University of South Carolina Libraries
? Sit IMAM The Work of Both Houses in Detail ay By Day. TO ADJOURN NEXT WEDNESDAY. Tlic Income Tux anti One of tlio License Hills I'osscs the Iloiisc--Jlm ('row Car lSUl Killed. SENATE. SATT7Bi>AT.-T-Thew.Senate, .aftor the other preliminaries had been disposed of, gave the following bills a tiuul readiug: To re<iuire all State institutions io pay fur tram porting, clothing, guarding and for medical treatment of all convicts received by tlieiu underacts or joint resolutions of the general assembly, and to give receipt for their iVork. To exempt ex-Confederates from taking out the licence as hun ker or ]>eddlei. House bill to require all common carriers to pay all loss for dumages for loss, damage and breakage of any articles shipi>ed over their lines. House bill to amend the general statutes so as to provide for the election of the State board of medical examiners by the State Medical association. Hill to amend and act to require contractors iu tho erection, alteration or repairing of building to pay laborers, nub-contractors una material men for their services and material furnished. To provide for tho meeting of tho lx>ards of township commissioners for the several counties. Second reading bills: House bill to require lire or life insurance companies todejKisit -$10,01X1 of valid securities with the State treasurer to be subject to any judgment against said companies; lull to incorporate the Atlantic toast Line Railroad Company of South Carolina and to uuthorizo the consolidation of ffiwtui luuroaiis miner mat name; House bill to lix the time for the meetings of the couuty board of eouimisSoners for the county of Colleton; the oiiko bill providing: separate coaches for white and colored passengers which is unfavorably reported passed to a third reading. The linatice committee has amended the appropriation bill by making a general increase in the provisions: the most important items are those relating to the south Crrolina College and the Citadel. '1 he committee amendments increase theso appropriations, the former to ?? &'>,nisi, with svt.Oi't) for sewerage; the latter to $31,000, the 31,Alio being for the pur]>ose of repairs, (.'en. i alley is given jJAOU dollars additional for the pnrposo of completing the Confederate roll. 1 he clerks' salaries are generally restored to the amount provided \ in the original committe bill. Mower? 1 he bill to provide salaries in lieu of fees and commissions for the county officials of .Ncwberrv county was continued until the next session. Act ratified: To extend the time ??f eat citing shad and sturgeon with ?eins. 'the Senate then adjourned until Tuesday at 10 o'clock, Monday being Washington's birthday. Tijkspav. ?In the Senate there was quite a tussle over the bill to limit the hours of street cur employ es, Senator Slean leading the opinisitioii. During the course of the debate a lively tilt ensued between Senators Sloan and Archer, the former dubbing the hitter's remarks as demagogical. The bill passed, limiting the hours to 12 each day. The bill consolidating the Atlantic Coast Line passed. May field ottered an amendment to the House Jim Crow cur bill, which provides for the free transportation of State officials und members f the tieneral Assembly during their ferins of ottice. '1 he bill relating to the collection of back taxes from railroads passed. At the night session Senator Jluist, of the Finance (Tminittee, reportedthe administration income tax, license and insurance bills unfavorably on the ground that tliey should have oriirinutcdin tin* other house 'I he supply bill was reported unfavorably but amended by put tin;; tin; levy buck at > nulls. I he House pension lull eauie up for a s??o<oi<l readinir and was amended sous to include .Mexican and I1 inrida veterans. and to make tin; law ?ro into elVeet in day. '1 he bill then passed. There were several second and third reading bills passed, mostly of a local nature, though. I lie Iiouse L'ambinsr bill w as reported unfavorably and adopted. Win>s 1'si)av 1 In- Senate worked 011 thn appropriation bill nearly all day. All the elerka' salaries were raised, whereupon " enator Archer Mijojested that it mi^ht he as well to do away with the lionse on appropriation - and I Senator Moses suporested that this change mi^ht he made an issue in the next -tale campaiirn for (lovernorIn; House hill to further provide for the return and assessment of property for las.t'.i >n was taken up and amended and passed its ?