The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-04
"A CAUCUS ON TAKES.

A CAUCUS ON TAKES.
Forty Members of the Legislature in
Consultation With tho Comptrol-
lcr General.
The correspondent OF the News and
Courier makes the following report of
the first caucus or conference, or what
ever il may be called, which was held
on Wednesday, afternoon in tho Su-
prcme Court room at the State House:
The meeting, or whatever it should
be called, was to have boen held in the
Office of the Comptroller General, but
as the crowd of legislators was too
largo it was adjourned to the Supreme
Court room, whore some Of these days
a number OF lawyers may contest tho
very laws under discussion. In the
oldcn time it might have been called
caucus Of Reform. There were none
others than Reform members at the
meeting SO far as could be seen. The
| idea seems to be that tho members
wanted enlightenment on the three
| revenue bills under consideration in
| the House, and wanted to talk over
with each other what had better be
| done about the measures. That might
as well have been done on the floor of
the House, except that Mr. Comptrol-
Ter General Norton could not have par
ticlpated in tho discussion, and have
told the members what was what and
given some A. B. G. |, ,ssons in finances
and showed the real condition of affairs
| in the State and how the revenues Of
the State are not what they ought to
| be.
MIR. Norton was the principal talker
at the meeting, and he gave the Rep
| rescntatives present some pretty plain
| facts about tie deficiencies and levies,
| and was of the opinion that without
these three revenue bills the income
tax, the license and tho insurance bills
the levy must be about five and ono.
half mills to get the State and it's
| finances upon an absolute cash basis,
which Is very much to be desired.
| With these bills the levy on all the
people could be reduced to four and q
half mills, while the taxes on some of
the people would be q good deal more
Mr.. Norton talked at length on the
bills and their advantages, chiefly tn at
they would reach class OF people who,
he insists, now avoid paying taxes, and
that the bills would distribute the
burden Of taxes.
Captain Blythe, Of Greenvilla; Mr..
Kinard, Of Barnwell; Mr.. Toolo, ol
Aiken; MIR. Ilderton, OF Florence Mr.
Zimmerman, Of Aiken; Mr.. Skinner,
and many others participated in the
debate. MIR. Zimmerman said that the
promised reduction of taxes by the
Reform party had not been made, anc
that something would have to be done
Objection was raised to certain de
| tails OF the license bills, and Mr.. Nor
Ia IN, f,f II
) tail, and that the details could b.
z arranged later on to suit tho nom bers
u The discussion continued in an in
u formal manner for 81 while. Mr.. Crum
!, who seemed to be tho chairman Of tn
l. meeting, having occasionally to ra
a for order.
t Among those present at the mcetin
l. were Messrs. Price, Blythe, Ildertor
r Dukes, Toole, Skinner, Price, d.
i kinard, j. d. Kinard, ,Caughman, Phi
d lips, Goodwin, Fttird, Miles, Bethune
y Winkler, Garris, Burns, Caughmar
y Westmoreland, Fox, Eimehouse, lie,
y ter, McWhite, Senator Pettigrew, an
| altogether about forty.
i 1t was by no means o full gathering
3 Many OF the members said that the
!. did not caro- to attend tho conference
> Members who were likely to oppos
II the bills did not s'e to be expected
J. At least, they did not appear to kno
n that such meeting was being held.
e Tho conference continued in sassiO
g for somo time. At the conclusion
). was stated that tho inclipation was t
II continue until next session the gradut
e ted license bill, but consider tho il
y come tax aud insurance bills. There
'e however, scomcd to be decided differ
u encc Of opinion as to whether tho bill
) arc to bo pressed in conflict with
q Saturday adjournment Or not.
n There seems to be no binding obliga
@ tion as - tho supporting Of the incom
l. and Insurance bills, and many Of thos
!! at tho conference are inclined to pos
" pono the bills asked for. Tho whcl
J. thing is that two bills have hcon favor
II ably acted on by this conference, an
!, The license bill is to be left over unit
q next year. There is no certainty, how
T. ever, that any Of tho bills will com;
y up, as tho going home spirit is spread
y ing. The Senate Is only waiting D
II the House rs to these revenue bills /
= order to agree to or postpone agree
g mcnt to tho adjournment resolution
u There is likelihood OF Il substitute bill
{, to the graduated license bill If it shoul
II come up.