Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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KnmOk WATCHMAN, bW OsSMilttsted Alf. t, 181 %Xpt IKxttliman anb jwutbron. PaUWwd Krcry W< ??T? ?STEIN PUttUSHIM CO gTJlfTBR. h\ C in Advnno?. ...... $1 tt ?At Insertion.... .It n>r throe months, et rcdaood rates, which eub wlU he charged II.?Represen ta? ste* Barney <ni.) today rend to the A onnlssjrasa hs received from P. Taft la which ths brother ef the sewildenA slsct denied that he hen ever had any business Association wUh William Nelson Cromwell or any At any time In ths Isthmus of He asked Mr. Ralnoy to re? statements regarding hliu saejf. Mr. Ralsey said that hs had not ths sHghtset desire to controvert the it of Mr. Taft, but that It was for him to retract any he said In his speech from Which hs qaotsd his reference to Mr. Thlt 1 The country will be glad to know Mr. Taft s name Is being used without his consent." he said, to say la this connection that Taft eauld render a great service his denial will be of greater value, should without delay address a ,ft>, Ihn *s*ort*4 assembly of tying his eennectlon with is t have detailed* and repu Mr. Cr>mwell en the Isthmus ?Ith as muoh enthusiasm hi his telsgrsm to ms repu all connection with that gen RegressaUtUe Lovering of Ma caussi ts rtitd ths following to him from Mr. Cromwsll under the date of KeW Uork. January 11: "AI hangt) ths affairs of ths Pena ?ba sjBewrna.eht are not properly s "Tflof c< moderation by ths Amcrl ?ongreet, I wish to walvs all tech Mtg And say at ones that I never have had aid have not now any con eessno \, cont ract, proposition or other busesessi sflftdr in any part of ths re public of Puna ma, savs only a small stock Inters it In the local electric company of Panama City, which I Domed some years ago at ths requ es? Paaaana cltIsens, to encourage a industry, ths conditions of which were fully stated by me the so-called Morgan Inquiry." Mr. L?vel ing .said that every one hnew that Mr. Ralney had been Ailed ?s> with aauterlaT from a well known Mr. Reii.ey demanded what this *The New York World." reepondsd Mr. Lovsrliir. ? Mr. Raioey stated that he had never received freie The World or any other newspaper assistance In his search for information regarding ths purchass of the canal. CUBANS BEGIN TO WRANGLE. Aewte VVftctlosi Estate Between Pre*l ewe* and Vice Pressefest of Cuba Regarding Appointment. Habana. Jan. II.?Ths relations be? tween President Oomes and Vice Pres dent 21ayas became seriously atrslned today over ths sppolntment of a man to fill ths post of chief of the aeeret pohec. The friction la so scute that It Is rumored that Senor Zava* has threatened to tender his resignation a* vie* pr?- I I. it nhould President Oo? mes insist on the appointment of aiw (Gomes s) nominee for the position t API. PETTY CHANGES. Veteran Spartunhurg Newnpaper Man t'<mne?*trd Mow \\ Uli Hu? Joiirtiul. Spsrtanhurg Jan. II.?Capt Chas Fstty. one of the best known news? paper men in ths Stste. and for un ny years editor and until recently own? ' 4mt the Carolina Mpartsn. has severed his connection with that paper, having aeoepted an editorial position with ths Journal. Hs will contribute editor! il. agricul? tural and othsr mattsr to the columns ef ths Journal. Wad April, ISM. 'Be Jnit m IL 8UMTEI INE SEMINOIE CASE. JUDGE HYDRICK UNABLE TO HEAR IT YESTERDAY. Director** and Receiver* May Get To? gether on Some Pinn of Action for The Future. Columbia, Jan. 10.?'There la much aatlr In Semlnole matters. Yesterday was the day for the attorneys for the receivers to appear in court to argue 1 why the receivers should not turn over the affairs to the directors who; had qualified by filing a $300,000 bead. The receivers were appointed by Judge Watts, who had Jurisdiction be? cause there was at that time no court in this circuit and the Judge of thl? circuit was out of the city. But as Judge Hydrlck was holding court yes? terday the attorneys appeared before htm. Aa he wished to get the Blair ease to the Jury Judge Hydrlck could not hear the matter yesterday. The arguments will be presented to him neat Tuesday. Thursday Dr. Bpting and others of Greenwood, through Messrs. Lyles & Lyles, petitioned Judge Hydrlck for a new receivership order, alleging that steps were being taken to dissolve the former recelvemhip and plaintiffs wished to protest on the ground that suoh action would: be prejudicial to the Interests of tho stockholders of the Semlnole. They based their complaint on the ground that the members of the board of directors, who had petitioned to take the matter out of the hands of the receivers heretofore appointed, are residents of several States, that their meetings eould be but infrequent and at considerable expense, and fur? thermore that one of the directors, Gen. Julian S. Csrr, had started re? ceivership poceedlngs in North Caro? lina. This matter and all of the others will be argued before Judge