The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-12
LAWMAKERS AT WORK.
A Busy SEASON IN THE LEGISLATIVE
PERIOD.
Several Measures of Great Importance In
troduced and Copsidered--Summary oi
the Proceedings.

1870 and the Senate at $50 p. m.
In the latter the bill in reference 70
emigration agents was killed; Ine
following We're passed to tnlrd read
ing. Mr.. Moses bill to define the
manner in which towns increase OF
diminish their corporate limits; bill
changing the name of the "State lu
natic asylum" to 1.-The State hospital
for the insane" the house anti, prize
fipht bill; Mr.. Walkers bill to amend
the act relating to agricultural liens,
which makes no material changes in
the present; Mr.. Harrison's bill to fur
ther protect landlords; house bill to
pay Jurors and State witnesses ferri
age; Mr.. Stribling's bill pertaining to
building a bridge across a the keowee
river near the mouth of Little river,
and the concurrent resolution pertain
ing to the time for electing penltentla'
ry directors.
No bills of special interest were in
troduced except Mr.. Finley's relative
to the collection of taxes on municipal
property not used for municipal pur,
poses in accordance with the new con-
stitution.
The house decided to hold day and
night sessions henceforth and declined
to consider propositions to hx the day
of final adjournment and the limit to
the introduction of bills.
The judiciary committee made ia
voraple report on the new registration
bill.
It was only few minutes after the
body was called to order when the
house struck the second reading bills,
there being 81 such bills and resolu-
tons on the calendar.
After several bills had been passed
over Mr.. Gary's bill to authorize the
sinking fund commission to lend The
SINKING fund on the security of the
valid bonds of the State when the
bonds cannot be purchased at par
was called up out of its order, Judge
Townsend saying there was large
amount of money lying idle which
should be utilized.
Mr.. Gadsden moved to strike out
the enacting words of the bill, saying it
was yery dangerous for the State to
90 into the banking business with the
credit of the State. This fund was put
aside as guarantee for the security
of the State bonds. 1t was wrong to
touch this fund. 1t is not certain that
the State will at all times have such
an honorable gentleman for State
treasurer as she now has. 1t was put
ing too much power IN one mans
hands and opened the gates for the gl-
gantic defrauding of the State. The
bonds themselves would be endan-
gered. :.
After much debate and the voting
down of Mr. Patton's amendment TO
fix the minimum rate of interest at 8
per cent, the bill passed to its third
reading with Al per cent. minimum
rate of interest.
MIR. Hazleden's bill to provide for
the forfeiture of charters OF railroads
charging higher rates than those fixed
by the railroad commissioners was
taken up and discussed :,
The bill was finally passed to third
reading with an amendment. by MIR.
Patton, providing for an appeal to
courts of competent jurisdiction.
A bill to exempt mortgages held by
banks from taxation was indefinitely
postponed.
A resolution providing for the State
moving in the matter of erecting a
monument to George Peabody passed
unanimously. .
A resolution to appoint committee
to examine into the status of the rail
roads of the State was introduced by
Mr.. Burn.
THE SCHOOL LAW.
In the Senate this morning the first
bill taken up was that to alter, amend
and perfect the school law.
Mr.. Efird offered the following Sec
ton, providing for a board OF educa-
ton to take the place of the present
school commissioner:
Section-The State board of educa-
ton shall appoint in each county three
persons, each of whom shall be COM
petent TO hold a teachers first grade
certificate and to conduct teachers
institute, who shall be known as the
county board of education, who shall
hold their term of office for the term
of two years from the time of their ap-
pointment and until their successors
shall qualify. They shall take the
oath of Office prescribed in section 26
of Article III of the constitution and
the oath against dueling. They shall
organize by the election of one Of their
members as chairman and one as Sec
retary. The county board of educa-
ton shall meet quarterly at the coun-
ty seat and shall receive as compensa-
ton three dollars per day and five
cents per mile of necessary travel, to
be paid by the county treasurer upon
the warrant of the county board of
commissioners: Provided, such board
is not in session more than ten days
in any one year. The secretary of the
board of education shall attend al the
court house, in the Office of the coun-
ty board, on each and every Saturday
while the public school term lasts in
his county and for one month there
after for the purpose of approving
teachers pay certificates or warrants
properly signed by the trustees of the
various school districts, and to keep an
account of the claims so approved.
He shall receive as compensation one
hundred dollars, to be paid quarterly
By the county treasurer upon the war
rant of the county board of commits.
sioners.
Mr.. Finley offered what was design,
ed as a substitute for Mr.. Efrd's
amendment. Its object was to retain