The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, February 10, 1897, Image 6

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

The General Assembly. COLUMBIA, Feb , 5 -To-day was thc last day for the introduction of Dew bills io the boase, and several were introduced. The most important were : Mr. B?nks-To abolish the o2Ece of couoty boards of control and chief con? stables and State coostables acd de? volve their duties upon other officers, and provide for the election of a State commissioner and county dispensers The duties of couoty boards of control are devolved upon the boards of county commissioners, who shall be elected, by the people. The State commissioner is to be elected by the people as any other State officer. Mr. Ilderton-To regulate the diet of convicts sentenced to work on the chain gangs of the State. Mr. Lancaster-To establish the office of State geologist and provide for mineralogical and geological sur? veys. Mr. Winkrer-To provide (or the uH payment of expenses of new couty ?lec? tions held or to he holden. The Kibler labor commissioner bill K ind all other labor bills were uofavor ?roly reported by the committees and ^^were killed. The insurance deposit bill passed to a third reading. The Patton redistricting bill was T;- ealied op for further consideration aod a lively discussion ensued. Ic was finally postponed until next session The disposition is to let the matter go before the people for discussion. The bill to increase the pay of wit? nesses to {1 per day was killed, v At the night session much progress was made in clearing the calendar and a number of new bills were introduced. One of tham, a joint icsolution offer ed by Mr. Gage, was one of the most far-reaching and important ye? present? as, ed. It is directed at the enforcement of a mandatory provision of the new / Constitution, which will cost the State $90.000 and more. H? This resolution directs the comptrol? ler general to levy a tax on the.proper? ty of the State sufficient to realize thc som of $92 070 12, to be held and used as the "supplementary school tax'7 Ere provided for ic the new CoostitutioD. The resolution sets forth that the re ' port of the superintendent of education shows that on Oct. 31, 1895, there were enrolled only 223,021 pupils, and that ?669,063 should have been the total fund. The resolution concludes as follows: "And whereas, the 3 mill tax levied for the year 1896 yieded only the som of $338,322.14, aod the poll tax for o ; * the same year yielded only $138,670. 74, aggregating the sum of ?476,992 88, to be expended for the public T-schools of the State : And whereas, no money from the , sale of liquor bas been turned into the treasury for school purposes ; and, whereas, the aggregate sum realized r from tbe 3 mill tax and the poll tax does not yield $3 per capita for the children of the State enrolled in the public schools on 31st October, 1895, ' by $92,070.12 ; be it "Resolved by the general assembly ^ of .the State of South Carolina, that the comptroller general be, and he is hereby directed to Jforthwith levy a tax on the property of the. State sufficient .v '"? to realize a sum equal to $92,070 12, and to be held and nsed for the supple? mentary school tax provided in the Constitution It is said that tbe comptroller bas re? fused to make this levy, and the resolu? tion is to force him to carry out the mandate of the Constitution. The committee presented a substitute bill for tbe original bill establishing Dorchester County. The unfavorable report on Salem Couoty was adopted. The Bamberg Couoty bill was order? ed to a third reading. Mr. Bacot introduced a joint resolu? tion for the payment of a judgment of $3,000 obtained by Anania Cantini against T. G. Gaillard, C B. Swan, E. H. Pepper, C. B. McDonald, State constables. Tbe case has beeD carried op to the court of appeals aod the judg? ment against the coostables stiii stands The money cannot be rc?overed from them and the proposition in the resolu? tion is to reqoire the State to pay it, it being couteodcd that the men were act? ing as State officers. Mr. Winklers bill to amend the law relating to costs created some debate. Mr. Stevenson opposed the bill. Mr. John P. Thomas was in favor of the bill. Mr. Winkler then defended his bill at some length. He said it was not right tbat the sheriff should get the same fees for foreclosing a $50 mort gage. Mr. Skioner said that the bill simply proposed to put sheriffs and clerks on the same footing with other officials. The bill was theo passed in this ^ shape : 1. The costs allowed by law in ail cases of partition where the property sought to be partitioned does not exceed $1,000 in value, and in actions for fore? closure of mortgage where the amouot does not exceed $500, shall be one half of the costs allowed in cases where ' the value exceeds those sums, and this ^^provisioo shall apply to all cost in the