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EUhtd)man ?ni) ?outt)ron. ' - _ .Jms WATCHMAN, Established April, "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thon Aims't at, be thy .Country's, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established jone, 1366 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. SUMTER, S. C.. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1897. New Series-Vol. XVI. Jfo. 30 Cjjt ?%taii mb Smt%oiL Pabli&ed Eyery Wednesday, JNT. G. Osteen, SUMTER, S. C. T8R3?S : $1.50 per annum-ie advance. ?BYKRTISfcXEMT: One Square fin:-" insertion.*.$1 00 Every subeeqnest insertion. ......50 Contracts for three mos tbs, or longer will be made at reduced rates. AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged feras advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be j charged for. The (relierai 'Assembly. February 24. After tbe holiday io booor of the birthday of tbe Father of His Country the house of representatives began work again yesterday, but did not ac eomplish very much at "the morning session. No long stride was made to? wards the final adjournment on Monday morning next. After giving 33 bills -The net product ; of the hard work at the Saturday eight session-third readings, the house took np the bill of Mr. McCouHough making important changes in the free schooi law of the State and passed it r then the legislative appropriation bili was takoe un This bill was dis? cussed at .some length, and ef? forts were made to make a good many changes therein, but the bill passed in very much the same shape as it came from the ways and means committee. The only other.important feature of the day's proceedings was the further partial consideration of the administration dis? pensary measure. Mr. Garr?s, who in? troduced it stated that it was 'an ad? ministration measure which bad been drawn by the attorney generat and had been considered by the gov* crnor and ethers and that it was intend? ed to get around the recent decision of the United States supreme court The senate yesterday passed tbe Sinkier bill to limit tbe hours of labor of eertaio employes of street railway companies ; the bill consolidating the Atlaotio Coast Line, and Mr. Mayfield offered an amendment to tbe house Jim Crow oar bill, which provides fer the free transportation of State officials and members of the general assembly dur? iog the terms of offioe At tbe oigbt session Senator Bui it of the finance committee, reported the administration income tax, license and insurance bills unfavorably, oo tbe ground that they should have origi? nated in the other bouse The supply bill was reported favorably but amend? ed by putting the levy back at 5 mills Colombia, February 24.-The House to-day bad quite a time over a resolution off??ed by Mr. Gage, which seeks to require the Comptrol? ler General to provide $3 per capita for each and every child enrolled in the schools of the State The new Constitution has such a provision, but it appears that there is doubt and conflict as to the interpretation of the Constitution upon this point. The understanding is that the Comptroller General holds that the Constitution is com j i ped with, in that the sum raised for school purposes from the levy and the poll tax is more than the number of school chidren multiplied 'by $3 for each. The figures given by Mr Gage confirm this statement. The conflict, however, comes wheth? er the Constitution requires $3 per capita for the enrollment in each county in the State, or whether the .calculation is to be made for the State in the aggregate. The point is whether Charleston, which raises more than $3 per capita should be counted as raising the $3 per capita for the children in Chesterfield The intention of the Constitution makers was to help out poor counties to get their school fund up to ?3, and if the dispensary profits were available there would be no need for a special levy or even the talk of it, as there would be ample in the treasury for the schools of the State. The Uw may yet have to be constructed by the Supreme Court, for the Comptrol? ler Genera! does not want to make any mistake about the matter, as in one sense the $3 per capita is being provided under the present revenues. At alli events, while the resolution was passed to-day by a decisive vote, it was emasculated by the adoption of an amendment that proposes to count in the dispensary profits-not that which is in hand, but that much talked of profit that is accumulating and has not been paid into the State treasury. Mr. Livingston tried to have the dispensary proPts hereafter all go the school fund, but to have done that would have necessitated heavier taxes or a deficiency, and so the resolution was voted down There is yet under the Act of last year about $92,000 of dispensary profit going to tbe general fund The dis cussion to-day was decidedly interest? ing, and, while it showed a great in terest in the public school question, there was not a sufficient desire to increase taxes for that purpose The House passed Mr Gasque's bill to put a stop to the vending of patent medicines by peddlers The income and license bills