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?/ E~ THE PEOPLE'S JO RNAL VOL 6.---NO. 5. PICKENS, S. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, I)6. ONE DOLLAR A YEAL The General Assembly. WHAT IS GOING ON IN COLUMBIA, The Logislaturo Gets Actively to Work After A Short lccess. The General Assembly did not ac complish a great deal prior to the re cess, as the committees wore consider Ing the various measures before them, but the real work of the session has be gun in earnest, and an adjournment is expected in two or three weeks. TIlE.STATE TO LEND MONEY. In the Houso, Mr. Gray's bill to au thorize the sinking fund commission to lendl the sinking fund on the security of the valid bonds of the State, when .the bonds cannot be purchased at par, was called up out of its order, Judge Towns nd saying that there was a large amount of money lying idle, which should be utilized. Mr. Gadsden moved to strike out the enacting words of the bill, saying it was very dangerous for the State to go into the banking business with the credit of the State. This fund was put aside 112 a guarantee for the security of t)1 . tate's bonds. It was wrong to touch this fund in any way, shape or form. This scheme would allow the State to run the risk that a bank does. Securities are liable to depreciate and the fund may be endangered. It is not certain tb at the State would always have such an honorable gentleman for State treasurer as she now has. It was putting too much power in one man's hands, and opened the gates for gigantic defrauding of the State. The bonds themselves would be endangered. Judge Townsend said there was no foundation for his friend's objections. He said Mr. Gadsden thought evi dently that the board was incompetent to take care of these funds because the Governor and other State olicers were members of the board. He read from Governor Evans'*i message on the sub ject, and the House then refused to strike out the enacting words. Mr. Gadsden was about to offer an amendment that the loans should not exceed 90 per cent. of the par value of the bon-Is, when J udg' Townsend mov ed to table it. Mr. Patton wanted to know what was the objection to putting in a minimum rate of interest. No one could offer any, and he suggebted that it be fixed at not less than 0 per- cent. Mr. Gadsden's amendmevt was then taken up, and he spoke to it. He said that the treasurer should be told that there was a limit beyonI which he should not go. Mr. Bowman said he could not see that this was a banking business. Mr. Patton suggested that if they meant that only the last issue of bonds should be allowed, as securities, they should say so. The House tabled the Gadsden amend ment by a vote of 42 to 19. Mr. Patton moved to amend so as to fix the rate of interest at not less than 7 per cent. He said money was worth 7 per cent. r.Townsend said they would have to lend the money for short periods or on call. He moved to table the amend ment. Mr. Manning suggested that the amendment be changed so as to road 44 per cent., as it was hard to get. He said that Mr. Townsend said they would loan on call. The opportunities, not for fraud, but for partiality are too strong to be placed before any man. Under the bill as it reads it puts a p)rerLumi ~ on favoritism nmd partiali ty. The Patton amendmnnc was killed by a vote of 47 to " no further count de manded." Mr. Manning then ofl'ered an amend ment to make it 4 1-2 p)or cent. and limit the loan to one year. Mr. Towni send moved to table the last part, and after the motion was voted down by a viva voco vote, a division vote was taken, the clause being stricken out by a vote of 39 to 25. The 4 1-2 per~ cent. provision was then adopted. Drm. Wycho said ho couldn't under stand how, if no limit was put on, the State could ever buy-her bonds in. lie thought this was opening the doors to Captain Barry saidl they wanted to preovidoe for the overtlow of the fund, which at the rate of $75,000 a year would become cumbersome. Dr. Wycho said that he wished to know how the State would secure funds to purchase the bonds, if this money was out on loans. Mr. Mellett asked for the roil call on the passage of the bill1. The vote re sulted as follows, the bill being ordered to a third reading: Yeas--Anderson, Barry, Bow man, Bunch, Burns, Carroll, Caughman, Conner, L. S.; Conner, J. B.; Crum, Davis, C. M.; D~avie, W. C.; D~uncan, Edwjmrds, Elder, Ellerbe, Garris', Gary, Gaston, Goodwin, Hammett, Harvey, Haselden, Holls, Holloway, Hough, Ilderton, Johnston, Johnson, Kennedy Kinard. Kirk, Lancaster, Love, Magill, Manning, Mehrtens, Mullard, Mullor, Miles, Mitchell, T. P.; Mitchell, J1. W.; Moore, McKeown, McLaurin, D). W.; Nunnery, Otte, Phillips, P'yatt, lRains ford, Rast, Rowland, Sanders, A. K.; Shuman, Sturkie, Tatum, Thomson, Todd, Townsend, Thurmond, Wallaco, Warr, Williams, T,: S.; Williams, John G.; Williams, Prod; Wolf, Wyche.-68. Nays-Bacot, D~evorou x, Doth age, Fowler, Gadsdon, Gregory, Harper, Hiott, Lofton, Mellott, Patton, Wes ton .-1 2. 