cause. > Tbe Marriage licence bill was con? tinued to next session. THE SENATE. Tbe Scarborough labor lieo bill was passed to a third readiog. v^,^ Mr. Ragsdale's bill imposing a pen? alty on railroads operating a competing line passed the second readiog. The magistrate bill passed its tbir ? reading yesterday, after beiog am?ne ed so that the magistrates can be sas pended by the governor for caus uotil the facts io the case could be !ai before the senate at its first meetin after such suspension. The nigbt session was uninteresting but considerable business was dispatch ed and a number of second and tbir readiog bills were passed Columbia, Feb 7-The General As secibly bas got down to steady, han work and is clearing the calendar wit: a dispatch that brings the day of ad journment within the iimits of th month No more new bills can b2 in troduced in the house, save througl commit'ees, and the calender wbei clearad will stay cleared. Yesterday a heavy days work wa done, a great many bills were dispos?e of and numerous claims were taker from the calender. The members of the house loot back with longing and envious eyes U to the day wheo all representatives hac railroad passes in their pookets and could ride np and down the road work without end at the expenditure of not t cent. They wish for a return of thos< happy days, and therefore a bil! repeal? ing the anti-free pass bill was passed. It is not thought possible that the Senate will become a party to the at tempt to bleed the railroads by saying tc them in this manner that the Legisla tors are open to receive the courtesy ot free pisses. Yesterday morning the concurrent resolution to fix the day for adjourn? ment sine die was taken up and there was some indication of a desire to fis the 19th. inst., a fortnight hence, but after some further discussion the house decided to let the matter stand open for a few days. There was quite an interesting de? bate during the day over the question of the constitutionally of members who are chairman of certain commit tees serving as ex-oiHe?o members upon boards in charge of State institutions and other State boards, the house final? ly deciding that they could do so. The bill requiring railroads to carry bicycles as baggage was debated for some time but fully went over to Mon? day without action. SENATE. , The senate discussed two bills at length on their second reading yester? day. The first, the house- bill requir? ing the sinking fund commission to lend funds to the several county treas? urers of the State for the use of their counties in preference . to leading the same to other applicants for such funds; the second, a bill extend ing the powers of the railroad commis? sion to the telegraph and express com? panies. The former passed without very decided opposition, while tbe lat? ter came in for its full share of discus? sion pro and con. A bouse bill to prevent the employ? ment of other than convict labor on any State farm was debated oe very much the same lines as in the house. Messrs. Moses, Hay and Connor spoke of the demoralizing effect on free labor of having the State te>compete with the farmer*. The State paid more for labor than the formers could afford and of course secured it. Messrs. Archer. Norris and Gains objected to the bill Mr. Morris also wanted to amend by striking out the tbe proviso against hiring out convicts except wheo there was no work on the State farms to be done By a vote of 20 to 9 the amendment was rejected and the bill passed. Columbia Feb. 8.-The general as sembly has decided that bicycles must be carried by railroads as baggage. The senate bas passed a bill to which the railroads object, claiming that it goes too far, and the house has passed a bill, wbich is strictly a bicycle measure Thus it is seen that one or tbe other of these measures is almost certain to be put upon the statute books. I The house began its fourth week's work at 10 o'clock yesterday morning and during the day a good amount of work was disposed of. Several of the more important measures relating to the operatioo of railroads were passed ! to a third reading. Some 10 third ? reading bills were passed and s%r.t to the senate. TLe most important rail road bill passed was that relating to the stopping of railroad trains at ali sta tions. The senate had killed a similar bill before, so the house amended its bill considerably so as not to interfere with vestibuled trains. Mr. Thomas' second count concealed weapon bill was passed with a slight amendment as to the disposition of the fines collected. Mr. Childs7 prohibition bill was made a special order for Thursday. The bouse received the senate concurrent resolution fixing the 19th inst as the day for final adjournment, but there be? iog objections to its immediate con? sideration it went on the calendar. An unfavorable report was presented on the bill to require the school trustees to apply 25 per cent, of the dispensary profits to the purchase of school books for poor children. A favorable report was presented on the joint resolution to require the trustees of the South Carolina college to turn over to tee city for school pur? poses a certain lot near Science ball. The senate concurrent resolution asking the Peabody board to turn over to the State colored college the Slater fund was received, but went over for consideration. 