The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, December 07, 1886, Image 1
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VOL. 8. ABBEVILLE. S.C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1883. NO. 10
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The General Assembly.
Columbia, November 30
Legislative as well as public interest
to-day centered in the inauguration of
the new State officials, which took place
in the Opera-House at 1 o'clock to day.
Notwithstanding this, however, both
houses made considerable progress with
the work before them.
In the lower house half a dozen bills
of no public interest received a final reading
and as many more a second reading.
The farmers' movement bill to transfer
** the management of the agricultural
bureau to the Farmers' Association was
road the first time and referred to the
committee on agriculture. Quite a number
of Charlestonians occupied seats on
the floor of the House to-day and attended
the inauguration. Among thern were
Gen McCrady, Sheriff Ferguson, J. W.
Barnwell, J. P. K. Bryan, II. A. M.
Smith and others.
In the Senate two resolutions relating
to the Columbta Canal were introduced,
one looking to an investigation of the
ownership of mill sites on its banks and
the probable cost of its completion, and
the other inquiring as to the legality of
a transfer of the State's interest in the
property to the city of Columbia.
The earthquake reassessment bill was
opposed by Senator Moise, and was be
'nrknn f tin S *v? o f/in V\ /i
Allg untuoocu Tf UC II VII VIUIU IUI tuc
inauguration ceremonies arrived, suspending
the controversy.
' The Charleston salary and stationhouse
site bills were favorably reported, as was
Also the Jetty memorial resolution.
The Anderson local option election
bill was black-balled by the judiciary
I committeo The judiciary committee
introduced a joint resolution to carry
out Governor Sheppard's suggestion to
+ amend the Constitution as to County
Commissioners and the tenure of office of
Judges.
Bills were also introduced to ratify the
bond and census amendments to the,
^^ Constitution, abolishing the office of
jury commissioner, taxing dogs nnd
providing for the transportation of convicts
to the Penitentiary.
Lieutenant Governor Mauldm was introduced
to the body after the inauguration
and delivered a brief address.
HOUHK OF HKrHESKNTATIVKB.
The attention of a good many members
of the House seems to be directed
to the much-vexed trial justice problem,
which promises to give no end of trouble.
A large numberZof County bills have
been introduced looking to the reduction
of the number of trial justices in the
Counties named. Upon the suggestion
of the Speaker, all these bills have been
referred to the judiciary committe, with
instructions to report an omnibus bill
covering the changes desired in all the
Counties under one bill. The judiciary
committee have under consideration two
ceneral bills, one bv Mr. Douglass. of
Fairfield, and one by Mr. Hyde, of
Charleston, looking to a change in the
entire syRtem, in accordance with the
recommendation of Governor Sheppard.
BLIGHT PROHIBITION SKIRMISH.
Among the bills reported by the judiciary
committee to-day was one to
amend auction l,?di 01 the ueneral btatutes,
relating to the selling of intoxicating
liquors, &c. The report was unfavorable,
and in the general rush of
routine work the bill was rejected. Later
in the day, however, Mr. Dantzler, of
Orangeburg, the author of the bill,
moved a reconsideration of the bill, with
permission to take the floor and make a
few remarks. Mr. Dantzler stated that
under the law as it is now written an
insignificantly small community would
organize, get a charter and sell spirits
under the local option law. The amendment
proposed to limit the sale of
liquors to towns of not less than 500
inhabitants. The bill was placed on the
Calarydar.
The same committee reported favorably
the bill to amend the law in relation
to agents of foreign insurance companies
doing business in this State. The committee
on incorporations reported favorably
the bill to inoorporato the News
and Courier Job Printing Company, and
a bill to grant to A. M. Bangs and others
the use of certain sites in tho harbor,
near Sulivan's Island, to facilitate their
work on the Jetties.
THK *TIWX.H PHOSPHATK COMPANY.
4 The bill to amend the charter of the
Etiwan Phosphate Company receive its
second reading. While it was betas'read
Dr. Pope, of Newberry, moved to strike
out the enacting words, stating that ho
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us J&jJtsSiL . >. I'rSJS+'LsA* w . 1
desired to know whether or not the object
of the bill was to freeze .out the 1
minority of the stockholders.