'Tho bill as it passed reads as follows: Section 1. ,That the sinking fund com mission be, and are here by, authorized, when unable to purchase the State bonds at par, to lend the sinking fund at such a rate of interest as may be agreed upon between them and the borrower, not less than 4 1-2 per centum p or annum, on the security of the valid State bendf sufficient to cover the loan and interest at the par valuo of the bends, the bends to be deposited with the State treasury as security for the loabn, and as collateral to the personal obligation of the borrower to be taker by said commission showing the terms and maturity of the loan. Sec. 2. That this act shall take effoci immediately upon its approval. TO FO)RFEIT OIIARTE.f, Theebill by Mr. Haselden to providc for the forfeiture of charters of rail. road companies charging higher rates for the transportatioa of passengers and freight than those fixed by the Railroad Commission, came up, and Mr. Gadsden thought it unnecessary in view of the fact that the Supreme Court of the United States had al ready decided that the commission had such powers. Mr. Weston in speaking against the incasure, said that in the first place it proposed to take away from the rail roads the power to appeal from any decision of the board. This was un just. Rahiroads should have the same right to appeal to a court of justice as any individual. Mr. Shuman favored striking out the enacting clause of the bill. In a dispute betwon railroads and the commission this bill would prevent them from appealing to the courts of the country-the tribunals established to decide any such controversies as may arise. Mr. Shuman hold that we had all the laws necessary now to carry out the terms of the proposed bill. He re viewed at some length the railroad law and spoke of the fact that although railroads might not always be just, still the Legislature in legislating for the whole people could not in a spirit of vindictiveness pass such an unjust and unconstitutional law. Mr. Haselden in speaking in favor of his bill said that being a plain farm or he did not feel equal to answering the arguments of the attorneys who opposed him. They argue that the bli is not necessary. If it is not will it be a hardship on the railroads ? Next it is claimed they are not allowed to go to the courts. The Attorney General-is instruuted by the bill to go to the courts in order to forfeit the charter. If we are destroying or con fiscating their property then it is shown in the courts and the Attorney General fails in his efforts. The rail roads have withdrawn their opposi tion, but it was only after they had to do so and they saw that the people would throttle these monsters. Mr. Haselden then quoted compara tive figures to show that railroads charged $17 per car load in this State when in other Southern States it is only $14. The railroads are dodging. They claim to have submitted to the terms of the commission, but as a mat ter of fact the rates are about as high now as over before. When it comes to paying taxes they make affidavits one way when it suits them and another way when it suits them. This measure is only intended to give the commis sion power to enforce their rulings. If we don't give them this power why have the commission and pay their salary ? Why not abolish the com mission ? Mr. Thurmond thought the bill ought to pass because we need some radical legislation along this line. When rates are fixed, the railroads keep on appealing even to the United States Supreme Court. What we want is some prompt, sovereign remedy. It is not intended to keep from the railroads any of the rights now had by them. It will only compel them to come to time quickly andire spect the rights of the people. Mr. Wyche said he disliked to op pose the bill, but it seemed to him it was putting too much power in the hands of three men. They should have some court of appeal-say the General Assembly. It did not look to him to be just. Mr. Duncan said the plan now used by the railroads was to apply for an injunction. Under this bill they will have first to prove that the rates made by the commission are unjust and will not com pel the State to do so as at present. Mr. Patton gava it as his opinion as a lawyer that the roads which did not put in the rates of the commission would at once forfeit their charters. He didn't believe the bill was consti tutional, but, leaving that out, he thoug ht it most unjust in that no rulo should be made to apply to corpora tions that didn't a pply to individuals. Mr. La. J. Williams said that he would never raise his voice against railroads, but he would not sit here and see them run roughshod over South Carolina. It was either repeal the commission or the railroads. Laws are made for individuals and if they are outraged they have a right to ap peal to the courts. As he understood the law it was provided that the rates of the commtission should go into ef fect and if they could show that they were unjust they had 'the right to go to the courts. Mr. Patton in answer to several side questions by Messrs. Thurmond and Rainsford said he was not opposed to the commission, but he said that he didn't believe in forbidding the roads appea'ing to the courts, the right al lowed the humblest negro. Mr. .Skinner favored the bill and thought it gave the railroads all rights of appeal. Mr. Watson said the question re solved itself