Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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... 1 true to ourselves, our neighbors, our country and our god. Twenty-Ninth Year 8 Pages — All Home Print McCORMICK, S. C. Thursday, May 14, 1931 Established June 5, 1902 Number 50 Legislature Ends Long Session POWER TAX BILL SIGNED AS SOLONS LEAVE FOR HOME COLUMBIA, May 9.—The long est session of the South Carolina General Assembly since 1371 and the second longest in the history of the’state came to an end tonight. The gavel of the president of the Senate, declaring sine die ad journment for the 118-day session, fell at 9:06. The House was dis solved at 9:05. A wide breach between the senator and House members from Darlington county delayed ad journment nearly an hour. Twice the House was on the point of adjourning without the county’s supply bill going through and the Senate was forced to reconvene to pass the measure. : Uncommon Situation It would have been the first time in years a county had failed to get a supply bill through. Vari ous persons attempted to get the representatives together, Lieuten ant-Governor Sheppard finally succeeding in getting them to agree. v The measure was then approved and sent for ratification, the final one of the session. Little business was transacted in either House. Odds and ends were picked up, as the two houses wait ed word from Governor Blackwood on his decision in the general ap propriation act and the tax on electric power. His message, informing the two houses he had signed the appro priations act “without change or reformation by veto” was deliver ed shortly before noon. Sent N6 Message * There was no formal message that the act to tax electric power had been signed at 4 o’clock, but the news ^pfead like wildfire and within a Tew minutes, after : . the actual signing, virtually the en tire General Assembly had been informed. In the Senate, an immediate motion was made to adjourn not later than 5^0. This was amend ed to adjourn when acts could be delivered from the engrossing de partment. The House at that time had re cessed, but it reconvened shortly afterward and promptly recessed until 8 p. m., making it necessary for' the Senate also to recess. In his message on the appro priations bill, the governor ex pressed “thanks and appreciation of the sympathetic consideration and courtesy shown to me during this session.” He concluded that he would have “no further com munication to make to the General Assembly at this session.” Get Pay Checks \ During the day, members of both houses received their pay checks. In both houses, some of ' the “expense money” vouchers of $260 were returned. Senator Young, Union, gave his to the Senate clerk with an en dorsement to the Union American Legion and asked the clerk to mail it. Senator Jefferies, Colleton, in handing his back unendorsed read a statement asserting he was un able to accept it. Among House members who re turned the money were Represen tatives Aycock, Union; Dainel, Greenwood, and Jones, Lexington. * Representatives Cooke, Horry, and Ousts, Greenwood, said they had not decided what they would do with their extra pay but that if they accepted it, they would do nate it to some worthy cause. Jefferies Filibusters The Senate had a two-hour fili- buster by Senator Jefferies during the morning. He was opposing re consideration of a bill to make the railroads pay a part bf the con struction costs in grade crossings of state highways. It was recon sidered, on motion of Senator West, Abbeville, but this proved unneces sary when the House returned the bi|l with amendments. The Senate concurred in House amendments 24 to 12. .A bill to abolish the state high way patrol was brought up and the unfavorable committee report was adopted, killing it. An eleventh hour measure ap proved by the House was a Senate resolution to provide for a com mission to investigate the motor vehicle industry and report to the 1932 General Assembly with a view to taxing passenger and freight carriers. It would be composed of two members of the railroad com mission, two from the highway commission and one member of the tax commission. A resolution to provide for a commission on rural electrifica tion was killed. Vote of Confidence H. Kemper Cooke, Horry, was given a vote of confidence by the House and a resolution to con demn him for remarks made dur ing debate on extra pay was or dered stricken from the records. H. C. Godfrey, Spartanburg, and J. N. McKenzie, Williamsburg, were the authors. A resolution to appropriate $3,- 000 to improve the hall’s acoustics was approved. Members were obviously glad that the long drawn-out session was over. Farewells were spoken throughout the day and tonight following a long established cus tom members were lined up by Reading Clerk A. E. Hutchinson, each passing in turn down the line to bid his fellow-members good bye. Money Main Issue Battles over appropriations and revenue held the center of the stage practically throughout the prolonged session. Few bills were enacted which made drastic changes in existing }aws. For weeks the ways and means committee of the House worked on tl^e appropriation bill following the session’s opening