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THE SUMTES WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the ends Thon Aims't at be thy Conn try's, Thy God's and Truth's.' THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jsn*v Cosoiidated Aug. 2, 1881. SUMTER. S. C.. WEDNESDAY. JANUARY 17. 190#. h New Series-Vol. XXT. So 26 Published Every Wednesday, -BY ?STEEN PUBLISHING COMPANY, SUMTER, S. C. * Terms: \ $1.50 per annum-in advance. Advertisements: One 'Square first insertion.$1.50 Every subsequent insertion. 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which sub? serve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. WILL DEMAND FIFTEEN CENTS. Th? Southern Cotton Association Stands Pat. New Orleans, January 12.-That j . the sum of work of the Southern Cot? ton 'Association was to be a declara Vtion for 15 cents cotton with reduc . tion in the form of diversification, was practically settled at the after? noon session, of the Convention, when Chairman Dancy, of the committee on holding, in advance of the presenta- ; tion of its report, announced that the committee had unanimously decided favorably on that proposition. The -announcement provoked the conven? tion to a whirlwind of cheering. ? ; The premature announcecent bf the conclusions of the committee' was fcreed by advices from ^ew York to the-, effect that newspaper dispatches and Wall street reports printed and-; 'circulated there indicated a lack of harmony among the elements mak? ing up the convention, and dissensions over the 15e proposition. Vy President Jordan brought the mat? ter before the convention. He refer? red to the reports, which, he said, he was informed, appeared today in all the New York papers, as "bear 3ope" evidently manufactured by agents of the speculators, who were sent to min? gle with the delegates of the conven? tion. .v .?The report that the convention1'did not , have in its purposes, plans and work, the hearty support^, sympathy and co? -operation- of x;?very banker and mer? chant present, he declared to be abso? lutely without foundation. Alexander H. Smith; of Green coun? ty, Ga., urged the sending of a tele. ? i, -t ram announcing* that, the South need? ed no money from Wail . Street, bui had it to lend. He said the five banks in his county were pledged to absolute support of the farmers, and that not another cale there would be sold un? der 15 cents. Mr. R. D. Dancy, chairman of the ! holding committee, then said that' in j view of the reports which had been i circulated in the East of dissension in the convention, he desired to an- ; nounce in advance of its report that the committee was unanimous in its decision to ask the convention to stand by the proposition that the Southern farmers hold their cotton for 15 cents. Further, he said, it was decided to ask the committee on acreage to join it in another plan for ten per cent, re? duction in acreage in the form of di? versification, and a ten per cent., re? duction of fertilizers in the older States. The enthusiasm with which the an-> nouncement was received left little doubt of the sentiment of the conven? tion. Chairman Walker, of Sparta, Ga.r who presided over the meeting of the bankers today, then announced that the bankers had enthusiastically adopted the following resolutions: ,The Southern Bankers, in convention, congratulate the Southern Cotton As? sociation on the success which it has already attained in its efforts to main? tain a fair and equitable price for the South's staple crop, and recognizing that the interests of the farmers, bank? ers and business men of the South ar-? inseparable, therefore, be it resolved: First, That, we, the representatives of Southern banks, hereby renew our pledge of moral and financial support to the Southern Cotton Association in their efforts to carry out this purpose; and second, we urge the importance of a better and more complete system of warehousing and caring for cotton. Washington, January 15.-Secretary of War Taft announced today that Lieutenant General Chaffee tendered his resignation as chief of staff and will be succeeded by General Bates on February 1. Col. Robert B. Hughes, a well known citizen of Edgefield county, died on Thursday, aged TO years. E. M. Gilchrist, Atlantic Coast Line agent at Mullins, died Thursday of ty? phoid fever. , W. J. Dew, a white man, aged 60 years, has been missing from his home at Philadelphia, Darlington county, since December 26th. INVESTIGATING COMMITTEE REPORTS TO LEGISLATURE. Submits Transcipt of Testimony Taken To Date. COMMITTEE ASKS FOR MORE POWER. Bills Introduced in Senate and House Empowering Committee to Compel Attendance of Witnesses and Re? quire Them to Testify. Columbia, January ll.