into this : Shall the creator create a bigger affair than it self V If charters are granted by the General Assembly shoul:1 it not have power to control them ? If the rail roads would recognize the rights of our commissionI and our' own courts and not disr'egard the rights of the pcolo lie would be willing to meet them half wa;. Mr. Bacot said the object of the commission rightly was to control and regulate the roads but not to crush them. Bunt this b)111 with one blow would destroy them, if they should disegard thu regulations, and the rouds would have no hearing in the courts. Mr. Magill called for the previous qunestion. On a vote the House re fused to strike out the enacting wet ds. Mr. Shuman (IOIford the following amendment: Amend by inserting on line 15 of section 2, after the word "charter," the following: Provided, That any railroad aigainst which such proceedings have been instituted may prevent such forfeiture by showing to the eatisfaction of the court that the rates fixed by the railroad commission are not just and reasonable, and it shall be a completo defense to such proceeding to show that such rates are not just and reasonable. The amend ment was tabled by a vote of 59) yeas ; noes not counted. Mr. IEarle moved to amend as fol lows: " Add after 'commissioner' or adjudicater to be reasonable and just by a competent court." substitute: Unless such rates shall be thereafter determined upon appeal to be unreasonable. Mr. Patton's substitute was adopted by a voto of 43 to 30. The bill as amended was then or dered to its third reading as follows: Section 1. That no railroad company chartered and doing business in this State shall charge any higher rates for the transportation of passengers and freight within this State than those already or hereafter fixed by the Railroad Commission unless such rates shall be thereafter determined upon appeal to be unreasonable. Section 2. Any railroad company violating the provisions of this Act shall thereby forfeit its charter, and the Attorney General is hereby au therized and directed to proceed forth with to have such railroad corporation liquidated according to law, and to institute all proceedings necessary in consequence of the forfeiture of such charter. Section 3. This Act shall go into effect immediately upon its approval by the Governor. PASSENGER FARES. Mr. Garris's bill making the first class passenger fare on railroads three cents and second class fare two and a half cents was taken up. Mr. Garris contended that this bill ought to pass in order to give the Commission power to enforce their rates. Mr. Thomas moved to strike out the enacting words. The Commission has the power now to regulate the rates and they have ample power to enforce the rates provided they are just and reasonable. Mr. Miller said he was a friend of railroads, but he wanted the rates made definite and fixed and for the Railroad Commission to have power to enforce them. Other Southern States have a three cents fare, and he could see no reason why old-ostablished roads in this State should charge four. Mr. Gadsden spoke of the fact that none of the railroads are paying divi dends,and the property is unprofitable. There was no instance where roads had resisted a single paseenger rate of the Commission. Then why this bill ? He was glad to be a representative of the railroads. They have spent enor mous sums in the State, have built it up and pay taxes, and they have rights just as much as anybody. The time for hostile railroad legislation had passed, and they should be fostered and pro tected. Mr. Garris said he had no idea of oppressing the roads, but was glad to stand on this floor as the representa tive of the people. Mr. B. J. Johnson said the reason the roads didn't make money was be cause they were buying up other roads and are forming gigantic corporations to oppress the people. Mr. Townsend, in explaining the fa vorable report on the bill, went on to take the Southern Railway as an exam ple, showing that three cent rates were charged in North Carolina and Geor gia, and they couldn't see why the same thing could not be done in South Caro lina. It is a legislative question, and does not become a judicial question until the rates were made so low as to amount to a practical confiscation. He held that none of the systems in South Carolina were poverty-stricken, and they can operate under this rate and still make money. Mr. Bacot said he was al ways opposed to what is known as governing by In junction, but it was just such iron-clad measures as this which enabled those opposed to us to resort to it. He went on to say that unless our railroads are fostered and protected they would be bankrupted and our people would be deprived of these advantages in con ducting business. Mr. L. J. Williams, while expressing sympathy with the measure, thought it was wrong, because he thought the Commission should act in these mat ters. T.lhe law p~assed last night on the subject is amply sufficient to accom plish what was wanted. Mr'. Caughman in speaking of the poverty of railroads, said they would always be poor if they kept up their present tactics. They should conduct themselves on the same business prin ci plea as