January 13. When the bill finally emerged from the free conference committee late in April the House established a legis lative precedent by killing the re port of the bill, extending the ses sion. A major objection to the meas ure was that it carried a provision taxing hydro-electric power, one of the major issues of the year. A few days later, however, the House approved a half-mill tax on each kilowatt lymr of hydro-electric or steam power generated after it had voted against such a tax four times. Senate Approved The Senate consistently approved the power tax. Another important revenue measure -enacted was the one increasing the tax on insur ance premiums collected from two to three per cent, exempting do mestic companies. Salaries of state employes were cut in the appropriation bill. Among important state-wide bills approved were the Bush bill, in creasing the teacher load by ap proximately 20 per cent; a bill pro viding for the establishment in counties of commissions to control coxing; one designed to eliminate slot-machines and punchboards ised for gambling; and repealing tate aid for public school build ings during 1931, with provision :or payment of $197,000 owed by he state to county and school dis- ricts under the statute. A rflajority of the several labor Mils passed by the House were not acted upon by the Senate. The House bill to provide horse-racing with pari-mutual gambling was left on the Senate calendar, while the bill to eliminate night work in textile mills by women and minors met a similar fate in the House. The General Assembly occupied itself during the first weeks of the session in lengthy balloting over an associate justice of'the supreme court, finally selecting Judge M. L. Bonham, of Anderson. Power Tax Enacted Gov. Blackwood today signed the measure placing a tax of five- tenths of a mill on every kilowatt of electric power generated or sold in South Carolina. The bill is ex pected to raise $600,000 during the remainder of 1931 and a million dollars in 1932. The state’s chief executive signed the act after hearing arguments for and against the bill yesterday. News Items From Around The Capitol COLUMBIA, May 13.—The 79th session of the South Carolina gen eral assembly adjourned Saturday night after an 117-day session, the longest in 55 years. James B. Scroggie, of Columbia, is seeking an injunction before the supreme court against the payment of the $260 extra money that mem bers of the legislature voted for themselves. A. W. Holman, attor ney for Mr. Scroggie, argued before the supreme court Monday that the extra pay is unconstitutional. The supreme court has ordered Julian H. Scarborough, state treasurer, to show cause why he should not be enjoined against paying the $260 vouchers. Several members of the legislature refused to accept pay but a majority of them have al ready received their money. The South Carolina highway de partment officials announce that 18 persons were killed on the State’s highways in April, or more than the total for February and March combined. The increase in fatalities, they believe, is due to increased traffic. The new tax on power produced in South Caroliha will net an an nual revenue of about $600,000. The act was made a law Saturday when Governor Blackwood signed it af ter it was bitterly fought in the legislature and in an open hearing on Friday. The power tax will also reduce the property levy in the State from five mills to three and one-half mills. R. A. Little, director of the li cense tax division of the State Tax Commission, announces that re fund on radio tax will not be made after June 3. Approximately $23,- 000 was collected before the tax was declared invalid and Mr. Lit tle says only about 1,700 persons have requested refund. The money that is not paid back will be given to the State Park Tuberculosis canitorium. Federal Judge J. Lyles Glenn, of Chester, has granted a restraining order in favor of the Eastern Air Transport Company, operators of airplanes in South Carolina, against the paying of the gasoline tax for planes. The company seeks an injunction and a three-judge federal court will make a final de cision during June. A liquor raid in Richland county recently by federal men netted the capture of three men, a large au tomobile, two fine mules, a wagon, 192 gallons of liquor, 5,000 gallons of beer, three boats and a large 300 gallon still. The rtien found a well-prepared supper at the still and ate heartily. The Farmers and Taxpayers League of South Carolina is hold ing a meeting at Columbia this week to discuss various plans for the League. Rafe King, York county farmer, who was sentenced to life impris onment last week for the murder of his wife, began sentence last Friday. King was one time in the penitentiary awaiting to be elec trocuted, having been given the death sentence at his first trial. The new trial was granted by the state supreme court. W. P. Hamrick, superintendent of the Pacific Mills at Columbia, has been appointed by Governor Black wood as a member of the state highway commission. Mr. Hamrick served in this capacity under Gov ernor Richards. The commission is now complete with 14 members. Darlington county came near not having a supply bill