The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, December 14, 1886, Image 1
^?3???i?a?g?ii'iwi ii mi.n?i1, umtmi... viwcai'-w. .*? .
VOL. 3. ABBEVILLE. S. C., TUESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1886. NO. 1)
Ttift General Assembly.
Columbia, December 7.
house.
The House was tolerably full this
uioruing when the clerk commenced the
call of the roll ot 10 o'clock, and when
tho opening prayer had ended the late
comers swelled the number so that
there were very few vacant seats. The
day's work of five hours, while it accomplished
no great amount of work of a
definite character, afforded an infinite
variety of discussions on all sorts of
measures, the lawyers, the farmers, tho
Prohibitionists and the politicians, each
in turn taking an inning, except that the
lawyers had two innings. As a net result
four bills were passed to a third reading,
ten wore finally passed and sent to
the Senate, and three were killed outright
and one recommitted.
During the past three days there has
been a sudden and unaccountable tailing
off in the supply of new measures.
Whether this iB because the members
intended to reform in this respect or
bccause they are only taking a breathing
spell, it is impossible to say. Thus far
only 172 bills have been placed upon the
Calendar. According to precedent the
Calendar of a new House of Representatives,
at this stage of its existence,
should number at 'east 300 bills.
During the morning hours bills were
introduced looking to elections in Abbex
ville and Greenville counties on the
queston of prohibition. A petition was
received from citizens of Darlington and
Marion counties, praying for the forina
tion of the new County of 1? lorence.
The ways and means committee reported
a bill to appropriate $5,000 to aid
in rebuilding the State Medical College
of Charleston. The treasury reserve
fund bill wont over until to-morrow, and
bo did the Charleston reassessment
(earthquake) bill. An effort woe made
by tho Charleston delegation to have
this bill taken up, but objection was
luade, and it went over with the understanding
that it will be taken up to-inorro?r.
tiik lawyers' innings.
The Uwj'ers and heavy talkers were
present in fall force in the House to-day
when the general orders were reached
on the Calendar, and it became at once
apparent that there would be no plain
Bailing down and through the Calendar.
The unfinished business was "a bill in
relation to the custodians of minors,"
which had already been partially discussed.
The legal fraternity were doubtless
very much interested in the bill, and
were very much divided in opinion as to
its merits; legislative tactics were resorted
to, amendments were offered of all
kinds, and speeches were made by
Messrs. Ansel of Greenville, Wilson of
Sumter, Brawley and McHugh of
Charleston, Dantzler of Orangeburg,
Parker of Abbeville, Hutson of Hampton
and Maher of Barnwell, and the discussion
took a wide range, involving the
powers and duties of testamentary and
other guardians. The bill was amended
and reconsidered, and finally recommitted
to the judiciary committee.
Dr.Pope's bill to reduce the costs of
attorneys, &c., next came up and received
a second reading without a single
lawyer saying a word for or against it.
Liter in the day a bill was reached,
introduced by Nr. Gary, of Edgefield,
requiring the clerk of the Supreme
Court to transmit copies of decisions to
tho Circuit Courts in all the counties,
and it was on this that the lawyers got
in their second inning. The debate was
ably conducted by Mr. Gary and Mr.
W. B. WilHOU. of York, in fnvnr i?nH
Mr. Parker, of Abbeville, and Mr.
Jordan, of Aiken, against the bill. The
House decided the question in the negatire,
as they Bay in the debating societies,
and the Act was defeated, scarcely
anybody but the lawyers voting.
THE SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS.
The bill to fix the salaries of county
school commissioners evoked the most
general discussien of the day, farmers,
lawyers. Prohibitionists and politicians
taking an active part. As it came from
the committee the bill provided n salary
of $200 and mileage (five cents) for each
county puiiuui uoiiiiiiiKsioner, except in
Charleston whore tho salary was fixed
at $600.
The fight was commenced by way of
amendments, with motions to lay on the
table. The effect of the motions of this
latter class, however, was to shut oil
discussion, and thesa tactics were soon
changed.
Mr. Ansel* of Greenville, called the
- rL.l?rt'ir' T'iViI ''
previous question, under the operation of
which the motion to strike out the enacting
words of the bill was voted down,and
the bill was orerded to be engrossed.
THE MEDICAL COCKTAIL.
The next bill reached was that to
which reference has been made to regulate
the sale of the "spiritus frumenti'
prescriptions in towns and villages
where the local option law exists. The
provisions of the bill have been published
alread}'. It would hardly be supposed
that a politico-prohibition debate
could be concocted out of this, but it renilirps
n. vorv sliorlil atrjiur fn rrof nn a
-i ?J ?o ? o~- "f discussion
in the present House. Mr.
