The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-18
The General Assembly.
IN THE HOUSE OF IsEPKESEN ia,
TLEES.
ScDaratc Con for tho Whites and
Blacks-r'hc Cigarette EVIL is Dclt
With and u Tax Imposed.

With and II Tax Imposed.
Mr.. Cages bill to prohibit the manu-
facture and sale Of cigarettes was taken
up and passed over to permit Mr.
Epps' bill on the sumo subject to be
considered first.
Mr.. Sinklcr said that the United
States court of appeals had recently
decided exactly similar bills uncon-
stitutiOnal.
Mr.. Ashley moved to strike out the
enacting words Of the bill. Both
bills had been unfav orubly reported.
Mr.. Epps thought that it was time
to put a stop to the injury that was
being done to the youth Of the State by
the sale OF cigarettes. He thought
their lives were being endangered.
Mr.. Sinkicr said, if any one could
satisfy him that this law was cOnstitu-
tional he would vote for the bill. The
circuit court Of appeals had decided
adversely to such II bill.
Mr.. Winkler knew Of 10 more dam
nabIe habit to tho youth Of this coun.
try than that Of smoking cigarettes.
1t was " bill TO commend Itself to the
members Of tho general sscmbly.
lie he!d that tho Iowa decision covered
&C ..ercnt case. Hc was satisfied tb st
the bill would stand. If it in ured tho
tobacco industry, let the tobacco in
dustry go rather than ruin the boys Of
the State.
Mr.. Cushman argued that the boys
would purchase smoking tobacco and
use the worst kind Of paper to make
cigarettes. Why not pass q bill if you
are going to do this to include all
kinds OF smoking tobacco, cigars, etc.
Mr.. dcLoach said that all physicians
agreed that cigarettes ready made
were most dangerous. That WAS the
most harmful way in which tobacco
was used.
Mr.. Speer explained the position OF
the committee and declared himself in
favor Of the bill.
Mr.. Perritt said they had law on
this subject which was not enforced.
1t was not the province of the general
assembly to legislate parentage.
Mr.. Gage did not belong to that class
of men who wanted to take care Of his
fellow wman, but he wanted protection
for the people from this evil. One
great evil was the tendency to drink
liquor; the other greatest was tho
smoking OF cigarettes. He said it
was a curse.
MIR. Patton rose when Mr.. Gage
asked any ono who did not think it a
curse to raise his hand, and said he
had been chewing tobacco and smok-
years, and he submitted that he was
perhaps a better physical specimen
than his friend. {Laughter.)
Mr.. Patton, making q pretty quota
ton and application, went on to say
that somo mon were prone to attack
tho pet vices of Others
Mr.. PattOr. resumed his argument
on the cigarette bill at the night
session, saying the worst thing about
tooacco was Its cost. MIR. Patton was
saying that mother could do more
with shingle than all the statutes to
break BOYS from smoking cigarettes
MIR. ceLoach asked Mr.. Patton if
he had experienced the parental obli-
cation.
Mr.. Patton-Nr Speaker, it is really
very funny thing, how all these
newly married young fellows, when
they have been married q few months,
think they arc the grand parents OF a
whole tribe.
the price OF whlskey from 10 cents a
drink to 3 cents a drink; now why
would they raise the price of cigar
cites, the lesser evil. He said he
thought that the house was going to
refuse to prohibit the sale of liuuor.
lie said this cigarette law would not
stand tho test OF the courts. The
young were already protected. If they
would pass it as ~ revenue measure.
thcn 1T was unjust and discriminating
Mr.. dei.oach replied, saying that
the smoking OF cigarettes was not to be
compared with the smoking of pipes.
Hc argued that the dispensary law de-
crcases the drinking of liquor. Mr..
deLoach was a reformed cigarette
smoker himself.
Mr.. dcLoAch's amendment to make
the privilege tax 10 cents instead OF
rs cents was then killed, after being
considered again, there being some
doubt rs to its having been voted upon
at the morning session.
Mr.. Ashley offered to amend by
adding the following words: Nor
shall any cigar be sold without comply.
Ing with the terms of this act, or pipe
be sold without q canc-root pipe stem
nor shall any pipe be used moro than
thrce days without being cleaned; and
!urthcr that no man shall chow to-
Dacco more than once" This created
loud laughter. OF course nothing was
done with the amendment, The bill
was then ordered to third read ing ir
this shape:
Section /, That no package Of
clsafettes sold or offered for sale shall
contain more than five cigarettes. M,
shall any package Of cigarette pane,
sold or otfored for salo contain more
than 100 leaves Of length and width
now used.
Sec. 2. That every such package O.
cigarettes or cigarette paper shal
have thereon a privileged tax stamr
as hereinafter provided for, which
shall be furnished to dealers in cigar
cites or cigarette paper by tho county
trcasurers Of the counties Of this State
at 81 cost Of 25 cents each, and the pro
goods of tho sale Of such stamps shal
be held by the county trcasurers sub
ject to the warrants Of the boards o
county commissioners like the fund.
Tor ordinary county expenses.
Sec. 3. That the privileged tax staml
for cigarettes or cigarette paper shall
be n form as follows: Number -
State Of South Carolina This is tt
certify that the privilege tax of thi
package has been paid to the county
treasurer, -, Com ptroller General
s. c." The same shall be lithograph