The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-21
The Legislature.


turo has been hard at work, and has
considerably cleared the calendar,
despite the daily increase of dozen or
moro bills q day reported by the differ
ent committees. A number of acts
have been ratified already, but they
arc not of general interest, or clso
have not been sufficiently reported to
inform tho general reading public of
their nature.
The bill to prohibit dueling promises
to host trinmphantly through both
houses, with the proyiso that it shall
apply only to offences committed after
its passage. Tho old law required
conviction Of tho offense of ducling as
a prerequisite Of acknowledgements,
but the proposed low compels every
officer elected or appointed in the
State to mako oath himself that no has
never participated in duel in any
way, besides providing for conviction
and pnnishrcnt; and in these days of
office seeking it is argued that great
check will be placed OIL the passions of
ambitious mon.
The heaviest fight of tho session has
been in the House over the passage Of
tho liquor license law. The bill al-
ready mentioned in these columns
providing for State license of hum
dred dollars was postponed till next
session by vote of flfty-scvcn to fifty
five. The Charleston delegation op-
posed 1t almost selidly, and Mr..
Sccgers, of Richland, said it's passage
would destroy tho Democratic party.
Other members opposed the bill on the
ground that liauor selling isa nuisance
and crime that should not DO sanction
cd in any way. They favored total
prohibition or nothing at all. Others
opposed the bill because it gave tho
proceeds of the license to the State in
stcad OF the counties. The following
day DR.. Gary, Of Abbcville, moved to
reconsider tho vote killing the bill,
and his resolution was adopted. A
motioal by Colonel Simonton to post
pone the bill to the next session was
lost, amid some excitement, by vote
of 81 to 67. Mr.. Murray then intro
duccd substitute, framed to meet
objections, and it passed q second
reading by vote of74 to 81. The
motion to reconsider was tabled and
the bill practically becomes law.
The full text is given elsewhere. Tho
feature is that it permits the FREQ sale
of wine, cider and bocr, and double
taxes whiskey and other distilled
liquors. Colonel Simonton said ho
was wiling TO- pass prohibitory law
half loafis better than no bread, and
that by encouraging tho substitution
ofllght beverages for whiskoy many
OF the evils Of drinking will be avoid
Cd. 1t is said that this bill will meet
win little or no opposition in the
Senate. During tho debates in the
Houso petition Of eight thousand
ladies Of Charleston, covering thirty
yards OF signatures, asking for pro-
hibitory legislation, was unrolled, as
also petition ten feet long from ladies
of Anderson.
a fight, very amusing to outsiders
aud very desperate between The par-
ties directly Interested, has been wag-
ing ever since the beginning of tho
session, over bill to incorporate tho
Municipal Water Gas Company of
Charleston. The Charleston Gas Com
pany now holds monopoly, and is
fighting desperately to defeat the bill.
Water gas is made, wo believe, by ex-
tracing the hydrogen gas of the water
from supcrheated steam and thcn COM
bining it with illuminating substances
such rs naphtha and gasoline. This is
very cheap process, but in it's manu-
facturc large proportion Of carbonic
oxide gas is generated. This GAS is
more poisonous even than carbonic
acid gas, it is claimed, and on this the
Charleston Gas Company makes the
night. Statistics of the number of pco-
pie suffocated by not turning Off their
gas have boon presented to the Lcgis-
laturc, showing that in almost every
case water gas was used. Opinions
of experts and municipal ordinances
of other cities forbidding tho introduce
ton Of water gas, arc also poured into
the ears of the country members. On
the other hand, the Water Gas Com
pany produces counter statistics and
counter arguments, also from good
authority, which go to show that water
gas is as harmless as Mary's little lamb,
and it also rings all tho changes on the
cry of anti-monopoly. Tho Senate
committee reported nnfavorably and
the House committee favorably on the
charter of incorporation. In neithcr
house decisive vote been taken. mud
circulars, pamphlets and lobbyists
meet tho legislator at cvcry stcn,
What our law-givcrs don'tknow about
water gas now is not worth knowing.
Senator Mccall, Of Marlboro, intro
duced bill Oh Wednesday to cxempt
hmm yyo Y,s,s, L.