The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-12-12

session Of 1888 have brought torth feWer
results, whether in the passage Or the
introduction of important measures
than almost any previous session.
Both houses seem inclined to ''jog
along" and await rather than suggest
measures OF greatest public interest.
The Senate does its work very rapidly
generally clearing its calendar every day,
with some little time left for the Con-
script Fathers to gather ediication Cat
leisure) by attending the sessions of the
lower but larger branch. In the House
there is always food of bills. Among
these are numbers of measures of nc
public interest. But they must go
through all the stages, from reference to
some committee to their survival or
their death on one of the two subsequent
readings. The calendar soon becomes
crowded, and it looks as if there is to
be no end to the law.making. In the
midst of this apparently small business
(though some of it is very important to
the communities afected) there are GER
tain topics whose consideration very
intimately concerns the public welfare.
Some of these will now be noticed.
THE CLEMSON BEoUEsT.
It was generally supposed that some
measure would be early introduced look
ing to the formal acceptance by the
State of the bequest made in the will Of
the late Thomas G.. Clemson, for the
purpose of founding separate agricul-
tural college. Col. f. W. Simpson, the
executor of the will, has submitted a
copy of that instrument and asked the
General Assembly to signify the States
acceptance or rejection of the bequest.
The proceedings incident to the pre-
sentation of the communication were
nowise significant of the sentiment of
either branch. The will was ordered to
be printed for the information of the
members-nothing further.
A caucus of the friends and active
movers in behalf the Clemson College
was held at the Grand Central Hotel.
Between thirty and forty Senators and
Representatives were present. Senator
W. Pope, of Ne7berry, presided. The
plans to be pursued in bringing the
measure before the Legislature and
pushing it there were thoroughly dis
cussed and committee consisting of
Senators Edwards, OF Darlington, and
Ferguson, of Laurens, and Representa-
tive w. G. Benet, of Abbeville, was ap-
pointed to prepare bill to De presented
simultaneously in both houses. The
bill has been framed to include the &C.
ceptauce of the bequest with small
appropriation to begin work so as to
comply with the provisions of the Glenn
son will It has already been intro
duced-in the Senate by Col. Edwards
of Darlington, and IN the House by Mr..
Bennett OF Abbeville.
REDUCING SALARIES.
The first movement towards a rednc-
ton of salaries was embodied in bill
offered in the House by Mr.. Fowler, Of
Union, to reduce the salary of the Cir
cult Judges from $500 to $500. The
bill was unfavorably reported by the
judiciary committee. Mr. King, Of Alb
beville, suggested by way of compromise
$1,000 instead of $1,000 as yearly
stipend. Then followed II long debate,
consuming well-nigh the whole time Of
the House for two days. The majority
of the members were inclined to the
compromise; so, after considerable talk,
the bill was passed to its third reading
by vote of 66 to Al. lis fate in the
Senate is doubtful.
Mr.. Barkley has introduced bill to
fix the per diem and mileage Of the
members. Col. Barkley says that his
bill fixes the per diem at 81 and the
mileage at one cent mile.
The economists of the House, it is
said, held al informal caucus Thursday
night and decided to push on with all
their reform measures. Il is on the
cards to pass bill reducing the Gov
ernor's salary to $1,000, and that of all
State officers to Sl,S0O, cutting down
clerical assistance funds proportionately.
It is also said that they have decided to
push the reapportionment bill through
at once, and all other economic meas
ures; that 10 appropriation will be made
for work on the State House, and that
appropriations will be reduced horizon
tally.
TIE SCHOOL TAX.
There was also brief discussion On
the bill by Mr.. Thompson to increase
the constitutional mill educational tax
to mills. This bill had Oeen reported
unfavorably by Mr.. Dantzler, of Or
augeburg, chairman Of the new commit
tee on public schools.
lIr. Thompson, it's author, made an
earnest appeal for the bill. It was ad.
mitted that there was in many counties
g very great lack of public schooling.
In many cases the system was farce.
The only way that he could think Of to
improve them was by an increase of the
taxes.
Mr.. Dantzler said the committee
sgreed that the public school system
needed Improvement, but they did not
think that it could be accomplished by
an additional levy of one mill. An extra
tax would not be well received by the
taxpayers, and besides would not i'm
prove the schools. Il would require
much more radical legislation to i'm
prove the public school system. The
bill was rejected.
TOWNSHIP BONDS.