-eeond reud in;j\ inei louse resolution fixing the time of adjournment was called up and con MlUf'MlU, lllll I IlC Dl'llllie I" Mi" U1MIWoided. 'I li?' House 1 til 1 to re?|Uire any fire or life insurunee eouipany, whose charter v as first grunted by some foreign Mate or other f-tute of the I'nion than thin State, to deposit with the treasurer of I this State valid securities a+ryre^utinj; 310,000, said securities to he subject to any judgment against said compunien, and such judgments shall operate as a lien on such securities and providing a penalty for the violation of the provisions of this act, wuh taken up and amended somewhat and passed to u . i tinal reading. Anions the third reading bills: The llouso pension bill; House lull to ineorporute the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad of South Carolina and to authorize ttie consolidation of cortnin railroads under that name; to validate the appointment of and registration of voters by A. K. I'arliain as supervisor of registration for the town of Dillon, in Marion eounty; House bill to extend (ho limits of Rennetlsville, in Marlboro eounty. On motion of Archer, the street railway bill was amended so that employes could work over the 12-hour limitation provided extra compensation was paid tor such overwork. Acts ratified: To exempt soldiers and sailors from 4#. Isit-wc /iiit i ii'Cii kiiu (iu linti'L'ovu /\r i i/u I dlors; to provido for the election of the State hoard of medical examiners by the State hoard of health; relating to the bond of tho'trensiirer of Saluda county; . to require commutation tux to he extended in townships where collected; to authorizo an election for the pui |?>se of issuing bonds by the school district of 1.aureus; to amend an act relating to she rills' bonds; to nmend the county government law as far as it relates to working roads; to require the sinking fund commission to lend funds to tho several counties; to prohibit trusts and combines; to provide compensation for mombors of county boards of assessors while serving as members of county hoards of commissioners: to rp?i";"" common carriers to pay <lnuiage* lor goods damaged; to establish liamherg county; to establish Cherokee county; j to establish Dorchester countv. * _ Thursday.?Tho Senate killed the Jim Crow bill. It also agreed to tho j State fair appropriation and cut out the 1'uttou amendment to the South Caro' lina appropriation, providing for scholarships equal to the number of representatives, and raised the appropriation to $2. >,(KX). The appropriation bill wa? taken up and tlie amendment allowing $->00 additional for the handling of dispensary funds was killed. This was done ana the $.">00 granted for this purpose. Mr. Henderson explained that it was to be paid from tho i>is;>ensary funds. The salarv of the phosphate inspector v un restored from $1,200 to $1,500. The sum of $.>00 for the completion of the Confederate rolls, reoommended by the somite committee, was given after a little ?>piM>sition from Archer. '1 here was considerable debate on the line of free scholarships at the South Carolina College, but it was finally agreed to leave the question of free tu- | tion with the trustees, as at present. < A* -11 * ? ? " ' I m uvueiu goi inrotign nn amendment | to provide for the admission of girls. I '1 he joint committee, appointed to investigate the public piiutiug, submitted their reports, which were on the same line as those of the House committee Wednesday. At the night session tho Senate's work was as follows: Archer's amendment to give ?8,000 to the militia instead of $ I o,u(to was ngreod to by a vote of M.> to 11. An amendment was adopted to givo $-">,000 for tho erection of a building for tho colored insaue. 