Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-03-04
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Brief Synopsis Of the Important Proceed
ings of the House and Senate.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY q.
In THE HoUsE.-Mr. Shuman's bill
to eauallze the salaries and fees of
county offices in proportion to the
population and the service to be per-
formed, met with considerable favor /;
but on account Of its crudeness, was
recommitted.
There was fight on the proposition
to do away with the office OF school
commissioner. 1t was decided to let
the Office stand rs it is, except that the
name be changed to county superin-
tendent of education. A committee
amendment providing for the estab-
lishment of school book depository
in each county was adopted.
After considerable debate, it was de-
cided to base the apportionment of the
public school fund on an average at
tendance of 10 days.
In THE SENATE.-The morning
session was consumed in the discussion
of motion to pass the bill over the
governors veto, relieving storm-swept
portions of Beaufort and Colleton
counties from taxes. A good deal of
politics was developed in the discus
sion. The principal reason that had
been given by the governor for his
veto was the fact that most of the
small taxpayers had paid their taxes,
and only the large taxpayers would
be benefited. Mr.. Verdier made q
long speech in favor of passing the
bill over the governors veto. Among
other things, he produced long list
of the poor people who would be
beneftted-men who could pay their
taxes; but to whom it would be q
great hardship. He represented that
most of the county paper had gone
into the hands of one W. H. Lockwood,
q speculator, and that it was Lockwood
who, more than anybody else, was to
be benefited by the enforced collection
of taxes. Lockwood, said Mr.. Verdier,
had bought up the county paper at
great discount, and in his anxiety lest
he should not get his money, he had
made Misrepresentation to the gov
ernor.
The motion to overrule the govern
or's veto was lost by motion of Is to
IS. Senator Finley was among those
who voted not to sustain the veto.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY8. =
In THE HoUsE.-Most of the day
was taken up in the discussion of the
general educational bill and the cor
poration bill. The corporation bill, as
passed to third reading, provides as
follows:
"The board of corporators, on max
ing their return, shall pay to the Sec
retary of state charter fee graduated
as follows: Five dollars fee for capital
stock of $4,000 or less; SO fee for
capital stock of more than $4,000, up
to and including $4,000; SIS fee for
capital stock of more than $25, 900, up
to and including $4,000; $40 fee for
capital stock of more than $4,000,
up and including 100000; $25 fee
for capital stock of more than 500, 900,
up to and including S250,000, and
$1.0O additional for each $4,000 in
crease or fraction thereof above $780,
OOO.. All charter fees received by the
secretary of state shall be turned over
quarterly to the state treasurer.
In THE SENATE.-There was moth
ing of striking interest in the debates
of the day. A large number of acts
were ratified.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY g.
IN THE HOUSE. Quite an unusal
incident occurred during the morning
Mr.. Breeland, of Berkely, arose to a
question of personal privilege. He
complained that in one of the senate
committee rooms, Senator Dennis, of
Berkely, had called him id liar,
and threatened TO smash his brains
out. He wanted protection under the
constitution. The section of the con-
stitution under which he asked for
protection, provides that either house
will have the power to punish disre-
spect or contemptuous behavior to-
wards its members. The matter was
referred to the judiciary committee,
which reported that no assault had
been committed, and only abusive
language was charged, it did not think
that the house had jurisdiction.
Mr.. Carroll secured the passage of
bill reducing the allowance to sher-
ifs for dieting prisoners to 20 cents a
day. Supervisors are required to diet
convicts at cost.
Among the bills passed that are of
more especial interest to county
newspapers was one to discontinue the
publication of the annual reports of
county treasurers. Among other ar
guments, it was urged that in the
county of Abbeville, the publication of
this report had cost as much as 5000 a
year and no good had ever come OF it.
MONDAY, MARCH 2.
In THE HoUsE.-A big days work
was done and numerous bills were dis
posed of in short order. The friends of
the county board bill endeavored to
secure its passage; but without sue
cess. 1t was indefinitely postponed.
The public advertisement question
came up again and it was decided to
fix the rate to be charged for these ad-
vertisements at 81 per hundred words