T O Middleton. Committee on OtHcers and Ofliees ? John F Banks, Arthur Klbler, Robert Llde, P S Wall, W T Logan, G W Richardson, D B Peurifoy, Jeremiah Smith, W F Sarratt. Committee on Mines and Mining ? J M Humphrey, W R Fox, G A llankin, C J Bailey, J F Banks, K 1) Edwards, F P McCain, C S Forde, II S Dowling, W D Bennett. Committee on Medical AITairs? J B Black, J E Jarnegan, W C Smith, S T I) Lancaster, E C Doyle, P D Bar ron, J B Leaverett, W C Irby, Jr., Matthew llendrix. Committee on Penitentiary ? W M Brown, J II Brooks, R W Nichols, J E Jarnegan, Joseph Glover, E L Reedy, M W Pyatt, S W Russell, T C Strong, J M Rawlinson. Committee on Public Printing- J P Thomas, Jr., J B Towill, J II Brooks, J () Patterson, I) O Herbert, W L Mauldin, J W Dour, J II Lesesne, W E James, B P Carey. Committee on Commerce and Manu facturing ? T F Stackhouse, (J R Webb, W J Johnson, J R Halle, J W King, B P Carey, D D Harrelson, T W Tray lor, J E He. jert, Jesse Ma haffey. Committee on Engrossed Bills? W P Pollock, S N Pearman, W C Smith, G L Toole, T W Traylor, R J Wade, J B Wingard, TC Strong, PS Wall. Committee on Legislative Library ? Adam II Moss, It A Cooper, C J Col cock, Altamont Moses, R H Walker, J P Youmans, M P 'fribble, M W Wright. Committee on Accounts It M Lof ton, G A Rankin, J N Humphrey, J B Black, K D Edwards, Joseph Glover, J II Lesesne, .1 A Hinton. F P McCain. Committee on Military ? I) O Her bert, EJ Dennis, Jr., J E Jarnegan. L W Haskell, Lewis Dorroh, Theo. B Gourdln, W E James, M W Pyatt, C S Ford. Committee on Public Buildings? T F Stackhouse, J W Illll, W M Brown, II C Llttlu, W E James, (J R Webb, B F Carey," J E Herbert, J I) Carwlle, P D Barron. Committee on State House and Grounds-- T Y Williams, W L Maul din, A H Moss, It W Nichols, J II Brooks, J P Bunch, E C Doyle, S W Russell. J H Clifton. Committee on Internal Improve ments J W Hill, A C Lyles, C A Rankin, W C Smith, Welcome Quick, J M Wise, W P Wright, J P You mans, D B Peurifoy. Committee on Education II A Mor gan, linger Slnkler, Adam If Moss, Arthur Klbler, I) I) McColl, Jr., .1 B Towill, M P Trlbble, R II Walker, W 1) Klrby. Committee on Railroad J R Cogge shall, T R II Rainsford, M P De Bruhl, P B Calllson, J II Clifton, J I) Carwlle, E L Gullet, O R Davis, J II Lesesne, J W Devore, R G Parnell. Committee on Enrolled Acts -Ar thur Klbler, I) I) McColl, G M Stuckey, A L Gaston, Welcome Quick, Lewis Dorroh, J M Wise, I) O Herbert, J A Hinton. Committee on Banking and Insur ance linger Slnklor, John McMaster, Arthur Klbler, If L Bomar, Robert Llde, J C Mace, W B Klrby, G K Laney, FC Bates. Committee on the Dispensary W OTatum, J (J Richards, Jr., I) J Ba ker, J P Bunch, 10 L Reedy, W L Baas, I) II Magill, W B Cause. Committee on Rules? D II Magill, J P Thomas, Jr., W L Mauldin, T Y Williams, Altamont Moses, T H Rainsford, E II Aull, T B Fraser, R S Wlialey. Committee on Hospital for the In wine- K H AU!1, J E Jarnlgan, J H ' Brooks, .1 C Maw, J C Lanham, O K Laney, S T I> Lan- aster. J 1, Beam guard. M (1 Donald, W L Bass. Compulsory Kducatlou' Mr. llaysor of Orauburg 1 titroduced a bill Wednesday In the Seriate which has created unusual Interest the text of which Is as follows: Tu require all parents or guardians to compel their children or wards to attend school fur eight weeks in each year. Section 1. That it shall be unlaw- j ful for any parent or guardian living ? In this State to neglect or refuse to cause or compel any person or persons ! who are or may be under their control \ as their children or wards to attend ; and comply with the rules of some one i or more public or private school or | schools, for a term of eight weeks or more, during each successive year from the* time said children or wards are eight} years old until they are 14 years, old, -inclusive, unless they may be prevented by illness or reside more than two miles from a school house, or by reason of already being