were not brought up to-day. The under standing is that the license bill will not be pressed at all at this session. This information comes from mem? bers of the special committee which prepared the bill. The income tax bill many be pressed, but even on that point there seems to be a diver? sity of opinion. After discussing the time of final adjournment without arriving at any definite understanding, the senate undertook the consideration of the supply bill. As has been stated, the senate finance committee, by amend? ment, bad restored the salaries of the clerks in the different departments io what they were before cut by the bouse, and had also increased the ap? propriation of the South Carolina college and the Citadel. These res? torations were expected to provoke a fight, and they did. Every restored salary was faught over at length. The senate was evenly divided on this question-seventeen favored the restorations and seventeen opposed them On two occasions the aye and nay vote resulted 17 to 17, and in both cases the lieutenant governor cast th? deciding vote in favor of restoring the salaries of the clerks Columbia, February 25 -The House to-night did jost what was expec ed lt passed to a third reading the so called graduated income tax bill.and thesecond of the "Administration" bills to levy a direct tax for the State on insurance business. There was decided opposition to the measures, and an apparent un willingness to pass the bills. As was announced to be tbs understanding of the conference these two measures were pressed. Mr. Winkler, Mr. Pollock and Mr. Yeldell taking care of the income tax bill, and-Mr. Garr?s managing tb? insuranoea bill. The eifert was made to start the taxation of incomes at $500, but it failed, and the best that could be done was to reduoed the tax? able incomes to $1,200. and at this figure incomes are liable for the income tax at 1 per cent While the bill had considerable backing, and was passed as a necessity in the belief that it was the only thing to avoid an increased levy, it ba3 met with decided opposition, and there is a growing sentiment of dissat? isfaction over the measure, especially among those who have political ears. One member said the bill in its present shape was liable to raise more bell than revenue. This is the first time aa income tax billi has passed the General Assembly in either branoh since in the sixties, so far as it is remembered. The ideas and verbiage of tbe bill were left abso? lutely unchanged from the original pre? sentation, with the amendment reduc? ing the starting point of the application of the law to ?1,200 iocomes, aod where the money should be paid. The insurance bill was carried through with? out trouble Statements were made that the only result of the bill would be that rates would be increased, and that it was simply swapping dollars to pass the bill. The House had quite a long fight on the matter of free tuition at Clemson College. The statement thar tho trus? tees of Clemson wished the passage of the pending bill had much to do with the result. The bill passed provided (or the charging of $40 and gives the trustees entire power to make exemp? tions The old fight of trying to have all colleges charge tuition fees was made, but failed, perhaps worse than ever The House and Senate seem to have gotten together on the matter of ad? journment, both sides having agreed to adjourn next Wednesday. The clincher was put on the resolution in the House and that ought to about fix the matter. The Senate opened this morning with an attack on the Jim Crow car bill the yeas and oays being called on Mr. Sloan's motion to adopt the unfavorable report, which was agreed to. On motion of Mr. Buist the vote was then clinched, and the Jim Crow car bill killed for this sessiou. A bill to require any fire or life in? surance company whose charter was first granted by some foreign State or other State of the Union than this State, to deposit with the Treasurer of this State valid securities aggregating ten thousand dollars, Raid securities to bc subject to any judgment against said compatii-rs, and such judgments shall operate as a Hen on such securities, and providing a penaly for the viola tiou of the provisions of this Act, had been continued from yesterday, ?nd casie up with amendments. The amendment cf Mr. Ileoderson applying to mutual insurance companies and lodges was amended by him to strike out the words "unless they pur. solicitors in the field to solicit insurance,tr. in order that it might not interfere with these associations soliciting members, aod the amendment was adopted. The bill then passed a third reading. A bill to protect the fishing interests of tbe Stare coming up, Mr. Walker opposed it; first, on the ground that it was unconstitutional, being unconstitu? tional taxation ; and second, that it discriminated against the coast counties. He wanted tbe matter tested first upon questio ) of the constitutionality of the Act. Fart her.consideration of the bill was interrupted by the appropriation bill coming np as the special order for 12 o'clock. On notion of Mr. Henderson an un? favorable report was