The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-19
The Past and the Future.
Along With a Glimpse of the
Legislative Present.

At the opening Of this, the sixth
week of the annual session Of the gen.
e:al assembly the special bill providing
for the 6oal adjournment Of the body
seems to be far away at the tail end of
the calendar Of time 1t is simply
.tout of sight" 1t seems to have been
recommisted. The seoate as commit
tee Of the whole is on quiet hunt for
it, but over in the house no search
seems to have been Instituted. Of
course it will be found some time or
other, but exactly when no one can With
any degree Of safety at this stage pre-
dict. The FIRST scent of the missing
link was found yesterday when it be-
came impossible to introduce any more
bills iu the house except through the
committees. There was not so much
talk about the poor white man during
the week just ended, but the new COZ
ssitution began to get in its work 10 the
hands of the legal members Of the
house and it was oft quoted. There has
been very little of genuine importance
accomplished during the past week,
though considerable amount Of work
has been done and there have been
some Interesting discussions. So far
as results are concerned. however,
most of them have been of a minor
character. The railroads got through
the week without any material damage
in the lower house.
The senate has gotten up With its
calendar aud for several days has been
waiting on the house 1t bas killed the
thirteen hour bill. the Saturday night
closing bill and the bill relating to the
prohibition of the organization of COM
pauies bearing arms, not being portion
Of the State militia. The committee has
reported favorably on the three-cents-a-
mile house bill aud unfavorably on the
jim Crow car bill, aud both have been
recommitted to the committee on rail-
roads. The senate has also passed the
adulterased butter aud milk bill.
The house is where public attention
is directed now. 1t has about one hun
dred and thirty bills still on its caleo-
dar. Of these only tweuty.six are
senate bills and resolutions. And
nearly all of the general bills are
among them, along with others calcu.
lated to occasion much debate. The
house is now just ready to get down to
work aud this week will witness many
matters of general interest.
The registration bill has been practi-
cally disposed Of, the provision for an
openly conducted examination being
stricken out after an exceedingly inter-
esting debate. The bill was simply sent
back TO she committee for it to incorpor.
ate the numerous house amendments.
All the other election measures. includ-
ing Mr.. Manning's Australian ballot
bill are on the special order list still
awaiting consideration OF course they
will have to be disposed Of.
Another interesting and important
matter during the past week was the
question as to the disposition of the
privilege tax. Mr. Conoor's bill to
abolish it vas thoroughly discussed. and
was killed. Mr.. Ramsford's DILL to
allow specific sums to go to Wlotarop
and Clemson aud put the excess into
the general fund is still pending with
every indication that it will pass.
@The senate bill relating to magis-
,rates has been practically disposed Of
after a pretty thorough debate, but is
still on the calendar. The state fair
bill is till under the head of unfinished
business on motion to reconsider the
vote whereby the enacting words we're
stricken out.
Another rock Oh the special order cal.
endar is the senate bill relating to
building and loan associations.
For tomorrow the special orders are
the general bill fixing the compensation
of county officials, making it uniform
in proportion to population of the seve-
raj counties. and Mr.. Patton's ware
house bill.
The house has already wressled over
the appropriation bill, stumbling on the
$4,000 Atlanta exposition rock, unde
the guidance of Mr. Williams, of
Edge6eld, and having very interest
ing debate over it. This was the item
which caused the attorney general to be
asked for his opinion as to its constitu-
sionality, and elected his opinion al
ready published. This bill bas been
made a special order for Wednesday.
all the other general bills not already
disposed of are occupying their posi-
tions on the calendar.
The senate's concurrent resolution
fixing the time for the final adjourn
ment has been made special order for
L. ~ IL,