'lhe snmo amount will also bo given next year, 'llie appropriation bill pussed its second reuding with tlio above amendments and with notice of general amendment 011 the third reading May field called up the dispensary investigation resolution and oil'erod some amendment, but, ufter a little debate, it was decided to definitely postpone the sume by a vote of St to o. Norris culled up the House resolution fixing the day for final adjournment. Ho offered an amendment fixing Wednesday, tho ;.d of .March, as the day. i*'itli>AY. ? In the Senate Archer had the appropriation raised for tho deaf, dumb and blind institute at Cedar bprings $100, also wanted ?8,0u0 appropriated for the huildiug of the colored deaf, dumb and blind institute, which was refused. I'our thousand dollars was appropriated for putting in electric lights and laundry at the Cedar Springs deaf, dumb and blind institute. VTtute was killed. 'l uxes were i rovided for Dorchester and (Jreonwood county. Dorchester, 5.1 mill levy; (Ireenwood, '.I mills. The committee on privileges and elections submitted an unfavorable report on the bill for the formation of iallon county. Adopted. An unfavoiable report on a joint resolution requiring the comptroller generul to levy a supplementary tax for public school purposes was adopted. At the night session t-eorborough'n amendment to the appropriation bill to provide :} 1, Uiti.for the payment of super i.sors of registration for the months of November and 1 >eeember, 18.?.i, was settled at 8 o'clock by the adoption of Mower's amendment thereto providing that one-half of that amount, or ;>;s be paid for those two months. The supply hill was amended am! ordered to a third reading. Passed second reading: House hill to amend an act to declare the free school law of the State relating to the t line of appoint ncnt of school trustees in the various school districts. House joint resolution to authorize and require the county board of commissioners of Anderson county to approve the chum of ,1. M. Payne, late treasurer of Anderson county, {Jl.jO for collecting commutation taxes for 18;)*> and ls.u., and county treasurer to pay the same House bill to prevent traveling medicine venders from plying their vocut loll. The following bills were killed: To require i ailroad companies making eontracts for the delivery of erosstios, bridge, timbers and other materials for the construct ion mid operation of railroad.-. to seeeiveand pay lor the same Within i.u day: alter their delivery upon the 'use of such railroad unucr eel tuin 1 eua'.t t.v. 'I o amend ihe net to reduce the number of and to | rovide for salaries tot) nil justices and constables of Uurimgion c.Miinj, approved duty i, changing their names to magistral! s, increasing their nimiher nud 10<11111 ing tin* slientl" to act us constable in certain cures. THE HOUSE Satriii?ay. Tno House adopted tho tive-iniuute rule for Bi?ceches. 'J ho following matters wore disposed of: iieynold'H public printing hill was continued to the next session : Lancaster's hill to provide for u Mute geologist miis reported unfavorably; Kogcrs' health hill wan ordered sent to tlio Senate; the Maekcy joint resolution was uirended so as to require the commission to report hack during the first, week of the next session and given a tinal reading; the supply hill was taken lift lor us 1111hi leuunif;. j acre ?er? MHiic general amendments and the bill whs then t'iven its tinul reading; Gurvis' bill to do away with anti-Greek lottor fraternities passed; the joint resolution to pay a claim of J. M. i'ayne, late treasurer of Anderson county, was j^iveu a second reading; Smith's lull to require tuition fees in all State educational institutions wuk continued to tho ne,\t session; the bill to require railroad companies making contracts for the delivery of cross lies, bridee timbers and other materials for the construction and operation of railroads to receive and pay for the same within HO days after tlieir delivery upon the line of such railroad under certain penalties was taken up and passed to a third read iiqr. , I The ways and means eomthiitcc lii! come tax bill was introduced and made , a special order. Jt is entitled "a bill to provide for the assessment, levy and collection of au iucome tax. " J At the night session the legislative appropriation bill was presented by the committee on ways and means and j made a special order. The following , were among the third reading bills: < .'oleock's bill to empower the super-*| visor and board of county commission- j ers to borrow money for certain pur- j poses; Winkler's bill to amend section i,0.