for 1931. Just before the adjournment of the leg islature Saturday night it was dis covered that Darlington’s supply bill had not been approved. In about three minutes, however, it was put through the regular leg islative channels. About $500,000 will be put into circulation in the state this week. State employees were not paid for their work in April due to the fact that the legislature had not pro vided payment, but since the ap propriations bill has been passed, the money is now provided and checks will be issued during the week. Flower Show Meri wether and Clarks Hill H. D. Club A flower show was held by the Meriwether and Clarks Hill Home Demonstration Club on Fri day afternoon, May 3th, at the home of Mrs. H. E. Bunch with a large per centage of our member ship and sixteen visitors present. Among this number of visitors, we were glad to have several of the ladies from two of the other clubs: Mt. Cafmel H. D. Club and Modoc H. D. Club. We also feel that we were ex tremely fortunate in having with us, Mrs. Dora Dee Walker, our flower specialist for South Caro lina. “Mother Walker” gave a talk on. flowers, telling us so many helpful things in regard to planting and cultivating flowers. She is a great lover of flowers, and has made this her study for a number of years, and, as she said, this was an in exhaustible subject; and she knew so well just what to say that would be of the most help to us that she did not seem to tire in the least, even though she talked for about one hour or more. She answered, most satisfactor ily, various questions asked by dif ferent ones pertaining to flowers and then she was asked to judge the flowers, which she did in a most careful way. This, however, must have been quite a job even for one who knows so much about flowers, for there were fifty-two containers of the most exquisite roses, snap dragons, sweet peas, sweet williams, poppies, peonies and mixed flowers. Mr. Thomas Meriwether joined us in this flower show, having ten vases of roses and various kinds of flowers, for which he got sev eral prizes. The judging of the flowers was as follows: Best collection of roses—First prize—Mrs. Nelson; Second prize— Mr. Meriwether. Perennials (snap dragons)—First prize—Mrs. H. E. Bunch; (sweet William)—Second prize—Mr. Meri wether. Tall Bowl—First prize—Mrs. Lewis Rich; Second prize—Mrs. W. J. Hines. Most Artistic Vase—First prize and Second Prize—Mrs. H. E. Bunch. Annuals—First prize—Mrs. H. E. Bunch;Second prize—Mrs. L. C. Rich. Mixed Containers (24 varieties of wild flowers)—First prize—Mrs. H. E. Bunch; Second prize—tie be tween Mrs. W. J. Hines and Miss Mattie Bussey. Basket Mixed Flowers (16 vari- ties)—First prize—Mrs. Daniel Mc- Kie. Collection of Iris—Mrs. H. E. Bunch. Low Bowl — First prize — Mr. Meriwether; Second prize—Mrs. W. T. Hines. All first prize containers were then put on one large table and we voted on the prettiest and best arranged flowers, Mrs. Daniel Mc- Kie getting most votes on her bas ket of mixed flowers. We were served most delicious punch by the hostess, Mrs. H. E. Bunch. We felt that our flower show was such a grand success, that we heartily agreed to give another in the fall and certainly we felt flat tered to have an invitation to this hospitable home for our second flower show. Chairman Publicity. South Carolina Crops Sales Of Christmas Officers’ Raids On May 9th Sheriff W. T. Strom and Deputy Sheriff W. L. Brown ! destroyed nearly 600 gallons of mash on Long Cane Creek about !♦ 1-2 mile above the old McKitt- rick Mill site. Last Friday, Federal Prohibition Agent Bishop, State Constable Foster, Sheriff Strom and Deputy Sheriff Brown destroyed a still and several hundred gallons of beer in the Vernon section of the county. As Of May 1,1931 The South Carolina crop situa tion on May 1, was generally sat isfactory. Aside from being about two degrees colder than usual, weather during April was favor-; able for development of growing crops and getting planted crops up. ! Condition of winter grains, peaches j and Irish potatoes are well above | average, with hay and pasture i somewhat below average. Farm' labor is plentiful, the supply being > reported as 44 per cent greater than the demand. WHEAT came through the win ter with a minimum of cold dam age, and correspondents report on ly 2 per cent of the 56,000 acres sown last fall will not be harvest ed. The condition of 80 per cent on May 1 is two points above the ten year average and nine points above the May 1 condition pf last year. On the 55,000 acres remain ing for harvest the reported con dition of 80 per cent of normal in dicates a probable production of 660,000 bushels, which compares with a crop of 538,000 bushels last year and an average production of 751,000 bushels for the five years 1925-1929. • The May 1 condition of 79 per cent for OATS compares with 70 per cent a year ago and an aver age condition of 74 per cent for the six years 1924-1929. No official estimate of production has been prepared, but from the relatively high condition and preliminary acreage indications the total out turn will likely equal or exceed the production in any previous year, provided weather conditions con tinue favorable. Correspondents