The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-02-10
WORK OF THE HOUSE,
THE MEMBERS KNUCkLES DOWN TO
BUSINESS.

The County of Greenwood Formed-ManJ
New Bills Introduced and Some Few
Psssed.-The Redistricting Bill Post
poned for Year.
COLUMBIA, S. O., Feb. 6.-Chere
was no session of the Senate Tuesday
morning and the House was only in
session two hours. The attendance
was very slim, and it was almost i'm
possible to keep quorum, there be-
ing so many members absent on leave
of absence. The two hour session was
devoted to the consideration of new
county matters almost entirely, and
the House indicated its purpose to
pass bills establishing new counties In
accordance with the terms of the elec'
tions held, and not hampering the new
counties with unexpected provisions
Among the new bills introduced
was one by Mr.. Haselden to force the
railroads to obey the interstate com
merce law and the DEGREES of the
United States Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Mr.. Thomas introduced bill pro-
viding for department of banking
Several bills of this kind have been
introduced during this section.
Mr.. Garvis has introduced bill to
prohibit Greek letter fraternities or
any organization of like nature in State
institutions OF learning. 1t is claim
ed that these societies make students
clanish and interfere materially with
the discipline of the said institu-
tions.
Mr.. Johnson introduced a bill to
amend section 1887 of the revised
statutes of 1893 regulating the fees and
costs of clerks of court. The bill pro.
poses to limit the amount of fees and
costs of clerks of court. The bill pro-
poses to limit the amount of fees re
ceived by any one acting both as clerk
and register of mesne conveyance to
So, 900, directing that all amounts In
excess Of those figures be covered into
the treasury.
Mr.. Graham introduced concur
rent resolution to allow bill to be
introduced to renew the charter Of the
Cokesbury conference school. MIR.
Graham explained that the secretary
of state could not grant the charter.
The house unanimously adopted the
resolution.
A substitute bill was presented by
the committee for the bill to supply
school books to children at cost. The
original bill was accordingly tabled.
The substitute bill reads as follows
The substitute proposes to establish
perpetual fund of $500 in every coun'
ty for the purpose of providing pupils
with text books at actual cost. For
the just accounting for said fund the
superintendent of education shall be
responsible on his official bond.
The house then indicated desire
for an early adjournment. Mr.. Rains
ford's concurrent resolution fixing
Feb. 13 as the day of final adjourn
ment was called up in his absence.
Mr.. Burns, saying that as there was
yet important legislation to be attendI
ed to, moved to indefinitely postpone
the bill. On the vote it appeared to
the speaker that the ''noes had it." A
division was called for and the first
half of the vote indicated that the
''noes" again had it. In the midst OF
the vote, however, Mr.. Bacot called
attention to the fact that Mr.. Rains
ford was absent and the resolution
went over for consideration.
The House had granted several
leaves of absence when MIR. Caug ghman
of Saluda suggested that if the leaves
were granted without consideration to
numbers quorum may be broken.
He suggested that further leave of ab
sence be only granted for sickness oi
members or in their families. There
were no further requests and the mo-
ton was not pressed. :.
The House consumed much time IN
the consideration of the bill to estab
lish the new county of Greenwood. d.
The new county had clear track; ii
had been carried by an overwhelming
vote, the committee reports were all
favorable and so the bill had easy
sailing. It provided for the creation
of the county, the area of the county,
the appointment of commissioners,
the location of its polling places. the
bond of its officers, the time for hold
ing court, the approval Of bonds, the
making of iuries and such machinery
as is required for the starting OF new
county.
The substitute bill for Mr.. Lotions
bill to amend the county government!
law was taken up. It related to
roads, bridges, etc. Several amend
ments were sent up, before they could
be acted upon the hour for recess ar
rived and the house receded from bus,
mess until 1888 p. m.
At the night session the dispensary
committee asked for a. clerk. Mr..
Kinard wanted to refuse the request,
if the clerk was to be paid, as suggest
ed by Mr.. Magill. Mr.. Yeldell did
not think the duties of the committee
were so onerous as to require the serv'
ices of clerk. Mr.. Ashley moved TO
table the amendment. Carried.
Mr.. Lotions bill relating to road
tax and the number of days work on
the roads was then taken up again
and a large number of amendments
were made. The communication tax
was decreased to 81 in many counties.
This bill as it passed will be published
later on.
Mr.. Lotion said tnat he scarcely re.
cognized his own bill. Mr.. Goodwin
explained that the changes made did
not affect Charleston. The bill was
than nrdarad To O third rnadino