>3 of the revised statutes relating to J the reiKjrts of tlio school commissioner to the court of sessions; the Senate bill to amend section 27 of the' county government act; Perritt's bill to clearly detine tho jKiwers of the town of Darling-, ton in regard to taxation under its charter; the Senate bill to amend section 13 of the free school law; Sanders' bill requiring that a committee of ono Senator and two members of the House of Representatives be annually appoined to examine the accounts, books and vouchers of the penal and charitable. institutions of this State. The committee amended the bill slightly; the bill of the committee on rules changing the jurisdiction to 'the magistrates' oourts in casee of gambling; Goodwin's bill to amend the free sohool law. relating to the time of appointment 01 school trus icos iu tho various school districts. Armstrong withdrew from the files of ; the House nis bill to provide for the payment of $10 to persons furnishing evidence to oonvict persons of carrying concealed weapons, which had been un- i favorably rei>ortod. < 1 he senate bill to provide for the i election by the qualified voters of the i respective townships in the Htate of the boards of township commissioners was continued till the next session. i With a n-mile tax levy already fixed, three other revenue bills were introduced throngh the Ways and Means Committee. These bills go so far even i as to tax the washer-woman of the 1 State for the privilege or earning a livelihood by means of the tub, soap and i water. All three of the bills have been < | placed 011 the special order calendar ' and ecu be called up uny day after the J ; third reading bills. 1 The House then adjourned until Tuesday ut 10 o'clock, Monday being c Washington's birthday. < Tubsday.?The House began work again, after having a holiday in honor ' of tlio birthday of the father of His t Country. Among the thirty-three third c reading hills were: The Senate bill to amend the general corporation act: r VtTPcr's bill requiring railroad com- I1 panics making contracts for the deliv- t ery of crossties, etc., to receive and I IIUV for same Wllllin sivt.r ilnva nftnr 11 their delivery upon the lino of Hitch railroad under certuin penalties; Phil- 1 lips' !! to regulate the election of " trustees in special school districts where f' l?y special acts said trustees have been hcrctotoro appointed by the htate Nu- t pirintendent of education; Goodwin's d iiiii to amend section :;(i of the free school law relating to tho time of ap- v pointiuent of school trustees in the va- r i ions school districts; Perritt's bill to s clearly define tho powers of tho town d of j'arlington in regard to taxation un- t< tier it* charter; tho Senate bill to c aiiK'iul section I "> of the free school law; a tlh*.. ii.v t(tt1 iSIhiVa-m~TrViVrecti-tot" tno ? school district of the town of Gaurens ii to submit to the qualified voters the b question of issuing bonds; the H'nate * bill to amend section 27 of tho county v government act so far as it relates to b the 4i>.? roads e and seel of tl ?.f M the : miss pun t irc? vatic tiom thor. siont .1. .M son c l?il maUi sciioc and i tioii us th mini, was t ton r. i -.and was a had ! ami I. ei nor tfinUn ion o Court ponni ul hoi i ho tion local prices \\ i: to bu OllitMl lie r::. oil lie !-'ciiu! 1 'e!o\ tiiat \ uppri anten solum I ill' |x cine v oral ?. joint i trollci ? .. | a! school tux. At the night session the House adopted the untuvoruhle report on Senator Maytield's joint resolution authorizing the upi>oiutLuent of a committee to investigate the charges in reference to the receding of rebates in connection with the State dispensary. 1 he Senate hill to make penal the doing of any act in this State by railroad companies doing business herein, their oificcrs, agents or employees, which Molntcs any of the provisions of nn act of Congress entitled "an acs to regulate commerce" and the several acts amendatory thereof, and of the others of the interstate commerce commission issued thereunder, and to presenile punishments tl.ccfor, was taken up and do bated at some length and passed to a third reading, 11 House refused to agree to the : eimto amendments to the Mackey < la.in resolution ami a committee on ? ? nferenee was appointed. I he special report of the joint committee appointed to investigate the public printing was re