Haskell moved to strike out the enacting
clause of the bill, which brought Dr.
Pope to his feet with the statement that
in many of the dry towns the druggists
had printed proscriptions, signed, he was
sorry to say, by members of his profession,
and that many of the drug stores in
those towus had bten converted into
rum mills.
Mr. Miller, of Beaufort, was horrified
at the idea of licensing the sale of lqiuor
in dry towns by drugstores.
Mr. Archer, of Spartanburg delivered
a remarkably strong and eloquent temperance
oration, not bearing very heavily
on the bill under discussion, but very
elloqent and impressive, ilustrate dn
with many figures and statistices showing
the evil effects and bad wark of king
alcohol. The speoch had evidently been
carefully prepared and was forcibly delivered,
but was, unfortunately delivered
at the wrong time and upou the wrong
bill. For instance, when the member
told the House that $900,000,000 was
spent annually in this country for^whiskey,
and that if this amount was spread
out in a line in silver dollars it would
reach around the globe, and that the
people of this country only paid $12,000000
to the churches the momberr failed
to connect these statements with the
medical cocktail bills, and their atten.
tion soon wandered. Aftre going on
for some time Mr. Archer found some
difficulty in hearing his own voice above
the polite Parliamentary buzz which
prevailed, lie therefore, abandoned the
statistios and talked about the bill
under discussion.
Mr. Aldrich, in behalf of the judiciary
committee, explained the very
obvious reasons which induced the committee
to report the bill unfavorably,
and the equally obvious reasons why
the General Assembly would be compelled
to reject it
Mr. Ansel, of Greenville, noved to
indefintely postpone the wbolej matter,
which motion was carried bar?ly a half
dozen negative votes being given.
THE MEN LBW.
The bill to repeal the lien law was next
reacuea t.uie committee Having reported
it unfavorably.) It was Rtated by one of
the friends of the bill that, in the event
of the pending motion to strike out the
enacting words being lost, they intended
to amend it ho a* to provide that it
should not go irto effect until October,
1887
The previous question was called and
th6 bill was killed by a vote of 85 to 27:
% The rest of the session was devoted
to the readiug of an omnibus incorporation
bill.
The judicial tenure of office constitu
tional amendment has boon continued
until the next session.
SENATE
After a long and luxurious recess,
lasting since Friday, the Sonate met at 7
o'colock this evening, and went to work
to clear the Calendar. A majority of the
large number of bills which received
their second reading on Friday were
passed and sent to the House, while
some which required amendment wcro
postponed until to-morrow. This work
took about forty-five minutes. Manjbills
from the Hoase recioved their first
reading. A few committee report were
made, none of them being important.
On motion of Senator Murray a concurrent
resolution was adopted and sent
to the House fixing the time for electing
a Judge to tho Third circuit at 1 o'clock
to-morrow. Senator Murray stated that
Judge Fraser's term could expire the day
after to-morrow.
When the House bill cauie up authorizing
the foremen of grand juries to
' administer oaths to witnesses, Senator
i Buist moved to strike out the enacting
i clause. He made a vigorous spoech
against the proposition as a dangerous
i innovation. His idea was that the Senate
should be very conservative in changing
* time-honored laws and practices. Thero
was too much tinkering at the statutes.
He believed Ihut witnesses should bo
sworn in open Court in the interest of
justice, even if it did take a little longer
On Senator Buist's motion the vote
stood; Yeas?12. Nays?15.
The bill then passed without a division.
The House bill reducing the salary of
the Lieutenant Governor brought Senator
MeMaster to his feet. He moved to
strike out the enacting words, but did
not speak.
After discussion Senator McMaster's
motion was lost bv a vote of 8 to 19, and
the bill passed. The aflirmative votes
were cast by Senators Izlar, MeMaster,
Moise, Moore, Reynolds, Sinythe, Williams
and Youmnns.
At 9.HO the Senate adjourned until
noon to-morrow.
the columbia canal.
The joint committee on the Columbia
Canal will hold a final meeting ai 9.30
a. m. to-morrow. Members of the
committee say that it is improbable that
any recommendation will be made, as
the committee are unable to agree as to
the advisability of prosecuting the workbut
that the facts gathered by them will
be submitted without comment.
Columbia, Dec. 8.
senate.
rr h o ollinf mnmnr ap ? l ' ?
>.w mvbvi vi iici at uutT'jni Ilk
the legislative proceedings to-day was
the debate in the Senate on the bill to
require tuition fees in the South Carolina
College. That measure came up at
12.20 p. m. ns the first special order.
