The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-02-23

there Eere no cod Of bills looking to
the perfecsiog Of the Greenwood
act IF the act isn't iD the
proper shape now it certainly ought TO
be-
The everlasting trouble aboat the
county government system was very
much 10 evidence and cost the State, as
usual, much money. There was the
usual procession of bills to amend the
act as to certain counties 1t finally
resulted in the passage of the meas
ure proposed by Senator Henderson
With his jury drawing scheme dropped
ont Of it. What effect the new act will
have towards preventing ameDdatory
bills in the future remains to be seen.
The usual fight against the South
Carolina college approriatioa was made
and the house made iss reduction only
to have the Senate keep the college at a
sustaining figure. It was the fight that
is made yesr after year
A good many fights we're bad over
matters that gos through one house only
to be elcctrocuted in the other. The
.uo houses towards the end of the ses-
sion seemed to organize kind OF mu-
tual execution society.
The most important acts resulting
from the IS days of legislative work
were Nj. Livingston's measure as to
the taxation of telegraph. express.
sleeping Car and other companies !;
Mr. deLoach's measure putting the
telegraph and express companies uD-
der the control of the railroad com
mission !; Senator Arcber's law to pre-
vent unreasonable discrimination in
charges Of telephone companies, and
Mr. Asbley's fertilizer label system
Provision was also made for the draw
ing of juries in public The new
State holidays have been provided
for-Jeferson Davis birthday and
Arbor day-the third Friday in No
vember
The general assembly extended the
time for the payment of State taxes
for the year 1897 and for the payment
of the commutation tax for the same
year
For 20 years efforts have been made
at every session TO pass a separate
coach bill. This year Mr. CaugBpan
made the fight and won, and now
there is on the statute books at last
such an act
The usual fight TO get the anti.
free pass law was made and as usualthe
senate prevented the house from re-
pealing the act that Maj Woodward
had put on the statute books about
the time that free passes were being
much discussed Maj. Woodward
was on the floor the last night Of the
session, and he was having bis an
anal chuckle of satisfaction at seeing
his act stand all the onslaughts made
uponsit
Az this session the insurance de.
post act of the preceding session was
perfected, aud at last provision has
been made for commission to look
into the matter of establishing a 10
yeniie reformatory in this State.
Among the acts of general char
ac,er passed may be mentioned the
following: Senator Henderson's
measure making the embezzlement of
public fands felony Mr. Steven
sons resolution providing for the
paving of the walks and court yard
Of the capital ; Senator Dennis meas
ure relating to the holding of pre-.
liminary examinations by magistrates;
the act of Mr.. DeBruhl giving pro
lection to keepers of boarding hous
es Mr McCullough's plan for col.
lecting taxes in towns and
cities the measures of Messrs
Pattop and WinkIer relating to mort
cages on real estate; Mr. Meares
measure making the Office Of state
librarian elective the resolution re
ouiring the distribution of the sup
Elementary school tax fund; Mr.
Sullivan's law relating TO arrest with
out warrant the paper perfecting
the sinking fund commission act. and
the changing of the time for the hold.
ing Of courts in the Seventh circuit.
The reelection of Chief Justice Nc.
Iver and the several of the circuit
Judges and the making of new
jodge MIR Gsge-were among the
reeults Of the session
Secretary Of Agriculture Wilson,
who is q practical farmer. we believe,
And haa had onnortunifies for extended