Hydrlck next Tuesday. The Southern Life In? surance Company's 'adjourned hear llug will be concluded before Commis? sioner McMaster next Wednesday. In the mantlme there Is on foot a plan to have the receivers and the directors consolidated their interests. It 0 1 * is claimed that this will really be a saving of expense. The directors have filed a bond for which they must pay a premium of $1,800. They say that by becoming corecelvers they will be paid no more than the three receivers would get, although now the direc? tors have two attorneys, whereas the consolidating of Interests would give them four. The receivers are paid 6 per cent, on all money handled, and if there is but $200.000 of assets, their percent? age would be Mit $10,000 in the ag? gregate. No action has yet been tak? en, but the matter is being given care? ful consideration. FISH, GAME AND FORESTRY. Substitute BUI Drawn Up By Com? mittee. Columbia, Jan. 29.?The committee on Ash, game and forestry of the house and senate have agreed upon a substitute bill for those introduced by Senator Bass and Representative Lawson, to further amend the laws regarding the' protection of fish snd game. The substitute provides that the enforcement of the laws shall be In the hands of the flsh commission, and the commission shall have power to appoint a ehief game warden at a salary of $1,800 per annum, and with the Audubon Society, shall have ap? pointed various county wardens. Their compensation being fixed in the Act. A feature of the bill is that the var? ious fees to be collected are to be used for the enforcement of law and no ap? propriation Is asked from the State. The surplus goes into the county treasuries. MRS. BLAIR ACQUITTED. Jury Returned Verdict of Not Guilty at Midnight IasI Night. Columbia. Jan. 30.?At midnight to? night the Jury In the case of Mrs. Kthel W. Blair, on trial charged with murdering her husband, returned a verdict of acquittal, thus bringing to an end one of the most sensational cases in the history of the State. At the former trial Mrs. Blair was found guilty of manslaughter, and reeoni inended to tl<? mercy or t \u> court. On Jwn. 16. 1907. Conductor Cully W. Hl.ilr. running on tbe train from Co j lumbla to Laurens, wan shot In his home, dying u few hours later. The defendant Is a very handsome woman, and this fact, combined with the tragic setting of the case, render? ed it a very interesting one. W" -v-. ad Fear not?Lot all the ende Thon Ali l. S. C . WEDNESDA LEGISLATIVE NOTES AND NEWS FOURTH WKKR OF SESSION WILL 'BEGIN TOMORROW. No Measure Has Yet Reached Ratifi? cation Stage?Last Week Was Taken Up Chiefly With Vain Attempt to Elect an Associate Justice and With Passage, by the (House, of Bill to Repeal the Lien Law. Columbia. Jan. 31.?When the gen? eral assembly meets on Tuesday even? ing, three weeks of the present session will have passed. There has not in that time been a measure that has reached the ratification stage. This is most unusual. Generally; when the session begins, some member has a measure that cannot be ratified soon enough, but it is quite different this year. The fact of the matter Is that more time ought to to be given to legislation, and if the law-making bodies met from year to year, passed the general appropriation and supply bills and meditated over other matters the State would be juet as well off? Indeed, many say much better off. There has been a growing sentiment in favor of the policy of letting well enough alone and giving the people time in which to understand the laws that are already on the statute books. The past wee)0 has been largely given up to the abortive effort to elect an Associate Justice and to the pas? sage, by the house, of the bill to re? peal the ' lien law. There are some members who perhaps think that the repeal o fthe lien law will bring dia? monds 'and feather beds to the State, but it is going to take a great deal more than the repeal of the lien law. The poorer classes fit people In this State must have some way of getting credit, and if the Hen law be repealed, some other scheme will be thought out by the wide-awake merchant and the man who wants to borrow money or the equivalent?provisions and ma? terials. Two weeks ago the "atmosphere" about the State House was that the State-wide prohibition bill would pass snd become a law. Those who f?voi State-wide prohibition now think that they are not on as safe ground and j that, if they win at all, it will be after a hard fight. On the other hand, the advocates of local option, as at pres? ent understood, between county dis? pensaries and prohibition by counties, are very much more encouraged. They think that they have won their fight and that the State-wide prohibition? ists are afraid to test their strength, and Jthat nothing will be done at this session of the general assembly to change the situation. It would not be In the least surprising if the statutes of 1909 did not continue