The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1872-02-08
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE.
COLUMBIA. S. c.. January 81.

this most intolerable and inconsequential ses-
sion, with which the State has now been afiict-
ed for nine weary weeks, may reach its terml-
nation at some reasonably proximate date. 1t
is discouraging, however, to witness the utter
recklessuess with which the members Of the
lower house especially do spread themselves
and air their pitiful attempts at wit or oratory
on every possible occasion. 1t used to be
amusing, but it has passed that stage, and now
it is disgusting. The Legislative drama is not
we'll balanced, and the play begins to pail.
There are enough of members in the company,
but paucity Of characters, and all the parts
are but the repetition of the clown and heavy
villain. The one was formerly amusing and
the other interesting, but the villains have be-
come too clownish, and the clowns are getting
villainous the play is played out, and the
sooner the curtain is run down the better.
Some members of the Senate do not appear
to be quite satisfied with the amendments to
the election law they have already passed, and
this morning Mr. Whittemore gave notice of
another bill, which seeks to make some addi-
tional amendments; while MIR. Arnim intro
duced bill, of which he had previously given
notice. which seems to look to about the same
results as are accomplished by the very sensi-
BILE and decent bill which has lately passed the
Senate, and is pending in the House. MIR. Ar
MINIS bill is entitled "a bill to amend an act
entitled an act providing for the general cleo
tions, and the manner of conducting the same"
and it provides, first, that the managers of cleo
tioD shall proceed Immediately after the closing
of the polls at each election to publicly count
and declare the vote; second, that they shall
deliver their certificates delaring the vote, to-
gether with the poll-lists and ballot-boxes, to
the commissioners of election on the Tuesday
following the election, filing duplicate thereof
at the same time with the county clerk, and
forwarding another to the Secretary of State;
and third, that in the appointment of managers
and commissioners of election, at least one
member of each board shall be member of the
opposite political party to the one in power.
This was the only measure of any interest
brought up in the Senate to-day.
Mr.. Johnson gave notice of bill in relation
to gambling, which is probably the same as the
one introduced in the House and mentioned
below; and Mr. Beman Introduced bill to
incorporate, with the usual powers, the Deutsche
Bruderliche Bund, of Charleston. The rest of
the time was mainly occupied with debate
upon Mr. Whittemore's resolution to provide for
the registry of all State bonds and stocks, with
out, however, any definite action.
In the other house there was the usual will
derness of talk and scarcity of action. A re-
tian on the metropolitan police bill, but it was
not forthcoming, and from the delay that has
attended this outrageous scheme at every step,
and from various other encouraging signs,
there is every reason to believe that the meas
ure will never be carried Quite number of
bills and resolutions of more or less Importance
were introduced, among them being the follow
ing:
BY Mr. Nehemias, a bill to regulate the pay
of members of the General Assembly. This is
rather q startling bill, and still more remarka-
BILE rs coming from the little gentleman from
Beaufort, whose stature is almost indicated by
the first two syllables of his name and who is
an extremely quiet little man, and not given to
breaking out in this way. His friends, howey-
er, have lately seen a change in Mr. Nehemias.
His appetite has failed, and even his matitudi-
nal gin cocktail has lost its wonted charms. He
had, in bygone days, worked hard to acquire
fame as the best dressed man in the city; but
of late he has ceased to study choice patterns
in waistcoats, and has quite neglected artists,
both sartorial and tonsorial, until his trowsers
are no longer stunning, and his moustaches no
longer twine in glossy ringlets. The fact is, he
has been deep in the agonies OF parturltion,
and is only just delivered. Parturiunt Nehe-
mias, ct ndscitur ridiculus mus. The mouse"
is entitled as above and provides that hereafter
the incorruptible patriots who shall be elected
to serve their grateful constituents as members
of the General Assembly shall receive an an
nual salary of one thousand dollars, to be paid
quarterly and without any nonsense, and shall
receive an allowance of twenty cents per mile
for going and returning from their homes to
Columbia. There is no knowing but what this
bill will pass. Nehemias was sufficiently re-
covered to-day to be able to nurse his bantling,
and he explained that it was measure of econ
omy, % inasmuch as the members now pro-
longed each session to an alarming extent,
merely because they were paid by the day, and
that if they were paid by the job they would
hurry up to get through and thereby save in
printing attaches salaries, gas bills and all the
incidental expenses of a prolonged session.
This is very good argument of its kind, but
it is very sophstcal kind, and what the tax
payers will look at is the obstinate fact that
this same measure of economy proposes al an
nual outlay of S15G,00O for the item of men,
bers' salaries alone.
BY Mr. Hunter, Joint resolution authorizing
the leyying of certain taxes for the fiscal year
of 1923. This resolution modestly proposes
to extort from the people of this State during
the next twelve months, in addition to all local
taxes, the sum of nineteen mills on the dollar
TO pay for the luxury OF being swindled, insult
ed and misrepresented by the corrupt gang
who now control the destines of the State. 1t
requires that State tax on all taxable property
of three mills on the dollar shall be collected
between June and July l, 1872; ten mills on
the dollar to be collected between November
Is, 1872, and January l, 1873, and three mills
on the dollar to be- collected between June l
and July l, 1873 and it authorizes the county
commissioners to levy and collect taxes amount
ing to three mills ON the dollar for county pur-
BY Mr.. Gather, a bill in relation to gam
bling. This bill proposes to extend the deiini,
ton and apply the pains and penalties. of
gambling to the sport known as cock fighting {;
prohibits any town or city council from issuing
license to any establishment where Chicken
disputes" are INDUCED in, and provides that
any mayor or intendant sanctioning such
license, or in any way offending against this
i 4 n I