farmers and merchants. Mr. Sturkie favored the law because he could see no reason why we should pay more than the people of North Carolina and Georgia. Mr. Patton said he 'didn't believe in doing work that properly belonged to the Commission. The bill was th en ordered to the third reading. The bill reads : Section 1. That from andl after the passage of this Act the rates for the transportation of passengers by rail road companies chartered and doing business in this State shall he, for first class fare three (3) cents per' mile every mile traveled, and for second class fare two and one-half (2 1-2) cents p or mile for every mile traveled; and shall sell first a~nd second class tickets: Provided, This rate may from time to time be altered and changed by the Railroad Commission, as to any railroad or railroads, as in the judgment of said Railroad Commis sion the circumstances of such rail road or railroads may warrant or re qiuire. Section 2. Any railroad company charging higher rates for passenger transportation than those heroin fixed, or such as may be hereafter fixed, by the Railroad Commission, shall suffer all the penalties provided by law. Section 3. Nothing herein contained shall prevent any railroad company from selling excursion tickets and mile a'ge tickets of not less than one thous and miles for lower rates than those herein fixed. SectIon 4. All Acts or parts of Acts indonsistent with this Act are hereby repealed. THE11 "JIM CROW" CAR IHIL. Mr. Otto' "jim crow" car bill was called up. Time House had passed it last year and sent it to the Senate, which body killed it. The bill was re ported unfavorably. Mr. Skinner thought it would inflict hardship on the rail roads. Dr. Wyche said that the constitu tional convention had emphasized the fact that the two races should be kept apart. He had voted against the bill, but proposed to vote for it now. The State should enact such laws as would forever keep down social equal ity in this State. Judge Townsend said a number of railroad men had come before the com mittee and ha detalead the disadvan tages that would arise under the ope ration of the law. Mr. B. J. Johnson said it would cost little to make the necessary changes and the fair women would not be sub ject to humiliation by compolling them to ride in the same car. Mr. Otte said the bill had been dis cussed and passed by this House on more than one occasion and it is un necessary to go ever the argument again. He called for the ayes and noes on ordering the bill to its third reading. The result was, ayes 58; nays 32. SUNDAY FREIGUT TRAINS. Mr. Johnson's bill to prohibit the running of freight trains between 12 Saturday night and 12 o'clock Sunday night, came up, and Mr. Manning moved to strike out the enacting words. Mr. Johnson said that the law na it now stands is a dead letter and he wantedi to amend it so as not to allow any freight train to run on Sunday whether there is perishable fruit to be handled or not. He thought the law a just and right one in the inter est of the railroad workmen. Mr. Johnson made a very earnest speech in favor of the proper observance of the Sabbath. Judge Townsend said the committee took the view that there was already sufficient laws on this subject and read the present law. Mr. Bacot held that if It was wrong to run trains of any kind on Sunday it was wrong to run them for any cause. Mr. T. S. Williams spoke against the bill. It waa a work of necessity that fruit should be shipped at once and it would cause a great loss to fruit growers. The ayes and noes were demanded on the motion to indefinitely postpone the bill, resulting in the refusal to postpone by a vote of 33 to 53, as fol lows: Yeas-Adams, Anderson, Ashley, Breazoale, J. B. Connor, Cooper, Crum, C. M. Davis, W. G. Davis, Eadens, Gadsden Gaston, Gregory, Haselden, Hiott, Holloway, Kennedy, Kirk, Lofton, Magill, Mehrtens, Mel lett, Phillips, Pyatt, Rast, A. K. San ders, Skinner, Townsend, Weston, T. S. Williams, John G. Williams, Wilson, Wolff, Wyche-33. Nays-Biackwell, Bowman, Bram lett, Bunch, Burns, Carroll, Caugh man, Edwards, Floyd, Fowler, Garris, Goodwin, Hammett, Harper, Harvey, Hollis, Hough, Humphrey, liderton, Johnson, Kinard, Lancaster, Lemmon, Mollard Miles, T. P. Mitchell, J. W. Mitchell, Moore, Murray, McIntosh, McKeown, D. W. McLaurin, McSween ey, Nunnery, Otte, Pickens, Price, Prince, Rainsford, Rowland, Shuman, Sturkie, Tatum, Thompson, Todd, Warr, Watson, Welch, Whitmire, L. J. Williams, Fred Williams, Wy man-63. Mr. Gadsden spoke of the hardship the law would inflict on truck growers. Mr. Watson didn't see why fruit and truck could not stay on the vine or tree one day and stand over until Mon da udge Townsend said as far as in ter-State commerce is concerned, the law will be unconstitutional, and that it would discriminate against our own citizens. Mr. Townsend at the night session reiterated the opinion that the law would be unconstitutional, but as far as he could see there was just as much harm in running passenger trains on Sunday, yet no effort is made to stop them. Mr. liderton said the queston was simply between a man and his God, and whether the General Assembly would countenance a sin. It is our duty