Mr. Brawley said that hp, who was t
one of the unfortunate minority alluded 1
to, had introduced the bill at the request I
of the solicitor of the company. He i
thought it was all right. <
Dr. Pope thereupon withdrew his mo- *
tion. and the bill was ordered to be on- i
grossed.
The following bills on the Calendar I
were passed and ordered to be engross- <
od.
Bill to amend the charter of the Sea <
View Railway. The amendment only !
increases the width of the proposed
"draw" in the bridge over the cove on <
Sullivan's Island from 22 to 30 feet. :
Bill to incorporate the Commercial <
Savings Bank of Charleston. The incorporators
are A. A. Kroejr, It. J. I
Morris, W. F. Jordan, J. II. C. Weller, I
and Theo. D. Jervey, Jr. Capital stock
$25,000, with the power of increasing it !
to $500,000. Shares .$100 each. l
THE TRIAL JUSTICES AGAIN. '
The last bill passed before adjourning 1
for the inauguratian was one to limit the '
number of trial justice-? in YorK County. '
During the passage of the bill Mr. Ueady
of Edgefield, offered an amendment re- 1
quiring official bonds of $400 from the (
justices and constable. In support of '
his amendment Mr. Ready took occasion
to say that it was a notorious fact that '
many trial justices in the State had col- 1
lected public funds and had never ac- '
counted for them. He thought that by '
bonding these officials the State would J
be protected und a better class of men '
secured for the service. 1
Mr. Wilson, the author, explained 5
that the bill threw sufficient safeguards 1
around the officials and besides it was a '
purely local measure.
The amendment was voted down and 1
the bill ordered fur a final reading to- (
morrow. '
The bills read a second time yesterday '
received a final ri.-adingto-day. Among ''
them arc bills to amend the charter or
tho Charleston Base Rail Club, of the 1
Holy Communion Church Institute and 1
to authorize the county commissioners
of Berkeley to pay the county bonds due. j
THIS KAKMEUS MAKE A MOVE. '
The only measure tlint had come 1
direct from the Farmers' Convention is J
a bill of which Mr. Tindal, of Clarendon 1
gave notice some days ago. and which c
was introduced to-day. It was prepared
by the committee of th? Farmers' As- f
Rociation appointed for the purpose, and 1
is intended to give to the Farmers' Association
the control and management of *
the bureau of agriculture, The bill is fl
very long and its details elaborate.
The following is a brief outline of its *
general features:v
Section 1. \ board of agriculture is 1
created to bo known as the South Caro- h
lina Board of Agriculture to consist of
ten members, five of whom are to be
elected annually. Term of ofiicc two *
years. Vacancies to be filled by the *
board itself. The president of the board ,
is to serve for one year. 8
Setion 2 names as the first board the
gentlemen selected by the recent Farm- 1
ers' Convention, viz: 1). K. Morris John- ^
son llagood E. T. Stackhouse. 11. A. '
Love, K. L. Rivers, Allan Johnston, B.
R. Tillman, A. E. Davis. M. L. Donald- '
son and D. R. Duncan. These arc to 1
meet and select five of their number to (
! i
serve for one }'car the remaining five for
two years. 1
Section 3. A meeting of the board is to
?
be held every year in the City of Columbia,
on the second Tuesday of November J
togother with the board there shall be a
Convention of five delegates from each
County Farmers' Associatton, who are
made, for the time being, ex-officio members
of the board, for the purpose of deliberation
and consultation as to tho '
wants, prospects and condition of the .
agricultural interests throughout the 1
State, and to fill all vacancies irt the
board."