Senator McMaster opened the debate,
attacking the bill, which had been unfavorably
reported. The Senator, after
an appreciative allusion to the great
services of the College, spoke to the
constitutional issue involved. lie pointed
to tho requirement of the Constitution
that all educational institutions sopported
in whole or in part by the Stats
shall be free and open to all the youths
of the State. If this did not apply to the
College, then a tuition fee in the public
schools was feasible and proper. No law
could override this Constitutional mandate.
He objected to interference with this
College in the interest of the denominational
colleges. He was opposed to all
union of Church and State. He considered
it no part of the State's duty to
conform this College to the wishes of
sectarian institutions. The South Carolina
College, he maintained, was the best
institution which the youth of the State
could attend. It gave a broad, liberal
education, unbiased by sectarian doctrines.
It made its students true sons of
the State. The utility of the College
was in the return which the State received
from it. No one who obtained
a broad education in this institution
could fail to repay to the State, in his
intelligent services, the cost of his instruction.
He argued very forcibly against the
policy of a charge for tuition. A fee of
fifty dollars would augment the expense
of the poor student 26 per cent.
This was a great consideration with the
boys who were barely able to pay their
board while at college.
It had been stated that the opposition
to free tuition at the College came from
the whole church membership of the
Methodist and Baptist denominations.
He took issue with this assertion. The
church membership of the Colleges
showed that free tuition had attracted
about as large a number of students of
these denominations as of any other.
The Senator spoke strongly for half an
hour.
Senator Sligh said that if he lived in
Columbia lie might view this question
like his friend from Richland, but he
lived elsewhere and thought differently.
The College was offering the poor young
men something they could not take
,J? a P nil IJ
auvniiiRgv ui. jinuy vuuiu 1101 pay flOU
board to coiue hero. He denied that it
was a poor boy's institution, in spite of
the premium on free tuition offered. It
was not just to tax really poor boys who
labored between the plough handles in
order to givo froe tuition to those who
were better off. He was not opposed to
the South Carolina College, nor were
the supporters of the denominational
colleges. They only asked a tuition fee
of $50, and he believed that they were
backed by three-fourths of the citizens of
8outh .Carolina. He was willing that
boys unablo to pay should be given frco
tuition. He was tired of hearing the
College called '"the poor boys' college."
because Dr. Thornwoll and a few other
poor boy? havo been raised to distinction
by it. Ho was also tired of this
habit of ignoring the work of the denominational
colleges. Thank God, the day
was past when the South Carolina College
was the only institution which
could educate the young men of the
State. Thank God, because if they all
came here they all would get into the
same grove that thy South Carolina College
graduates followed. There was not
a college in the State which taught sec
tarian doctrines. The South Carolina
College was graduly closing the doors of
tho denominational colleges. The friends
of the denominational colleges wanted
the South Carolina College made a
genuine State University, which all the
.graduates of other institutions could
attend. "I think we are going to *whip
you this time," said Senator Sligh, in
conclusion. "It's our time to feel
good."
Senator Woodward said that there
were many young men in the State who
were able to pay the $150 board in attending
the College who were unable to
pay the $50 tuition fees proposed. He
made a brief but strong speeche against
the bill.
Senator Murray declared that he did
not entor the debate as a champion of
the denominational colleges, lie wa&>
moreover, a friend of the South Carolina
College, and for that reason wished to
see it elevated into a finishing college
for the youth of the State, one higher in
grade than the denominational colleges.
no inainiaineu mm a majoruy oi tnc
people were in favor of a tuition fee in
tho College. Of the nineteen new Senators
in this body fourteen were, against
free tuition. As to the work of tho
denominational colleges?which institutions,
he maintained, were not sectarian?he
pointed to the fact that of the
St.jto tj-jket recently elected three mem-,
bers had attended one of them, while
on1jr two had been educated in the
South Caiolina College. He did not
believe that tho charging of this fee
would affect the College as much as was
expected. He thought, in fact, that it
would make very little difference in the
attendance. He believed that all tho colleges
of the State should be put upon
equal terms, and compete with each
other on the broad ground of merit. Ho
would be willing to vote for beneficiary
features for students unable to attend.
By the adoption of this little bill, he
believed that the antagonism between
the State College and the denominational
colleges would be finally ended.
Senator Moise made an eloquent and
flowery speech in defence of free tuition.