'SyAn unfavorable report was presented ontm^iili to require tuition fees to be paid io Mutate educational institutioos except that for the deaf and bliod. minority report favorable to the bill wan presented by Messrs. Gage aud J D. Ktuard. THE SENATE. The Senate discussed ar length a joint resolution to provide for the pay? aient of certain expenses incurred io the Broxton Bridge cases, auci finally passed it. The Rainsford anti-trust bill caine up for a second reading and passed after several amendments, the most important of which was the change or title. Mr. Henderson offered an ameDdr?erjt by adding a proviso "that nothing in this act. shall affect the dis? pensary law," wirb notice of genera! amendment from Mr. ?Jower Wheo the house resolution to ap? pos?t a committee to investigate the sinking fund commission was reached on the calendar, Mr. Ragsdale moved an indefinite postponement. Mr. Henderson seconded the motion. The motion was lost. Mr Moses then offered an amendment that the com? mittee should consist of two senators and three representatives instead of one and two members of each body respec? tively. This was adopted. A message from the governor was re? ceived recommending that the eoolosed communication be favorably considered It was a petition fron President Childs of the fair association statiog that the $2,400 appropriated by the State last year to tbe fair bad beeo returned uoder the conditions by which it was granted. He stated, however, that the return of this amount had greatly depleted the funds of the fair associa? tion and asked that the money be re? turned to the fair authorities by appro? priation. This was referred to the finance committee. Mr. Brown's compulsory education bill was repzrted favorably by the com mitttee yesterday. The provisions of the bill are as fol? lows : Section 1. That it shall be unlawful for any parent or guardian living io this State to neglect or refuse to cause or compel any person or persons who are or may be under their oontrol as their children or wards, to attend and com? ply with the rules of some one cr more public or private school cr schools, for a term of eight weeks or more during each successive year from the time said children or wards are eight years old uutil they are 14 years old, inclusive, unless they may be prevented by ill? ness, poverty, inability or by reasons of already being proficient, from at? tending such public or private schools and provided that iu such case they shall be excused by the board of trus? tees of the school district in which said children or wards may live at the time of such failure to attend such public or private schools. Sec. 2. That any person or persons violating this act shall be subject to a fine of not less than $5 nor more, than $20 for each and every offense. Said fine shall be imposed by any court of justice having jurisdiction on sufficient evidence of the same being furnished by two or more creditable witnesses and all fines so collected sha';'; be placed in the school fund of the school district in which the fines are colleoted. The committee amended by striking out the words poverty and inability in section 1 and in section 2, after the fines are specified, it is provided that imprisooment in the county jail for not less than 10 days or more than 20 days shall be imposed io case of non-pay? ment of the fines. NIGHT SESSION. The senate reconvened at 8 o'clock and it was agreed that all second read? ing bills should be passed to a third reading without debate. The calendar was cleared with thc exception of the special orders, and one or two to which there seemed to be serious objections on the part of some of the senators. Cost of an Exhibit. WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.