an Act in which the word "dispensary" did not appear In the title. The advocates of local option are going to sit steady in the boat and do nothing, and say as little as necessary. All they want is to maintain the present status, and it takes no legislation whateevr to ac? complish this result. In connection with the bill proposed by the Charleston committee, it is to be noted that those interested in this measure are willing to have it so amended as to give Charleston coun? ty alone the privilege of voting on the three options?county dispensary, li? cense or prohibition. There has been no material change in the situation in the election of an Associate Justice from the first ballot. The indications are that there will be no "dark horse" to solve the problem or to break the deadlock. The State has the good fortune of having five high-class men running for the place, and some one of these five will be elected. It may take some time to reach a conclusion, but the sentiment now appears to be to elect some one of the five names in formal nomina? tion. The insurance legislation at this ses? sion has assumed unexpected propor? tions. Commissioner McMaster has suggested half a dozen well-conceived and well-timed bills, and in addition many new suggestions have been made. It would be well to have whatever is done in the matter of insurance legis? lation Incorporated in one or two gen? eral bills and not to undertake to im? pose too many restrictions on either life or tire insurance companies. Too often laws are suggested to tit individ? ual cases and, where one company has done something that does not suit, to go after the entire ii;t of oompanles with a general law that will work ? hardship and Which it is argtied is necessary because sonic one little in? fraction occurred. There is a general disposition to economize; this does not menn that there will be senseless and unneces? sary curtailment of necessary expendi? tures, but there will be no throwing away of money. What is needed for continued growth will be given, but ns't at be thy Country's, Thy God's at .Y. FEBRUARY 3, 19 HUMAN MAY OUST GRUM. PliANS FILIBUSTER TO PREVENT Mayor Rhett and Mr. T. R. Waring Call On the Senior Senator Relative to The Opposition to the Collector of The Port?TUlrrian Hopes to Get Floor of Senate in Executive Session And Hold It Until March 4. Washington, Jan. 29.?If Senator Tlllman so manipulates matters that he can get the floor of the senate in executive Bession and hold It until the close of the present session of con? gress, he may defeat the nomination of W. D. Crum as collector of the port of Charleston. Mayor Rhett and T. R. Waring reached Washington this morning, and immediately called on Senator Tlllman about this matter. They re? mained with him some time and care? fully went over many features of the case. They came to Washington in response to a telegram that Senator Tlllman sent Mr. Rhett yesterday up? on learning that the senate como'lttee charged with the duty of handling the nomination had decided to make a favorable report on it. After seeing the Senator, Mr. Rhett said that he and Mr. Waring had come to Washington upon receiving the telegram referred to because they believed they could accomplish more that way than by correspondence. They returned home this afternoon, and will at once prepare certain data for Senator Tlllman, which the latter will use in his fight against Crum. It is the opinion of those who arc familiar with the facts in the case that if Senator Tlllman is able to hold the nomination in check until the present session of congress ends, Judge Taft may not reappoint Crum, but he will have a Herculean task in doing so. He must have aid for any "filibuster" that he might inaugurate in order to get the floor of the senate In executive session and hold it until March 4. tust who would be relied upon in the* event that this method" of prece dure were adopted Is not now known, though it is probable that practically all of the Democrats in the senate would render more or less help in the matter. At the same time Senator Tlllman \ would have to oppose the strong Republican majority of the senate, and it might not be possible, after all, to achieve the desired re? sult. It is understood that Senator FTye, of Maine, is one of those who are Insistent upon pushing the nomi? nation, aided by other Republicans of Influence. As soon as Mayor Rhett reaches home he will supply Senator Tlllman with the material that the latter proposes to use in blocking the confirmation.?News and Courier. TRIAL OF W. T. JONES. Sensational Murder Case Set to be Heard In Circuit Court?Over 225 Witnesses Summoned. Union, Jan. 31.?The trial of W. T. Jones, a wealthy planter of this coun? ty, who is charged with the murder of his wife last July, Is set to begin here tomorrow. Jones is accused of administering poison to his wife. Because of the prominent and in? fluential connections of the