The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-02-21

Senator l1ydrick favored the meas.
urc. A changing with less than l5
convicts cannot be maintained advan-
tagcously, and more convicts are need
ed on the roads. lie thought Senator
Graydon's argument as to the hard.
ships on county chaingangs was cX-
aggerated. He thought the bill should
be passed.
Senator Gaines said The people Of
Greenwood wanted the bill passed. The
Greenwood chaingang mas not had a
convict to die since 1t was established, ,
and he read letter from the supcrvi-
sor showing the manner of treatment.
Senator MayGcld thought the bill
would practically mean the abolition of
the pcnitentiary and the State farms.
Senator Caughman favored the bin :,
but would be willing to have it go
over until the next session. With the
great interest being taking in good
roads the bill ought not to be killed
now.
On motion TO strike out the enact
ing words the vote stool: Ayes II;
nays 20; and the senate lciu scd to
strike out the enacting words.
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tinue the bill until the next session
which was done by vote of u to rs,
and the bill goes over.
THE SENATE OK PENSIONS.
The House bill TO increase the
amount of the appropriation for Con-
fcIcratc pensions to 5000 900 was
reached and taken up for its second
reading.
Senator Mower moved to strike out
the cnacting words Of the bill, and.
as chairman of the finance committee,
made statement of the States
finances. The appropriation bin now
carries about $l 900 ,000--an excess Of
some $50, 900 or $50 900 over last year
Ii this increase in pensions is allowed
1t will simply require an increase in the
tax levy at least onc-half mill, and he
did not think il would be wise to do
this at this time. Again, he doubted
II the needy pensioners would be ma
terially benefited, as our experience
would show that the moro money we
have the more pensioners lhcle would
be, and the really needy ones would
not be materially benefited.
Senator Henderson hoped the arpro-
priation would not be killed, but tt, IT
the extra sum Of $40, 900 he given, as
Capt. Brooks intended ii when he IN
troduccd it in the House. The comp
trollcr general says this will not in
crease the tax levy this year, but
whether it did o. not he would vote
for il If the State is to help the old
soldiers it should do SO i'll proper shape.
Senator Sharpe said he wanted to see
if the Senate, in view OF having voted
extra agant appropriations for the EX-
position and the colleges, would not
vote to help the needy soldiers. He
favored Senator Hendcrson's PROPOSE
tion to give S5O, 900 extra instead of
500, 900, because he tcI, this ought to
be done. He always had opposed cx.
travant appropriations, but he thought
tins ought to be given.
Senator Applet also spoke briefly in
favor of the $50 900 appropriation.
Senator McDermolt read some fig
ures that he had obtained from the
comptroller generals dcpaltmt mt,
showing that the States finances were
in shape TO allow the $4,000 appro.
prlation without increasing the levy.
The State. will, 1T Is estimated, start
the year Of 1902 will some $G2l 900
cash Oh hand.
Senate" Dean also wanted the S50,-
OU0 granted. Let's give these heroes
something during their lives, instead Of
singing rcquiems over them when
they are dead.
Senator Graydon was IN favor Of the
100000, but if he couldn't get that he
would compromise Oh the $50 900. He
had no record as an economist, but he
did not want TO begin on the old SOL
dicrs. He thought the present scnti.
mcnt OF the State was in favor Of the
increase of 100000.
Senator Blakeney said that some
thought the House passed the bill with
the expectation that the Senate would
kill it, and that il was {, play at pol.
itics on the part Of The House. lie was
! charitable enough to believe that it
passed as result of burst of scnti-
mcEt. If it we've left to our SYM
pathies we would vote the soldiers 81 =
O00,0 900 and still be unsatislicd, but the
finance committee, which certainly has
the welfare OF the State at hcalt, has
reported unfavorably on the increase
for pensions because it involves an in
crease in the burden of taxation. lie
did not want to see the State be
mggardly in its pension appropriations
but thought the law gave all at present
that the State was able to give. He
spoke of the general abuse of the pen
sion law and sad South Carolina SOL
dicrs fought for principle and not for
lpensions. '''@
Senator Sullivan said he understood
the committee reported uEfavorably on
the increase on the assumption that it
would increase the tax levy five mills.
He signed the unfavorablc report, but
vas willing to vote for $50 900 increase
If 1t could be done without increasing
the levy, and as he had been shown
that this could be done he wo Id favor
the increase Of $j0,000.
Senator Stanland favored The in.
crease of $50 900, but SAID he disagreed
with some in saying that the old sol
dicrs would soon be all gone. rhC
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