The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-03-11
The General Assembly.
Hurry and Bungle at the End
of the Session as Usual.

UdJ VI - 'nS ~ oN''iS '1~T = 'o'-
differences The House has 6nished its
work and pow has hegotiations pending
as to the settlement Of the outstanding
bills.
The dispensary bill, which same
over as a Senate amend men', brought
abou, singular complication. 10
some way the bill was left over ontii
such late day in the session that its
friends and promoters were afraid in
any way to jeopardize its chances aud
insisted on accepting the Senate sub
s,itute, and this had to be done without
any amendments being offered from the
floor of the House It is, perhaps.
noteworthy that such an important
measure was rushed through the House
and bad to be vo'ed for ic such man
DER. but perhaps for once the Senate's
lud gment was taken.
There was decided surprise in the
House when the Senate resolution came
over trying to crowd out ell members of
the General Assembly from receiving
any of the Offices that were to be dis
tributed al this session. The resolu-
tion put he objection TO electlng mem
bers on constitutional grounds of hold
irg two Offices. bat the members pre-
ferred to think over the matter,
although they had but recently bad a
study OF tine question in the CASTOR
Duncan matter.
/, is suggested that nuuiber of ibe
mem bers are likely TO be named for
places on the new board OF control
Some of these named would probably
like :he work, bat it is claimed that the
commissioner should have business mer
90 the board, who can cooperate wita
him in managing the business.
The idea is not TO make the places
houoray. but to get some ac'ua! service
out Of the board.
The day for the elections has not get
been fixed.
The senate got a swing on it yes er-
day and did great work on its calendar
When it met at 10 o'clock it was de-
cidcd that all uncontested bills would
be taken up first aad then those over
which there would be discussion con-
sidered. In this way the calendar was
reduced in short order.
The features of the morning session
we're The discussions on the bills chang
ing the county seat of Berkeley abd
prohibiting the leasing of convcts to
private parties. Both we're killed, as
we'll as the salary reduction bill. The
bill TO permit the town council Of
Orangeburg to sell 800 shares of Man
chester aud Augusta railroad stock was
killed on motion Of Mr.. Barton.
Mr.. Archer offered the following con-
current resolution, which was unaoi
mously adopted
That whereas the Constitution pro-
vides that no person sisll hold two
Offices of honor or profit at the same
time and that 90 person shall be eligible
10 seat iu the general assembly while
he holds another Office or position of
profit or trust under this State. be it
Resolved by the senate, the house OF
representatives copcurrlDg. that the
general assembly shall not elect any
mem ber Of either house member OF
the State board Of control or to any
position of profit or trust at this ses-
sion
Senator Brice moved to indefinitely
postpone the bill to ''prevent the hiring
Of convicts to private farmers
Mr. B7ice said any such restrictions
would cripple the penifentiary and
make it burden on toe taxpayers
When work op the State farms was
finished in the fall why should not the
farmers in the neigh borhood be allowed
+; to hire those couvicts to dig bitches
and do other such work. Are they tc
be kept in the pcnitentiary in ldlepcss
aud be preached to? Such a policy
was uubusipesslike nonsense
Mr. Finley malntalnd that this bll
had been drawn in accordance with the
policy of the State expressed severa
years ago when the leasing OF conv'ct<
to phosphate works was discontinued
because Of cruel treatment received
He understood the policy of the State
to be opposed to hiring convicts tc
either private persons or corporations
Mr.. Archer agreed with the position
taken by Mr.. Brice. Criminals were no
sent to the peniteutlary to live in luxury
and idleuets. He was satisfied con
victs on farms we're we'll treated.
Senators McCalla. May6eld auc
Norris spoke against the bill, the lat
ter thinking politicians should no
meddIe in business matters.
The ayes and noes we're called or
Mr. Brice's motion to strike out th'
enacting words, the motion prevailed