He pointed to the declaration of the
Judges of the Supreme Court that in
their belief the Constitutional mandate
was that tutition in the College should
be free. The Governor, tho Judges, the
chairman of the committees on education
in the two houses, and most of the
prominent men of the State were believers
in the constitutionality and
propriety of free utition. According to
the rule laid down by the advocates of
this bill, any railroad in tho State would
have the right to prevent the chartering
of anv eomnetinj? linn. a r?ilro#H wAiild
r O "* ~ ?
be justified in refusing to pay county
taxes voted to build a rival road, and the
principle would reverse all our methods.
Thers was no reason for this movement.
Alleging that the College was too expensive
for the poor boy, the advocates
of a tuition free sought to remedy
the evil they complained of by making
it more expenive. He showed that in
the State colleges of all the Southern
States save one tuition was Tree, and in
that one it was a nominal charge. In
the State colleges where tuition was
charged the rate was for less than that
prososed to be charged in this College.
This was a movement to extinguish the
great beacon of State education and
leave the young men of the State to the
dark lantern of sectarian schools, which
cast their light only in one direction.
At this juncture Senator Austin moved
to postpone the subject until to-morrow
at 1 p. m. Lost?yeas 11, nays 22.
Senator Patterson favored the bill.
The only question was as to the amount
of the tuition fee to be charged, because
already a so-called matriculation fee was
enacted in the literary, and a tuition fee |
J :- 4.1. ~ t 3 '
mi!) l'iihuiuu 111 kiiu iaw department.
Tuition had been paid for in tho Coliego
before tho war in the best days of the
institution, when tbo State was better
able than now to assume the cost of
maintenance untided by foes. If the
faculty of the College was what it ought I
to be students would attend in spite of \
tuition fees. It was a reflection on the 1
faculty to say that the College would <
not draw young inon without free tui- 1
tion. I
Senator Rhauie said that he had i
sought in vain for any reason orjustifi- <
cation for this bill, llo was forced to i
regard it as an insidious attack on the I
College. Having won this outpost the I
opponents 01 mc uoilegu would on the '
score of economy seek to abolish it
altogether. They were not men who i
lay upon their arms. They would never l
give up the attempt to lay low this !
grand old institution, unloBS at the outset
the}' were ignominiously defeated, i
If this bill were passed ho had honest <
assurances that it would close the doors
of the College to a number of poor and
deserving 3roung men. It might as well
be urged by these anti-free-tuition Senators
that the free public schools should
be changed to pay schools because they
worked injury to the private schools.
The bounty of the State should be, as
the Constitution required, free and open,
lie was not in favor of any measure
which would violato or override the
Constitution. If the advocates of this
bill wantfld in ronoli Otn nnnctinn
. ~ w..w XJMVUV.VU IWW
them propose an amendment to the Constitution
changing the "free and open"
provision, and let thu people vote on it.
Senator Edwards, who had spoken at
length one day last.week in favor of the
bill, now began another speech, but he
was interrupted by an adjournment to
the Hall of Representatives for a judicial
electi on.
A number of College students heard
the debate. They once applauded Senator
Moise. but were sternly warned by
the presiding officer that if the offence
wero repeated the chamber would be
cleared. Thenceforth they did not demonstrate
their preferences.
OTIIKn SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
The Senate accomplished very little
to-day, the question of tuition fees in
the South Carolina College, drawing out
a number of speeches.
A concurrent resolution was adopted
and sent to the House providing that a
joint assembly be held to-morrow at 1
P.M. for the election of a superinten
dent and throe derectors of the Penitentiary.
The President announced that he had
appointed Mr. A. M. Howell, of Green,
ville, to the new "all-around" clerkship
establiched by the Senate.
Senator Hemphill a indroduced bill
to charter tho Bank of Greenwood.
JUDGE FItASEIt RE-RLKCTEE
At 2.30 the Senate repaired to the hall
of Representatives, where a -joint assembly
was held to elect a Judge of the
Third circuit. The proceedings were
brief and simple. Senator Rhame, of
Clarondon, nominated for re-elected
Judge Thos. B. Fraser. Nothing conld
be said of him but what was good. He
was pure, able and popular.
The nomination was seconded in a
few words by Mr. H; Erank Wilson, of
Sumter. To other name was proposed.
Senator Moore was appointed a teller on
tho part of the Senate and Representatives
H. Frank Wilson and Leo acted in
a similar capacity for the House. The
voting was by ballot, and resulted: Total
number of votes cast 153, necessary to a
choice 77, Thomas B. Froser 145,
Richard Dozier 6, Joseph H. Farle, 1
blank 1.
J udge Fraser was foamaliy declared
eleeted, and at 3 o'clock the join assembly
was dissolved.
The Senators returned to their chamber,
and soon aftor adjourned to meet at
11 o'clock to-morrow.
To-day the Balcndnr was not touchde.