-The dis? pensary investigating committee yes? terday made its report to the general assembly in regard to the limitations of the concurrent resolution under which the committee has been work? ing. Accompanying the report was a bill, introduced in the house by Mr. Lyon and in ?the senate by Mr. Chris? tensen. The report is as follows: "The committee appointed to inves? tigate the State dispensary respect? fully report that it has proceeded with the investigation in accordance wit* the terms of the concurrent resolu? tion under which it was appointed, and submits herewith the testimony taken to date. Your committee is of the opinion that it is advisable to pro? ceed further with the investigation, but finds that its power to compel at? tendance of witnesses is very doubt? ful. Your committee, therefore, sub? mits herewith a bill granting to it such powers as it deems necessary to carry into effect the purpose of the concurrent resolution." The bill gives the committee power to arrest and imprison for contempt any person who may k-ct in a disor? derly manner during the investiga? tions. Following is the text of the bill: "A bill to provide for the investiga? tion of the dispensary: "Whereas a committee has been ap? pointed to investigate the State dis? pensary under a concurrent resolu? tion of the-general assembly dated the 31st day of January, 1905; and j "Whereas in the progress of the 'work of the said committee some [doubt has arisen as to the powers of the said committee~~m the discharge of their duties, and it being provided in section 5 of said concurrent resolu? tion that the said committee should apply to the general assembly for such other power and authority as the cir? cumstances arising during their in? vestigation may seem to require; now therefore . "Be it enacted by the general as? sembly of the State of South Carolina. "Section I. That the committee hertofore appointed under the terms of the concurrent resolution, dated the 31st day of January, 1905, or any other committee or committees that may be appointed, are hereby author? ized and empowered to elect a mar? shal, who, upon being duly sworn, shall be and become a peace officer of the State and invested with all tb powers of sheriffs and constables in the service of any and all process is? sued by the committee aforesaid and with the power to arrest and imprison upon the order of the said committee any and all persons who shall fail and refuse to obey any legal order of the said committee or who shall be guilty of any disorderly conduct in the pres- ; once of the said committee during any session thereof, or who shall be guilty of any contempt of the said committee. "Sec. 2. The said committee be, and are, hereby authorized and em? powered to call before them by sum? mons or notice in such form as the committee may adopt and to be served by the marshal of the said committee or such officer of the State as may be by the cpmmittee required, such per? son or persons as the committee may deem proper and to require such per? son or persons to answer upon oath any and all questions that the com? mittees may deem relevant and may propound to him or them: and upon the failure and refusal of such per? son or persons to obey such summons or notice or to answer such question or questions such person or persons shall be deemed to be in contempt of the authority of said committee and may be imprisoned upon the order of the said committee in the common jail, to be there held until he or they shall comply with the order of said committee. "Sec. 3. Said committee be, and the same is, hereby authorized and em? powered to send for and require the production of any and all books, pa? pers or other documents or writings which may be deemed relevant to ?.ny investigation and to require any per? son or persons in custody or possession of said papers to produce the same be? fore said committee, and any person or persons who shall fail or refuse to act on order or notice of said committee to produce said books, papers or other documents or writings shall be deem? ed guilty of contempt of said commit? tee and be punished as provided in section 2. "Sec. 4. Said committee shall have power to administer all necessary oaths and any persons who shall, af? ter being sworn before said committee, swear falsely shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and upon conviction shall be punished as now provided by law." THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY. Session Begins With an Effort to Clear the Calendar of the Bills Left Over From Last Year. - Columbia, January ll.