to put our foot on every evil whethor the Supreme Court says it is unconsti tional or not. Mr. Skinner referred to the fact that a niumber of people had entered busi ness as truck growers with the under standing that they could ship their products any day or any time and it would be had faith to shut them ofT. Mr. Price thought it a good bill be cause it is in the interest of humanity and will work no hardship on the peo ple. He assorted as a fruit grower that fruit could be pulled a day in ad. vance of or a day after Sunday without M.Wyche said he had heard so many sermons on this subject that he began to doubt whether he could drive a horse on Sunday. Is it right to run mail trains on Sunday ? Why not raise that qiuestion ? it seems that members want to go back to the old Blue laws. It will ruin truck growers. If you are going to legislate morality why not pases the "eussing bill." lie would vote against it in the interest of truck growers-men who make their living out the soil. Mr. Warr~ held that the, man who wouldi lead a train on Saturday night was responsible for the violation of the Sabbath. Mr. F"red Williams said lie had lived in Texas where neither p'assenger or freight trains wore allowed to run and he heard nothing about the law con flicting with inter-State commerce. if you pass this law the great .Jehovah will make arrangements that the fruit shall be protected until it can be pulled. Mr. Josh Ashley held that it w as just as much harm to drive a horse fifteen or twenty miles as it was to run a freight train. The whole thing is bosh. Let us clean up around our own homes before we go and try to clean other people's p' aces. Mr. T. S. Williams spoke of what fruit would be injured and showed how the fruit growers would be injured. The ayes and noes were demanded on the motion to strike out the enacting words resulting in the re jection of the bill by a vote of 46 to 41. PENSIONS FOlt CONFIEDERATESI. The Senate had under consideration the bill to amend the law in relation to pensioning soldiers of the Confeder ate States. Mr. Mayfield offered an amenidmnft to the pension bill, changing the ap propriation freom $100,000 to $'75,000. Mr. Fi nley hoped that the amend ment would not prevail. The sum of $100,000 had been decided on by the unanim'ous vote of the joint finance committees, as that which the State could afford to pay. The subject had been very carefully weighed and the committee only regretted that the State was not in a position to give more for those who risked all theyhad in life for the honne of the State. Mr. Mayflold believed the 25,000 additional was a liberal increase and he thought it would do the deserving ones more good than if *100,0oo was given. Experience was that by opon Ing the doors too wide undesory ing.ones would flock in and out down that goli g to the noody ones. At this time when they had boon increasing and taxes were heavy, Senators should be care ful about making too heavy an incroase In one direction. If we could stand $25,000 increase this year, he would favor giving another $25,000 next year, and so on till $160,000 was given. Mr. Moses, as a memhor of the fi nance committee, desired to state that they thought this was the least they could do and oboy the constitutional provision requiring a liberal appropri ation. They thought $100,000 too little, but the best they could now do. Mr. Brown was opposed to the $100, 000, but thought there were cases of needy soldiers and their widows which this bill did not roach. He favored giving something to the many, rather than more to the few. Mr. Pettigrew hoped the original bill would pass. He related how he had started a movement for pensions in Darlington County and sent to the Legislature the first petition that had boon gotten up asking that pensions be granted to needy Confederate sol diers. Give the old soldiers this $100, 000 and not a dollar will go amiss and not a man in the State will protest. Mr. Norris-Mr. President, I move to lay the amendment of the Senator from Barnwell on the table. Carried. The bill was passed to a third read ing, with notices of amendment. The several section as amended are as fol lows : Section 939. The followingporsons, soldiers and sailors, now citizons of South Carolina, who were in the sor vice of the State or of the Confederate States in the late war between the States, shall be entitled to receive from the treasurer of the State a monthly payment of four, six and eight dollars, to be paid in the manner and on the terms and conditions hereafter set forth. Section 940. In order to obtain the benefit of this chapter, such soldier or sailor must show : First, that he was a bona fide soldier or sailor in the service of the State of South Carolina or of the Confederate States in the war between the States; second, that while in suoh service he has lost a leg or arm or received any wound causing a permanont disability, incapacitating him for earning a livelihood ; third, that neither himself nor his wife is receiving an income exceeding the amount of $260 per annum: Provided, That the word income shall be held to Include any amount received as wages, salary or from any other source. And all such persons shall