reived and read. It recommended economy iu printing reports, and says 7^ ~T *" ; that itie cost*br]>rihiiug foV Ibis is less than last rear. They further recommended that the law he so amended us to require the heads of departments to approve nil bills for printing for their respective departments before acted on by the attorney general. '1 he income tax bill was called up by 'Winkler. A caucus had been held in the ufternoon, it is understood, attended by t he friends , of t^jp throe revenue measures, and it was decided thereat, it is said, to push this and one of the other measures thrqmgh at this session, leaving the third, the genernl license bill, over to the next session. About the time the debate begun a motion to adjourn cut the mutter short. Thursday.?The action of the House on the income tax bill and the inaction of the Senate on the tinal adjournment resolution indicate that adjournment sine die will not be reached until some finia noxi u-oa1x i?? ? (tlillUI It'UMIII^, Gage's joint resolution relative to the supplementary school tax; Gasque's bill to prevent medicine vendors plying their vocation. A bill passed providing for charging a tuition of $40 at Clemson college and giving trustees the right to exempt in deserving cases. The income tax bill was passed to a third reading after several amendments by a vote of 04 to 42. The bill to require an additional graduated license fee on certain companies doing business in this State was ordered to a third reading. At the night session the House concurred in the Senate amendment to the concurrent resolution fixing the day of adjournment. The Senate changed the date, making it read next Wednesday, leaving the hour open. The vote whereby the House agreed to the ninendmeut was clinched. The Senate bill to establish a new township and polling precinct iu KdgoOeld county and to readjust the town- i diips of said county was ordered to i third reading without debate. The House concurred in the Senate amendments to the ltainsford tireinsm Laic company bill. Concurrence was lIso voted on the Senate amendments o tb'e t inkler bank directors' borrowng hill. ] ..urns' bill to reduce the privilege tax >*\ '"' Mlizers was continued to the next ] tossion. ] j.jav. ?The proceedings of the ( douse were not of the greatest degree j if interest, but below can be found the uost important workings of that body, t passed h final reading: Senate bill <. elating to tuition fees in Ciemson Colore; t lie income tax bill; Senate bill es- ] al dishing a new township and polling necinct in Kdgelield county, and tore- ] djust the townships of saitl county. I A bill passed to further punish usury, ho bill seeks to annul charter whero ( isury is charged, and the principal for- j cited is to gotothe public school fund. he graduated license bill was con- t inued until the next session without ( ebato, according to the understanding. At the night session the House" by a oto ot 4."> to agreed to indefinitely 'j ostpone Cauglnuan's lull to require chool trustees to apply 'J."? per cent, of ispensary profits icceived by their ewnship or school district to tlie purhase of books for poor children liable to furnish their own books. *iVt"dVi 6f sections G40 11 so far as the snuib.vrot^jgg Gf ifpi# ershipof the county hoara u? ioners of the couuty of Chesterfield, ? as tabled, the committee's substitute ill being taken up in its place, amend- ? d so as to make it apply to .Marion, 1 *?'boroarul Lancaster counties aFso c . rdered to a third reading. ^ ncaater's bill to provide for the pa- ? ion of oils or other tluids used as o \inating lluids in this State, w?.s liued to next session. 11 . <leLoach's hill to reduce the s ego tax on fertilizers was iudefi- v postponed. e ; hill to provide for a general } on all occupation and business c litiiiued to next session. J >ill to provide for the election of * to librarian by the tJoneral Ak- f Was killed. 1 i \i 1 on bo, as p. rule, refused 1 ' b to Senate amendments to - jropriatiou bill, in nearly all * f ere tno reduction maun nv me ' . was increased. iho bill will 1 ? to go to u committee on eon- c s to adjust the differences be- ] i two Houses. I ? s Creoles of New Orleans. - the most dist inpuishlnp iptal- 1 e Creole is tiis conservatism.'" , s itli McICnery Stuart in an ar- j A I'eople Who Live Amid Ito in the bailies' Home Journal. 