-The House of Representatives got down to busi? ness yesterday and attacked the calen? dar with an evident desire to kill ev? erything that came in sight. Six bills were tabled and withdrawn by their authors, three were recommitted, three had the enacting clause stricken out, and two were also killed by be? ing indefiintely postponed. The House set Thursday of next week as the time for the memorial, exercises in honor of the late Col. Altamont Moses of Sumter, the fol? lowing resolution having been present ed by Mr. John A. Clifton: "Whereas, since the close bf the last session the House has heard of the death of Hon. Altamont Moses, late member of the House from Sumter county, "Resolved, That the House do make it a special order on Tuesday, January 18th, 1906, at 12 noon, to pay tribute to the memory of the deceased mem? ber." After the adoption of the resolution Mr. Clifton stated that there would be no regular programme. Owing to Mr. ? - Moses' prominence it had been thought better to have no regularly invited speakers, but to let the mern- j hers of the House and of the Senate speak as they will. . Speaker Smith announced the ap? pointment of Mr. E. M. Rucker,. Jr., j as a member of the committee on ways and means, and stated that Mr. Jno. G Richards, Jr., would be the chairman of that committee. The Senate. The business of the senate yester? day was not lengthy. There was only I one discussion- wfrile- the ca'fe^daTr was being read. The report of the dispen- ' ary committee was made. Senator Manning introduced a bill to authorize the county commissioners of Sumter to sell the present court j house. Columbia, January ll.-The House did a hard day's work, and could not have paid more faithful attention to the calendar had this been one of the last days of the session, instead of being one of the very first. The members seem to have caught the spirit of activity and work, and, while the calendad is being cleared, a great many moremew bills are coming in than are being finally acted upon. There is a general flood of bills af? fecting the dispensary. Most of the bills presented today look to the abol? ition of the State dispensary. Mr. Sellers provides in his bill for the clos? ing of the State dispensary, Mr. Mor? gan has an amended local option measure and Mr. Browning has a lo? cal option proposition that does not provide for county dispensaries. The House today passed to its third reading Mr. Sanders' bill providing for oil inspectors, and that all oil shall bear the license out of which the in? spector is to be paid. The bill is very much the same as has been under consideration for many years. It was slightly amended today and went through the House. Mr. Sanders also had his brokerage or future bill given its second reading in the House. This particular bill was taken up as a substitute for another bill on the same line, and went merri? ly through the House to its third reading without a word of discussion. Whether no one really cared or wheth? er the passage of this bill is another evidence of the goodness that is sup? posed to be springing up in the State is uncertain, but the bill against any place being kept open where future contracts are sold went through the House without discussion. Then Mr. Miller proposed a bill which makes it a crime for any offi? cer or agent of a corporation to deal in futures. This bill was simply re? ferred to its appropirate committee. Columbia, Jan. 13-The house spent most of today's session in a chatter over the bill to require sheriffs to keep bloodhounds. The House finally re? fusing to recommit the bill by a vote of 45 to 28. The new bills today includes one by Mr. Dabbs to establish a farmers' col? lege in the middle section. By Mr. Rucker. to allow an illegiti? mate child to inherit from its mother. Ey Mr. Rucker. to repeal the pres? ent pistol law passed in 1901. By the .Aiken delegation, to give Aiken a county court. By Mr. Singler, to provide for a de? tective for the ninth circuit to work with the ""Solicitor. By Mr. Richards, to refer the lien law to the next general election. Columbia, January 15.-The House today passed Mr. Sanders' bucket shot bill by a\*ote of 70 to 27 and passed his oil inspection bill by a vote of 53 to 35. Charleston opposed the hill in the interest of independent dealers. By the overwhelming majority of 99 to 5 the House passed the bill giv? ing the dispensary investigating com? mittee contempt powers and other ad? ditional authority. The committee in? timates that it has expended $9,000 to date. . The Senate. Columbia, January 15.-The Senate also took up the investigating com mitee bill. Senator Cole L. "Elease's amendment to restrict the committee to court rules in taking evidence, was killed on a viva voce vote. Senators Hay and Christensen opposed it. Mr. JohnsU_l's amendment request? ing a report from the committee at i this session was also rejected. The bill went to its ttmd reading. On motion of Senator Mciver the senate struck out the dispensary- elec? tions from Wednesdaj-*s election pro? gram. He said the dispensary elec? tion could be arranged for later. The Senate accepted the House's invitation to attend the memorial ser? vices in hohor of Altamont Moses next Thursday. Columbia, January 16.