proli clent, from attending such public or private schools, and provided that In such case they shall be excused by the board of trustees of the school district In which said children or wards may live at the time of such failure to at tend such public or private school or schools. Sec. 2. That any person or persons violating this act shall be subject to a tine of not less than $">, nor more than $20, or Imprisonment in the county jail for not less than len days, nor more than 20 days, for each and every olTense. Said line shall be im posed by any court of Justice having Jurisdiction on sufficient evidence of the same being furnished by two or more creditable witnesses, and all tines so collected shall l>e placed In the school fund of the school district In which the tines are collected. Provided, That no prosecution shall be instituted under this act except upon the affidavit of one of the trus tees of the school district In which the offending parent or guardian resides, and such atlldavlt may be made on In formation and belief. Grows More Serious. The small pox situation in the up country has reached an interesting, not to say an acute stage. Dr. Evans has received notice from the governor of the existence of the pest at a num ber of places In the Piedmont, espec ially along the Savannah lliver. The pest has appeared again In the cotton mill districts. One report received Friday told of 25 cases within a radius of two miles in Laurens county. The situation is so grave that the board of health Is considering the matter of quarantine. It Is thought that most of the disease comes from across the river, and It Is that source that will be quarantined lirst if the quarantine is thought advisable. The small-pox that has been going the rounds this year is serious enough to alarm any body, even the most skeptical of those who have been ridiculing the anxiety of the State Board in the past. In Virginia and further north it is prov ing very serious. ? Florence Times. Artichokes fou Hogs. ? In con nection v.jin the recent agitation of the matter of raising artichokes for hogs, the Dillon Herald says: As an antidote fov disease In swine it also possesses peculiar merit. Mr. K. F. Brockway, a prominent stock raiser of Virginia, says: Since 1 have been raising artichokes 1 have been sur rounded by herds of cholera hogs, and mine still keep healty. With abun dance of artichokes, I feel that I can almost defy cholera. Ilad I raised them years ago it would have saved me buying many many thousand bushels of corn. It Is estimated that the damage by forest tires In Washington and Oregon the past summer and fall amounts to nearly $13,000,000. This great loss is not merely a commercial loss of timber, but a loss to the nation as well, atiti special effort should be made to prevent further devastation of this kind. You If i*??u arc not wi ll and want to know the I ml h n I) r> u t y o u r I rou Mo, K'lid for mv free t >< >i > k I o t h and sell \ i in i iitit i on blanks. No 1, Nervous Debili ty I Sexual Weakness), No 2. Varicocele, No. 3. St rlcture, No. 4, Kid ney and ((ladder Com I'lnintR, No. fi, Disease <>f Women, No. 8, The I'olson KIhk fcBlood I'olson), No. 7, Ca tarrh. These hooka should 1k> In the hands of every person afflict ed, as Dr Hathaway, [the author, Is recoj; I nlr.ed as the l>ent an I hority and expert In the 1'nlted Htates on ihi-^e diseases. Write r>n hatha w*v or fiend Tor Mio l?"ok yon want to-day, And it will 1* sent von fn-iv Kon'rd. Addretn J. N?w ton Hathaway. M lj HH Inman Huildinjf 22* S. Hroacl St A t lantft, Ga. co CO ?~i ? ? tJ a ? a ?Q o ? Vj .D c Cd CO TJ K d *-> /?< o w Vj W S5 p ? ? o o r? VJ ? W O 's, o <i> <n S ? x> ~ a 3 . 