The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1890-12-24
WINDING UP THEIR WORK.

| W 1ND1NU VI 11lU1IG w Vllh'
THE LEGISLATURE FINISHES ITs AN
NUAL TASK.
Important Measures Postponed as Usual
The Rush of Private and Local Matters
Some Notable Enactments.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. 20-Special:
The Legislative session may now be
said to have ended. The work of the
three DAYS of next week will be of a
very formal and, indeed, perfunctory
character. Laws will be passed at a
speed limited only by the vocal capac'-
ty of the reading clerks. The opportu-
nifty for discussion is past. All that
the most keen-eyed legislator may now
nope to do, lies in the amendment OF
pending laws where their defci ieneles
are of the most glaring character. The
merits of the case cannot now be con-
sidered. This haste, incident to the
rush of business in the las days OF the
session has been one of the evils of our
law-making ever since the Legislature
restored the old rule of adjourning be-
fore Christmas, whether for no." The
serious aspect of the thing appears IN
the fact that some-frequently most
of the important measures go throu 5h
their last stages in the closing hours of
the eseSsion. Under such circumstances
there is constant danger of some clerl-
cal error or some informality of pro-
cedure. just serious enough to render
worthless very important measures.
The present session, as Will have
been observed by the readers of this
correspondence, has formed no excep
tion to the rule that the minor matters
of laW-making absorbed the attention
of both branches of the General Assem-
bly, for the first two weeks at least.
Something different appears to have
been expected of the present body, but
the circumstances suggested IN this
correspondence, as inducing delay, have,
been more than usually operative upon
the members. There have, of course.
been numbers of bills passed. These,
however, as already indicated, have
been chiefly of local ilterest-measures
determined. really, by the wishes OF
the members representing the partlcu-
lar community affected. The matters
of general interest will now be noted.
NEW MEASURES.
Among these were the following:
Bill to punish frauds or mlSrepre-
sentations in the manufacture, analy-
sis or sale of fertilizers and CONNER
cial manures in this State. (House)
This bill makes it misdemeanor to
violate any of the regulations as to TIE
manufacture and analysis of CONNER
cial fertilizers, punishable with not
more than $500 fine or one years I'M
prisonment, or both in the discretion
of the Court.
Bill to provide for the redistricting
of the several counties of this State
and to provide for the election of
school trustees. The bill relates to the
reformation of school districts through
out the State. (HouSe)
Bill to regulate the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors in this State.
The purpose of this measure is to
prohibit the sale of spurious and malt
liquors within this State. The bill is
copy of the Kansas prohibition law
now in existence. Druggists alone are
allowed to sell alcohol or any splrltu-
Gus or malt liquors, and they are re-
ouired to obtain permit from the copl=
ty commissioners so to do under very
rigid conditions. They must give a
bond in the sum of $1,000 to carry out
the terms of the permit, which cannot
be granted unless the druggist seeking
it is man Of good moral character and
has not engaged in the sale of lntoxl-
eating liquor for so many years. lie is
required to keep book in which shall
be entered the amount Of liquor pur-
chased, where from and what for, and
must account for its distribution be-
fore he can purchase more. The rail-
roads are forbidden to transport liquor
to any one except druggists, and only
to them upon permit from the county
commissioners.
In the event of violation of the
terms of the law the bond will be for
feited and a portion of it will go to the
parties injured by the violation and the
remainder to the school fund.
Mr.. Norton, from the House commit
tee on mines and mining, submitted
with a favorable report and with
amendments a bill to create a phos-
phate commission and define its pow
ers and duties. The bill has been fully
described, but the amendments pro-
posed by the committee change 1t ma
terially.
The committee recommend that the
phosphate commissioners shall consist
of the Governor, Attorney General and
Comptroller General AID two citizens
to be appointed by the other three con-
missioners for terms of four and SIX
years respectively. Also that no in
crease Of royalty be made by the COM
missioners without six months notice.
Also the commission is empowered to
make contracts with phosphate COM
panies on such terms as they see fit for
periods not exceeding seven years.
Next followsa provision for the res
toration to the State @: the phosphate
territory now worked by the Coosaw
Company.
THE RAILROAD BILL.
Mr.. Yeldell, from the committee on
railroads, reported favorably on the
railroad bill with large number OF
amendments. The most important are
these:
The three commissioners are to be
elected by the Legislature for a term OF
six years, instead of being appointed
by the Governor. Only two commits
sioners, however, will be elected at this
session, as the committee has decided
that under the law Mr.. Jervey will hold
over for two years longer.
The Governor is given the power to
fill vacancies occurring between ses-
sions of the Legislature, such appolntee
to hold until the following meeting OF
the General Assembly, when an election
must be held to ill the vacancy. One
of thetwo commissioners to be elected
at this session is for the unexp!red term
of Commissioner Bonham.
The commissioners are to be paid