The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-08
COLUMBIA LETTER.
The Latest News from the Legislature
Special Correspondence Of 1ntelligencer


Monday night. 1t mas Deen Ciii0
honored custom to adjourn over on
Salesdays.
The capricious weather experienced
by this section since the Legislature
has been in session is a matter OF some
comment. No two days have been
alike. and the actions of the thermom-
eter and barometer have reminded one
Of children playing at peep-squlrrel.
There have been sleets and SHOWS and
rains with their attendant chilling
blasts, followed alternately with balmy
ilays of sunshine, and these sudden
changes have shown their effects upon
the Representatives in many cases OF
la grippe and other pulmonary trou-
bles. Very few have escaped, and OF
the Anderson delegation Messrs. Pince,
Robinson and Leverett have suffered
considerably.
Many bills Of Importance were dis
posed of last week, but there are plenty
more on the calendar, and if the session
ends by the goth of February nothing
short of two sessions per day will bring
it about. Some of the members think
that final adjournment cannot be
reached before the first OF March. The
liquor question has not been touched
vet, and there are several other impor-
tant measures to come up, which will
REQUIRE time for intelligent discussion
and final action.
The bill expected from the Senate
judiciary committee touching the priv
ilege tax question, and to which my
last letter referrd, was introduced last
Thursday. This bill is intended to
take the place Of the House bills on
this subject. Itfixes the tax at twenty
five cents; meets the Constitutional OBJ
lection by making this tax charge for
inspection and analysis; provides for
analysis of a portion of the soil of each
township of the respective counties OF
the State to ascertain the character OF
the fertilizers best suited for the differ
ent crops; to establish branch stations
in each county to experiment and make
reports, and that this tax shall be paid
into the State Treasury and held sub
ject to the order Of the board of Trus-
tees of Clemson College. If this bill
passes in the Senate, and in all prob
ability it will, it will meet with strong
fight in the House on the reduction
feature championed by our Mr.. Ashley.
His amendment to the House bill to
reduce this tax to ten cents wens
through in the House with fair ma
jority and it is scarcely to be expected
that a similar amendment to this bill
would fail.
There was an interesting fight in the
House last Thursday night on bill
providing that the revenue derived
from the sale of alcoholic liquors In
the State shall be apportioned among
the counties of the State for the benefit
of the common schools Gin proportion
to the amount of profits derived from
the sale of alcoholic liquors in the re-
spective counties" The main fight
appeared to be on the point that the
bill would be unconstitutional-and 1t
really has that appearence-but the
delegations from the prohibition coun-
ties kept the debate warm by demand
ing their share under the constitution
and with the cry that dispensaries were
being forced upon them. The bill
passed the House OH vote of 81 to 46,
the entire delegation from Anderson
voting for it. The remark now heard
is eff NO dispensary, no school," It's
thought this bill will be killed in the
Senate on the ground that it is uncon-
stitutional.
A "simon pure" prohibition bill was
introduced last week by Mr.. McCul-
Tough, of Greenville. This is the third
measure looking to the adjustment OF
the liquor question, the Mauldin and
the Robinson bill being the other two.
The prohibitionists have no hope Of
success, of course, but there are several
delegations in the General Assembly
pledged to prohibition, among them
being Anderson, and the measure will
meet with very fair support. 1t is
understood that although the prohibi-
ton bill was last introduced it will be
given the right Of way and that no cb-
lection will be made to the Mauldin
bill being taken up ahead of the
Robinson bill, and from this it can be
seen that the Robinson bill is consider
ed the strongest and most likely OF
success.
There is matter in which the coun-
ties of Anderson and Oconee should be,
and doubtless are, very much interested
and concerning which Senator Sullivan
has been giving much time and careful
attention. 1t is the matter of taxes
past due by the Blue Ridge Railroad
company, which accrued between the
years of 1S72-Si and amounts III the
aggregate, without interest, to $11,-
73O.47. BY an Act approved the 12tll
day of February, 1898. the Commission
ers of the Sinking Find were author
| lied and directed to collect this tax
and to pay to the Treasurers OF Andcr-
son and Oconce counties respectively