The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1893-12-21

WILL.
Senator Jenkins had listened will
interest at the arguments from Sena
tors from various counties and ONT
thing was evident, that there was ;
vast deal of diversity Of opinion as tt
what the practical workings Of the bill
would be: chat we are grouping In the
dark"
| Senator Evans replied to Senator
Jenkins, saying that the Senator's own
bill had been reported unfaVOrably
that he was endeavOIing to "hood- wink
Senators" for whom he ought to have a
higher regard. lie had appealed to
the thread bare argument about white
men laborlng by the sido of convicts
The bill made no such provisions. lie
was under the impression that Senator
Jenkins had said that this bill could lie
made good one. Senator Evans pro.
ceeded to repeat that the bill included
no great innovation. 1t merely abol-
ished the Office Of county commission
erS which the people aSSented to in
their vote on a constitutional amend.
ment.
Senator Jenkins stated that the Sen
ators bill had been defeate / in the
House and referred to the history. lie
had admitted that some of the bills
provisions were good, but he had found
that it was impossible to amend its
iDlpracticable features 1t had never
been voted to abolish the Office of coun-
ty commissioner but merely to put it
under the control Of the General AS
sembly, and not to have it constitu-
| tlonal Office. 81 am admOnished by tie
Senator that | am talking for bli
combe, but when | go home, unlike
himself, my political career is ended.
L say its shame and an outrage to de-.
sire our poor people to work by the
! side of cOnvictS."
Senator Evans debated this bill at
length, being from time to time Gin
| terpellated' from Senators from all
quarters of the chamber. He described
| the growth Of the recent road agitation
! and the road congresses throughout the
United States, and alluded in glowing
terms to the magnificent roads of the
Romans. When he touched upon the
"Appian Way" Senator Jenkins cruel
ly inquired if slaves did't build it. The
speaker respondC1 / that the argument
amounted TO saying that if we had no
slaves we must have 10 roads. Our
people were willing to build the roads.
Senator Derham thought the bill
might be enacted for those counties
which wanted it, and to whose condi-
lions 1T was suited. Senator Blgham
| opposed the bill. lie contended against
It's practicaDillty, and objected to the
expense OF the convict system. He
had talked with the people of Florence;
had tGld them that this bill was on the
calendar, and not Il man had possessed
the cheek TO ask that 1t be enacted.
| Senator j. q. Evans: "Was not this
| Dill an issue between you and Congress
| man MrLlurln in your race for Con-
gresS p Senator Bigham stood mute
TOR a minute, and then replied: Eyes;
bat 1t was sore point with ongress-
man McLaurin. He lodged the issue.
lie was willing to relieve Bigham and
his people of the whole thing"
senator Finley pronounced the bill
far superior TO any of the kinI preVi
ously introduced. The bill could hard
iy be opposed from the same stand
point rs that from which the bill Of
last year had been objected to. 1t was
impossible, hOWever, to prevail upon
the euple to do good service gratult-
ouSly, and service Of value could not be
expected from township road commits
SlonerS without remuneration.
Senator stan yarnc Wilson spoke in
defense of the bill. He reminded the
senate that 1t WAS one Of the few re-
forms Tor the good Of South Carolina
which remained umenacted. 1t would
be unfortunate for this one to fail of
passage. The Spartanburg Senator
was manifEstly uneasy about his friend.
Mr. Evans bill, and his speech on its
behalf was full Of earnestness; in fact
1t bordered on the pathetic. Ever and
anon Col. Darham Of Horny interposCI
III his quiet way with questions that
would have trippCd up less alroit de-
batter than Senator Wilson.
w hen Senator Tim 10
put In word It was palmer than ever
that the friends Of the me2sure were
frightened. He appealed to the Senate
not TO indefinitely poStpOse the bill, for
1t did not go in.O effect for a year.
There could be no danger In passing it.,
and there was plenty Of time for
amendment hereafter. The ayes a"d
na"s on the pending motion of Senator
Jenkins to indefinitely postpone the
bill were demanded and a call of the
vote resulted as follows:
AyeS-Abbott, BIgham, Brice, Der
ham, Ftsley, Glenn, Harrison, Jenkins,
Miller, Moore, O'Dell, Sloan and YER
dier.--l3.
Nays Barton, Beasley, Brown, Buist,
Elird. w, ID. Evans, j. G. Evans TnI''
Ter, lIemphilI, McGill, MayGeld, Me-
Daniel, Mower. Peake, Raytn, Rgd.
icarn, Smythe, SLrlbling, Zimmerman,
Williams and Wilson-2l. SO the mo,
ton was lost.
Senator J. G. Evans offered an
amendment prcCludIng cOnvicts to be
worked with or near contractors which
prevailed. Senator Evans remarked
that he offered the amendment to meet
the objection Of Senator Jenkins.
Senator Ncrdicr moved to amend by
making the Supervisors bond SlO,C. }.
1t would relieve his county from the
difficulty which ho mad referred to in
the morning. Senator T. vans was will
ing to accept tho amendment as to
Beaufort alone.
Senator Ferdier stated that the
amendment Of senator Evans would
not help matters. "You injure us by
your aid. Like most of your sugges-
tlOnS," rcmarG ed Mr.. Verdier with
bland smile, "it is impracticable."
Senator Verdier's amendment was
then voted down.
Senator BIgham moved to lay upon
the table the amendment excepting
Charleston from its operation. Sena,
tor Smythe had no objection to the
SrUDf q mntinn hnf if unc nnpn,o,