Section 4 grants the usual corporate 1
rights to the board,
Section 5 fixes tho compensation of ]
the members nt Jfii per dicinghile en- 1
staged in the performance of their duties
(not exceeding fifteen days in the year), i
and five cents per mile traveling ex- <
ponses. i
Soction 6 prorides that the members <
of the board elected at these annual 1
conventions shall bo submitted to the (
General Assembly for confirmation with j
the right on the part of the Legislature f
to reject any of thein and elect others t
in their places. t
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Section 7 proscribes the duties of the
board to make annual reports to the
Legislature, a general review of the condition
of agriculture, ?fcc., estimates of
money required, no money to be drawn
from the treasury except under specific
impropriation by the General Assembly
on warrants drawn by the secretary and
countersigned by the president of the
board.
Section 8 provides for the election by
tho board of "a secretary" or "executive
sfticer" of the board, compensation .
The board may also elect a clerk or
:lerks to assist him; salaries, dollarsSecretary's
bond, $5,000.
Section 9 prescribes the general duties
if the secretary, which are about the
same as those performed by the present
zommissioner.
Section 10 provides for the distribution,
by the secretary, of all seeds, plants,
trees and shrubbery' received by him.
Section 11 relates to the collection of
statistics, ?fcc., and provides that the secretary
shall "assist and co-operate with
the State Agricultural Society to make
Lhe State fair a success, and render nil
the encouragement in his power to the
:ounty fair associations."
Section 12 gives the secretary, under
instructions of the board, the power to
quarantine in cases of contagious diseases
among stock, animals, &c.
Section 13 directs the secretary to collect
25 cents per ton on commercial fertilizers
sold or offered for sale in tho
State, the money to be paid into the
State treasury to the credit of the board,
liailroad companies and other common
carriers arc prohibited from delivering
iny fertilizer that does not bear the prescribed
tag. Railroads and other common
carriers are required to keep a record
of all fertilizers transported by
Lhem, and report to the secretary the
tames of shippers, consignees, and dates
if delivery. Said reports to be made
>11 the 15th of Julr annually, under a
jenalty of not less than $100 nor more
?500, or imprisonment.
Section 14 requires tags to be affixed
o each package of fertilizer, showing
he net pounds, name of manufacturer,
nd a chemical analysis showing "the
>er centago of nitrogen or its equivalent
n ammonia in any available form of polish
soluble in water, and of phosphoric
icid in an available form soluble or rerersed,
as well as tho total phosphoric
icid."
Section 15 requires manufacturers and
tellers of fertilizers to deposit samples
>f their goods with the secretary.
Section 16. The secretary is constiuted
the State Inspector of fertilizers,
ind he or his deputy are authorized to
>pen and anal}rze samples of fertilizers
!Xposed for sale.
Section 17 provides for the appointnent
by the board of a State chemist,
tnd prescribes his duties.
Section 18 provides that no person
ihall offer for sale '' any pulverized
eather, raw, steamed, roasted, or in any
orin as a fertilizer or as an ingredient,"
vithout attaching to every package of it
t certificate of that fact.
Section 10 provides the penalties for
Violating these provisions?fine from
|5100 to $500, or imprisonment from
lilrHr rlotro f a oi v manfhn
?J MMJO VU Ol A UlVIIVIiai
Section 20. The powers und duties
leretofore exercised by the State Board
ti Agriculture in connection with tfte
;ollection of the phosphate royalty are,
ay this section, transferred to the Comp;roller
General.
Section 21. Sixty days after the passage
of this act the Commissioners of
\grieulture be directed to turn over to
,he new board all the propert}', &c.
Seotion 22 appropriates the sum of
H5,000 to defray the expenses of the
lew Doara tor the fiscal year.
Section 23 gives the board supervision
)f the fish interests of the Stute.
Section 24 contains the usual repeatng
clause of all nets inconsistent, &c.
SKXATE.
President Izlar's desk was brightened
->y a pretty bouquet when the Senate
net at noon. Prayor was offered by the
Rev. Mr. Wood, of the First Presbyto ian
Church.
Private Secretary Thompson brought
o two messages from the Governor.