reconsidered, and an amendment was adopted to allow the Treasurer $500 for handling dispensary funds An amendment to restore the phos? phate commissioner's salary to $1,500 was adopted. An amendment was proposed to allow Geo. F.rley $500 additional for com? pleting and printing the Confederate rolls. Mr. Brown called attention to the fact tbat according to the contract Mr. Farley bad agreed to "complete" the work for $1,000 Mr. Moses said that be understood that thc appropriation was to provide for printing and expenses, and not for salaries He said thac the work was very difficult. Mr Pettigrew took the same ground. The matter was debated further, the question narrowing down to one of whether or not the work was worth completing, and the amendment was '.: finally adopted Mr. Brown offered an amendment to provide for free tuition at the South Carolina College for two young men from each county, striking out a pro? viso to allow one for each Representa? tive Mr. Mayfield amended the amend? ment so that it would apply to "two young nen or woman " Mr. Mower did not see the use of limiting the free tuition as proposed, and wat ted to extend it on an equitable basis according to representation in tbe General Assembly. Mr Norris saw no objection to the House proviso and apposed Mr. Brown's amendment. Mr. Scarborough regretted that tbe proviso did not go further and put these appointments in the hands of Represent? atives and Senators as was the custom in regaid to West Point and Annapolis. Mr. Moses was absolutely in favor of free education to everybody in the State. Mr. Archer did not wish any further responsibility. He said that he had too many appointments now for his comfort Mr. Mauldin said that the lower house was the best judge of this matter aod thought it should be left as the House put it. Mr. Jrown withdrew his amendment and moved to strike out the House pro? viso. This was agreed to. Deschamps Not Guilty. Manning, Feb. 25.-The trial of Ralph S. DesChamps for the killing of Tom Rbame was concluded yesterday. Solicitor Wilson represented the State and Messrs Rbame & Davis the de? fense. The evidence developed tbat DesChamps bad been invited to the Reames' and had spent the evening pleasantly, chatting with members of the family. Young Rbame was some? what in whiskey. When DesChamps went to leave one of the young ladies was holding his overcoat for him to put it on while on the piazza, whereupon Tom Rhame ran ont and saying : "Is that you, Ralph, look out?1' and fired. DesChamps returned the shot three times and left. Several witnesses testi? fied substantially to this The jury were out only ten. or fifteen minutes wrehen tbeyturned a verdiot of not guiity. Told in Atlanta. "A story is told of a little girl who was crying as if ber heart would break. A little calf, bellowing most mournful? ly, came around the house and walked dose to the child. She stopped cry? ing long enough to ask, 'What's the matter, little calf-has your mamma gone off to a card party and left you, too?' A New State Librarian, Oo next Monday Miss Montgomery of Marion will take charge of the State library, Miss Montgomery has been appointed by Governor Elierbe to suc? ceed ??Irs. LsConte, who haw Siled the position since her appointment by Gov? ernor Tillman oa Dec !), 1S90. - -B?- ? -Oil The works of the Caroliua Sulphuric Acid Manufacturing co-npiny, located at Hlacksburg in this State, were sold under a decree of Judge Simont<?n of the United States circuit court. By the terms of the sale all bidders had to deposit with the auctioneer a certified check for ?5,000. Only one party complied witb the terme, so the prop? erty was knocked down to him. The purchaser is Lewis H. Comstock, who bid $20,000. He represents the first mortgage bondholders. Turks and Cretans Fighting About the Walls o Canea. Cacea. Feb. 23.-Great excitement was caused here last Dight by smart rifle firing to the westward of the town. lt was soon learned that the firing was taking place between the Turkish oat posts aod Christian insurgents, acd the report spread that (he outposts bad been driven back aod the iosurgeote were approaching the town. Crowds of residents went to the ramparts of the city aod anxiously watched the out? come of the fightiog. The firing ceased in a short time without either side having gained any material ad? vantage or, so far as known, causiog any casualties. ? Turkish warship in Sada bay and the soldiers io the arsenal there to-day fired repeatedly at the village which was shelled Sunday -by the foreign fleets. There was absolutely no reason for this attack, except that the Turks were desirous of provoking an occasion for further intervention on the part of the European powers. A white flag was flying over the position occupied by the insurgents, but this did not pre? vent the firing. The insurgents, un? derstanding probably the motives of the Turks, did not reply to the fire. The leaders of the insurgents who were shelled on Sunday, have made, through the Greek commodore, a form? al protest against the aotion of the for? eign admirals. They declare in their protest, that acting in obedience to the powers they refrained from actual hos? tilities against the Moslems as long as it was possible, but the Turks having shelled their position for two days they were finally compelled to reply to the fire. The protestors ask whether the powers are determined to allow the Turks to destroy the Christians in Crete like they did the Armeoiaos io Ana? tolia. INTENSE UNREST IN GREECE. Athens, Feb. 23.