-Assistant Secretary Dabney of the department of agriculture has completed his report to the President as chairman of the board of managers o? the United States ex? hibit at tbe Cotton States' Internationa! exposition at Akanta, Ga., held io 1895 Io the letter of transmittal ac? companying tba report Dr. Dabney recites that uoder the sundry civil act approved Aug. 18, 1894, the govern? ment authorized an exhibit by the gov? ernment of the United States of "such articles and materials as illustrate the function and administrative faculty of the government" and appropriated for the expenses of suoh exhibit ?200,000, of which ?50,000 was for building, and of tbe $150,000 remaining not more than $10,000 was to be expended for clerical services. How carefully this fund was disbursed is shown by the fact that the building cost ?49,700 and the exhibit proper $138,234.80, of whioh $4,884.01 only was for clerical services Thus, after carrying out fully and creditably the purposes of the ap? propriation, over ?12,000 remained to be turned back into the United States treasury. The report of tho chairman concludes with a brief but earnest tri bute to Dr. Geo B, Goode and Messrs R. E. Karie and R. S. Ma.tth.ews, who were associated with Dr Goode, iu the installation and care of the exhibit, all of whom have died in the progress of the work. Dr. Dab?ey's report an chairman is followed by a list of the awards of the board of awards to the United States government departments, bureaus and individuals, whose services were deemed worthy of recognition in the prepara tico and arrangement of the govern? ment exhibits. A Big Political Scheme. South Carolina's Electoral Vote to Be Challenged. WASHINGTON*, Feb 5 -South Caro lina is prepared to spring a sensation at the counting of the electoral voto in the House of Representatives next Wednesday The counting of tht, vote of that State for Bryan and Se wali wiii be protested. Representa? tive Murray has just returned from South Carolina, where he was in con? sultation with the leading; Republi? cans of the Palmetto State Ile is armed with a monster petition, sign? ed by thousands of Republicans of that State, protesting against the counting of the electoral vote, and asking for au investigation of the election laws and the State Constitu? tion. The claim is made that the election laws and the State Constitu? tion upon which they are based are not in accord with the Federal Con? stitution. The petition set forth is in three sections, the first and third of wbich read as follows : 1. A vast majority of the legally qualified voters of this State was pre? vented from expressing their choice for Presidental electors by the en? forcement on the part of managers of election of illegal and unconstitution? al barriers. 3 Your memorialists further de? clare that a republican form of gov ernment does not exist in South Caro? lina ; that the will of the people has been overthrown ; that a military despotism is in control of the State Government, and that the people of South Carolina appeal to Congress for the fulfilment to the State of South Carolina of the United S?ates consti? tutional guarantee of a republican form of government. Your petition? ers aver that the late election, in which more than a hundred thousand electors were denied their right to express their choice at the ballot box, while in ai! less than sixty thou sand votes were counted, was ille gally and fraudulently conducted The second paragreph of the peti? tion deals exclusively with the al? leged unconstitutionality of the State Constitution, and the charge is made that the Convention which framed the Constitution refused to take tbe oath to support the Constitution of the United States ; that a vast majority of the electors of the State were de prived of participation in the elec? tion of delegates to the Convention, and that the clauses of the Constiiu tion are framed with the purpose of disfranchising a large majority of the electors of the State. The ?ntire pe tition is drawn with much care and formality. Representative Murray is now con? sulting with leading Republicans here as to the course of procedure. There are two methods by which this petition may be presented to the joint session of both houses of Con? gress while engaged in counting the electoral vole, lt mav be forwarded to the Vice President to be delivered to the tellers when South Carolina is reached ot: the call of States, or Rep? resentative Murray may rise in his place it) the House and enter a ver bal protest and then submit the pe? tition ? While the dispute over the vote of South Carolina Cannot in any way af feet the result, it may give rise to complications of a serious nature. The best authorities agree that the petition cannot be ignored, and the investigation of the precedents shows that when such a protest is entered the count must immediately stop until the question is settled. Nearly all of the South Carolina Congressional elections for tha next Congress are to be contested on the very grounds set forth in the petition, so that if the House should decide that the protest against the electoral vote has no foundation it will pre? clude the next Republican Houee from unseating the Democratic Con? gressmen who hold the prima facie certificates of election. The debate, therefore, is likely to be prolonged and exciting, and of an intensely partisan nature. Not only will this be true of the House, but in the Senate Senator Tillman may take occasion to use his pitchfork upon home materials. At any rate some bitter scenes are quite possible If the House, with its overwhelm? ing