The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-17
THE ANTLFREE PASS BILL.
REPEALED BYTHE HOUSE OF REPRE-
SENTATIVES.

A Heavy Weeks " Work-Many Bills Passed
and Number KilIed-How the Members
Voted on the Free Pass Bill.
COLUMBIA, s. G., Feb. 13.-On Sat-
urday last the following bills were
passed and sent to the Senate:
MIR. Crum's bill to save small es-
tates from being consumed by the
costs of administration.
Mr.. Wingo's bill to require the
communication tax to be expended in
the townships in which the taxpayer
resides.
Mr.. Rainsford's bill relative to com.
pensation for township commissioners
while serving as members OF the coun-
ty boards of commissioners.
Mr.. Ilderton's bill to provide for the
removal of any county officer for IN:
capacity, misconduct or neglect OF
duty, pursuant to article Ill, section
81 of the Constitution, was ordered to
third reading without debate.
When Mr.. Robinson's bill to repeal
the anti-free pass act was called up,
Mr.. Robinson said he was ready for
trial. He said it was a reflection on
the members to have it intimated that
they could be bought by free pass:
Mr.. Patton said it would look lit
tie bad for the house to do this. 1t
was not exactly the thing. He would
have to call the roll.
Josh Ashley believed that every
member should have free pass on
the railroads. His people had conf:
dence in him. He was not afraid OF
the ayes and noes. He created great
merriment by his earnest speech.
Mr.. Bacot suggested that the best
way to preserve the appearance of the
thing was to amend by striking out
all after the enacting words and in
sert instead provision that should be
stated in the char.er of all railroads
that they must transport all members
to and from the capital free OF charge.
Mr.. Winkler insisted on the roll
call OIL the motion to strike out the
enacting words. The house refused
to strike out the enacting words by a
vote of 40 to 50. ,
The following members voted
against repeating the bill: Hon. :.
B. Gary, speaker; Asbill, Austell, Ba-
cot, Bethune, Caughman, Cushman,
Gage, Gasque, Goodwin, d. F.; Gra-
ham, J. s.; Graham, Thomas, A. ;
Hollis, johnson, Kinard, Henry j.,
Lancaster, Layton, Lester, Meares,
Miles. Mishoc, Moore. Mcdaniel, Nc
Laurin, McWhite, Patton, Prince,
Rainsford, Russell, Simkins, Smith,
Jr., Smith, w. s.; Sullivan, Thinner
man, Werner, Whisonant, Wilson,
Winkler, Yeldell-40.
The following members voted. in
favor of repeating the bill: All, An.
derson, Armstrong, Ashley, Bailey,
Bedon, Blythe, Breeland, Caraway,
Carson, Childs, Colcock, Crum, Da-
Wis, @. M; Davis, W. c.; DsLoaehe,
Edwards, Epps, Fairey, Fox. Gadsden,
Glenn, Harvey, sHaselden, Henderson,
Hiott, Humphrey, Ilderton, Nbler,
Kinard, J. D.; Limehouse, Living.
ston, Mauldin, Mehrtens, Miller, Joel
H.; Mccullough, Nettles, Owen,
Phillips, Plyer, Pollock, Pyatt, Rob
inson, Sinkler, Smith, E. D.; Steven
son, Thomas, W. H.; Townsend,
Wolling, Westmoreland, Wingo,
Miller, J. E., Williams, Wyche-52.
This vote repealed the anti'free pass
act and If the Senate concurs in the
action of the House the members will
be free to accept free passes from the
railroads.
Mr.. Kinard's bill to require all COM
mon carriers to pay all damages for
loss, damage and breakage OF any ar
ticles shipped over their lines, was
taken up. The committee amend
ments were then adopted. MIR. XII
nard, though no one was opposing the
bill, spoke explaining its purposes.
He told of q case he had with the
Southern road. Then the bill went to
its third reading.
On Monday the bicycle transporta-
ton bill was the frs, upon which any
discussion was had.
After considerable discussion the
bill was passed. The bill provides
that bicycles shall be deemed baggage
for the purpose of transportation by
common carriers and shall be carried
under the same rules and subject to
the same liabilities as govern trunks
and other separate baggage OF passen'
gers.
The Senate bill authorizing the Rail
road Commissioners to require all
railroads to erect at functional points
union depots and to impose a penalty
for their failure to do so when requlr-
ed caused little discussion, and was
passed. -,
Mr.. Wolling's bill to require all
railroads to stop all passenger trains at
all stations where an agency is main
tained came up and was passed.
Mr.. Sullivan's bill to require rail
roads of a length of fifty mile or more
to run one passenger train each way
each day was passed to a third read
| ing after a few minor amendments,
which do not affect the general pro-
visions of the bill.
Mr.. Sullivan's bill to permit the
consignee to hold the last connecting
line responsible for loss or damage OF
goods was defended by him. He did
not bslieve consignees should be put
to the expense of proving where the
damage occurred. If the last line is
not responsible, it will get damage
out of connecting lines which it had
to pay consignees. He believed it a
matter of justice to merchants, who,
as class, are modest and don't take
much hand in politics or ask the Gen
eral Assembly for much. The bill