The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23

considered IN Inc Senate LO-Qay was Ille
duelling bill. A motion to strike out the
third Section, which required members
of the Legislature and other State officers,
before entering upon the duties Of office,
to take an oath that they have not en-
gagged in duel, as principal, second or
otherwise, since January I, 1881. and that
they will not do so during their term OF
Office, &C., was voted down by vote OF
Is to 10. An additional Section was Of
fered and adopted, providing that the
provisions of the bill shall not effect any
Indictment for duelling now pending,
and the bill then passed, without further
debate, and was ordered for third read
ing.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The agricultural committee reported
favorably on Senate concurrent resolu-
ton to request Congress to make the
United States Agricultural Department q
full government department and the
Commissioner Cabinet officer.
In the night session of the House the
bill to prohibit. the sale of Intoxicating
liquors in the State was taken up for
second time, and on motion to strike
out the enacting clause, Mr.. Prince, OF
Anderson, said that after witnessing the
scene in the House when the ladies' petit
tions were unrolled, sanctified as they
were by the tears and prayers OF the
broken-hearted women of Charleston
and Anderson, he had thought that no
man would dare to rise and make such q
motion. Every one OF every class and
color is interested in this matter. 1t is q
matter that is fraught with great good or
great evil to our State, and it is being
thought of and discussed by good people
everywhere. This traffic in liquor weighs
down all business, burdens the people
with debt and taxes, and it sits upon So
ciety like mighty incubus. It is a prin-
ciple of law that one person shall not use
his property so as to injure another.
Therefore it is the duty of government to
throw around society such projections as
llenable it to reach the ultima thule Of
liberty and happiness. He continued in
an eloquent strain to detail the evils Of
the LIQUOR traffic. He said that it was no
argument against the bill to say that it
would not stop the use and sale of
liquors, because 70 law to punish crime
does actually succeed in entirely sup
pressing the crime. He alluded to the
evils resulting from the carrying of pis-
tolls, and said that the harm dole by pis-
tolls was mostly when they were in the
hands of intoxicated men. The true
reason for the opposition to the bill is
that men are afraid of the liquor power
If the question were put to the con-
sciencs Of every member, they would an
swer that this traffic should be banished
from the land.
Mr.. Murray moved to lay the bill on
the table, which was agreed to.
The substitute offered by the Ways
and Means Committee, which required a
State license of 500 for the sale of intox-
icating liquor at retail or otherwise, in
addition to the amount required by the
county or town, and made the selling
without such license a misdemeanor,
punishable by fine Of not more than
$500 or imprisonment for more than
twelve months, was then takel up.
Mr.. Murray moved to make the license
$500, and in support Of his position, said
he would prefer license OF $500, but he
recognized the fact that the House would
not agree with him in that. He thought
the bill q step in the right direction. The
was adopted.
After being amended in several par
ticulars, further consideration of the bill
was postponed until tomorrow.
Wednesday, 18th December.
THE SENATE.
The matter of Importance in the Senate
to-day was a bill to exempt the real
estate and invested capital of immigrants
from taxation, except for school pur-
poses, for period of five years imme-
diately following their removal to the
State. It was amended so as to limit the
amount to S1,5O0, and passed to third
reading. Senator Crayton voted for the
bill.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The special committee appointed to
investigate the conduct of Commissioner
Colt reported that they had taken testi-
mony, together with statements from Mr..
Colt himself. This evidence they sub
mitted TO the House for it's consideration.
In conclusion the committee says:
.'Mr. Colt was entrusted with duties as
arduous as they were responsible. They
involved labors perhaps beyond the pow
ers of any man, which could not be per-
formed by him within the time limited
to him in the acts under which he was
appointed. Not a shadow of suspicion
rests upon Mr.. Colt Of completely in the
transactions by which the State suffered
loss. The misfortunes which have over
taken him excite the profound sympathy
of all honorable men, and address them
selves to the favorable consideration OF
the General Assembly"
Ordered for consideration to morrow.
The first matter of interest TO- day was
the consideration of the bill to regulate
the sale of intoxicating liquors, which
was under consideration at the adjourn
lnent of the House last night.
Mr.. Simpson move ed to reconsider the
vote whereby the House Had increased
the license from Sl00 to 5000. His object
in so doing, he said, was to reinsert th,
800 license recommended by the COM
mittee. He said his object in making the
motion was to try and harmonize the con-
ficting opinions of the members OF the
House. Personally he was in favor OF
total prohibition, but that failing, he had
advocated a State license. He thought,
however, in making this experiment that
the license should be placed at slOo. The
State could increase it next year, If the
plan worked well.
Mr.. Rucker hoped that tho license
would be placed at SlOO. The raising of
money from the traffic in liquor by the
State was new measure, and for this
reason, while he was in favor OF the
license, he preferred to move cautiously
and place it at $l0O. II the State desired
to 90 further after the experiment had
been tried she could do SO.
Mr.. Murray advocated the bill both as
a means of restricting all evil and ofpro-
ducing q revenue. It was right and fair
that the State, which had to pay the eX-
penses of the courts and tie jaiis and
the penitentiary, should receive some
revenue from the sale of liquor, which in
so large measure contributed to make
these institutions necessary. Such q
license would yield Sl50, 900 year to the
State, which in short time would enable
the State to get ahead of the taxes and
start the fiscal year from the first of jan
uary. He hoped the measure would pass,
and after q years trial the Legislature
could amend the law as it might deem
necessary.
The motion to reconsider was then
adopted. and the license was reduced from
6<,nO -