Atlanta age., 1900-01-13
LIQUOR FIGHT BEGUN
South Carolina Legislature As
Sembles In Columbia.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE IS READ.
Initial Session Involved In q Hot Fight
Over Dispensary
Matters.


in annual session at Columbia Tues
day and within eighteen minutes after
the body was called to order it was in
volved in bot fight over the follow
ing resolutions, simultaneously intro
duced in both houses:
First-That joint committee, con-
sisting of two senators and three rep
resentatives, be appointed by the pre-
siding officers of the respective houses
to investigate the affairs of the state
dispensary.
Second. That said committee be and
is hereby empowered to send for papers
and persons. to swear witnesses, to re-
quire thu attendance of all parties
whose presence shall be deemed neces-
sary, to appoint an expert accountant
and stenographer, to investigate freely
all transactions concerning said dis
pensary and its management and to
take testimony within and without the
state and shall have access at oil times
during it's service to all books and
vouchers and other papers of said in
stitution.
Sections 8 and 4 give the committee
authority to sit during the sessions of
the house, to apply for any additional
authority needed and request report
if possible during the present session.
The resolution was bitterly opposed.
It's advocates declared that former in
vestigating committees lacked power
and were but whitewashing concerns.
The resolution was amended in the
house, giving the committee power to
punish for contempt as in circuit
coNrts and providing that statements
made by witnesses should not be used
against them. The committee is to
also have a marshal and its sessions
nre to be open to the public.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE READ.
Governor Miles B. McSweeney sent
in his first message to the general
assembly. 1t was paper of about
10000 words, moderate in tone, and
being for the most part record Of
public conditions.
The governor first refers to the
death of his predecessor and then to
the every marked material progress in
almost every line of industry" OF
cotton mills he says:
During the past year eleven new
mills have been organized and are in
progress of construction, representing
total capital of $3,275, 900. Sixteen
old mills have been enlarged, repre-
senting an increase of their capital
stock of 50, 429, 900.
In railroad building, 237 miles have
been completed and in actual process
of construction. This represents an
outlay of at least $25, 900 a mile, or
nearly So, 900. 900, and when completed
and returned for taxation even at
valuation of $4,000 mile, will add
$2,37O,0 900 to the taxable property Of
the state.
In cotton seed oil mills, the lumber
business and other branches of indus
try there has been very marked activi-
ty.
n buOEL Ilulo dBO IcCcAfcd a COAA'
munication from the secretary of the
treasury at Washington, calling my
attention to a claim Of the United
States government against the state of
South Carolina, and an act of congress
passed March 8, 1899, requiring him
to institute such proceedings as he
might deem proper to collect any
bonds or stocks; principal and interest,
which the general government holds
against this state, before any claims on
the part of the state against the gov
ernment should be paid. This conf
munication was brought forth on ac-
count of the claims put in by this state
for reimbursement of expenses incur
red in organizing volunteer troops for
service in the war with Spain.
A statement from the state treasur-
er is submitted showing the state does
owe, principal and interest, about
$3.50, 900 to the national government,
bat stating that the government is
due the state $3.50, 900 for money ad-
vanced during the revolutionary war
and the war Of 1879.