The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-24
The General Assembly.
A Day of Much Debate in
the House of Representa-
tlVes.

Columbia, Jan 16-The house to-
day adopted the resolution under
which the people can, at the oext
general e'ection, vote on the cues.
ton OF holding biennial sessions of
the general assembly Uoder the
constitution it require two thirds
vote of all the members elected. not
only of those voting, to carry
through such resolution, and on the
final passage of the resolution today
the necessary SO votes were secured
1t is a rare thing to have such q
large vote aod the woader is that 1l5
members happened to be present to
vote today
Immediately following this vote a
resolution was taken to submit to the
people constitutional amendment
looking TO the election of the mem
bers of the house for four, instead of
two, years Although 70 members
voted for this resolution. it needed
SO to be adopted and, therefore,
failed.
There was great deal of discus
sion over bill which aimed to pro-
hibit the use of convicts on private
farms The debate took all sorts of
twists aud turns. aud it was finally
voted that the preference is to be
given counties wanting the convicts
to use them on the public highways
or for public work The peni.entiary
is to be paid 81 per month net for
each of the copvicts taken for work
on the cubic works of the counties.
There was quite an outbufst of
enthusiasm IN favor of the improve
ment of the public roads
Final arrangements were made for
the memorial exercises IN honor Of
the late Gov EI!erbe
The following new bills were IN
troduced by Mr. Moses
To allow discount to taxpayers
who pay their taxes soon after the
opening of the books
A petition from former Railroad
Commissioner II R Thomas to pro-
vide for an investigation of the
workings of the railroad commission.
Referred to the railroad committee
The Senate today had its first real
debate on pendine measures The
debate generally was Gu legal sub
jects and was engaged in principally
by the lawyers in the body
The committee on privileges aud
electione reported q concurrent
resolution, which was adopted, that
the two houses meet on February 2
for the purpose of electing the follow
ing officers Three directors of the
Pen:sentiasy. for the term of two
years and one to fill an expired
tern seven members of the board of
trustees of the South Carolina
College, for six years; seven members
of the Winthrop board for six years:
four members of board of visitors of
the Citadel, for six years, who shall
be graduates of the Academy two
trustees of the Colored College at
Orangeburg one member of the
State board of control, for Eve years;
this election is for successor Of Mr
Haseidon whose term expires; three
trustees of Clemson College. for four
years, one to fiji the vacancy caused
by the death OF Governor EIierbe
The committee reported unfavora
bly, on bill to appoint commission
to report annually as to the condition
of educational Institutions
Senator w A. Browns compulsory
education bill had both a favorable
and an unfavorable report I. re
quires parents to compel their
children to attend public schools fer
eight months. A majority favored
the bill Senator Graydon put in a
minority report, saying that he is op
posed making the State the guardian
Of the peoples children. lha OIL
went on the calendar
Senator Aidrich'e bill to amend the
pension law, to include in Class B all
soldiers who by reason of wounds re
ceiv Pc or disease contracted from
exposure are in lncapacitsted from
Gaming an income exceeding $3.50
per annum, was postponed after some
debate,it being understood that ano,h
or bill in conformity with the wishes
of the Confederate Veterans would
pe introduced later
The fertilizer trust investigating
resolution was called for its third
reading and was passed without op-
position
The legal fraternity represented in