The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-05
LEGISLATIVE NEWS AND NOTES.
Various Matters in the Progress Of Events
Likely to Go Through.

The following summary OF legisla-
Is drawing to close, will give an idea
of what is likely to become laws:
REDUCING PASSENGER RATES.
In the Senate Mr.. Mayfield moved
to take up the bill fixing railroad rates
for transportation Of passengers, which
was done. Tho bill makes first class
fare 3 cents por mile, and 2 1-2 cents
for second class.
Mr.. Buist moved tho adoption of the
unfavorable report.
Mr.. Norris moved to table this mo-
tion.
Mr.. Buist said he had taken some
pains to look into this matter and he
was convinced this measure would
work hardship to many railroads.
He did not represent the roads, but
he wanted to do his whole duty as q
citizen and as representative OF the
people. He read number of figures
which he said were absolutely correct
and only confirmed his belief that this
Is not the time to reduce the fare.
Mr.: Norris appreciated very full the
excellent service the railroads are
giving the people. He said somo OF
these roads charge in North Caro-
lima and in Georgia and yet in South
Carolina We must pay 81 cents milo.
he said 1t was an open question wheth-
er the increased travel, when cheap
rates prevailed, would not bring moro
money to the roads than the present
rate.
MIR. Sloan said the committee at first
reported favorably on the bill but after
the railroads had been heard, the
com mittee wore convinced that tho
roads were losing money, therefore
they rescinded their former action and
made an unfavorable report.
He had become convinced we should
lot this thing alone and lot tho COM
missioners settle the question.
Mr.. Mayfield said he hoped the un-
favorable report would not be adopted.
He answered the argument that
cause tho sections are moro densely
sottled. He said the roads won't
through no better sections in Georgia
and North Carolina than in South
Carolina. He favored making 1t a
uniform rate of 3 cents mile,
Mr.. Watson agreed with the senior
Senator in this matter. He was fully
convinced after hearing tho ropreson
tatives Of the roads, that wo could not
fully reduce tho rates.
MIR. Finley had heard these argu-
'hSAoo AOi oAH yO"io, hSfol
been convinced that the railroads
were too poor to stand the reduction.
He said tho roads are already carrying
passengers for 2 cents mile, as
shown by the issuance of 1000 milo
tickets.
MIR. Finloy said 1t is argued that tho
railroad commissioners can manage
this question-but they have not been
doing it. He moved to lay Mr.. Buist's
motion on the table. This was with
drawn and tho vote taken directly on
the adoption Of the unfavorablo report.
Tho vote resulted as follows:
Yeas-Barnwell, Brice, Buist, Dem
mis-, Douglass, Moses, Mcdaniel, Ragin,
Sloan, Verdier, Walker, Watson,
Williams.-13.
Nays--Archer, Barton, Derham,
DuBooe, Finley, Fuller, Harrison, May
field. Miller, McCalla, Norris, O'Dell,
Stackhouse, Stribling-14.
Having refused to adopt the unfa.
vorable report, tho Senate then passed
the bill.
CONFEDERATE PENSIONS.
When the pension bill was reached
in the House, Mr.. Fowler moved tC
reconsider the amendment requiring
the payment of pensions on the first
, Monday in April. He said that under
this q number of widows who will be
entitled to pensions would have to wal