parties concerned and of the almost unparal? leled features of the evidence brought out at the Inquest and in the hearings on the motion for bail, Indications are that the trial will be of a most sensa? tional kind. Over 225 witnesses have been summoned, and many of them will come from a distance. This case was called for trial last September, but was postponed, pend? ing an appeal to the State Supreme Court from an order of the Circuit Court refusing bail for Jones, who has been in jail here since his arrest last July. Countess de Ijesseps Dead. Paris, Jan. 31.?The Countess de Lesseps, widow of Count Ferdinand de Lesseps, the promoter of the ship canals of Suez, Corinth and Panama, died here today. there is to he no experimentation. There has been no suggestion of cut ting out any of the estahllshed ex? penditures of the State, hut the dis? position apparently is to be careful and to use the Btate'l money where it is necessary. The Audubon BO( iety has done ex? cellent S/ork In this State and will he sustained. The deslro appears to 1>? to give this society and its Officers such laws as may le thouuht neces? sary to better enforce the present laws. There are two hills pending?one In the house and one in the senate? looking to the taxation of timber. These bills are likely to provoke con? siderable discussion.?News and Cour? ier. CONFIRMATION. id Truth's." THE TRI!) 09. New Serie bank mmn_ report. says tt is too easy to ohgax i5',e banks. Examiner Wilson Makes a Number of Recommendations to Safeguard Rank Depositors? Would Require Directors to Take Oath. Columbia, Jm. 31.?State Bank Ex? aminer Giles I* Wilson, who has been doing very efficient and satisfactory work, has sutmitted a most interest? ing report to the general assembly. There is much in the excellent report that ought to be regarded by the gen? eral assembly. In concluding his re? port he makes these suggestions, which will be of general interest: I believe it is entirely too easy to organize a bank in this State. Any two or more persons desiring to form such corporation need only to file with the seceretary of state a written pe? tition, signed by themselves, setting forth: 1. The names and residences of the petitioners. 2. The name of the proposed corp? oration. 3. The place at which it proposes to have its principal place of business or be located. ? 4. The general nature of the busi? ness which it proposes to do. 5. The amount of capital stock and how and when payable. 6. The number of shares into which the capital stock is to be divid? ed, and the par value of each share. T.f Any other matter which it may be desirable to set forth. Please note. these facts: Only two incorporator's are requir? ed. There is no minimum limitation as to capital. Only 50 per cent of the proposed capital is reqt lred to be subscribed. Only 20 pe* cent of the aggregate amount of the capital subscribed is re? quired to be paid before such institu? tion can obtain charter and be author? ized to commence business. No requirement exists as to when the remainder of the capital shall be subscribed or paid in. Nothing prevents subscribers from giving their not js to the new bank in payment of seid subscription. With the stock of the bank itself as the only security. I recommend that no new bank be permitted to do business with a less number of directors than five, nor with a less capital than $10,000, and then only In towns of 500 population or less; that when the population Is over 500 the capital must be $15,000; that when the population is over 1,000 the capital must be $25,000; that when the population is 5,000 or over, the capital must be $50,000; that the said capital, according to the population of the town, must be at least four-fifths subscribed; that at least 50 per cent, of such subscription must be paid in cash before the bank is authorized to commence business; that the remaind? er of said subscription must be paid in cash within a period of twelve months. The only qualification now required of a bank director Is that he shall own ten shares of its stock. Bank stock in this State varies from $25 per share to $100 per share. With the par value at $25 per share in a $100.000 bank and at $100 per share in a $10.000 bank, (and there are instances of both in this State,) it will readily be seen that the ownership of ten shares is not equitable. I recommend that such qualification be apportioned according to the amount of the capital. It does not seem fair that a director in a $10,000 bank be required to own ten shares, par value of $100 each, or one-tenth of the entire capital, while a director in a $100,000 bank may fully comply with the law by owning ten shares, par value of $25 each, or only one four-hundredth of the entire capital. Such inequalities now actually exist. - I would further recommend that each bank director, when elected", shall take an oath that he will, so far as the duty devolves upon him. diligently and