The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-12-19

| the bill when Ii was understood that
the supervisor was to be appoined. III
he was to be elected, then It was cer-
tain that he would be Republican
and negro.
Senator John G. Evans: 81 am will
ing to accept an amendment for the
GoVernor to appoint the supervisor
for Beaufort
Senator Verdier stated that such an
arrangement would place him in an
| awkward position. 1t would break up
the amicable arrangement now exist
ing with the negroes, by which the
Senate enjoyed the benefit of his SER
vices.
Senator J. G. Evans: "I shall give
notice of general amendments on the
| third reading, and promise the Senator
a political amendment, agreed upon
with him, to meet the necessities of his
county"
Senator w. d. Evans moved to
amend by making the time by which
| the tax could be committed in labor at
five instead Of eight days.
Senator Evans said that he was in
favor OF the bill nearly all the way
through, but II the Senator from Aiken
had been road overseer as long as
he had. he would understand what an
Unfair burden would be placed upon
poor people.
Senator J. G. Evans, who was in an
accepting frame of mind, agreed to ac-
cept this amendment, too.
Senator Zimmerman thought that
the amendment would defeat the pur-
pose of the bill as to the hilly sections
of the State.
Senator Fuller believed that in his
county three days road service was as
much as was averaged.
Senator Finley objected to the S-day
provision, maintaining that the labor
OF those who could not pay the tax
would be given to the county at the
rate of twenty-five cents a day.
Senator Evans was not welded to
the idea of any special number of days,
put believed that q minimum and max
imum ought to be fixed.
Senator Derham referred to the
chain gang feature, and couldn't un-
dorstand how there could be chain
gang in his county, which had only
about two convicts in the penitentiary.
1T was running a grind-stone with "a
forty-horse power engine
The debate was beginning to scatter
itself all over the State. Senator
Harrison discussed the bill as it's pro-
visions could be applied to his section
OF the State. Then the Senator struck
out with his right arm at Section II
which allowed the supervisor to dis
miss defaulting contractors at will.
Senator Jenkins had listened with
interest at the arguments of Senators
from various counties and one thing
was evident that there was vast
deal of diversity of opinion as to what
the practlcai workings of the bill
would be: that we are CROPPING in the
dark"
Senator Evans replied to Senator
.lenkins, saying that the Senator's own
Dill had been reported unfavorably
that he was endeavoring to "hood-
wink Senators for whom he ought to
have higher regard. He had ap-
pealcd to the thread-bare argument
about white men laboring by the side
of convicts. The bill made no such
provision. He was under the impress
sion that. Senator Jenkins had said
that this bill could be made IL good
report that the bill included no great
innovation. 1t merely abolished the
Office OF county commissioners which
the people assented to in their vote on
constitutional amendment.
Senator jenkins stated that tho Sen
ator's bill had been defeated in the
House and referred to the history.
He had admitted that some of the
bllls provisions were good, but he had
found that is was impossible to amend
its impracticable features. 1t had
never been voted to abolish the Office
OF county commissioner, but merlcy to
put it under the control of the General
Assembly, and not to have it consti-
tutiOnal Office. - am admOnished by
the Senator that L am talking for bun
combe, but when | 60 home, unlike
himself, my political career is ended.
say its shame and an outrage to
desire our poor people to work by the
side of convicts."
Senator Evans debated the bill at
length, being from time to time Gin
terpellated by Senators from all
quarters of the chamber. He de-
scribed the growth of the recent road
agitation and the road congresses
throughout the United States, and
alluded in glowing terms to the magni-
ficent roads of the Romans. When he
touched upon the "Appian Way,r
Senator Jenkins cruclly inquired if
slaves didn't build it. The speaker
responded that the argument amounted
to saying that if we had no slaves we
must have no roads. Our people were
willing to build the roads.
Senator Dcrham thought the bill
nlSlG Do enacted lOr those counties
which wanted it, and to whose condi-
tiOns it was suited.
Senator Bigham opposed the bill.
He contended against its practical
bility, and objected to the expense of
the convict system. He had talked
with the people Of Florence had told
them that this bill was on the calendar,
and not man had possessed the cheek
| to ask that it be enacted.
Senator j. G.. Evans "Was not
this bill an issue between you and Con-
gressman McLaurin in your race for
| Congress-?
Senator Bigham stood mute for a
minute, and then replied: "Yes but
! it was Il sore point with Congressman
McLaurin. He lodged the issue. He
| was willing to relieve Bigham and his
people of the whole thing"
Senator Finley pronounced the bill
far superior to any of the kind pre-
yiously introduced. The bill could
hardly be opposed from the same
standpoint as that from which the
bill of last year had been objected to.
1t was impossible, however, to pre-
vail upon the people to do good service
gratuitously, and service of value
could not be expected from township
road commissioners without remunera-
tion.
On motion of Senator Wilson. the
1pbntn VIVA a1ipurpo1 until ~ -,