Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-02-19
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Brief Synopsis of the Important Proceed
ings of the House and Senate.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY l3.
In THE HoUsE.-The most import
ant discussion of the day was on a
proposition to abolish the privilege
tax on fertilizers and levy on the fer
tilizers sufficient tax per ton for all
goods sold, to maintain the expert
ment station at Clemson and provide
for analyses. Before the discussion
was concluded, it was pointed out that
the farmers would have to pay the tax
all the same, and the proposed bill
was killed.
The bill to give the dispensary prof
its that have accrued up to January 1st,
last, to the ordinary State fund, was
passed to third reading, and so also
was bill making it unlawful to hunt
or fish on Sunday.
In THE SENATE.-Mr. Archer want
ed to amend the statute relating to
township commissioners, 30 as to re-
duce the number of commissioners
from 8 to l. He maintained that one
man had to do all the work and that
the others were usually drawback.
Mr.. Finley favored Mr.. Archer's
amendment. He said that York's
roads were worse under the present
law than they had been for years. He
thought it would be much better to
have one man to look after the roads
in each township. Several senators
called attention to the fact that the
law has been in operation only short
time, and it would probably be best
not to changei it until it had had fair
trial. Mr.. Archer's amendment was lost
by vote of 10 to Is. A large number
of bills passed their third reading but
none of them seem to be of any spe-
cial interest.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY IA.
In THE HoUsE.-A bill to exempt
active members of the militia from
road duty swas passed to third read
ing.
The appropriation bill developed
some interesting debate. Mr.. Will
liams, of Edgefeld, wanted some in
formation on the appropriation of
$4,000 for the Atlanta exposition. He
was told that the governor had tried
to raise the money by private subscrip-
ton; but, failing, had advanced it
himself. He did not like the arrange
ment. The matter had been discussed
in the legislature last year, and the
legislature had refused to make the
appropriation. Now the governor has
taken the matter in his own hands,
spent the money on his own respon-
sibility, and calls upon the legislature
to make the amount good. Our peo-
pie have seriously objected to execu-
tive legislation in Washington, and he
was unable to see that there was any,
thing in this case that was less objec-
tionable. He held that the appropria-
tion would be unconstitutional.
Mr.. Townsend suggested that the
Winthrop authorities had spent more
than they had been authorized to
spend, and that the house had sane
toned their action. He did not think
that it would be unconstitutional to
reimburse the governor.
Mr.. Patton moved that the matter
be referred to the attorney general for
an opinion. The attorney general
found that the governor had spent the
money on his own responsibility. The
exhibit is now in Columbia, neucleus
for future exhibits, and the governor
merely desires that the State reim-
burse him and own the exhibit. In
the opinion Of the attorney general,
the appropriation would not be un-
constitutional.
Next, Mr.. Townsend objected to
the appropriation for the State fair
on the ground that it was unconsti.
tutional. Mr.. Patton could not see
this was not as constitutional as the
appropriation to reimburse the gov
ernor, and Mr.. Townsend did not try
to explain.
Action on the appropriation to reim
burse the governor was deferred. The
State fair appropriation was killed.
In THE SENATE.-The bill providing
for and requiring the election of weigh
ers in all cotton markets was killed.
The bill to regulate the number
hours railroad employees should be
allowed to work met the same fate,
and also the bills requiring that stores
be shut up before o'clock on Satur-
day nights.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY l5.
IN THE HoUsE.-The proposition
requiring licenses for marriage was
discussed at length and finally killed.
Among the new bills introduced was
the following by Mr.. Floyd: To pro-
vide for graduated tax on occupa-
tions, requires every person, firm com.
pany or corporation in any trade,
business or profession named in the
bill to obtain a license therefor. Fail
ure to secure license entails penal
ty of so per cent. on amount of the Ii
cense. Every one is required to file a
preliminary statement as to the busi-
ness done, and in case of failure to do
80 or false statement is made, or in
case of refusal to take an oath as to the
correctness of the statement, the
.&,, orl;tor nroooo1o to oeoarto;y,