3ne was executive. The other an
lounbed that his Excelleucy had, in ac;ord:iace
with a resolution passed at the
a8t/session, caused to bo printed ^,0(X)
sopnes of the Revolutionary muster rolls
^resented by Gen. Wilmot G. DeSautu
iur?, and that the printed copies were
low in hia office awaiting the disposi,ion
of the General Assembly. The
j message was referred to tho military ;
com mittee.
Senator Black offered a resolution J
looking to tho preparation arid adoption
. of joint rules as to claims submitted by
! the Comptroller General under the op!
eralions of the law regulating the intro
duction of private measures. Adopted.
Senator Sligh presented a concurrent
resolution providing for a joint committee
of three Senators and five Representatives
to investigate thoroughly the
question of the ownership of factory
sites on the Columbia Canal and the:
cost to the State of the completion of
the canal. Adopted without opposition.
Senator Patterson also had a concurrent
resolution on the subject of tb<>
canal. It provided that the finance committee
of the Senate and the ways and
means committee of the House inquire
and report whether it be practicable for
the Stale to transfer its entire interest
in the Columbia Canal to the city of Columbia,
on condition that Columbia complete
the work in a reasonable time.
Senator McMaster asked Senator Patterson
to withhold this resolution until
the firnt coimniltoo ^nnl?l K.* lmnr*l i-,.... I
? ..u..., I
Senator Patterson replied that he, for
one, was willing to Vote for the transfer
of the canal to Columbia if it could be
done legally, and he wanted information
on the subject.
Senator Murray thought that this
point could just as well be looked into
by the committee already provided for,
| and movod that the Patterson resolution
i be tabled.
I Before a vote could be had an interruption
occurred, ami the question remained
unsettled for the da}'.
The Charleston, Berkeley and Colleton
earthquake reassessment bill was the
first on the calendar. Its reading progressed
quietly until Senator Moisc
moved to strike from the first section
the words ''and in fixing the values under
such assessment there shall be taken
into consideration any and all damage
and deterioration in value resulting frorti
tl-e carthquak3 aforesaid.'' lie said that j
he had always been in favor of liberality,
but opposed this provision because it introduced
a dangerous innovation into
our practice. x
Senators Murray, McMaster and Youmans
briefly opposed the motion, urging
that it was but just to the people of the
afflicted city to have allowance made for
the damage by earthquake, and that
whatever variance they had had as to
the details of the bill they were willing
to accept this measure as it came from
the Charleston delegation, a body having
knowledge of the needs of the
stricken community, and which had devoted
careful attention to preparing this
bill.
On a viva voee vote Senator Murray's
motion to tnhln tho omnn/imont ""> > ??
ried. Subsequently Senator Moise
moved to strike out the whole of the
fourth section providing for a temporary
suspension of tax collections in cases
where owners submitted petitions for
reductions on account of damage to the
property by tho earthquakes. Senator
Buist had begun to speak to this amendment
when the hour for the joint Assembly
arrived and debate was suspended.
The Judiciary Committee made two
reports on sections of Governor Sheppard's
message. One rccommends a joint
resolution proposing an amendment to
Article 3 of the Constitution by striking
out Suction 10 thereof, requiring a Board
of County Commissioners for each
county. The second recommends a joint
resolution amending Section 13, Article
4, by establishing life tenue of oflice for
judges.
At 1 o'clock the Senate, accepting the
invitation of the House, proceeded to
the Hall of Representatives and joined
in the Legislative procession to the
Opera House to participate in the inauguration
ceremonies.
At 2 o'clock, the inauguration being
over, the Senate chamber wns ojrain
tilled. Lieutenant Governor Mauldin
and President pro tempore I/.lar occupied
seats at the President's desk. Governor
Richardson and ex-Governor .shoppard
sat somewhat behind ;hetn. At
2.U3 rresnlent izisr called thu Senate to |
order and said:
"Gentlemen of the Senate, I take
pleasure in introducing to you Lieutenant
Governor Munldin, who has qualified
by taking the oath of office, and is now
ready to assume the duties of President
of the Sonate."