reclve as pon sions $4 per mouth, to wit: All ox Confederate soldiers and sailors, fand the widows of such soldiers and sailors, who are residents of this State, who have reached the ago of 60 years and who are not receiving or enjoying the benefits of an annual income of $100 from any source. (b) All ex-Coc federato soldiers and sallors who are residents of this State and who have lost one arm or one leg in the said service, $1 per month. (c) All ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors who are residents of this State and who have lost both arms, or both legs, or who are physically helploss, shall receive $8 per mouth. (d) All ex-Confederate soldiers and sailors, In addition to said pension, shall be exempo from road or street duty or the payment of a commutation road or street tax. Soc. 950. The Stato of South Caro lina shall annually appropriate tho sun of $100,000, which shall be ap p)ortioned among the several counties in the proportion of the claims ap pro-ved in such counties, and shall be0 distributed as hereinafter provided. Soc. 951. On salesday in October in overy year the surviving soldiers andI sailors who were in the service of the Confederate States, or of this State, in the late wm'r between the States, resid ing in any county in this State, shail be authorized to moet in convention in the court house of such county at ii o'clock a. n. . or such hour thereafter on such days as will procure as large an attendance as may be had, and organize by electing a chairman and secretary, after which they may elect by ballot two of their number, who shall receive a majority of the ballots cast in such eloction, who, together with the county auditor, the county treasurer and a practicing physician, (the latter to be selected by the other members of the board) shall compose a hoard of pension commissioncrs for 51uc1 county until the next ensuing election hereunder. After first being dluly sworn fairly andi imp~artilliy to discharge the duties herein prescri bed for them to tihe best of thleir ability, and fIling such oath in the clerk's oflice in such county, they shall mfeet as soon as practicable with tile county examning board of pensions, and, with them, examine the p~ension roil for such county, and shall select there f rom such numbor of the most needy applicants as will be suflicient to con sumfo the appropriation for such coun ty, allowing to each applicant so selected the sum of three dolla rs per month from such appropriation. In selecting such applicants for pension th.3 said board shall have regard to their physical condition and financial mneans, and also to the financial condi tion of their near relatives, and shall, in every instance, select the most help less and need applicants for aid that can, in their jugment, be found upon01 the pension roll. A majority of the members p resent composing the two said boards shall be necessary to de termine any matter presented to them, and a majority of each board shall be necessary to form said joint board. As soon as such board completes its list as above they shall certify the same to the clerk of court for such county, ,who shall record the same in a list to be designated " Approved pen sion roll for 18-," and shall certify such list to the secretary of State, and such persons shall constitute the pen Alon roll entitled to receive the aid heroin provided for the ensuing fiscal year. If from any cause the meeting herein provided for should not be hold on saleaday in October in any year, the same may be held on saloeday in November followin g, and the action of such meeting shall be as valid as if held in October. Said board, or a rniajneityonf them, are to decido all questions rolating to peUsions in their re0spectivo vountes, subject, however, to thA right of review by the State board. The compensation of the two VotOrans. antd the )hYsiCIan shall he three doll arsA 0eh0 for each day's sor vice. AS To LAnOR t'oN r1RACTS. NIr. Thurioid's hil to aitend the law so as to inerenise the ieilty for the violition of agriiicultirai labor con tracts, giving j.luisdiction, to the courts of SeKssoUs, was tbeI takeni up. Nr. 1hurmiond said that, at pre4snt the pen1alty waS too light. Ile thought if laborers lf t, their employers in, busy seasons they should be punished. If a few of them were put on the ehaiii gang it would have a good effoot. lie said the present penIalty of 30 days had no offect. Mr. Breazoalo thought tlat th(, passage of this bill would men giving the strong poner to oppress tho weak. ir. Manning Opposed tlhe bill onl the ground that transferring the jurisdic tion would cost too much. Mr. Lofton remarked thiat the com mitteo had unanimously reported the bill unfavorably. Mr. Breazealo, moved to indefinifoly postpone the bill, and ANIr. Thu rinond demanded the roll call on this. The bill was indefinitely postponed by a vote of 74 to 18. TIE RAILUOADS AGAIN. Mr Rust's bill to regulate the hours of labor of trainmen on railroads in this Stato and to provido for the viola tion of the same was called up, and Mr. Manning wanted It Lo go over, saying lie thought they had enough railroad talk the preceding day to last for a SpMI]. Ho said the railroad mnon had