The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-12-07
4 Survey OF the Field.
Columbia State, Dec. 5th.

News and even gossip were scarce
articles in Columbia yesterday, and the
serenity Of the quiet Sabbath Was rarely
disecrsted with decussions OF legislative
projects, freaks and foibles. "Off After"
to the names OF solons OF all
ages on the hotel registers told the tale OF
their departure.
Senator John Gary Evans was occa-
sionally visible about the Jerome, who're
he is domiciled, as was also Speaker Ira
B. Jones. Tho two were the only con-
spicuous leaders Of the reform movement
left to keep watch and ward over the
capital.
This, the third week OF the session, is
apt to be crowded with interesting events.
Wednesday the fun will begin in both
Houses. In the Senate that day has been
fixed for the great labor agisation-in
other words, the consideration OF Senator
Finley's bill for the reduction OF salaries.
The measure is almost sure to pass but it
will have changed beyond recognition Dy
the time the final vote Is reached. 1t
will be remembered that about half the
Senators gave notice Of general amend
ments, tho bill having already passed the
second reading. which means that all
these gentlemen have in mind some par
ticular wherein they think it defectiTe.
The general result will be that the aver
age reduction Of the salaries will be much
lower than is contemplated in the bill.
For 1915 o'clock of the same day the
bill providing for homo for INDECENT
Confederate Veterans has been made the
special order.
Wednesday in the House will see the
battle pitched on the all-important ques-
ton Of prohibition, 1t being the special
order Immediately after third roadlng
bills" 1t is going to be hard, persis-
tent fight, from start to finish. 1t is now
said that six or seven members OF the
special committee Of thirty-five who did
not sign the minority report, are yet not
in favor Of the Roper bill and amend
ments as reported. Mr.. Notifies, the
Clarendon member, is said to be strenu-
ously opposed to this bill, although he
has long been prohibition leader OF the
most pronounced typo. It may be that
he will have q very considerable folloW-
inQ, and when the alternative is presentod
to his people Of accepting the Roper Dill
or OF shifting the whole matter once
again upon the voters of the State, as is
provided in the minority report brought
in by Sullivan and others, what course
they will pursue is a matter Of mere
guess work. II no further compromise
is agreed upon and these gentlemen can
not bring themselves to vote for meas
ure to which they are conscientlousiy
opposed the success of prohibition is very
far from being assured.
There is now some possibility that tho
County government scheme vii! oe
deferred for another year by being placed
in the hands Of q special committee to 20
considered. like the Australian ballot, in
the recess between this and the next ses-
sion.
Some Of the members doubtless appre-
ciate that Senator Evans measure ln-
wolves very grave matters Of both prln :.
ciple and practice and arc not disposed
to rush it into the statute books until 1t
has been perfected by mature study.
Such sentiment certainly exists but It's
present strength is an unknown quantity.
Whilo the Lowrance Haskell PROPOSE
ton has been thrust back into the House,
burdened with an unfavorable com mittee
report, now that it has been explained by
Col. Haskell, the sound suggestion 1t
contains and the strong common sense
behind it may become more potent to the
Legislators. II some Reformer thinks be
has "something better" and puts reior m
tax upon it Col. Haskolrs plan Will fall
yery dat. But the refundment problem
is one that must be solved, because the
credit and solvency Of The State hang.
upon 1t. It Is altogether unlikely that
ANYBODY elso has devised a means TO
meet the crisis, olso 1t would have come
to light long ago. Who can divine any
motive TOR keeping such light under
bushel9' 1t may be therefore that Col
Haskell's reasoning may yet find favor In
tho ewes Of the Tillmanites.
The "Greenville idea" Of County courts
and o multiplicity Of judges and prose-
cutting officers is dead and about forgot
ten. In the Same way the brilliant pro-
posi- to elect four or FIVE Judges and m
associate justice at this session has also
been dropped, unless 1t Is lurking some
where and waiting for en- opportunity to
come In again in the hope Of more cor
dial reception. There is some chat,
though, among the Tillmanitcs about
Judge McGowan's successor, and the
names most mentioned are those OF
Speaker Jones and Lieutenant Governor
Gary. Since the elevation OF the Lieu
tenant Governors brother to the circuit
bonch the prospects Of Mr.. Jones have a
decidedly brighter looA-in fact, they
outshlne those OF the other men. But
this election is long way off, and strange
things may happen in a twelve-month.