j "Gentlemen of the Senate: The action
j of the people of South Carolina calls for
I my presence here to-day to ausurao <
t" , >' \ tj " * , ' ,
W' \ v *
official duties as presiding officer. Re- h
alizing to the fullest extent my incxpc
rience in this new and responsible position,
I bespeak your kindest considcra- n
tion in 103- earnest efforts to serve you
and facilitate the business of jrour honorable
body. Actuated, as I know you
one and .11 are, by a patriotic intention
to ad vane- '.lie best interests of the peoI
am confident that whatever differences
in discussion may arise between
you wili be controlled within proper
nnd courteous bounds, and promoted
alone by a purpose to seek and do the
right. The holding of public ollice
? -
mui 11, iii. ?ii urn us, grave re- r
sponsibilities. More especially is this t
true in the present condition of our |
State. We are just passing through a
year of serious and material disasters.
The honest and laborious efforts of our ^
people have been but poorly rewarded. ^
In addition to the failure of our crops, (
caused by unpropitious seasons, we have .
incurred the sad destruction of life and
propertj' in the chief cit}* of our State.
In view of these unexampled inisfortunes
it behooves us, as the servants of
?
the people, to act with the greatest cau- <
tion, to the end that we may justify the
confidence of the people and give them
wise, prudent and economical laws. I f
ntn sure that every Senator upon this
Uoor appreciates the intelligent needs of
the Slate, and that such measures will
. <
receive your approval and support as
will tend to promote the public good
and advance the moral and material welfare
of the pyople. Trusting that a kind
Providence will direct your every effort,
1 now announce that the Senate is ready
to proceed with business:"
A few bills were introduced, and then
the Senate adjourned until noon tomorrow.
Columbia, December 1.
The Senate spent over two hours in
the discussion of the earthquake reassessment
bill, retained the fourth section
by the close vote of 18 to 17, and
passed the measure with a slight amendment.
,
Complimentary resolutions were passed
to President pro tempore Izlar.
A resolution inquiring as to the legalit}'
of a transfer of the Columbia Canal
:o the City of Columbia was adopted.
Favorable reports were made on the
ratification of the constitutional mnr?ni1.
menta carried at the last election, aud c
juint resolutions were introduced carry- c
ing out Governor Sheppard's suggestiong
as to the swearing of witnesses and extra 1
compensation for the Attorney General. ^
The bill changing the mode of election
of trustees of the University was '
unfavorably reported. This was also the ^
fate of the bill abolishing the office of '
jury commissioner. *
Many new bills were introduced, c
among them the following: To collect 1
taxes on forfeited lands, to prohibit the \
salo of cigaretets to certain minors, to ]
exempt Beaufort County from the pro- ^
l.ibitory law, to consolidato tho offices of '
County Treasurer and Auditor, to change '
the Trial Justice system, to change the '
registration law, and to pay the expenses
.f .1 i t. - - i
oi me pnospnaie supervision out oi tne
phosphate royalty. '
The Senate will meet at 11 o'clock to- ;
morrow. Lieutenant Governor Mauldin presided
to-day with dignity and gives
promise of being a most capable officer.
In the House almost tho entire day
was spent in discussing a bill to change
the manner of drawing and time of service
of grand juries. The bill was passed
notwithstanding the unfavorable report
of the judiciary committee.
The House will moet at 10 a. m. tomorrow.
HOUSE*
The lower House met early this morn
ing ana woricea iaie, me session lasting ^
four hours. The time from II A. M. to (
1 P. M. was devoted to the usual routine j
and a good deal was accomplished in tho
way of advancirg legislation and cutting j
out new work. At about 1 o'clock the ^
Calendar was reached and for a time
there was smooth sailing on placid water.
The third reading bills wero disposed
of. These wore only three in number,
viz: To amend tho charter of tho Mount
Pleasant and Sea View Railroad; to in- }]
corporate the Commercial Savings Bank a
and to amend the charter of tho Etiwan y
Phosphate Company. The first named M
has passed through both Houses and is b
ready "for ratification. The others go to J
the Senate. Thin brought tho House g
race to face with its Calendar, which now 17
contains forty-stx bills. o
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imnHHBnaaHHnaniEaBDMwnMBi
F.K0RMINU TIIB HAT.AltY OK I.IKUTENANT
j? GOVBUNOU.
