The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-01-23
COLUMBIA LETTER.
What Onr Law Makers are Doing at
the State Capitol.
Er"m O"r Own Correspondent.
COIrMEIA, S. c., Jan. 10. 100

1hc Legislature has adjourned on
account Of Lees birthday until Monday.
The halls and l0bbit4 Of the State
House are deserted and given over to
the cleaners. while the woikmcn wli0
are chipping stone for the porticos
to complete the building are mcrrily
pursuing their occupation undisturbcd.
The business of the week has been
without incident Of any :.om"nt, t""
bills have gone into their second read
ing. The committees have been very
busy but the routine Of the two Houses
has been without incident. A host Of
new bills have been introduced and
more are coming. 1t has been decided
that to avoid special Legislation, which
has recently been given very black
eye, that there should be special com
mittecs appointed from each county to
draft a road law that sill meet the re-
qnircments Of all the people as nearly
as possible, and have tho same law for
tho whole State. The chief objection
seems to be in the matter of the paid
ovcrsccrs who arc paid we'll for little
work. The sentiment seems to bo to
go back to the old plan of working the
roads by summons system, each man
doing his share. This same course
will bo pursued in regard to other mat
ters in which the whole State or any
considerable portion is interested.
The matter of redistricting the State
seems to be pretty we'll assured, but
there will be fight over the formation
of the districts. There are number
of bills promised on this subject. The
Weston bill is in and others will come.
1t is now very much questioned
whether the child labor bill will pnss
or not. 1t is said by some of the men
who are opposing it that it would seri-
ously hurt the sections of the State in
which cotton Mills arc just beginning
to be built, while the older mill dis
tricts arc rather in favor Of it, that is
to say the owners of the mills in those
districts, who think that it will be q
check to the development of new mills
and will lesson competition. Tho
question Of labor is the most puzzlirg
one in the new mill sections and that
is where child labor Will bo most in
demand.
1t is very clear that there will be no
compulsory education bills passed at
this session. The time is not yet con-
sidered ripe, but the tendency is that
way and it is more noticeable every
year.
There has been n strong rivalry
worked up in the contest for judge
ship between Townsend and Hydrick;
the friends of the latter claim that they
have won the fight.
The Charleston appropriation bill
will be very sure to go through. It
gathers strength every day. A bill
has been introduced giving the gov
ernment the land required along the
Cooper River in Charleston, that land
now being in marshes and of NO value
to the State. Mr.. Kibbler, of New
berry, has introduced bill providing
for n banking and insurance commits
sioner and the examination of banks.
This official has been proposed num-
ber of times in the history of our legis-
latiOn, and has n demanded by the
banks, too. but the economists were
always too many for it's passage OF they
would not allow sum sufficient to
secure areally competent business man.
This Legislature seems disposed to
put the railroads on the same footing
as common people. too. There are
several bills in requiring the railroad
commission to take charge Of certain
matters, such as demurrage and claims.
Among the bills presented is ono
calling for the election of dispensers
by the people. Also tho Archer bill
which was defeated at the last session
providing for prohibition in such conn
ties rs desire it.
The House has had Il hard time over
the bill to prohibit reckless driving on
the highways. There has been no lit
tie fun over certain passages in the
discussion.
The House seems to be without
leadership just now. The leaders last
year were pretty we'll acknowledged
to be Stevenson and Winklcr. One of
these was not returned, Mr.. Winkler,
who ran for lieutenant governor and
the other, Mr.. Stevenson, has been
elected Speaker. by the way he is
said to be making n fine speaker
II there are amy leaders in he House
now they might be said to be John p.
Thomas. Jr.. of Richland, and j. II.
Wilson. OF Sumter. Really there hus
been no occasion yet to bring out lead
ership. there has been no fight and
there is no faction to bu led Matters
arc cyDectel to warm IN uryt wr.l,