The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-12
HOUSE AND SENATE.
ICoNTINUED FROM PAGE ONE. |

- NA e66iSS~oihS AhoAo she@h eiiAi tSSAt
hours in twenty-four hours, or had
gone on duty after a thirteen hours
run, or runs aggregating thirteen
hours, before ten hours rest.
Sec. 2. That any railroad iolating
any of the provisions of section 1 of
this act shall be subject to forfeiture
of not less than $500 nor more than
$500. That one-half of all for
FIXTURES collected under the provi
sions of this act shall be paid into
the State treasury, to the credit of the
school fund, and the other half to the
informer.
| THE ENGROSsING DEPARTMENT.
The senate bill to provide for the Or
ganization of the engrossing depart
ment was taken up.
Judge Townsend said that the only
object of the bill was to relieve the
State of about 50, 900 annual expense.
He said last year the engrossing de-
partment cost $3,7O0 and under this
bill it would cost about $1,000. The
bill proposes saving, of 50, 900. The
| attorney general has this year receiv-
ed about 500 applications for positions
in the department and clerks are now
employed who cannot spell correctly.
This bill restricts the number of clerks
to one for each solicitor and that num-
ber cannot be increased. The reply
ing to applications and entertaining
visitors urging the claims of applicants
consumes one. third of the attorney
generals time. It is an outrage as
to the money spent in this department:
The attorney general favors this bill
and will overlook the work. It is to
be presumed that the solicitors will
bring competent men.
Here, too, there was much debate
chiefly on the question whether wo-
men only should be employed. The
bill finally went through in the fol-
lowing shape:
Section /. That the engrossing de-
partment of the general assembly shall
be under the direction and supervision
of the attorney general, and shall con.
sist of the attorney general and chief
clerk to be appointed by him, and of
the solicitors of the State and of one
female clerk resident in each judicial
circuit.
Sec. 2. The attorney general shall
notify such number of solicitors and
clerks so appointed to attend upon the
meetings of the general assembly as he
may deem necessary from time to
time to properly perform the work OF
the department.
Sec. 4. The solicitors, the chief
clerk and the clerks of the engrossing
department shall receive for their COM
pensation the same per diem and mile
age as the members of the general as
sembly for the time they are actually
employed in the work of the depart
ment.
Subsequently an effort was made to
reconsider the vote passing the bill,
but the House refused choosing school
teachers.
When Mr.. Sturkie's bill to allow
patrons of the different public shoots
of the State to select their teachers was
taken up, Mr.. Whitmire moved to
strike out the enacting words.
Mr.. Sturkie defended his bill. He
could see no rational reason why there
should be any objection to the bill.
He said it was of the greatest impor-
lance to allow the patrons to select the
teachers of their children. The ma
iority should rule in this matter.
Mr.. Hough said that this thing of Sc
lecting teachers was one thing in
which intelligence should rule. The
Intelligent board should have charge
of this important matter. Pass this
bill and you will mark the downfall
of the public schools in South Carroll
ma.
After further debate the bill was re
jected.
| ABOUT FREE TUITION.
Mr.. Holloway's bill regulating free
tuition in the institutions for hig her
education within this State was taken
up and Mr.. Watson moved to strike
out the enacting words.
Mr.. Holloway said he had hoped the
bill would have passed without orro-
sition. The argument had been made
that the State was not able to carry so
many beneficiary institutions.
Mr.. J. W. Mitchell said he was no
enemy to higher education, but he
wanted the poor peoples children to
get the benefit of the States school
funds. They were not there to educate
rich mems sons. He did not know
that Clemson would do what they
were expected here to do.
Theprovisions of the bill are as fol-
lows:
Section 1. That no charges for tut
lion shall be made against or collect
ed from any of the youth of this State
by any of the schools or colleges for
higher education supported and con,
trolled by the State unless the parents
of such youth shall have gross annu.
al income of at least $1,000, or shall
own property of the value of at least
So, 900, or unless in the case of no par
ents living the youth has held In trust
for him or her an estate or income OF
like value.
Sec. 2. No youth shall become a
beneficiary in any way whatever IN
any of said schools or colleges unless
entitled as above to free tuition and
qualified otherwise as may be required
| by law or the rules and regulations
prescribed by the boards controlling
said institutions.
Sec. 3. That this act shall take ef-
feet Immediately upon its approval.
Subsequently the bill was rejected.
Appalling Disaster.
BRISTOL, Conn.,, Feb. GA most
lanpallinp disaster occurred here short