The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-02-26
The Legislature.

Iodihi u 10 luo qloStlOu Iudt &c
weighing heavily upon many a member
who has been away from his home, bis
family and his business since tho middle
of January. Many want. and hope to be
able, To come 20 an adjournment by tho
end of the week, but they are very much
afraid that it is only a fond dream. There
are so many special and pet plans in the
way that they fear that the bills of gen.
eral Importance will not be passed as
they should be. 1t is openly claimed that
there are a few members who want to
stay in Columbia just as long as they can.
on the ground that they can be Of service
to the State, and that 81 a dav is more
than they can make at home. II the
whispers Of some anxious members were
heard the insinuations might be even
broader.
Be that as it may, the General Assem-
week, and has accomplished a great deal,
either in the killing or the passage Of
pend ng measures. there is still q great
deal ahead which must he acted upon, and
which can be passed in a comparatively
short time, as the propositions nave been
pretty generally considered. The gen.
ersl education and charter bill have not
yet been acted upon, and q few sections
of the appropriation bill and al Of the
supply bill remains for consideration.
Of course, the income tax and the gradua-
ted license tax propositions may be dis
cussed and records made, but why they
sho lid be considered for days, perhaps,
when it is pretty generally understood
that it is not deemed Advisable to pass
them at this dime, is perhaps best to be
answered by those who undertake the
debate.
Thorc, ic coroa onviafu 90 RI uhofhor
the Senate will concur in the House
amendments, or whether the committees
can come to any agreement, on the regis
tration and educational bills. For in.
stance. the Senate gave these measures
first consideration. and the registration
bill was amended in almost every section
by the House. aud the education bill has
been essentially changed in committee.
In case there is q bitch in the agresment
there may be another excuse for an e1-
tended session.
The only action that has thus far been
taken in connection with the d%ispensary
question Is the passage Of the House bill
providing for the election of the commits
>ioner by the people, and the selection OF
a board Of directors by the General AS
sembly, and The management of the in
stitutiOn through these directors. The
responsibility for the dispensary has
heretofore been left almost entirely in the
hands of the Governor and the commits
sioner, but from the debare that has al
ready been had it would appear that
there is a demand that this power be cur-
tailed. The Gospel temperance people
have been hard at work trying to en-
courage the bill by which it is proposed
to restrict the sale of liquor TO mecbani-
cal, medicinal and ~sacramental purposes
the original Intention of the first dis
pensary bill. The prohibition sentiment
In the State is quite strong, but is not
likely to have much influence in the face
of the financial exigencies ofthe Admins
tration.
During the past week two investigating
committees reported-one on Clemson
and the other on public printing. The
result as to Clemson was what was gen.
orally expected. The report and bill on
public printing are likely to occasion
comment throughout the State. 1t has
not generally been known that the de-
partment reports have cost so much
money, and that the Stale Treasurer's
and Attorney Generals reports cost such
an intinitessinal part of the gross
amount. II there has been much cream
in the State printing it appears that 1t Is
about to be skinned. A general reduc-
ton in rates has been made in q bill that
has already passed the House, and another
bill proposes TO restrict materially the
amount Of printing in the State reports.
1t is intended to begin the new and
most important of all registrations by
April !. 1t will take considerable push
TO have AL the necessary printing done
within the nexttwo or three weeks. The
appointments and forms nave to be filled
out, u it will take some hard work to
have matters in shape for the beginning
of work in April.
The insurance interests of The State are
very much exercised over the passage OF
the McCdlla bill. 1t has now passed the
Senate and been ordered a third reading
ia the House, with an amendment strik-
ing out tbs exemption for Charleston and
columbia. If the Senate agrees to this
the bill becomes a law, and then the
agents predict that rates will 60 up and
that some cold line' companies will
withdraw from business in the State.
The anti-cigarette proposition Of Mr..
Conner, which passed in the House with
such a whirl, was altogether a surprise.
1t met with no opposition in the House,
and Mr.. Conner is satisfied that it will
become q law. The cigarette consumers
are already calculating how much pos
tage it will cost them to get a weeks
| supply of cigarettes from some neighbor-
ing city. 1t will cert-inly be cheaper to
do this than to buy cigarettes with a Is
| cent tax tag on them.
The members who went to Charleston
returned TO Columbia somewhat late
| Saturday night, but none the less de-
lighted with the trip. They recalled
many pleasing incidents of the day, and
spoke in the highest terms of the excur-
sion, aud the excellent treatment given
by the board of visitors, and the citizens
generally.
The bill repeating the law prohibiting
the use of free passes went through the
House without any trouble. The third
reading was done in double.quick time,
and the measure has now gone over to
the Senate.
There are several new county schemes
already in the air. Greenwood, Honea
Path and B~ranchville, have already
shown their colors, and are already out
alter first honors for new counties. There
seems to be but little doubt that half of
the counties will have another box at the
general election in which to vote on the
question of dividing the old counties.
In all likelihood the Hospital for the
Insane will be authorized to purchase the
Wallace property.
The State Fair will not get any apprc-
priation this year.
The dispensary-temperance bill has
bean scheduled for Tomorrow night.
Mr.. Dothage's bank inspector bill will
come up early in the week.
Speaker Frank Gary pleases the House
very much. He il a good worker.
The county government bill has per-
haps been the occasion for more amenda-
tory bills than any other law.
Representative Thos. Miller is under
| stood to be q candidate for president of
| the reorganized Clafin.
Governor Evans has begun to approve
| Acts.
The tax levy has not been fixed, but
| this committee insists that it need not be
over 3D. mills.
Very little interest is being taken in
| the May Convention.
The militia will receive its usual appro-
prietion.
"Seeing is believing" and that will
count tor very much in the Citadel ap-
preparation.
The South Carolina College aprropria-
ton, as recommended, has been seriously
scaled.
Very few set speeches have been made
during the session.
The fve-minutes rule will save much
time.
Capt. Harper, it Is suggested, will get
out q copyright on calling the previous
question.
The volume of business undertaken