The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-27
GETTING To WORK.
THE LEGISLATURE CONSIDERING
SOME IMPORTANT BILLS.


THE LEGISLATURES CONSIDERING C
SOME IMPORTANT BILLS.
Investigations of The Sinking Fund Com
mission and Dispersary Proposed-To
Put Tele graph and Express Companies
Urder Railroad Commissioners.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Jan. 90. 1.-The Leg
islature has now gone to work in dead
earnest.
IN TIE HOUSE.
TIE first thing to come up today
was a petition against the formation
of Cherokee County. The petition
was on behalf CT citizens OF White
Plains township, which it appears is
more or less torn up on the subject,
it being stated that portion OF the
people want 10 secede and 60 back to
Spartanburg. The memorial was re-
ferred to the judiciary committee.
When Mr.. Rainsford's resolution to
adjourn on February 13 came up, he
stated that he did not want to block
legislation. There are some important
matters, but he did not believe it
would take longer than that. Under
the old constitution it was always un,
derstcod that the Legislature would
adjourn on Christmas eve. The time
allowed for legislation in the resolu
ton is the same. He did not care to
push the resolution now, he said, but
simply wanted to give his reasons for
it. Mr.. Winkler moved to make it a
special order for February l. Mr..
Magill wanted to amend by making it
the. 18th, but this was lost, and Mr..
Winkler's motion was adopted.
When Mr.. Winkler's minority bill
in reference to granting license to
carly concealed weapons camc up
Captain Bly, objected TO it on the
ground that if a license is granted
then we would have no law against
carrying concealed weapons, some
thing he was unalterably opposed 10.
After considerable discussion the bill
was tabled.
Mr.. Werner introduced resolution
to appoint a committee to investigate
the Sinking Fund Com mission to two
members of the House and one Sena-
Tor, and to report at this session.
Mr.. Burns though that the regular
legislative committee would report IN
afew days. Their investigation would
be all that is necessary.
Mr.. Werner said that if any faith
should be put in the Comptroller Gen
erals statement something should be
done about it.
Mr.. Barry said that as a member OF
that Commission it courted an inves
tigation, but he thought consideration
now was inopportune, and he moved
that the resolution 60 over until to-
morrow, which was agreed to.
Mr.. Rainsford then wanted TO know
what had become of the unanimous
resolution passed at the last Legisla.
ture requiring that the Penitentiary
authorities report on the advisability
of manufacturing acid phosphat with
in the walls. He wanted to know
whether that report had been made.
The Speakers pro tenn. couldn't an
swer and consideration of the matter
went over until tomorrow.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Ander-
son to repeal the Act prohibiting emf
grant agents from plying their voca.
tiop in the State without first taking
out license, passed to its third read
ing without OPP osition or discussion.
Mr.. Vincent introduced bill to re
duce the phosphate royalty to 25
cents ton as long as long as the price
remains So. so, per ton. When it goes
10 81. 80, the royalty Of one-third of
such increase and over $3.50 per cent.
of such increase.
A concurrent resolution expressing
sympathy Tor Cuba was almost unani
mously passed.
IN THE SENATE.
The new lieutenant governor, Mr..
McSweeney, presided today for the
first time, and did so in such a way as
to cause favorable comment from
many. Scarcely had the clerk began
the reading of the journal when, on
molten of Mr.. Moses, this was dis
pensed with. This raised the flood
gates for new legislation and new bills
and committee reports poured in at an
astonishing rate. The calendar, too,
presented a formidable appearance
with its Is or more second and third
reading bills, but fortunately there
was but one measure which the mem
bers debated.
This was bill which came up for
its second reading to provide for elec
ton by the qualified electors of the
respective townships in the State of
the boards of township commissioners,
the text of which was as follows:
Section 1. That the boards of town
ship commissioners which will be ap-
pointed in the year 1897 pursuant to
The section 5 of an act ito provide a
system of government for the several
counties of the State" approved Janu-
ary 4th, 1894, and the amendments to
said act, shall hold their Offices until
the first Tuesday in November, 1898,
and until their successors shall be
elected as hereinafter provided.
Sec. 2. That on the first Tuesday in
November. 1898, and On the first
Tuesday of November OF every two
years thereafter there shall be elected
three persons in each township in the
several counties of the State by the
qualified electors of said township,
who shall be known as the board of
township commissioners; said persons
must be qualified electors and resi-
zr f.. IL,