Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-01-25
WORK OF THE LAWMAKERS.
What the House and Senate Are Doing to
Make People Happier.

the house last Friday on Mr.. Bacot's
bill to change the color of the state
flag from blue to purple. 1twas pure
ly a question of sentiment. Mr.. Baco'
explained that purple is not primary
1t is a combination of blue and red
The Confederate soldiers in the late
war furnished the red, and he thought
that change to purple would make a
fitting symbol of patriotism. Mr.. j.
w. Means, of Chester, was one of the
principal defenders of the present flag.
He said that the blue had been good
enough to die by, and in memory OF
those who gave their blood under the
folds of the flag, the original color
should be maintained. Mr.. Bacots
bill was killed.
A bill by Mr.. Blease to punish at
tempts of employers to intimidate the
votes of laborers in primary elections
was passed as follows:
"Section 1. That any person or
persons who shall employ or have con-
trcl. either as superintendent, man
ager, overseer, or otherwise, Ct any
person or persons in this state, and
shall by any threat to dismiss them
from employment attempt to make
them vote at any primary election
against their own will, shall, upon con-
viction, be fined sum of not more
than 500 or less than $25, or be con-
fined on the chaingang not more than
80 days or less than Is days"
The committee of Offices and officers
made favorable report on a bill that
requires railroads to carry judges,
solicitors, stenographers, and members
of the general assembly free of charge.
This was on last Friday. The meas
ure is considered very important one
and there will be much discussion over
it.
Mr.. Sanders, of Spartanburg, wants
to put stop TO the compulsory arbi'
tration of fire losses. He has intro,
duced bill which provides that not
withstanding the policy contract, an
individual who claims more damage
than the insurance company is willing
to admit, may at once commence suit
in a court of competent jurisdiction.
Mr.. Winkler, of Camden, has a bill
that requires banks to make their re-
turn on a basis that will ensure high
er valuation of their assets.
Mr.. Mauldin, of Greenville, also in
troduced bill which, if it becomes a
law, will raise more tax money. The
bill, in effect, provides that when it
shall be found that the appraised val
ue of the personal property of de-
ceased person is greater than the valu-
alton reported to the auditor at the
last preceding listing of such property,
then the estate will be subject to an
additional tax Of 10 per cent. of the
amount of such unreturned excess.
The bill provides for the collection of
this tax through the Office of the pro-
bate judge.
Mr.. w. II. Thomas, of Charleston,
introduced the following in the house ::
"It shall be the duty of all employers
of females in any mercantile establish
ment, or any place where goods or
wares or merchandise are offered for
sale, to provide and maintain chairs or
stools, or other suitable seats for the
use of such female employees, to the
number of one seat for every three
females employed, and 10 permit the
use of such seats to such employees at
reasonable times to such an extent as
may be requisite for the preservation
of their health. And such employees
shall be permitted to use same as above
set forth in front Of the counter, table,
desk or fixture when the female en-
ployee, for the use of whom said seat
shall be kept and maintained, is prin-
cipally engaged behind said counter,
table, desk or fixtures"
There was a pretty warm fight III
the house Saturday over bill to re-
lieve school trustees from road duty.
Those who favored the bill maintained
that the trustees had a great deal of
hard pro bono publico work to perform
and that this work was sometimes at
tended with more or less expense. II
would be only right, under the circum'
stances, to grant the trustees this rec
ognition of their services. The oppo-
sition maintained that to relieve the
trustees of road duty would cost the
respective counties from 500 to 1000
days of road work each per annum,
and this could not very well be afford
ed. The bill was passed but after
about eight counties had been exempt
ed from its provisions, the whole mat
ter was killed by indefinite postpone
ment.
The most extended debate in the
house OH Saturday was over bill to
prevent the carrying of certain weapons
concealed on the body. The oppo-
nents of the bill claimed that the con-
cealed weapon laws heretofore in effect
had never prevented the loss of sim
gle life these laws are disregarded by
bullies, and are only observed by good
citizens who are thus placed at a dis
advantage. The champions of the
bill held that if judges and solicitors
do not enforce the concealed weapon
law, then these officials should he im-
peacbed. A vote to strike out the en-
acting clause resulted in favor Of the
bill, and further discussion was post
poned until today.
The McCraw bicycle bill, which had
been discussed during the few days
previous and finally re.committed
was reported again to the house on
Saturday in the following shape:
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