1 11dly traditions tire of obedi- 1 1 respect. It begins in his ' I ml ends in his wine cellar, lie f ?.t for protcstiup faiths or new ( I*. His religion and his wines ] tors of tradition, (local enough ! aueestors, are they not pooil ' for him and his children? His e'.iphtful home is situated behind y battened pate, sombre and forin its outward expression--askMiing of the jwtssinp world, pro every nacrednesa within. The lives for his family?lu it. The old da me, niti great aunt, peril nd nenaine to half his children, living her sheltered and conteutc of threescore aud ten years bcthe great preen pate that opens as .? vie vkinp event at the demand of the polished brass knocker, will tell you with a beautiful pride that she lias never been on the American side of her own city?above Canal street. If she will admit you as her guest to her in laii<1 garden, within her courtyard gate ?aiul l?e mire alio will not do so unless you present unquestionable ertlentials ?If she will call her stately tiguoncd negresx, Madelaine. Celeste, Marie 01 Zulluie, who answers her in her own tongue, to fetch a chair for you into the court beside the oleander tree and the crcpe-inyrlle if. seeing you seated, she bid the maid of the tlgnon to further serve you with orange-(lower syrup or thimble glasses of liqueur or anisette from a shining old silver tray, you will, perhaps, feel that the great battened door has been, indeed, a eonservor of good old ways, and that Its office is a worthy one. in preserving the sweet flavor of a picturesque hospitality whose Old World fragrance Is Htill unspoilt] by Innovations, and untainted by emulation or contact." i I MUM eOHMTTtf Makes an Examination of all the State Departments. CASH CAREFULLY SCRUTINIZED. Amounts Collected by the Treasurer? Much Friction Hetween the Oain.? tieu. Dept. and SUiklng Fund Cou The committee to examine the offices of the State Treasury, Sinking Fund and Dispensary, have made the following report: To the Jlvnorablc Senate and J louse of lieprevc ntaii ves: We, the undersigned joint committee, ap]>ointed to examine the offices of the State 1 roasurer, (Joinptroller-General, sinking Fund Commission and Dispensary receipts und disbursements, as shown by the State Treasurer's office, beg leave to resjtectfully submit the following report: Our examination of the above departments of the State government were made during the months of December and January, and for a period of fourteen months, beginning the 1st day of November and ending the 31s? day of December, 189(5. in the Treasurer's office, we have carefully scrutinized all the cash receipts snd expenditures, examined the vouchers for every disbursement, also verifying the additiors. We find that the Treasurer has collected for the above named period the following amounts: General taxes $1,13(5,220 01 Phosphate royalty to goneral account 4,158 93 Phosphate royalty to S. Fund for reduction 58,029 04 Insurance license fees 10,035 00 i>- :i i luiiu oiKi assessments 7,109 10 Fees, oflice Secretary of Htftte 4,341) 33 Privi ego fertilizer tax 54,524 37 Morrill fund 22,000 00 Jlemson bequest cash 258 70 State permanent school 21,387 62 oniiiiH. Sinking fund 2,343 7o Sinking Fund for reduction, etc 18,108 38 Dispensary, 8 C., from Dispensers 1,655,724 61 joanR, general account... 100,000 00 Joans, Constitutional Convention, Dec., *0o 30,000 00 Hher sources 1,633 30 'anl by Dif?i>enKAry to pen. aoct. 8tuto Treasury..... 150,000 00 i mou ut refunded 1.506 10 1 .'ash bal., Oct. 31, 1805 272,106 01 1 Total $3,450,980 92 .'ot&l dialiursemeuta for ' same period have been, as shown by itetnizod statement in Treasurer's ro- ? l*>rt, p. 18 to 19 $3,070,509 43 j Cash bal. Dee. 31, *96..$ 380,421 40 Wo have examined the Treasurer's de- J aat he had tlie ubovfc Ml?ft"fr?luiaiue8S t lie credit of the State. The books aud t oconnts are well aud correctly kept by 1 tie experienced and well trained olori- < al force, in tlie knowledge of the iutri- t ate duties connected with this otlico. < Ve notice, however, that some of the t ouuty Treasurers are tardy in remit- s iug taxes due the State, ami recoin- t nend that the Comptroller (General take i uch action as will secure prompt re- i uittanoes on the first ami fifteenth of i aeli month as tbo law now directs. 