3 ? & * A a? w 2^ 5 H o w <4-.T3 m "si .2*? oc T3 cfl ?a >, D n !j?S '/) O h 'r^ ?J 3 t* >r ? ,'j Dr. C. J. OLIVEROS, Sl'ECJ A LIST BYE, EAR, NOSE and THROAT. Kit, of Spectacles Guaranteed. Okkick 1424 and 142(1 Marion St. root, (Columbia, S. (J. Omont ( O CHARLESTON V>L/lll^lll VAJ?, Sou t,li (Carolina. (Jftffor'ft White Lime, Cements, Fire Rrlcks, Terra Oott.a I'lpos. -27? J v. The great rheumatic remedy not only cures every form of rheumatism, but makes radical cures of Contagious Blood Poigon, Scrofula, Sores, Boils, Catarrh, and all diseases arising from impurities in the blood. Endorsed by physicians and prominent people every where after thorough trial. DOL3 NOT INJURE THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. Uai EtOtl, N. C. Gentlemen I take plea? u re In heart ntr test lnir?r v to the on rut ? ve properties of jour " Kjiki'M acidk" Two bottle* ouroil my potior n '<??! viw. H tins will b? of any DeiU'tl t to you In ad vert '.slus yon r merit 'jrii'ii* r< tiled v , > ou can use It. Yours truly, W. H. H A N D, S(t u-<?? I fttite Ji'.itul I iittU utlon. All Druggiiti, fj.oo; or prip.ii ! on rcccipt of price. Bobbltt Chemical Co., - - Baltimore, fid. Cherokee Remedy ofSweet Gum & Mullein Cures Coughs, Colds, Whooping Cough, LaGrippe anc all Throat and Lung Troubles. MADB of Pure SWEET GUM, MULLEIN & HONEY. Your Druggist sells it 25 & 50 SOUTHERN RAILWAY THE GREAT HIGHWAY OF TRADE AMD TRAVEL. Uniting th? Principal Commercial Centers and Health end Pleasure Resorts of the South with the # # NORTH, EAST and WEST. Ml** ? OUpi V?|ttkttl? T??ln(, Through ll??nlit^?C?M b?twa?? Naw York and N?w Orloni, tU Cl??lkn?ll tkd Florida Points via A(1??U ftkdl VI* AtkcrllU. N ?W York m4 Florida, ailhar vim l.rnckbur^, pkavHff ? M #nvnnna*k, or tU Richmond, DknvilU aki IftTlkMk. ff?y *rl?r Dlala^'Ckv ??rvloa on all 7kro?|(h Trains. Xbo?11?b( f ?rrica and Low Rat** to CHarlooton ftf* ??oat iaulk Carolina lntar*Stata and Wait 1 ndlaa ESMtltloa. Winter Taaviat TlolCot* to all Raiorlt now on oalo at rodnoad rato a . Wmr Information, literature, time tablet, rates, ?(?,, mppltf I* nenrett tleket, agent, er aUclreta a. M. MARDWICK. W.H.TAYLOE, Omo r+4 P?i?fH|fr 4ftnl. Gen. Pa ft. Watklngt en, D. 0. Jttlmnta, Oa. SL. W. HVNT, J. C. Bit AM, M#| KMfKftr OUtrlot Patt, J? gem*, tharleiien, J. ?. 4<l??(a, do. rywWAjir m, mm. FERTILIZERS! Fertilizers! We represent., The Virginia-Carolina Chemical t \i. Wilcox \ Gjbbs Co. Ashepoo Co. Globe Phosphate Co. High Grade Ammoniated Goods, A ' ? i < 1 *< . Canils, Nilrat 's, Potash, Cotton Seed Meal and Lee's Agricultural Lime. Large Contracts. Favorable Arrangements. and l ine I'aciht ies for delivering to any part, of the Country, and will save you money. Get our price before buying. We have special formulas to suit dif ferent Crops. Tobacco Fertilizer. We offer 1000 TONS 33I.C1 >s. The largest and most complete stock of Field and Garden Seeds in the state, In packages or bulk. Write us for prices. Ivorick & Ivowrance, C'oltiinbia, S. The Cable Company, TF1K LARGKST M A N I I ,\( I I ' I! KKS OK Hi^h Grade Pianos and Organs l?sT TI!1C W < >1* I A >. Pat lories. Chicago and St. Charles, Illinois. Capital. TWO MILLION l?o|,|.\KS. *2.oon,ooo. Brunch Mouse, 2XJ King St. Charleston. j-\ ( . PIANOS AND ORGANS Sold on K.isy Tims. Before biiying write, for our catalogue and terms. factory prices made. A full line of Sheet, Music ami small Musical Inst ruments in slock. .1 V. WA BLACK. Manager. THE CABLE COMPANY, < 1 1 A IILKST< > N . S. ('. I ^onperoiiH I^armcrs Paint their Wagons, and Agric.iillui.il Implements, to preserve I hern from Injury from weathei. A single coat of IVI asu ry 1 5 > \AJ aflon Colors* is sutllcient . Apply yourself in a few minute;. Color Card free. SorillHAMLkN Li ML K CLMLNT CO., c 1 1 a k i v(cs'r< > ."x , s. c. Largest healers in Building Material of All TAKE A LOOK 'f r full lino of Ifarrlwarr is not Ix l I ? r I han ol her, rlnn'l liny II, ( )ur salesmen arc out . 303 KINO St.. ( IIAHI.KSTON, S. <; COLUMBIA I.IJMHFiM & MI C.. G<V. DOOUH, III.INDH, ||N TRHIOH MINIH1I, MOHI.m , IMO rtNDUJMnnM, /\N V I I I V. * Columbia, 8. (i-. *