estimate that 75 per cent of this year’s oats acreage is fall sown, and 25 per cent spring sown. The RYE condition of 75 per cent indicates a crop of 84,000 bushels, which compares with 31,- 000 bushels produced last year and the average production of 94,000 bushels for the five years 1925- 1929. Farm SUPPLIES of HAY remain ing on farms May 1 are above usual, the amount being estimated at 56,000 tons compared with 51,- 000 tons on farms a year ago and 45,000 tons the average for the previous five years. TAME HAY condition at 75 per cent and PASTURE at 72 are four points each above last year and eight and six points respectively below the ten year average con dition. Ea-ly IRISH POTATOES are re ported at 82 per cent of - normal compared with 73 per cent last year and the average of 78 per cent for the six years 1924-1929. The excellent condition of commercial potatoes on the Coast is largely responsible for the high condition for the State, although prospects are for good yields in the interior. ~ Prospects are for the second largest PEACH crop in the history of the State. The condition of 79 per cent of the full crop indicates a production of 1,309,000 bushels vhich is exceeded only by the 1928 crop of 1,363,000 bushels. Produc- Aon last year was 952,000 bushels and the average crop for the five years 1925-1929 was 865s<K)0 bush els. The average of MILK PRODUC TION on farms of correspondents about May 1 was 1.97 gallons per cow. This compares with 1.87 gal lons per cow last month and 2.02 gallons per cow a year ago. On the same farms 46 per cent of the HENS were LAYING com pared with 49 per cent a month ago and 44 per cent for May 1, 1930. FRANK O. BLACK, Agricultural Statistician. R. C. LIGHT, Jr., Agricultural Statistician Seals Announced McCORMICK COUNTY SELLS $73.27 WORTH IN DRIVE The final report of the annual sale of Christmas seals by the South Carolina Tuberculosis Asso ciation and its affiliated county- associations shows a total of $37,- 076.76. Of this sum, $852.53 was received from the separate Negro sale conducted in thirty counties. In spite of many discouragements during the 1930 sale and the fact that a few returns have not yet been reported, Charlton DuRant, Chairman of the State Committee, reports that the sale in this state showed a high per capita standing among the southern states. Thir teen counties showed an increase! over the previous year’s sale. Of the seal sale returns, 5 per cent goes to the National Tuber culosis Association. The county- associations retain $21,111.33 and the State Association has $13,280.56 on which to conduct its program and give service in 29 unorganized counties. The sum' received from the Negro sale will be used on a separate program for the Negroes in the unorganized counties over the state. . . . : The report of the State to date: by counties, including totals of White and Negro chairmen is as follows: Abbeville, $250.31; Aiken, $472.71; Allendale, $82; Anderson. $1,552.41; Bamberg, $306.16; Barn well, $317.74; Beaufort, $231.99; Berkeley, $319.40; Calhoun, $273.06; Charleston, $7,048.60; Cherokee; $742.85; Chester, $468.66; Chester field, $461.79; Clarendon, $140.22; Colleton, $253.60; Darlington, ’ $2,- 065.80; Dillon, $344.84; Dorchestex; $810.37; Edgefield, $250.99; Fair- field, k $259.39; Florence; $1,870.16; Georgetown, $905.50; Greenville. $1,186.70; Greenwood, $305.44; Hampton, $131.05; Horry, $408.27; Jasper, $76134; Kershaw, $230.55; Lancaster, $475.32; Laurens, $409.- 41; Lee, $123.78; Lexington, $726.- 73; McCormick, $73.27; Marion. $652.23; Marlboro, $337.76; Newber ry, $707.66; Oconee, $283.15; Or angeburg, $1,370.96; Pickens, $286.- 30; Richland, $3,817.87; Saluda. $337.33; Spartanburg, $2,882.48; Sumter, $1,135.57; Union, $644.84; Williamsburg,. $484.65; York, $560.- 66. -txx- Parksville H. D. Club Meets On 21st The Parksville Home Demon stration club will meet on Thurs day afternoon. May 21st, at 3:30 o’clock with Mrs. Drew Blackwell, and Mrs. Fred Bass as hostesses. The meeting will be at the home of Mrs. Blackwell. A special call meeting of the club was held recently with Mrs. T. R. Blackwell. Twelve members were present. After the program, a social hour was enjoyed and de lightful refreshments served by the- hostess. X Piano Recital Friday Evening Plane pupils of Miss Louise Col lins will be presented in a recital Friday evening. May 15, at 8:15 o’clock, in the High School Audi tor ium. The public is cordially invited to attend. Dr. Morris To Preach At Hopewell 24th Rev. S. L. Morris, D. D., of Atr- lanta, Ga., will preach at Hopewell Presbyterian Church in McCor mick Coupty on Sunday, May 24th. at 3:30 p. m. Dr. Morris is a na tive of the Hopewell section and former member of that church. Thef public is cordially invited to the service. ^ X P.-T. A. Meeting Postpond To 21st The P.-T. A. will meet at th^ high school building next Thurs day afternoon, May 21st, at 3:$ft o’clock. A full attendance is de sired, as officers will be elected afe this time for the ensuing year. The meeting will be brief. This meeting was postponed from, the 14th to the 21st on account of so many not being able to attend on the 14th, which is the date fcaj the Junior-Senior reception.