honestly administer the affairs of such corporation, and will not know ? ingly violate, or willingly permit to be violated, any of the provisions of law applicable to such corporation, and that he is the owner In good faith and in his own right, of the number of shaves of stock required, subscribt d by him or standing In bis name on the books of the corporatlon( and thai the same is not hypothecated, or In any way pledged as security for any loan or debt and. in ease of re-election, that such stock was not hypothecated, or In any way pledged as .security for any loan or debt during his previous term. That such oath shall be subscribed by the director making it. and certified by the officer before whom it Is taken, and shall be immediately transmitted to the State bank examiner, and filed ? SOUTHRON, Established .?ihm-, I 8-VoL XXVIII. N?> 2ft EARTHQUAKE III Wfc A TERRIBLE EARTHQUAKE DK SOUTHERN SECTION OF COUNTRY. Barcelonia Reported Swept by Tidal Wave?Dispatches) Received in Teas don Tell of Awful Disaster on Coast ?Town and Village* Devastated? Ixmss ef life Great. London, Jan. 30.?A special dis? patch received here from San Me baa tian, Spain, says that a terrible earthquake has devastated several towns and villages in south and south? eastern Spain. A tidal wave partially submerged* the 'coast near Barcelona and a great, landslide at Ceuta buried the village* of Romara and several hundred In? habitants. A dispatch from Tarrassa says that Barcelonia has been overwhelmed byr a tidal wave. The loss of life is un? known. Subterranean roarings pre? ceded the tidal wave, causing a fear? ful panic among the people on tha* promenades. News from Malaga says that many houses were damaged in the town of Totana and several villages in the provinces of Murcia. PROHIBIT LIQUOR SHIPMENTS: Congressman Langiey Will Preseotr National Anti-Saloon League's. Measure Restricting Carriage. Washington, Jan. 31.?Tomorrow Representative Langiey of Kentucky will introduce the interstate liquor shipment bill prepared by the Anti Saloon League of America to obviate the objection ot unconstitutionality urged against the Littlefleld bill. The objection to the Littlefleld bill was that it made Interstate shipment* of liquor subject to State laws imme? diately upon crossing the boundary This was claimed by its opponents to be an attempted delegation of con? gressional power arid therefore uncon? stitutional. The new measure prohi? bits the shipment to any State, terri? tory or district of the United State? where such shipment could not legal? ly be made within the same. It la designed to cover both prohibition states and dry territory within local option States. EDITOR KNOCKED DOWN. Montgomery Advertiser Man Attack? ed by Sons of Governor Comer. Montgomery, Ala., Jan. 31.?Fletch? er and Donald Comer, sons of Gover? nor Comer, today knocked down Frank P. Glass, editor of the Montgomery Advertiser, when they met him on thes street. No arrests have been made,. though warrants for the Corner? have - been issued. The trouble was the re? sult of ill feeling over a damage suit, ? in which the governor secured a ver? dict of one cent against the Adver? tiser. and preserved in his office. It Is now provided that this officer shall call for such statements at least four times each year; This has been complied with, and eleven such state? ments have been called for and pub? lished since April, 1906. The experience of the office is tr ar some banks are very slow in transmit? ting said statements. The request usedT in calling for statements asks tfcat they be sent to the examiner within seven days, which seems a reasonable) and ample time for their preparation and transmission. An abstract show? ing the condition of the combined banks cannot be published until each bank in the State has reported With a few banks holding back their re? ports for a longer period than seven, days, the examiner and his assistant, have been unnecessarily and unprofi? tably detained in the office, when their services could be better utilise J stak? ing personal examinations among thav banks. For this reason I recommend and urge that there be enacted a law requiring such returns to be ma.de> within seven days, imposing a rear sonable fine for each day's delay be? yond that limit upon any bank ss> withholding its report, said fine to be collectible by law. if necessary, andW when collected, to be paid to the State treasurer and credited to the bank est B miner's fund. Realising thai this report will react* you at a date When it may be too late i>r inadvisable for proper action to be* taken upon all Its suggestions at thaw session, i would recommef*e\ H siwft be the case, thai you appoint s com rgIsgion, from your own number* e*r from the State bankers of South Ca*a^ lina, to consider the matter of desi*> able reforms In the banking law, and report their findings and recommends* Hons to your honorable body at tahw session of 1910.