-The entire coun? try is in a state of intense anxiety and unrest over the situation aod there is the widest speculation as to what the final outcome will be. The people are deeply incensed against the powers for 'heir intervention in Crete and their titude ia causing some apprehension in court and government circles. King George to-day issued a proclamation that is intended to cool the popular passioos and thus avert what might prove a national crisis. He enjoins the country to be calm and dignified and to confide in the government, which he says, is doing everything possible to uphold the honor of Greece and main? tain the rights of the Hellenic people. HOW TURKS TREAT CHRISTAINS London, Feb. 23.-The Standard will to-morrow publish a dispatch from Constantinople saying that anarchy pre? vails in the disturbed districts of Asia Minor. The Turks aod Kurds have seized everything belonging to the Ar? meoiaos. They compel the latter to plough their fields for the benefit of their despoilers. All who retain a remnant of property are squeezed by the tax collectors to the uttermost farthing. It is reported that the Reverists are harrying the country and that not the slightest check is put upon their out? rages. They receotly sacked the bazaars at Payas in the villages of Adana. Defiance of Europe. King George and His Cabinet Grimly Determined. London, Feb. 26. 1 a. m -A dis patch irom Athens to the Central News says that King George and his cabinet proclaim their resolve to maintain their present policy They declare that it is impossible for them to recall the Greek troops from Crete. The Athens correspondent of the Standard telegraphs that it is report? ed that Col. Smolentz, minister of war, has renewed his offer to resign. There are signs that the remainder of the cabinet are inclined to take a similar step, but any indication of re? treat from the king's policy would involve the greatest danger to the throne It is, therefore, unlikely that there will be any faltering in the highest quarters. There is doubtless a grim popular determination to fol? low the sacrifices already made to the bitter end. An expression ol' the exasperation felt at the attitude of tho powers was gi ven to day when 3UU volunteers who liad been pre? vented by the warships from landing in Crete marched through the streets accompanied by military bands. It ip understood that the note of the powers arrived to day and that it will be presented to the government to morrow. The reply will probably be dictated by the resolution of the Grecians to yield only to suped force The proposals of the powers is r garded as a precarious makesh which which will not end the crisis The Roman Catholic bishop Athens bas sent details of the surft ing8 of the Cretans to the Pope, pra ing that he use his best offices procure an equitable solution of tl trouble. The blockade of Crete is no being strictly maintained. The ses city of provisions is beginning to I felt. The foreign admirals ha1 stopped all communications betwe< the Greek warships and Col. Vasse the commander of the Greek arn of occupation. A British torpee boat has undertaken to convey cot munications from Col. Vassos I Athens. HEARD IN THE HOUSE. London, Feb. 25 -The floor an galleries of the house of commoi were crowded wit members at spectators at the opening of to-day sitting, in view of the annorjDcemei in the newspapers this morning th? the government would define the policy in regard to Crete. Shortly after the speaker had take his seat, right Hon ? J Balfoa first lord of the treasury and the go"1 ernment leader in the house of con mons, made a statement similar to tr. one made by Lord Salisbury in tl: house of lords, at the conclusion < which Sir Wm. Harcourt, the lead< of the opposition, said that tbe stat< ment concerning the Cretan situatio and the methods to be employed i its settlement., which had just bee laid before the house by Mr. Balfoui was of the gravest character It a fected the present and future reli ti(.ns of Great Britain with the powei of Europe, besides Turkey an Greece, and its gravity was especie ly shown in its last paragraph rt lating to the employment of force i j event of the persistent refusal ( Turkey or Greece to comply with th demands of the powers He reques ed the government to fix an earl date for debating the matter. THE LIBERAL VIEW. London, Feb 25.