Tho College tuition bill was made the
special order for to-morrow: It will
probably bo dispossed of after two or
three more speeches have been dolivered
The Anderson County licens election
bill was made the spesial order for tomorrow
at 1 P. M., and the resonltions
of respect to the memory of the late
Senators Hobo and Todd tho special order
for 2 30 P. M.
The Columbia Caral bill was postponed
until Eriday at 2 P. M.
HOU8K. (
Tho attention of the House Represent*- i
tivcs was engroRed to-day in tho discussion
of financial and religious topics to
the almost entire exclusion of anything i
like progress in legislative business be- ;
yound the final reading of five bills and 1
,l?c passage of the bill to create a troasjry
fund. The constitutional amendment
resolution abolishing the office of
bounty school commissioner was passed
eceiving J)8 votes, 15 more than the
iwo-thirds requisite. Previous to taking
the uote the author of the bill, Mr.
Jordan, of Aiken, explained that the
monmirn w?e in ??...? j: 1
..v.* .it ?rujr uirtsciua ac
'.ho school system; it was rather intended
to perfect and elevate it. That system
was toe creation of statutory enactments,
ivhiloathe officers designated to manage
it in the variovs counties were constitutional
officers. By making this a
statutory oflicc simply the Legislature
would have control of the entire system
of common schools and could shape and
direct it more efficiently.
The School Commissioner bill (to reduce
the salaries) was presented for a
third reading, when the debate was reopened
by Col. J. P. Thomas, of Richland,
who earnestly urged the recommitment
of the bill. A tedious discus
sion followed, which ended in the defuut
ot the motion to recommit and the passage
of the bill, which now goes to the
Senate .
PUUE CAUTIOUSNESS.
Mr, Hyde's bill to provido a goneral
incorporation law, which had been discussed
up to the hour of adjournment
yesterday, and the second reading of
which had been almost finished, was
next taken up.
When Mr. Hyde's bill was taken up,
l)r. Pope, of Newberry, moved to rscommit
it. Mr. Hydo made a speech
explaining what was expected to bo accomplished
by the bill.
Dr. Pope said he was in favor of a
ganeral incorporation bill, but he didn't
understand this one, and, on 6econd
thought, ho would withdraw the motion
to recommit, and move to continue it till
the next session. Adopted.
THE TREASURY RESERVE FUND.
Mr. Haskell's bill to create a treasury
reserve fund, the provisions of which
have already been published, was next
talced up.
l)r. Pope moved to strike out the enacting
words.
The vote on the question to kill tho
bill was yeas 46, nays 73, which may be
considered as a rout for the extreme reformers.
The reading of tho bill was then rosumcd.
Another discussion arose, however,
on an amendment offered by Mr.
Parker, of Abbeville, proposing to striko
out the provision allowing ihomonf *Vin
fund for the payment of general appropriations
and of salaries, an amendment
which would have prevented the use of
the fund to tide over a scarcity of money
in the State treasury. The amendment
was tabled, however, and the bill orderod
to be engrossed for a third reading.
THE HORIZONTAL REDUCTION SALARY DILL.
The next bill reachnd was one offered
by Dr. Thomas, of Union, to provide for
a horizontal reduction of the salaries of
State officers. Dr. Thomas read a speech
prepared for the occasion. The Houao
seems to have an insuperable objoction
to listening to written speeches, and the
rounded periods and economical metaphors
of the farmer physician fell upon
ears deafened by a polite parliamentary
buzz, and upon minds engaged in conversations
carried on in exceedingly
Btagey whispers. At the cloBe of his
remarks the House, without a division
and without any further discussion,
Killed the bill.
SUNDAY TRAINS.
It was 2 o'clock when the Housd
reached its general oVders. The Columbia
Canal bill was made the special order
for Saturdny next. Tho bill in
relation to the running of Sunday trains
being taken up, Mr. Stewart, of
York, moved to siriko out the enacting
clause. But the discussion was interrupted
by the arrival of tho Senate for
tho joint aKKombly to elect a Judge of
the Third Circuit, and the bill, therefore,
goes over until to-morrow.
Tho only bill besides tho Treasury
Reserve Fund bill passed during tho
five hours of the session was one to
amend tho chartor of the Cheraw and
Camden Short Lino Railroad. The
Houso Calendar now contains upwards
of 180 billfL At this rate of disposing
of them the, session will last several
months.?2Tew8 and Courier.
" 1 1 11 \
Don't wait for the cold winds to remind
you that there are. broken glass in
pour windows, but look to them and
r?~ J a- VT ?
uuj mem iiuiu opuuu w i^euner.