been before the committee, and the bill would do no good. Mr. Rast said this was a copy of the law in Georgia. Railroad mon had asked him to introduco such a measure. Thes men noded the protection badly. He was not in favor of oppres sing the railroads. Smo railroad employes were anxious for thik bill. They were badly oppreesed ir~d afraid to say anything, because they were afraid of being blacklisted by the bosses. H1e know of Instanmics where train dispatchers had been kept oim duty for two days. Judge Townsend said the committee had decided to let the house discuss the bill, though its sentiment wats against the bill ; .honco they had mado no report. They would prejudice the very class they were desirous of protecting; cm ploycs were ad by the hou'.. So far, as over wor was concerned, it was easy to se that the roads had overy thing at stako in seeing that the men wore wide awake and attending to duty. He thought they were going too far legislating to become speclial guardians of every class of citizens. Soon they would begin to take care of the lawyers even. Mr. Magill said he had never voted for any legislation that would be op pressive to any railroad corporations. This bill will result in great, benefit, to any oppressed class of people. Ilm ployes of the roads dared not comio to the legislativo committoo and say any thing. Conductors and trainmen Iad comO to him U and begged him to iII troduco such a measure. The employes had a right to come up and demand protection. Thoy did not ask South Carolina to act as their guardian. A man must have somie rest, in tbe course of 24 hours. .Judge Townsond-Would you vote to regulate the hours of farm laborers ? Mr. Tatum said he too had been up proached by employes of the roais. if the roads didn't object to the hill why did they have their counsel bofore the committee ? J1udge Townsend-I m~ovo Li) recomi mit the bill1 to the (commfittee to give the emp lloyes a chanuce to appear. Dr. Wyche said if railroad muon were so 0oppressed, why dlidnf't, they (1uiit working on the railroads and go to wvork onm the farms. He called( this medicine logIslation. TIhey had too much law in this State. lie thought one General Assombly in four years su flicient. l'von the Supremeo CJourt, didn't know what the law was. The great trouble was that, the State had too) much law, and too little obedience to law. lHe would 111ko to take care of and give sympathby to every hard worked man. ie picturedl the over worked doctor, up l for 2-I hours withbout, hope of pay Ills sarcasm was relined and to the point, le doubted if they would accomplish what, they wanted. Mr. Weston thought that it, would result in a salary reducotion. It was a contract, entered into by the men them selves. MIr. Ilumnchm hoped that the hill would be killed, ile did not want any man's privileges to h)o abridged. If lie wanted to work 1(6 hours it was no body's business. It seomed to himi they were going into radical legisla tion. Judge Trownsend wanted to know, In case the law plassed, who was going to rep~ort the roads for violating the law. Hie withdrew his motion to recommit. Mr. B~owmnan said he wanteod the traveling public protected. Mr. ftast replied to some of the arguments made and then the vote was taken, the House refusIng t( strike out, the enacting words by a vote of 315 to 46;. Trho bill1 was thmen ordered to a third reading ini this shape: Sction 1. That from and after the p assage of this act it shall be unhiw ful for any railroad doing busIness in this State to require or permit its employees, who are engaged in thet business of opeorating its trains over it~s roads, to make runs of over thirteen hours, or to mako runs aggregatIng more than thirteen hours in twenty four hours, except when such train is detained by reason of casualty, or or~bor cause, from reaching its demstina tion on schedule time, and no trainman, after having been on a ruin eor runit for as much as thirteen hours out of twenty-four hours, shall be requiredl to again go on duty until after ten hours' rest, except in case above stated. No employ cc of any railroad coumpanly shall be deprIved of his rIght to re cover damages for personal Injury by reason of the fact ths~t he, at the timo of such injury, was umaking a run of more than thirtoon hours, Or mnakinig a run aggregating more than thirteen hours in twenty-four hours, or bad gone on duty after a thirteen hours' run, or runs aggrogatin~g thirteen hours, bafre ton ho urIS' rest. Section 2. That any railroad viola Ing any of the )roViSIOnS of section 1 of this act shall be subject to a forfol turo of tot less than $50 nor more than $500. 