1 2. in the Comptroller Central's office, i >ur examination was confined to the exiniuation of the vouchers for insurance oos and licences collected, and of the contingent aud civil contingent funds >f the Uovermnent and for the public irinting. The other minor contingent accounts ind expenditures for salaries and speciic appropriations, we did not examine further than to ascertain that in no case lid the disbursements exceed the appropriation. We compared the disbursements, item by item, of the fiscal year, and find that the several amounts liuvo been in strict compliance with the terms of the appropriation hill, and in ao caso bus it been exceeded. We would recommend that additional cases lie furnished this ollice, for the preservation of vouchers and other documents tiled therein. In making this examination, we were courteously treated, and 3very assistance cheerfully rendered. We have examined the Dispensary transactions, in so far as they relate to the amounts remitted by the local dispensers in the several counties of the State, to the .State treasurer, which we tiud to be as follows: Dispensary balance, Nov. 1, .! ..3 711,071$ 58 Received from local Dispensers 1,.755,72*1 01 Total 31,028,801 19 I'aid warrants of State Hoard of control 1,547,307 65 Cash PiHponwiry balance 31st Deo., '96 3 HI,498 54 Wo further find that the above statements appear^ on the records in the offi<?e of the State Hoard of Control, except as to the reported Dispensary balance of cosli in the treasurer's office. The State Hoard of Control only show the balance as 378,205.41, making a difference of $3,228.13, which is readily explained as representing outstanding warrants, drawn by the State Board of ( ontrol, ami lor wnicn inoy nave charged against their acoount, but which has not keen presented to the treasurer for payment, heforo the close of business on tne Slat, (lay of Jiecainher, 18J?. TV. By reason of the alleged charge.? of injurious interference, conflict and friction, between the ordinary Sinking Fund and the tux department, your committee has made a careful, thorough and extended investigation of the workingsof the Sinking Fund t'oiiimission, and lind that under the operation of the Acts of 18.1:2 and I S.Hi, inrefe.ence to unpaid taxes, tliat tlie t'ominission, through its agent, tlie Secretary of State and his subordinates, have admin istered the laws in a thorough and efficient manner, by industriously seeking out all property where taxes are due and unpaid for over twelve months, and not stayed l?y the action of a'ay judicial process. The character of the work ef * the Commission, is iu the nature of a gleaning machine, which follows a hjur- j I vester, and. operates to collect such unpaid taxes remaining in the hands of the current county machinery of the tax. deimrtment still uncollected, after the period of twelvo months has elapsed, and after which time, under the Act of it becomes assets of the said Sinking Fund Commission, 'thus it collects taxes which otherwise would be lost, and for this important wora to be most etliciently performed, should remain as at preseut. indoix'udont of the current tax department, whiuh it follows. The property owners whe tempt to evude, or dodge, the jiayment of thoir taxes, and thus fall into the hands of this agency, wc iiod to be, usually large property owners and speculators and corporations. Wetind many thousands dollars' worth of real estate have been discovered and placed npCit the duolieates. which hnvn a?<>o"a,i 4^.*.' ation for years, but will hereafter yield an annual revenue to current funds.' While the initial cost of this important work of collecting unpaid taxes, and in placing the proj?erty upon the tax dttplicate, is exjiensive, we hnd that enough has been done to pay the entir* cost andexpenses of the work, including salary of agents, and has aleo dtltrintr last year paid a net amount into the treasury of $4,100 over and above the amounts paid to county and sehubi fund, and other disbursements tooodnty officials, required to be mode oat of net collections of the Sinking l'und. After a careful investigation of the work performed under these Aote, we commend them as wise legislation, supplying a material deficiency ia the tax laws, aud going far to perfect the tax