The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-18
KILLING DAY IN TIE HOUSE.

a KILLING a in The HOUSE 1
Knocked in the Heaa-The State Fair
Again Deferred.
The House was In, killing humor
on Saturday, and slaughtered bills
right and left, or put OF the evil day.
The following shows the drift of leg
islation just now:
THE ANTI-ELoPEMENT I'LL
When MIR. Piokens' bill to provide
for q marriage license law In this
State was taken up, imposing a license
fee Of 81, requiring the recording OF
all licenses and prohibiting tho mar
riage OF a woman under 81 years of age
without the consent of her parents, the
young ladies of the Columbia Female
College filed In.
There was more or less disorder and
the Speaker called the House to order,
asking the members to keep quiet SO
the young ladies in the gallery could |
hear, as this was q matter In which
they were particularly concerned.
MIR. Pickeps then tool the floor and
said the bill accomplished two ends
1t prevented premature marriages OF
immature persons and required the re-
cording of the license. He said he
understood that the young ladies In
the gallery, being principally con.
cerned, had come for the purpose of
hearing the debate on this bill, and he
hoped 1t would be discussed in a calm
and deliberate amer. Speaking Of
boys and girls clipping, he cited an
instance of q youthful couple who had
eloped. The next day the groom came
know what to do, and he gave the boy
some work.
Mr.. Thurmond wanted to know
whether two young people thoroughly
in love with one another would not by
this bill be prevented from marrying,
IL the parents objected.
MIR. Pickens said that would be the
effect.
MI. Thurmond-Then, I can't vote
for your bill. (Laughter.)
MIR. Pickens said the fact that the
State could not have a divorce law was
all he more reason why these early
marriages should be prevented. He
wanted to prevent anybody's marrying
until the age of 81 years had been
reach d.
Mr.. Thurmond wanted to know If a
young man 10 years of age couldn't
love just as hard as he could when he
was older.
Mr.. Pickens said that it was q ques-
tion of judgment. A young man could
not vote until he was 81 years Of age.
He would not prohibit in this bill
young people from marrying with their
parents consent.
} Mr.. Williams did not want to make
1t hard to get married 1T both ends OF
the line.
Mr.. Patton said marriage was a
snare he had tried for Is years to get
. into. But to shut off the young men
, this way was to let them get bald
headed before they got into the solemn
holy estate. He went on then to ex.
plain the marriage laws of the State.
The wisdom of the human race for
Y several centuries had proven that
3 such a restriction would not do. South
Carolina's law was the best in the
world to-day. Why try an expert.
ment and go on dangerous ground for
they all knew 1t was dangerous ground?
! Do you suppose that any cold blooded
! statute we a put down yonder will
restrain young blood when they meet
on a moonlight night in June?
MIR. Harper had to leave a State he
. had lived in and come here because
they wanted to make him get a license.
1 1t was a protection to the girls for
them to know thai they could marry.
The women of South Carolina looked
to the gentlemen of South Carolina for
3 their protection, and it was given.
Mr.. Pollock was opposed to any
undue influence. He hoped that the
> bill would be killed.
MIR. Pickens made some further re-
, marks n then the enacting words OF
: the bill were stricken out.
>, THE STATE FAIR MATTER.
. When the House adjourned the'night
D before the pending question on Mr..
l Thomas State fair appropriation bill
D was the motion to reconsider the
vote whereby the enacting words OF
> the bill had been stricken out and to
lay b a motion on the table. This
was called up n u parliamentary
tangle was the result, causing no end
. of wrangling. Mr.. Thomas wanted
the motion divided 50 that the motion
: to reconsider could be put by itself.
3 Mr.. Burns held that it was impossi-
, Die to so divide the motion. The
: Speaker ruled otherwise.
: Mr.. Thomas moved to adjourn de-
bate. Then he withdrew this motion
{ and moved that the further considera.
| lion OF the matter be postponed until
Monday mex "A bad tangle resulted
and much discussion took place.
, Mr.. BLACKWELL, apparently ~disgustcd,
. got up and exclaimed II move that
, TINS house do now adjourn until 10
O'Clock Monday morning We might as
, "Oil w uudb us uO WHAT we are QOlnp.O
After ONE further %wrangling the
Speaker decided to put the motion to
cllnch. MI. Thomas demanded the
roll call. The House refused to clincb
by q vote of do to az.
MIR. Earle moved to adjourn the do
bate until Tuesday next upon the mo
ton to reconsider the vote whereby the
bill had beer killed.
h House then adjourned thu de-
bate on tile question by a vote of Al to III.
h appropriation bill wRs then made
q special order for next Wndneadav
NO STATE REFoRMATORY.
Mr. Thomas bill t o provide for the
establishment and support OF q State
Reformatory for youthful criminals
was taken up and Mr.. Caughman
moved to strike out the enacting words.
Mr.. Thomas made a strong speech
on the matter. He said .he Governor
had told them that 2S7 persons under
IL years OF age were in the pepitanti.
airy. What was the use Of having an
executive head of the government to
make recommendations If thew we're
to disregard them? This bin had
passed the House last year. He asked
for the Reformatory In the nalne Of
humanity. 1t was q necessity.
MIR. Caughman said the fact that
there were 2o7 negroes under Is In the
peniteptlary was one reason that the
bill should be killed. These bows went
IN uohnol iill thau man, ~