Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-02-01
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
What the Lawmakers Are Doing In House
and Senate.
The house put in most of its time
last Friday discussing the privilege tax
question. Six bills had been introduced
on the subject, and all of them propos-
ed different disposition of the privi-
lege tax. One of the bills provides
that the privilege tax shall 60 to main.
tain academic schools to be established
in each county; another says divide
the money among the common public
schools another. says place this tax in
the treasury along with other funds;
still another says to reduce the tax
from 25 to 10 cents; and another says
10 divide the money between Clemson
and Winthrop. There was lots of
talk during the day !; but it did not re-
suit in anything definite, although it
appeared that the majority was rather
in favor of reducing the tax to 10 cents
per ton and diverting the proceeds into
the state treasury. A vote on the
question of striking out the enacting
words of the judiciary committees
bill to direct the proceeds from the
privilege tax into the state treasury, re-
suited yeas 81, nays %. Messrs. Epps
and McDill voted yea. The vote of
Mr.. Mellow is not recorded. On Mr..
Ashley's proposition to reduce the
tax to 10 cents ton, Mr.. Epps voted
nay, and Messrs. McDill and McDow
voted yea.
The senate, on Friday, took up Sen
ator Gruber's county court bill as a
special order. A number of amend
ments were offered perfecting it in
minor details. Among the most i'm.
portant of these was a provision re-
quiring petition signed by one-third
of the qualified electors in county for
an election to determine whether or
not such court should be established,
instead of one.ffth, and limiting such
elections to every four years. Another
amendment excluded from the juris-
diction of county courts cases where
title to real estate was involved ; a
third fixed the term of solicitor at four
years instead of two, and still another
devolved upon him the duty of work
ing up cases for circuit solicitors and
acting as legal adviser 10 the county
board of commissioners. In cases of
appeals, an amendment provided that
transcript of the testimony should
be furnished to all parties to suit If
they made an affidavit Of inability to
pay for same. With these and various
other amendments the bill was ordered
to a third reading with notice of gen.
eral amendment.
There was but a slim attendance on
the house on Saturday and no busi-
uess of importance was taken up. BY
agreement, consideration was confined
to matters about which there was DO
controversy. Mr.. McDill, having got
ten consent, introduced his bill provid-
| ing for the amendment of the charter
of the Farmers Mutual Insurance
company so as to provide for reserve
fund. The bill to incorporate the As
sociate Reformed Orphanage at Hick-
ory Grove was also introduced.
Mr.. Thomas's bill requiring that fe-
male clerks be provided with chairs by
their employers, was passed to third
reading without opposition. 1t is very
probable that the bill will become a
law.
Mr.. Winkler proposed the following,
as substitute for Mr.. McCraw's bicy-
Gle bill.
Section l. That all persons riding
bicycles upon the public highways of
this state shall not pass within fifteen
feet of a person riding thereon on
horseback or in a vehicle drawn by
horse or other animal, without first OBJ
tanning leave from such rider on horse
back or in vehicle.
Section 2. That all persons riding
bicycles upon the public highways of
this state are hereby required, before
passing pedestrians thereon, to make
an alarm by sounding bicycle alarm
bell at a distance of not less than
twenty feet of said pedestrians, wheth-
er approaching them from front or
rear; and such riders are further re-
quired to pass said pedestrians at a
slow rate of speed.
Section 8. That it shall be unlawful
for any person to ride bicycle on any
public highway of this state after sun
set and before sunrise without display
ing light attached to the front part
of the bicycle.
Section 4. That should any person
violate the provisions contained in any
of the foregoing sections he shall, upon
conviction thereof in any court of
competent Jurisdiction, be fined not
less than two or more than twenty dol
lars, or be imprisoned in the county
jail not less that five nor more than
twenty days.
Section 5. That the provisions of this
act shall not apply to persons riding
bicycles within the corporate limits OF
any town or city in this state.
Mr.. Sawyer's bill to amend the law
as to the protection of boarding house
keepers was given its third reading
without question.