system. The low* are being administered by tne Governor, Attorner General, Oomptroller General, c hairman of the .Finance Committee of the Senate, and of the Ways and Means Committee of the House, who, ex-officio constitute the Hoard of the Commissioners of the Sinking fund, their work is carefully systematized, and.provided with checks and safeguards to prevent any abuse is the iMvformnnoo of their duties under the law. All important matters are acted upon by resolutions adopted by .. . the board, and euch and every not Of ' the agent is submitted to the board Mr review, and 'or its approval. There is, however, much friction between the Comptroller General's department and Sinking fund Commission. V. There was created by Section R. S. Tj. , Vol XXI, i> 21, for reduction and payment (by investment) of South Carolina Brown 4* i>er oeut. Brow* bonds ami stocks rnTien<l???l a?i ?.?. proved February Uotli, 18Jti, ana itt a fund cumulative in character, aud c|erived from phoHphate royalty, a nj>eeft?l Cumulative rhosphate hinking L'nnd, also under tho management of the ootemissioners of the sinking fund. ihe total value of the assets of the Phosphate Cumulative binking Faivd, [>n Dooembor dlBt, 1890, 8212,028.81. Of this amount, temporarily invented, ? 178,984.22; permanently, $8 >,728.05; unouuts invested, 8209,719.78; cash >alance on hand, 82,810.08; amount*, Ml:', ?28.8I. We commend the Act of Febrnaij !0, 1890, permitting the holders of drown 41 per oent. bonds, to deposit horn with tho Commission and borrotr *I>eetfully lTfiommejiu ?...? ^ A ?. egislation ho made to permit the botirul count y's in tho State, by Imrrowih^ in oh funds at a rate of iutorest not exceeding t> nor less than 5 per cent upOi i pledge of the county taxes, and upon meh terms as will entitle each oounty to lmrrow a fair portion of said fundjp, if it bo desires, under hu< li regulations is may be prescribed by the Connate^ lion, in conformity with such legistaLion as the General Assembly may ?*act. v Respectfully submitted, S. G. Maykiki.d, Senator. C. It. 1). Burns, It. M. CarroIjU, Representatives. THE SOCIAL WAR. What the Next Great Armed Conflict Will 11c About. The Civil War in the United State* turned upon slavery hidden tally, not vitally. The cause of that great flghlr lay much deeper. In the same way tho Social War which is coining will turn) incidentally upon religion, and he perhaps called a religious war hereafters but it will not be declared for the sake of faith against unbelief, nor be fought at first by any church, or alliance ef churches, against atheism. It will simply turn out that the men who light on ilit; iiiii* s:uc win nave eiuiei im- ronvidian or the prejudices of Christianil.v. or both, and that their adversaries will have neither. Hut the struggle will be at its height when the original steady current of facts which led to. inevitable strife has sunk into appar-i cut insignificance under the raglngt storm of condieting belief and unbelief. The disadvantage of the unbelievers* will lie in the fact that belief is posltlvo and assertive, whereas unbelief is negative and argumentative. It Is indeed easier to deny than to prove aliui st anything. Hut that is not tiie question. In life and war it is generally easier keep than to take, and besides, those who believe "rare," as we say, whereas those who deny generally "care" very little. It is probable, to say the least of it, that so long as the socialists of the near future believe assertively that they have discovered the means of Having humanity from misery and poverty, and tight for a pure conviction, thejr will have the better of it; but that when they lind themselves In the position of attacking half of mankind's religious faith, having no idea, but only a proposition. to offer in its place, they will be beaten. That seems far from tlie question of divorce, but it is not. Hefore the battle the opposing forces are encamped and intrenched at a 114tie distance from earh other, and caeli tries to undermine the other's outworks. Socialism. 00J-. leetlvely, has dug a mine under Social Order's strongest tower, which is called marriage, and the edifice is beginning to shake from its foundations, even before the slow-match Is lighted. ?From "A Itose of Yesterday," by Mur-t ion Crawford, Id the Century. '