The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1890-12-25
OUR COLUMBIA LETTER.
CoLUMcIA, S. G, Dec. 90, 1890.

MIR. EDITOR Last week was quite
busy one with the legislators, and several
important Bills were passed. Among
them Bill to abolish the Department of
Agriculture, and the Office of Commis.
sioner OF Agriculture, and to devolve the
duties thereof on the Board of Trustees
OF the Clemson College, exceptthe control
of the phosphate interest Bill to sell
the Agricultural Annex and the Agricul-
tural Hall at Columbia, the Experimental
Station at Darlington and Spartanburg
a Bill to reorganize the State University
Bill to establish a Phosphate Commits
sion; the Appropriation Bill and the
Supply Bill.
The levy for State tax is A mills, and
for County tax for Anderson County St
mills, making our total tax of mill
less than it was last year, ] for County,
and for State.
It is said that Speaker Irby will resign
tomorrow. Already. there are several
candidates for the position, but Ira B.
Jones, of Lancaster, and John Gary
Evans, of Aiken, seem to be the only two
whose candidacy is acknowledged, and it
seems now thst the former will be elect.
ed.
The Legislature will adjourn Wednes.
day morning.
Tomorrow we will elect two Railroad
Commissioners and one Trustee of Glenn
son College in place of Col. B. ". Ed
wards, deceased.
Office seeking has been great nuisance
to the Legislators during the session, and
if it is political leprosy, then the disease
has not been cured in this State; nor
will it ever be cured. 1t is really dis
gusting to witness the electioneering for
Office, and to see some things that take
place here. In many instances the ques.
ton of qualification is overlooked, and
other considerations urged for mans
election. But the conservative element
in the Legislature has a wholesome in
fuence, both in elections, and in legisla-
tion, and it is to be hoped that the State
will come out all right in. the end.
A Bill regulating the Offices of Trial
Justices in the State, and which had
passed the Senate, came up in the House
on its second reading. This Bill makes
the Office of Trial Justice commensurate
with the Office of Governor, and it is con-
tended by some will terminate the Office
of every Trial Justice in the State, and
that they will have to be appointed anew.
The Bill provides, however, that the Sec.
retary of State shall issue the commits
sions without fee. The Bill passed its
second reading in the House by majori.
ty of two votes.
Legislation has been very hurried for
the last week, and there has not been that
attention to the business before the Leg
islature as was given at first. The MEM
bers are anxious to get home, and good
many express themselves as satisfied with
legislation.
The Administration Bills, as they were
called byione member on the floor ofthe
House, have nearly all passed.
The new Railroad Bill has passed, and
is ready for ratification, and it is rumored
that the Governor will veto the Bill, be-
cause it provides right Of appeal from
the Railroad Commissioners to the Judge
or Presiding Judge Of the 9Th Circuit
the Circuit in which is Columbia.
!. Outside ofth Administration measures
as they have been termed, very few Bills
other than local Bills, have passed.
The Senate has killed several House
Bills, and the House has killed few
Senate Bills. Probably if more had been
killed it would be better. Some one has
remarked here that our best Legislators
were those who voted to kill Bills.
J. E. B.