The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-11-23
CAROLINA LAWMAKERS.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE AGAIN
IN SESSION.

Speaker ira B. Jones and the Other
Old Officers Of the Lower House Re
EIected-The Senate Also Reflects
It's Old Ofacers-The Governors
Message Read.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Nov. 22.-The general
assembly Of South Carolina convened in
annual session at noon to-day. In the
House Speaker Ira B. Jones aud all the
otLer old officers were reelected, with the
exception that D. B. PeurIfoy Of Edgefeld
will succeed W. B. Wellbarn as reading
clerk, the latter now being a member Of the
House. In accepting the office Speaker
Jones said he would doubtless use his privi-
Ieges as a member to assist in bringing
about reforms, but he would not abuse his
position to boost friend or hutniliate an
opponent
IN the Senate Lieut.. Gov. Gary presided,
and the old officers were reelected. The
IlllmRnites had caucus beforehand to de-
eide upon the officers. In the caucus "Cal'
Coughman was reelected reading clerk by
only 2 votes.
renstor Jenkins introduced a bill to
change the system Of county governments
that Is likely to cause one of the principal
debates of the session. Il provides that the
counties shall be subdivided Into town
buAps. buu JuhI 6dCu township oHdAA
| have supervisor, clerk, tax collector
and road overseers, who shall constitute
board of assessors. County treasures and
school commissioners shall be abolished.
The day was devoted to the transaction
of routine matters.
Gov. Iillman's message was read in the
Senate. His suggestions against the advis-
| ability of the prohibition law seems to have
thrown a little cold water on the scheme
which has heretofore been regarded as GER
tain to pass.
The governors friends say that his argu-
ment on the bank cases, which formed the
staple for the charge of incompetency in the
recent state canvass, is simply uuanswer-
able.
It is gratifying to the friends of the col
lege TO note in the message that the gov
ernor does not agree with superintendent
of Education Mayfeld III regard TO closing
the South Carolina College, and that he
intends to carry out bis agreement to sup
port it literally.
A BIG CROWD.
The hotels and business places are
| Just hummiug under the influence
of scores of members of the general
assembly, which met to-day. There
are l25 members of the House and thirty-six
! of the Senate. Half of the senator's are new
men, as are about one-third Of the repre-
sentatives. The element that supported
| Gov Tillman in the recent election is over
| whelmingly in the majority in both
| branches, and the Conservatives will have
to sing small" if they want to accomplish
| anything. There are many matters Of in-
terest that will be acted upon at this ses-
| sion.
The woods are full of candidates for the
positions that are to be filled by the legis-
lature.
The chief contests at this session are for
the positions of superintendent of the peni-
Il
and three railroad commissioners.
The candidates that are regarded as
! standing good chances to succeed Congress-
man-elect Talbert at the penltentiary are
! w. A. Neal of Anderson, who is a director
of the penitentiary; Representa- tive John
| K. Harrison of Greenville. and Capt. Eus
gene JarniRan OF Marion, who Is Col Tai
bert's assistant at the penitentiary. The in
dIcations are that Mr.. Neal will be the man
selected.
The most prominent candidates for the
three positions on tue board of railroad
commissioners are: Col. Darcy Duncan
and II. R. Thomas, who are incumbents,
and K. r. Walter of Oraugeburg, T. w.
Stanland Of Berkeley and the Rev. j. A.
Sigh of Newberry, who has had his eyes on
this temp ting morsel for several years. 1t
is impossible to predict the successful ones
as they are all great "reformers" and are in
high favor with the administration,
The most important matter that the
legislature will have to deal with is the
settlement Of the state debt. The only re-
ference to the debt is the state treasurer's
annual report is contained IN these words:
Negotiations for placing the new bonds
have not yet been completed"
THE STATE COLLEGE.
The discovery that Superintendent of
Education Mayfeld has recommended to
the legislature to abolish the South Caro-
lima college, and that bill embodying his
suggestions has been prepared and will be
introduced, is piece of news that will stir
up many people in South Carolina and else
where, for the graduates of this famous
institution are scattered all over the United
States.
The suggestion OF Mr.. Mayfield-that the
college he converted into a normal and in
dustrial college for both sexes-does not
seem to be an unreasonable proposition in
the light of existing conditions. The final
wreck Of the institution Is exactly what its
friends predicted when its foes tempered
with it and curtailed it of It's scientific and
archaeological features. Since the action of
the legislature was put into operation, one
year ago, the attendance has dwindled down
to seventy students This matter is quite
likely to provoke big fight in the general
assembly.
The legislature will have difficult task
this year to make some provision for the
confederate soldiers. 1t is estimated that
there are in the state at least 1000 men and
women who are in actual need in conse-
Quence of services rendered during the war.
The advocates of a soldiers home are en-
couraged at their prospects this year and
they are making strenuous efforts to carry
the scheme through.