The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-12-25
OUR COLUMBIA LETTER.

The New Chief Justice-A Ship Canal for
Chnrles.on-The South Carolina Univer-
sity Under Ruse-A Bureau OF Agricu1-
ture for South Carollna-The Phosphate
Companies and Taxation-The Columbia
Canal Passes the eSenate-Singular Scenes
for the CapitoEThe Adjou, nment Prob
lem-The Appropriation Bill as it Passed
the Senate-Other Matters.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec @, 1879.
The election for Chief Justice, to fill
the place declined by Judge McIyer,
came off on last Thursday night instead
of Tuesday, as we expected when we last
wrote, but the result therein predicted
was correct. The joint assembly was
called to order at o'clock p. m, and
Senator Wyle of Lancaster, nominated
Gov. w. D. Simpson, in an extended
eulogy, which was seconded by Col.
Simonton, of Charleston. There was no
other nomination, and Gov. Simpson was
unanimously elected. 1t is just to Judge
McIyer that we should say the criticisms
upon his course do him injustice, for he
was no doubt actuated by very pure and
patriotic motives, really making great
sacrifice by declining the highest judi
cial Office in the State for the purpose Of
preventing trouble as to his successors
election, upon tho grounds stated by us
last week.
For some years there has been desire
on the part of the business men of the
State to have the South Carolina Railroad
carried to the water in Charleston in
order that the expenses. of through
freights to and from New York and Eu-
rope may be reduced. This has not been
accomplished, however, but the Bill to
dig 3syi:. "l
SHIP CANAL
from Cooper to Ashley River, at a point
near Charleston, has passed both Houses
of the Legislature, and will carry the
water to the railroad. By this Bill the
State will pay fifteen thousand dollars
for the digging of the canal, but will as
condition precedent to it receive con-
tract for granite from the penitentiary
quarries, to be used in the Charleston
jetties, which will pay the sum back sew
eral times over. Gen. r. r. Hemphill
opposed this measure, on theground that
it was not Democratic. and that the State
had no right to engage in the construc-
ton of publicimprovements. Gen. Rut-
ledge replied that Mr.. Calhoun's theory
was that the general government did not
have this right, because it was not SOW
ereign, for sovereignty. resided in the
States. He contended that this was an
advantageous measure, and ought to be
adopted. Mr.. Murray followed, arguing
that it was not wasting money, but MAX
ing judicious investment, for by ex-
pending fifteen thousand dollars the State
was to have contract for some two hun
dred thousand dollars worth of granite,
the profits on which would more than re-
pay the expense by the State. he also
showed that by bringing the wharf to the
railroad it would do away with the dray-
age of fifteen cents per bale on cotton
shipped to New York, which now has to
be hauled through the streets of Charles
ton from the railroad to the steamers.
BE favored the Bill. It.was passed by a
vote of 96 TO 10 in the House, and received
no opposition in-the Senate.
One of the worst measures that has
been before this Legislature was Bill to
establish
A STATE AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE,
which is believed to be merely ruse, for
re-opening the South Carolina College,
but whether this be so or not, it requires
the State to reissue $4,000 worth Of
State stock, bearing six per cent interest,
to this College in place of the amount
which the Radicals stole, and also asked
for .Sl2, 900, part of interest the Radicals
did not pay, and for the balance, $4,000,
in bonds. The Bill was fought mostper-
sistently, and the vote at first was against
it, but the friends of the measure were
rushed in, and, under the operation Of
the previous question, the Bill was passed,
with the positive promise and assurance
from its friends that the last two clauses
should be stricken out in the Senate, or
that the Governor would veto it. We be-
lieve the result will be to reopen the
South Carolina University, and make
positions for some broken down teachers
who have strong influences and connec-
tions in the State. The name, however,
of an Agricultural College caught the
fancy of a number of farmers and secured
their votes for this Bill, which would not
have been given for it otherwise. There
was only majority of nine in favor of
its passage to third reading in the
House. 1t has not yet passed the Senate,
but we fear it will pass that body also,
for there seems to be disposition to pass
all such measures in both Houses.
There was lively discussion over the
question of taxing
THE PHOSPHATE COMPANIES.
1t will be remembered that for the last
ten or twelve years these companies have
only been paying taxes on their land,
valued at from five to twenty dollars per
acre, while they have been paying moth
ing on the hundreds of thousands of dol
lars that they have mined and sold. The
friends of the companies admit that there
are several hundred thousand dollars due
on these back taxes, but claim they can
not be made to pay them by law. Mr..
Buist, the chairman Of the Ways and
Means Committee, moved to amend the
tax bill so as to make them pay taxes on
half of their gross proceeds il future.
On motion Of Mr.. Murray this was laid
on the table. He also moved to exempt
them from their back taxes. On motion |
of Mr.. Murray this was also laid on the |
table. Mr.. Simonton moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the resolution |
800, oJortad fo low on fha ta h1a the NM