Republican majority, should sus . tain the petition, and the Senate with its narrow, uncertain majority, shonld take the opposite course, a deadlock in the electoral count, similar to that which precipitated the famous elec? toral commission, would follow. It should be remembered that South Carolina was one of the States then in dispute, playing a conspicuous part in that thrilling page of political history Whatever the immediate result of this attempt to discredit South Caro? lina's vote may be, tiiere is no doubt that the programme, which is to be thus dramatically inaugurated, is a part of a gigantic scheme on the part of Southern Republicans to overthrow the registration and election laws in variore Southern States, where the negro predominates, but where his vote is not a factor. This pro -, gramme wan talked over at the St. Louis Convention, wasdiscussed with Mark Hanna when he was in Wash? ington, and has been outlined to President elect McKinley at Canton by the delegation of Southern Re publicans who were at that city yes terday. It is proposed by the pro? moters of this big political scheme to secure either the Republican domina? tion in these Southeru States, or re? duce the Democratic . representation in Congress.-News and Courier. Republicans Advised That the Matter be Dropped-Mur ray Weakened. WASHINGTON, Feb. 3 -There will 'ce no objection to t ii o counting cf t?;;: electoral vo:c of South Carolin:: s.t the joiot convention of congress on Wednesday Mr. Murray ?hc colored i representative from that State, who originated the proposition and who pro posed the memorial upen which the objeotion was to be based, to-day stated that be would not make the proposed objection. "No good would be accomplished by it," be said briefly, io explanation of his changed purpose, "aod mncb harm might result " The memorial io the case reached Mr. Murray this morning, and to-day be presented it to the house, through the petitioo box, and it was referred to the committee on the election of Presi? dent and Vice President and represen? tatives in congress. Mr. Murray said to-day that he had accomplished what he wanted ; that he desired to get the matter before the country aod had succeeded. A great deal of pressure has been brought on Mr. Murray since Saturday by Repub Hean leaders to drop his proposed con? test. It has been pointed out to him that the law was agaiost bim, and that be might bring on a bigger interrup? tion to the electoral count than he had figured on. Murray also found that he could not secure the backing he had expected Visitors to Be Allowed. Aboard the "\}7ar Vessels While They Are in Charleston Harbor. The greatest degree of iotereot is being taken by the people all over the State on the blockade of tbe port of Charleston by the Atlantic squadron of the Usited States navy, despite the fact that the Brooklyn and Indiana can? not be on hxud. Aod in view of the fact that the railroads have offered cheap rates to Charleston on the occa? sion of the blockade, hundreds of peo? ple ate goiog to avail themselves of the opportunity to be on hand. In? deed, Charleston will have no end of visitors. The boats that will participate in the display are the Amphitrite, Texas, Columbia, Massachusetts, New York, Montgomery, Newark. Raleigh, Mar blehead, Castine, the torpedo boat Cashing, dynamite boat Vesuvius, ram Katahdio, monitors Terror and Puritan and the dispatch boats Dolphin and Fern The New York is the flagship of the squadron A great many have been iuquiricg as to whether visitors would be allowed on board the vessels. As will be seen by the following latter from Admiral Bur:ce to Mr. J. V7. White of Augus-' ta, visitors wiil be allowed on board the vessels each day while off Charleston harbor : Flagship New York, Fortress Monroe, Va., February 2, 1897. Dear Sir : Replyiog to your letter of the 25tb, which bas been reported to me by the secretary of tbe navy, I beg to inform you that the North Atlantic squadron will bc in and off Charleston Feb. 3 Visitors will be permitted on board each day, unless some special circumstances should prevent. Very respectfully, F. M Bunce, Rear Admiral. Commander-in-Chief; U. S. Navy, North Atlantic Squad? ron . Thirty Three Miles an Hour. NEWPORT. K. I., Feb. 5.-Torpedo boat No 0. as preliminary to her offi oial trial, was speeded to-day for up? wards of au hour and a quarter, duriog which she made eight runs over the government measured line and devel? oped a mean speed of 28-76 koots Her best speed over the course for two runs, once against add ooce with thc tide, was*thfi remarkable mean of just 29 knots. For the uonautical mind it might be added that this remarkable boat was to day making just short of 33 staute miles an hour. The Fate of a Little Girl in Piedmont. Special to The State. PIEDMONT, Feb. 4 -Tuesday after? noon, while playing around the fire at her parents home, t#e five-year old daughter of M. S. i?apps fell in the fire and before sfo? could be rescued was fatally burned. Last night she died, after/offering agonies. The sympathyfof the entire community is with thrtTfamily. Backten'* Arnica Salve. ?be Best Salve in tho world for Cute, Bruins sjLres. Ulcers. Salt Rheum. Fevor Sores, Tettc ^happed .