-The House began business today by passing with? out reference to committee the dis? pensary investigating; bill. It then p?ssed the bill allowing Aiken county to vote on the question of establish? ing a county court. It also passed the Confederate Home bill, giving that in? stitution $2.000 annually. The House passed Mr. Laney's bill declaring from December 23rd to January 4th Christmas holiday in all State colleges. The bill comes to the rescue of Winthrop college, whose board refused to give holiday this sea? son. Mr.'Saves' Bill reenacting the game laws, which expired last February, was passed, amended so as to move the closed season up two weeks to March 1st. The House dispensary committee submitted an evenly divided report on the Morgan high license bil!. The committeemen favoring the bill were: Fishburne. Massey. Gaines and Bass and those against it were: Green, Dukes. Richards and Gaston. The House postponed the resolution which includes a new dispensary di? rectorate in tomorrow's elections. Both Houses have indicated art indis? position to go into these elections yet. Mr. Ashley introduced a resolution restricting immigration to this State to those who can speak English and requiring a $5 per capita tax from them. Work of the Senate. Columbia, January 16.-By a vote of 26 to ll the Senate passed the Erooks bill establishing an infirmary at the hospital for the insane for old soldiers, each county to be entitled to ene inmate. Mr. Mauldin's bill to make Cal? houn's birthday a school holiday was killed by a majority of one vote. The Erooks resolution asking Congress to acquire and preserve the old Xinety Six Revolutionary Fort was passed. The senate passed a bill increasing court stenographers' pay over the State by $400. The Sanders bucket shop bili came up today but consideration was post? poned until next week. FARNUM WINS. Admits Destroying Letters Involving Persons of Prominence' in Scandal. Mut Claims lie Did So Before Court Issued Order. Columbia. January 15.-J. S. Far num was not ruled for contempt by the Supreme Court today and did not appear in person to answer the sum? mons for that purpose. Attorney Mor? decai made a return for him claim? ing that the letters involving persons of prominence in scandal were private and personal and were destroyed by Mr. Farnum, prior to the first order of the Supreme Court assuming charge of the case in the 24 days intervening between thc first visit of the committee to Franum's dispensary and the first order of the court. The court an? nounced that it would file an order in the. case at today's noon recess. The feeling is that Farnum has won and that the letters will never be pro? duced. State Constables Hays. Mulligan and Miller were fired on from am? bush while returning from a raid on illicit stills in Spartanburg county. Buckwheat Cakes . made with Royal Baking Powder Are delicious and wholesome-a perfect cold weather breakfast food. Made in the morning ; no yeast, no " set? ting" over night; never sour, never cause in? digestion. To make a perfect buckwheat cake, and a thousand other dainty dishes, see the "Royal Baker and Pastry Cook.". Mailed free to any address. n ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO., NEW YORK?, ???Bnt-antat-fltatBBH-iMBt-aa BIENNIAL SESSIONS. Special Committee to "Examine liw Validity of thc Amendment Find That in the Passage of the Amend ment by the General Assembly J * Fatal Blunder Was Committed. i - Columbia, January ll.-The follow? ing is the report of the special com mittee charged with inquiring int? the entire biennial session situation The report is complete and reads a: follows: * To the Honorable, the Senate an< House of Representatives: The under signed committees of the Senate an< House of Representatives respectively to whom were referred the matter o the ratification of the amendment t< the Constitution providing for biennia sessions of the General Assembly .would respectfully report. That pursuant to the resolutions un? der which said committees were ap pointed, the two committees met ii joint session in the city of Columbi* on the ISth day of December, 19 OS and again on the Oth and 10th of Jan? uary, 1906. and thoroughly consid?r?e the matter. The Constitution of South Carolir (1S95.) in article XVI, Section 1,.pro? vides that "any amendment or amend? ments to this Constitution may be pro? posed in the Senate or House of Rep? resentatives. If the same be agreea to by two-thirds of the members elect? ed to each house, such amendment or amendments shall be entered on the Journals respectively, with the yeas and nays taken thereon. Article 1, Section 29, provides that: "The provisions of the Constitution