The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-03-03
The General Assembly.

where it has nothing important to do
and has removed all restrictions to
debate and is discussing measures
that can hardly pass. The session
has been spun out for five days, In
elusive of Sunday, as the intention
was to have adjourned on Saturday
morning, all for the purpose of Civ
ing. time for the passage of the in-
come tax bill by the Senate. The
extra coast Of keeping the Assembly
here Is about 1000 day, and it
is very doubtful if the bill raises that
much money, as it is likely to spend
couple of years in the Courts, even
IF it passes the Senate, which is very
doubtful, in view Of the limited time
Had the bill been introduced early
ii the session the House, in al; like
hood, would not now be here The
dispensary bill, the appropriation and
supply the general incorporation
Act, the magistrate jurisdiction meas
ure. and all other bills Of general aud
imperative Importance have been pas
sed BY the House, including the re-
cent income and insurance bills, and
If there is anything imperative to
keep the General Assembly here at a
considerable cost it has not been an
nouneed, and to-day was spent in
discussing bill that might as well
have been disposed of in an hour
Free latitude was allowed in the dis
cussion The bill under discussion
was to declare void all contracts or
agreements where usurious rates of
interest are charged. The bill was
passed, but the impression is that in
iss present shape it will be no more
effective than the present statute
upon the books. The principal of
the deats forfeited uuder the bill is
to go to the county school fund.
There was quite lively tilt over a
bill which sought to have the State
librarian elected by the General As
sembly. The statement was made
that the bill was regarded as re-
6ection on the Governor by the out
side world, and on this recommitted,
which is equivalent to its death for
the session. All intention of reflect
ing on the Governor was disclaimed.
The graduated license bill. was
continued until next session. 1t will
hang on the Calendar as menace to
the washerwomen, blacksmiths and
the like who do business in this
State.
The income tax and insurance bills
were given their third readings to-
day without protest, which would
have been useless.
Most of the morning session of the
senate was taken up in debating the
house bill to regulate and protect the
fishing interests of the State. Mr.
Walker of Georgetown and Mr.. Pet
tigrew, of Florence. did most
of the talking. so that be-
tween these two gentlemen it
was well OF toward o'clock before
any real business was transacted
The fish bill was. however, killed by
a very decided majority.
The appropriation bill which had
been sidelracked aud left waiting an
hour past the time when it should
have been taken up as special or
der, was amended in several partlcu-
lars. Mr. Archer offered an amend
ment for an appropriation of $4,000
for the purpose of putting in an cleo
.tric light plant for the deaf. dumb
and blind institute at Cedar Springs,
and also for laundry for the same
institution. Messrs. Moses, May
field and Archer called attention to
the danger of Ere from lamps being
upset by the blind children. The
amendment was adopted without
dissent.
The committee on free conference
reported that it was unable to agree
ON the house bill to provide for the
stopping of trains at certain stations.
The report was adopted and the bill
died.
The committee on privileges and
elections submitted an unfavorable
report ou the bill for the formation of
Dillon county, and on motion of Mr.
Mower the report was adopted
An uofavorable report on a joint
resolution requiring the comptroller
general to levy supplementary tax
for public school purposes was
adopted.
{ Columbia, March 1.-The House to-
y l.