*!.?!.? Chilblains. Corns and ad Syt n Emptions, and positively euros Piles or ?fo roy required. It i3 guaranteed to give per? fect satisfaction, or money refunded. Price *hcants per box. For saie by Dr. J. F. W. De ?Arme. The Women's Exposition of the Carolinas, Instituted by the Lidies' Auxili? ary of the Y. M. G. A. of Gha? lotte, N. C.-Opening in Char? lotta May 1, 1897. Wherever the Young Men's Chris? tian Association finds itself located in a permanent home, the young me:*, of that community ?ava thrown around them an additional safeguard But the true association spirit does not confine itself within the walls of its own house nor among the immedi? ate members and friends lt seeks to extend its? influence and usefulness in many ways, and the ultimate good of many people Thus with the mo? tive of affording instructive features and entertainment to hundreds of peo pie throughout the Southern States, and particularly of the Carolinas, the Women of Mecklenburg will inaugu? rate a Fine Art Loan, Industrial, and Scientific Exposition, from the pro? ceeds of which it is hoped to greatly broaden association work and create new enthusiasm ior the Y M. C. A 's throughout the length and breadth of the Carolinas-and in fact, wherever the influence of the exposition may make itself felt, lt is expected to gather together tue finest art exhibit, the greatest collection of curios, relics, antiquities, historical data, specimens of geology, archeology, ethnology, etc., ever shown in the Carolinas. The industrial feature will be of great import The manu? factured, agricultural and mineral products of the States will be pro? fusely displayed. With the aim of working up this exposition to an en? terprise which shall reflect great credit upon the Carolinas, it is hoped that every individual will assist in making the occasion assume the splendid degree of success it so richly deserves. To this end the management urges that every person constitutes themselves a committee to search for and obtain a loan of paintings, water colors, decorated china, artistic needle work, and all manner of decorative art work for the art department. Curios and relics from strange people and far off* lands, articles of every form and kind of use, from the early Colonial and Revolutionary times. It is in? tended to make a special collection of personal clothing and ornaments of ' household furniture, and utensils that were in use in the time of the early settlers All manner of family heir? looms and keepsakes of every de? scription of any noted and well known persons are wanted for this exhibit. Articles are wanted to aid in making attractive and complete special corners, such as Chinese, japanese, Indian, Arabian, Turkish, Corean, Scotch, Welsh, German, etc. A splendid collection of Confederate relices must be secured. Let every? one possessing old style fire arms swords, cutlasses, lances, spearheads, and objects of warfare of any pat? tern-exhibit them. Specimens pertaining to all the sciences are solicited-in fact everything of unique nature, and novel form that conveys or suggests general informa? tion. Let everyone institute special inquiry among their friends and ac? quaintances regarding a loan of such curious to the Exposition-aud cor? respond with the management for any information they may need in furthering their search and arrange? ments for securing all objects of in tetest The Honorary and Executive Com? mittees comprise many of the promi? nent men and women of the two states An office has been opened in the Y. M. C. A Building at Charlotte, N. C , were all information pertain? ing to loans and exhibits will be glad? ly accorded by addressing a few lines to Mrs Minnie Hebb Kellogg, Gen'l Mg? of the Women's Exposi? tion of the Carolinas A cordial welcome is extended to all to viisit the general office in Char? lotte, and become interested in the scope of this enterprise and the ob? ject it seeks to accomplish. "lier. William Copp, whose father was a physician for over fifty years, in New Jersey, ami/who himself spent many ye ars preparing for the practice of medicine, but subse? quently entered t/ne ministry of the M. E. Church, trites: "I ara glad O'to testify that I have had analyzed all the sarsaparilla prepara? tions known in the .^p-Cy trade, but llR ?YEB'S them that I could ?Vv^j ./. rc com in (>nd as a c^ biood-purifier.Ihave given away hundreds of bottles of it, as I consider ii the safest as well as the best to he had."-WM. Corr, Pastor M. E. Church. Jackson,Minn. THE ONLY WORLD'S FAIR 'S a rs aparilla When in doubt, ask for Ayer's Pills