The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-12
Looking Fore and aft.
From the Legislative Deck
Of the Ship of State.
The Squalls That Have Been Pass
ed Through and the Storms That
are Ahead-A Long Voyage
Crew Taking it Easy.

The FIRST month of the annual session
Of the general assembly has pow come
and gone And so far the controlling
spirits of that body have seemed to be
the '.yaller dog" and the "poor white
man. The first was the controlling
spirit of the FIRST fortnight, bat. though
attacks we're made upon him, be proved
to be perfectly able to disconcers bis
enemies with one or two yelps. The
poor white man-the representative OF
that class of citizens to whom most
of us belong, but who seems to be an
an-powerful, aud, as it we're. unseen
and vaporous being created only for
use in legislative debates-seems to be
less fortunate. Judging from the end
less offers that have been made during
the past fortnight by the members to
act as guardians Of his interests, one
would be forced to the conclusion that
he needs protection as we'll as free trade
He has taken his share in nearly every
debate Of the past week, aud his coD-
dition Of utter helplessness has been
most forcibly portrayed. ln the mean
time be has in real life been rocking
along smoothly aud harmouiously a.
home, tilliug the soil and pursuing the
other wage.earning avocatioos. seem
ipgly unmipdful of the mental wear
and tear he has caused those Who
have been so solicitious for bis well
fare.
But to be more serious, already the
general assembly has consumed the
usual time given to an annual session
and as yet practically nothing has been
done in the way of making the new
statute laws contemplated by the Coz
stitution. Only few of the general
bills provided for have been passed IN
either house. The lower house of the
general assembly accomplished very
little until it jumped upon its calendar
on Friday morning last and started the
legislative grist mill to running in
manner that was calculated to surpass
the action of Calling gun. There
we're at that time considerably over
a hundred bills one the calendar. But
the number has been somewhat reduced
The Senate las been keeping up With
it's work very we'll, ond during the past
week has completed the consideration of
the general bills relating to the public
school funds the pensions and to the
corporations of the State.
To the house, one Of the leading fea-
lures of the week has been the leglsla-
tion against she railroads, the nature of
which is entirely familiar to the readers
of The State. One was the forfeiture
of the charter bill, providing for such
forfei,ures 10 case Of the failure Of the
roads 10 put in operation rate fixed BY
the State commission. Then there was
the bill reducing tie passenger rates;
and another. he aosi-Sunday freight
train bill. The senate has already pct
the light of ore of laese bills out
The senate committee oo railroads.
which has the others in charge, will
give the railroad nen hearing this
week-at 4 o'clock ca Tuesdey after
noon.
Another feature Of toe past weeks
work was the adoption of the resous-
ion prooiding for the appointment OF
an investigating committee to look iato
the matter Of the securing of The
greater portion Of toe roads of the
State by the Southern railway system
Speaking of Investigations it is as
we'll to mention that the joint committee
appointed to look into the affairs of
Clemson college has been at the lostl-
tuition for several days.
An investigation committee was sp-
pointed during the past week, too, TO
look iuto the very important matter OF
the cost of the public printing Of the
State. Pending this committees re-
port, the house refused to proceed with
the election Of a pablo printer last
week. It is understood that a reduc-
ton of the prices to be paid for the
public printing is pretty certain to be
made. 1t is equally as certain that an
interesting fight will be made when the
election comes of for public printer.
Considerable assa ntion is being directed
tc the question of the cost of the pub
lie printing.
The house did the graceful! thing on
Thursday when it declared that only
women should be employed as clerks in
the engrossing department. Now the
matter is in the hands of the free con-
ference committee.
Another matter that the house, did
last week, causing much discussion,
was the adoption Of the free tuition bill,
putting property aud money qualiica-
lions in to meet the beneficiary scholar
ships in the citadel.