The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-02-03
OUR COLUMBIA LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
COLUMBIA, S. c. Feh. ?, 1851

lar on the ROAD that leads 10 the Statute
Books, is bill to amend the law relating
to the time Of holding courts in the Fourth
Circuit.
The temper Of the Legislature seems to
be against the eraction of any laws that
are not an absolute necessity. Every
bill that is presented has to run rigid
gauntlet of inquiry, and if it cannot sus-
tain the test it doesn't 60, no matter who
presents it. Nobody seems to have any
especial pull with the body this year,
though there are so many new membors
in it that one would naturally lock for
leadership. There has never been a
question Of partizanship rais:d in the
halls so far, though feeble and inetfect-
usl attempt to wave the tattered banner
was made on the occasion Of the election
of Judge of the Sth Circuit on Wednes-
day. It was claimed that no Conserva-
tive had supported klugb, but this, upon
investigation, proved to be canard. The
vote of those formerly known as Conser-
vatives was not confined to any of the
three candidates, but was divided between
them, according to the preference Of the
member The vote for Judge on this oc-
casion was remarkable for one thing in
particular, and that was in each of the
three candidates receiving almost equal
votes, about fifty each. The second bal
lot was practically the same as the first,
but before this was announced, the
changes began, and almost the whole OF
Breazeale's vote went to Klugh. Ansel
was leading, and the race had developed
itself into Ansel against the field, but on
the combine Of the field the candidate
from Greenville was buried. There were
some votes changed from Breazeale to
Ansel, it is true, and some from Klugh
to Ansel, but it was very apparent from
the moment the landslide commenced,
that Klugh would be the next Judge of
the Sth Circuit.
Mr.. Klugh is very highly thought of
in Abbeville, his home, though he is but
little knbwn beyond the limits Of that
County. He has been Master of Abbs-
vile for some time, having practiced law
about two years before taking that posi-
ton. He is graduate of the law school
Of the University of Virginia.
The election of Senator on Wednesday
was, of course, merely perfunctory.
There was no opposition to Judge Earle.
The only vote cast against him was in the
case of Anderson, the only Republican
member of the House, who gave what
ever of honor there was in his vote to the
Hon. Geo. Washington Murray.
The appropriation bills have not yet
been made out, and these bills are the
great work of the session. They have
been delayed by the non-appearance OF
the report of the Comptroller General. It
is an open secret that there will have to
be either q deficiency 10 carry over or
else there will be levy Of nearly six
mills to meet the necessary expenses of
the government. The Administration is
said to be now engaged in an effort to
avert this catastrophe, but it will take q
great jugglery of figures to hide it, and
it is doubtful if even then the Legislature
will pass it unnoticed. The report Of the
Comptroller General is not yet out, butts
in the hands Of the printers. Its appear
ance is anxiously awaited. The dehcien-
cy exists, ard if it had not been for for
tuuate technical error, which allowed the
dispensary funds to be used for the gen.
eral fund instead of being diverted to the
school fund, as was intended, the def
cheney would have reached $3.50, 900. II
it is met, as it should be, and provided
for, the tax levy this year would be high
er than it has been since Republican
times. This unfortunate state of affairs
has been brought about by the combined
effect of the Constitutional Convention,
the litigation that the State has been
forced into, tho loss uf the phosphate roy
atty, but mainly by the effort of past Ad-
ministrstions to fulfill the pledges of re-
form by reducing the taxes without be-
ing able to curtail the expenditure.
The past week has but little to its cred
it in the way of legislation. Both Senate
and House have agreed to permit the
Atlantic Coast Line to apply for a charter
consolidating all of its lines Of railroad
under one charter and one management.
This was fought as step towards the
swallowing up Of the small fish in these
companies by the big fish, some
of the Roads of the Coast Line be-
ing good paying properties, while others
are dead expense to the management.
By the consolidation, if the Company is
successful, and there seems to be no doubt
of that, for the Coast Line has been Pc
culiarly fortunate line in the matter of
earnings, the small as we'll as the large
stockholders will be benefited. If it is
not, the big ones can save themselves on
a reorganization, in which the little fell
lows would be lost. However, the mi
nority stockholders have bold and able
champions of their cause in both branch
es of the Legislature who will look out
for their interests. The benefit to the
people along the line will be in making
a one-road rate of freight, which, under
the present rulings of the Legislature,
will cheaper freights to many points, es-
pecially in reference to fertilizers.
No laws of any Importance have yet
passed the House and Senate both,
though the coming week may be produc-
tive of several. Among those on the
House calendar now are the following {:
To authorize the Railroad Commission
to require Roads to erect union depots at
functional points. The trouble at Den
mark gave birth to this bill. The s. G. &
Ga, the A C. L. and the F. e. & P. all
entering that town have separate depots,
and the Commission has instructed them
to erect and maintain union depot. The
Roads have not declined to do it, but
have not done so, and there is no law to
compel them to do, hence this bill. 1t
has had three readings in the Senate and
has been favorably reported by the House
committee.
Another Senate bill in the same posi-
tion as regards legislative red tape is a
general law to provide for the change Of
location of polling places Whenever ne
cessary without special Act Of the Leg