The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-01-22
The Weeks Work.
CONSIDERABLE WORK
DONE BY THE
LEGISLATURE

hGOlOAA ~ II II
Nearly all the Leading Meas
ures Provided For in the
Convention Introduced. a
Disposition to Hustle Which
May Shorten the Session.
The first week of the session of the
general assembly of South Carolina
of 1896 has now passed into history,
and the body is going ahead in pretty
good working shape. The work so
far has covered five working days,
and they have resulted in consider
able amount Of work being done.
The body has shown a disposition at
the outset to work with as little loss
of time as possible, and some are Of
the opinion that the session will not
be as long as all have seemed to
think
Considerable time has been sa> !!
by the introduction at the very out
set of the leading measures provided
for in the new constitution, which
were prepared in advance by Assist
ant Attorney General Townsend and
Senator Ehrd. With these impor-
tant bills the public are alread: ia
miliar. They were sent in promptly
so that they could get before the
committees and several of them have
been reported. One, the bill pro-
vid;ng for the reorganization Of
the State Supreme Court, has
passed tine Senate and been sent to
the House, while it's mate IN the
House is ready for second reading.
Both houses by tn, energetic work
of the committees have gotten their
calendars, which were pretty we'll
cleaned up the first two days, quite
full, and henceforth there will be no
occasion for a lack of material to
work upon The educational bill,
which is one of the more important
measures, has not yet made its ap-
pearance. There are plenty of other
bills also that have not yet been
heard from, and there is likely to be
a considerable fight over certain
features of the appropriation bill
when it comes in.
Both houses have shown a desire
to dispose of the bills provided for
in the new constitution before deal
ing with any of the smaller matters.
The leading event of the past week
i, the body was the fight over the
bill to abolish the Citadel academy,
which was killed on Saturday. The
debate over this bill led to the dis
cussion of certain factiona matters,
which the members of the constitu.
tional convention seemed to think,
and very reasonably too, were buried
forever. These matters will doubt
less make their reappearance when
the CitadePs appropriation comes up.
Of all the bills introduced thus far
the "yalIer dog" scalp bill seems to
be the most unique in it's require.
ments, though there have been some
others of quite an interesting char
acter.
Resolutions have already made
their appearance looking to inyestl-
eating committees on three interest
ing subjects. First there is the in
yestigation Of the charges Of Direct
or Willoughby against Superintend-
ent Neal. OF the penitentiary, the
committee beginning work thereon at
noon to day. Then there is the IN
vestigation Of the charges and ru-
mors in regard to the troubles at
Clemson College. and lastly there is
the proposed investigation of the
railroad situation in this State.
Speaking of railroads, the legislature
has thus far shown disposition to
deal with them in accordance with
what Governor Evans said in his
message. The bills proposing to fix
new fertilizer rate in the statute
law, and to reduce passenger rates
are among the measures affecting
railroads.
Thus far nothing has appeared in
either house bearing on the dispen-
sary system in any notable manner.
Governor Evans has not yet sent in
his promised special message ON this
branch of the State government
This week the commissioners report
of the last quarter will be issued and
the governor expects 70 transmit this
message about the end of this or the
first of next week. Of course the
subject is an interesting one.
The election of the Associate jus.
tices of the Snpreme Court, which