- The Dailv New in its comments to-morrow on th latest developments in the Creta trouble while welcoming the broa fact of autonomy being granted t the island, will emphasize the necee si ty of a searching examination int the details, especially the propost that the Greek troops shall be with drawn prior to the Turkish troops This proposal, the paper declare? must be reconsidered, unless the ir ternational forces are ready to re place the Turkish garrison. Apar from this, Greece has extorted a set tlement from the powers, and ca bow to superior force without dis loyalty to the Hellenic idea. It is presumed that the article ii the Daily New officially embodies th? Liberal views. The New York Journal has seoopet the exclusive right to all the utterance of Corbett and Fitzsimmoos until tb fight is over. Now let it prove its pub lie spirit and love of humanity by no printing any of it.-Augusta Cbroc iole. London, Feb. 24.-Twenty tons o nitro gycerioe exploded at the Noblei explosive factory at Stevenson fbi morning, killing six persons. Th* shock was tremendous beyond descrip? tion. All the windows in a railroac train a dozen miles away were smashed Mr. N. 0. Pyles, Columbia, S. C. has our thanks for a oropy of the Soutt Carolina Legislative Directory, wbict was compiled by him. The price is only 10 cents, and it is worth every cent that is asked for it. The House of Representatives pass? ed a bill repealing the antifree pasi Act. Had the Senate agreed with th? House, the members of the South Caro? lina 'Legislature could have accepted free passes from railroad* in the future But the Senate very properly refused to agree with tbe House, and killed tbe measure. We suppose the Senators had.noticed the captivating effects o? the special trains-what is the differ? ence between free trains and free pass? es-and wisely concluded that it was best not to increase temptations by opening the door to free passes. We do not suppose any of the members could be bought with a free pass, but the railroads would not offor them did they not expect to bring about a kind? ly feeling which would work to their advantage.-Barnwell People. The world will have nothing more from the magic pen of the late Robert Louis Stevenson after the romatic novel of "St. Ives," which begins pub licantion in the March number of Mc I Olure's Magazine. We know from i Stevenson's letters to Sidney Colvin j already published, thar he was engaged on this norel down almost to the mo? ment, of his sudden death, and that it interested him deeply. He had the good fortune to leave it substantially complete. The last two chapters, per? haps, were not fully written, but be left such a summary of them that the course and cocolusiou of the story are quite satisfactorily shown. THE GREAT FLOOD. Hundreds of Families Will be Homeless in Cincinnati. Cincinnati, Feb. 24-The Ohio river is still risiog at the rate of two inches ao hoar, which bas beeo the rate for the past 12 hours. At 8 o'clock to? night 58 4 was the stage. Although the river is falling at Pittsburg, it will take until Friday or Saturday for the crest of the rise to pass and under the most favorable circumstances the 60 foot stage will be reached early to-mor? row morning. The gymnasium grounds, the baseball park, tbe Lud? low Lagoon and Cooney island are all more or less under water. The expensively constructed Gest street tunnel aod bridge is being rapid? ly undermined and is in great danger. Forty families applied at one charitable institution to-day for relief on account of high water driving them from home. The suburbs of Dayton and Bellevue have been cut off from street car con? nection at Newport and travel is now by flatboat. The Western part of Newport is suffering greatly. The police reported at 8 o'clock to-night that over 100 fam? ilies had been driven from their homes by the water and that the 6?-foot stage expected by morning woald reach as many more. The police force of New? port is occupied ic patrolling the sub? merged districts in skiffs and seeing that all destitutes are provided with shelter and food. In Covington about 25 families moved out. At Riverside the town hall bas been opened for Hood sufferers, but only a few have asked for its shel? ler. There have been some narrow escapes from drowning, but no fatali? ties at all. Disaster Caused by Flood. Cincinnati, Feb. 25 - At 8 o'clock to-night the Ohio was 60 feet 8 1-4 ioches aed rising only at tbe rate of 3 4 inch per hour. A standstill will undoubtedly be reacbed before mid? night. A careful estimate made to-night puts the number of families driven from bornes at 900 io Newport alone. The damage io that city will not fall below $150,000. All railroads are still using tempo? rary depots. Very little frsight is being handled. The Big Four grain elevator has shut down. Owing to flood? ed warehouses only one of the eight tobacco houses held sales to-day. Editorial Poesy. An exchange is responsible for the following : Breathes there a man with soul so dead, wbo never to himself hath said, *X"ll pay, before I go to bed, the debt I owe the printer ?' There are some, we know fail well, who never such a tale cac tell ; but they, we fear, will go to-well, the place where there's no winter."-Rome Tribune. A strange and startling incident is reported from Forsyth county. Last week a man died and two of bis neigh? bors volunteered to sit up with the corpse. Duriog -the night both were taken sick and died within 24 hours. All three were buried from the same house. 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