Tho first bill on the list was ono to
ibolish tho salary of tho office of Lieuonant
Governor- Tho bill proviclos
hat that officer shall receivo only $10
>er diem and mileage during the seslion
of the General Assembly. A motion
vas made to reduce the por diem to $5
>ut this was voted down and the bill
massed in its original shape. Under the
jresent law the Lieutenant Governor
;i?is per annum in addition to his
>er diem during the session of the
^egislaturo. Lieutuenant Governors will
eceive only about.$300 per annum all
old. They have boen reformed before
>eing elected.
THK FIHBT DISCUSSION OF THK 8E88ION.
The nexi bill on the calendar evoked
he first forcnsic battle of the session a
lattle that was long and at times ex:eedingly
wearisome and which resulted
n a defeat for the House judiciary comnittee.
The bill was introduced by Mr.
\ldrich, of Aiken, a veteran legislator
ind skilled debater. It proposes to
unend section 2,629 of the General
Statutes, relating to the drawing and
erms of service of jurors, in effect it
nakes a thorough change in the jury
lystem so far as it relates to grand juries.
\.a explained by Mr. Aldrich it proposes
.o make the grand jury a perpetual body
:onstituted on the same plan as the State
Senator is constituted. The officers of
JJourt venireB to draw on December,
L888, two venires of 9 each, thus making
L8 grand jurors. Nine of th?.*Bo are to
r " *
?ervH lor one year ana y tor two years.
\fter tho expration of 1 year only 9 will
ae drawn every year, so that there will be
) old Mirors and 9 new Jurors on every
^rand jury. The judiciary committee had
eported the bill unfavorably, anddesiglatod
Mr. S. P. Hamilton to conduct the
:nse as it wero. Mr. Hamilton therefore
novcd to sirike out the enacting clause,
ffhich brought on tho forcnsic fight,
Thin was opened by Mr. Aldnch, who
irgued that the new system would create
in effective check upon tke county
>fficors and render the grand jury the
guardians to the public funds. The idea
idvanccd was that by perpetuating the
;rand jury there would always be nine
urors perfectly familiar with the affairs
>f the county, and this he argued would
lo more to keep down heavy county exjenditures,
of which there was so much
:omp!aint, than the passage of a half
lozen laws.
The bill was opposed by Mr. Hamil;on.
Judge Maher, Mr. T. P. Miller, of
oeauron, ana Mr. uutson of Hampton.
Judge Muher doubted the wisdom or
jolicy of the proposed radical change.
Flis own observation had not convinced
lim of the first change which extended
;he term of service of the grand jury to
>nc year, and he thought if any chango
ivas to be made it would be better, to ro:urn
to the old system of drawing grand
jurors for each term of Court. The object
bought to be obtained by the bill*
le thought, could be best obtained if the
;rand juries wero brought nearer to the
people.
Mr. Rankin, of Chesterfield, favored
the bill. Speaking fur his county he said,
aven a longer tenure of office was desired,
[n that county they wanted the grand
jurors to serve for five years.
i no discussion was participated in by
a number of other members, including
Sen. McKissick and Dr. Thomas, of
Union, and finally a vote being reached,
the motion to strike out was lost?ayes,
48; nays, 63?and the bill passed over x "
the heads of the committee.
Beforo the final disposition, however,
Mr. Brawley, of Charleston, moved to
reconsider the vote, which motion reopened
the discussion. Mr. Parker, of
Abbeville, spoke against the bill and
Mr. Ansel and others for it. The motion
.0 reconsider was carried, with consent
>f Mr. Aldrich, for amendment which,
lAtTAViif nnl v nnrTftnlo/l
?v.* Vf VM W1??J J/W? IVViVU VIKT Will.
A motion to recommit the bill was
ost?ayes. 46: ^n.iys, 58?and it was
inally ordered to be engrossed.
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