'That one-half of all forfeitures collected under the provisions of this act shall 1 bo paid into the Stato treas ury, to the credit of the schol fund, and the otbor hall to the informer. KEEP DOWN COTON ACREAGE, Tht Kn A A ivou Fafnora Don't Want Ju-A Nw -I an Honiny tho Only Safety. Auguistat Chronicle. Teio r1ailr'oads are handling unusually largo sh i pmeints of mulos, some of the fertilizer works havo sold their entire prodlids and so great has been the demnanid for cortain agricultural Imple munts that dealors have been unablo to get sIpplies frotm tie anufacturers. Theso aro some of the statomonts that retacl us through a trustworthy soureo, and they are statemonts that atre not altogether occasion for con gratilation. It is gr'atifying to know that our farmtuers ar'e in condition to make those purclases, but when they are talkon considered with their possi. ble boaring onti the next cotton crop they furnish food for sorious rottoction. I t Is true no doubt that the close econo my w hich the fartors of the South have prIctied for' sOveral years has resulted in redtucing their agricultural ((ipml)ttient to a low standard. Having realizod sotlo money from their cotton 0rop last year' they tare spenrding it in providing bettor equipment for the onsuing yotir. This is well. But we nust, again iur-go .tpon them not to devoto this now equipment to raising anotiher big cotton crop. Thero Is nothing tinow itn this suggesttion, but we fool the i nportanco of iteration and reiteration. It cannot be too str'ongly imprcssod I)Ol cotton p)tdUoducrs, says the SI vannahi Morhing News, that they now have the statistical position of cotton more nai'ly in their own hands than has boon the caso for a ireroat many yoars, ard that if the market is smash od Iext season by an otnormiouis crop it will be thoir own fault. They have been working for yetrs to reduce the surplus carried over from oe year to the next aid to got the supply within the dmand. It took hard work to hri ng ab1ou1t the )rent situation. Bu"t it. Will not tOkM Very hard work to upset the wholeO arrangement and knock the prico back to livo cent basis. Commissioners of Agriculture Nesbitt makes a'eareful and clear calculation to show how there would be money inl a ,000,000 crop this season, and how theire would not bo money in a 10,000,000 crop. 1lii reasoiing is to tire point. It now remnains to soo what tihe farnors will do about it. T'horo scets to ho some uncertainty amtroig farmrers how niutch cotton to planlt. Titey do tnot know what would consti tuto overprodutetioni or inl wihat, marnner they can bo sure of reducing the acroago. We havo suggestod this 'rlo, and we think it Is ono that will work out satisfactorily. Lot ovcry farm'nt' pitch his proviion crop fIlrst. IWo do riot refOr to the 1i mo of Planting, but lot h Imr fir'st calculatO how many aeros he will havo to devote tocorn, Oats pea1s, hay, potatoes, sugar cano, and other food crops to provido every need of the farmn inl the way of provliions for man and hoast. lAet him aTr'ange to fully mtt OL this doimtatid, and then plant what, land he has left over in cotton. I f it takes all Ihis land to raise all the hog and homilny he neceds, so ho it. Lot him raise hog and homniny aInd lot cotton ailotie. If on the other hrand after pr'ov id ing all necessary land foi' food oops ho has a l argo aer'ongo left, for cotton, all r'ight, let himt plant it. lie can affiordt it. I f cotton is made the secondary instoad1 of tho pr'imary cr'op ; If the farmer first prov Ides for r'aisinig all the food crops he noodts andI dlevotes the balance of hIs hand to cot ton there wv ill bo a sullicientt reduction In t~he aggrcgato acreago to hold diown the (r'op to mnoney mratkinrg pr'opor'tions. (htr fanrmiors have thre matter in their oJwn hanitds. Whtat, urs is thbero in (atinig wVhurn food does you no goot--iu fact,, when it, does y'ote itor' htarm than good, for such is the caise when it is not di1gested. I f you have a loathIng for food there is tno use of forcing it down, for it will not, be digested. Y'ou muitst r'estor' the digestive or'gans to their natural sti'ength and cause the food to be di gestedl when an ap >oetite will conmo, and with it a r'elish for food. The tired, languid fooling wvill give placo to vigor andl orrgy, then you will put Ilosh oni your hones aind be comoit strong. T1he Shrakors I )igestivo (Cor'diai as made b~y thte Mouint I ~obanion Shakers contains food al ready digested andI is a digester of food as well. Its actioni is prtomp lt anitii t efects per' manenat. D~octors prcrib'o he Iaxol beicauise it hras all thre vitrtes of Castor Oil arid is --G teeral VlerianoS Wey her, of the Spanish army, the new captalii-geonoral of C~uba, is said1 to boe of Irish extrac tiona, is 6i0 years old, andi extromnely enier'getic. ie d istinrguishe d himself du rinrg the Span ish war against the Moors irn Afr'ica. Gcnor'al Weyler was sent to Cuba in tihe ear'ly part of the ten years wair, andI served under two captain genra'ils. lHe i'emained there miote t~tan two years, and was recalled to Spint Ott account of charges of e. tremet) cr'uolty made against him. SWheni a man (lies suddenly, with tiut having boon1 attended by a doctor," says a popurlar' guide to the law, " the cor'onor has to be called in and an Ir. quiost held to ascertain the cause of decathi." "' lut," adds the wrIter, " whena he dies after having been at tcnded by a doctor, then overybody knows why he died, and 60 an inquest is not necessary." -About 25 years ago an l'ntglish syndicateoOffered the Transvaal gov ernment $800,000 for the exclusive right to all the miner'al resources of that country, and the government came very near selling it. It is estimated that the gold product of the region thi earm wil be *inn00na0an