shall be taken, deemed and construed to be mandatory and prohibitory, and not merely directory, except where ex? pressly made directory or permissory by its own terms." "We find that the amendment pro? viding for biennial sessions of* the General Assembly, proposed by the General Assembly, under the bill (S. 29, Mr. Warren, H. 27S,) was not en? tered on the Journal of the House of Representatives, though the yeas and nays were taken thereon, and that under the provisions of the Constitu? tion above cited the amendment has never been properly proposed by the General_ Assembly and submitted to the people. Ey reference to the Journal of the House of Representatives it ippears that the bill was read the first time ! and referred to the committ?e <~>n ju? diciary, its title only appearing m tho I Journal. (House Journal, 1303, p. 299. The bill was reported by the com? miten by its title only, and ordered for consideration. (House Journal 1903, p. 43S.) The bill was continued, its title only appearing (House Journal. 1903, p. 610.) ^ The bill was made a special order, its title only appearing (House Jour? nal 1904, p. 55.) * Debate was adjourned on the bill, its title only appearing. (House Jour? nal, p. 222.). The bill received its second read? ing, its title only appearing, and wa? ordered to a third reading, yeas ST. nays 30. (House Journal. 1904, p. 231-232.) The bill received its third reading, and was ordered enrolled for ratifica? tion yeas S3, nays 26. (House Journal. 1904. p. 243-244.) its title only appear? ing. Tho bill was ratified, its title only appearing. (House Journal. 1904, p. 405.) Thus it appears that nowhere is the amendment entered on the Journal of the House of \ Representatives-the Constitution provides that it shall he ' so entered, . and this provision is mandatory We, therefore, advise that the same should not, and cannot constitutional? ly, be ratified ty thc General Assem? bly. We would furthermore report ana advise that under the proposed amend? ment which was voted on by the peo pie so much of Article III, Section 9, of the Constitution, as is altered hy such proposed amendment would rea?! as follows: "The first session of the General Assemly elected under this' Constitu? tion shall convene in Columbia on the second Tuesday in January, in the year eighteen hundred and ninety-sev? en, and thereafter annually at th? same time and place until the end'of the session occurring in 1906; after which the said sessions shall be held at the same time and place biennially. Under this provision the first session of the General Assembly after the ses? sion of 1906 would be held in the year 19OS, and this being the case under Article IV. Section 2. of the Constitu tion. the Governor and other State of? ficers to be elected in the year 1906 could not be installed, and could not enter upon the performances of their duties until the year 1908. This, we think, is extremely inexpedient ?md harmful, and if biennial sessions o? the General Assembly are* to be held, we could advise that the first session thereunder be held in the year 1907, and to that end we submit herewitht draft of bill to so provide. We would further suggest that *f* the proposed amendment to Article HI, Section 9, of the Constitution, he adopted that Article IV, Section 16 he amended by striking out the word '.annual'' therein; also amend Article V, Section ll, so as to permit the gov? ernor to fill any vacancy in the judic? iary by appointment until the next session of the General Assembly; als*> amend Article X, Section 2, in refer* ence to deficiency in the fund of the State for any year and providing for levying tox sufficient to meet sam? at the next session of the Generar As? sembly. We submit herewith, as a par* ot this report, such bilis as we think: proper and necessary to effect all changes in the Constitution wh?c?s would be rendered necessary by a change from annual to biennial ses? sions of the General Assembly, and re? commend that the General Assembly do not ratify the amendment hereto? fore voted on, but that the bill for the same be laid on the table and that }h& bills herewith submitted be consid? ered in lieu thereof. , All of which is respectfu?ly submit? ted. Edward Mciver, T. M. Taylor,. J. K. He-tKL Special Committee from the- Senate, j B. A. Morgan. T. B. fraser. W. P. Pollock Special Committee from tfte House oi Representatives. L. P. Fouche. a medical stu3e.rsc whose home is in Ninety-Six. wssr found on Coming street. Charleston^ Thursday night suffering from, a: pis? tol wound in the stomach Rev. J. H. Elliott, T?. thy. a brother of former Congressman Elliott arid a. former Carolinian, died in Washing? ton, where he was rector of the . Church of Ascension. John W. McMakin has been em? ployed to coach the Clemson basehaB team this season.