Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-01-23
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
Pending Measures of Public Interest--The Fac
tory Labor Question-Mr. deloach and the
State Farm-What the York Members Think
of the Exposition Appropriation Poll.
ticaI Outlook.

ticaI Outlook.
Correspondence Of the yorkville Enquirer.
COLUMBIA, January 19.-The members
Of the general assembly have taken
Lees birthday as their first opportuni-
ty OF visiting their homes and attend
ing to their business.
There was no especial public celebra-
ton of the day except that which was
arranged for by the Daughters Of the
Confederacy here and elsewhere.
There is not yet any special develop
ment Of important or radical legisla-
ton at this session Of the legislature.
AS has been anticipated, the most i'm
portant matters that will have to be
considered under pending bills are, first,
the sale or disposition Of the state
farms; second, the child labor PROPOSE
ton; and third, the appropriations for
the state colleges, Charleston exposi-
ton, public schools, and other pur-
poses.
From the present outlook, the most
serious discussion will come out in con-
nection with the factory labor question.
The prospects are that nothing will be
done at this session unless the repre-
of the cotton mill interests
are agreeable to some plan. The dis
position Is to let we'll enough alone
and to allow such questions to adjust
A great many members
are of the opinion that the child labor
bill, without corresponding measure to
require the attendance of children on
the public schools, would be worse than
useless, as it would throw large pop
ulation, now kept out Of mischief, on
the hands of mill communities. The
curious feature Of the mill agitation Is
that very little Of the support Of such
a proposition comes from the. counties
where there are the largest mill pop
ulations, and where the members would
be supposed to have the greatest ac-
uuaintance with the situation. The
labor organization seems to have taken
the matter in charge, but generally
speaking, the operatives do not seem
to appreciate this humanitarian desire
to interfere for the education Of their
children. and insist that If bill should
be passed it should include children
who are now employed as cash boys
telegraph messengers and such like
work, as we'll as those that are en-
ployed in the factories. The real meat
of the whole situation, however, is in
compulsory education, and if the state
is not yet ready to take up that COM
mendable work, the legislation as to
children working will meet with con-
siderable opposition. 1t is stated that
even now none of the mills desire to
employ children. They find such SER
vice of but little value, and only en-
ploy children where the parents mis-
their ages, or where 1t Is re-
garded as a charity to employ child
rem to help in the support of poor fam
lilies. AS a general rule the mills are
against the employment Of children in
their work.
Mr.. de Loach will be one Of the lead
ers in the opposition to the present
plan of using convict labor on the state
farm. He now has a bill pending which
looks to the sale Of the state farms.
At present this proposition does not
seem to meet with much favor, and the
first bill on this subject has been unfa-
vorably reported. 1t is, however, like
ly to occasion great deal Of discus
sion and there Is no telling what will
be done, although the indications are
decidedly in favor of the retention Of
the present property whether used for
farming purposes or not.
The disposition on the part Of the
house, as we'll as the senate, seems to
be to make liberal appropriations this
year. By the word liberal Is meant
what is necessary, and the three for a
quarter" element does not seem to be
near so much in evidence as hereto
fore. With this feeling, Winthrop col
lege is more likely to secure the full
amount asked for for the completion
and equipment of its new dormitory
and the operation Of its various de-
partments. The South Carolina college
is likely to receive its stated appropria-
tion as we'll as about eleven thousand
($11, 100000 dollars for the erection and
equipment Of new eating hall, and
the appropriation asked for for the
Charleston exposition Is now In decf-
dedly good shape. The majority Of the
senate has already committed itself In
favor of the appropriation. The house,
If the present sentiment continues, will,
unquestionably, support such an ap-
An inquiry that has been
made as to the views Of the members,
develops the fact that the York dele
cation is unanimously in favor Of the
appropriation for the Charleston expo
sition with the exception Of Mr.. de
Loach, who does not think it proper
Senator Brice, Mr.. Elder, Mr.. Beam
guard and Mr.. Halle have all ex-
pressed themselves as being favorable
to the Charleston proposition. The on
ly question now on which there Is like
ly to be any division, is as to how the
money shall be expended.
There is already considerable discus
sion as to the political outlook, which
will not, however, take shape for some
time. There does not yet seem to be
any certainty about who the candi-
dates for governor, in the next pri-
mary, will be-, although such things
heretofore have taken shape very much
before this time. The congressional
races in the various districts are be-
coming interesting, and until these set
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