Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-26
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THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Review of the Proceedings of Ses.
sion Just Closed.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville Enquirer.
COLUMBIA, February 24.-After Al
days session, with few days recrea-
ton in Charleston, the general assem-
bly, adjourned sine die on Saturday af-
ternoon. The session has not been SEN
sational or conspicuous in any respect
but a good deal Of good work has been
done and some good measures, perhaps
killed. This was the second session OF
this general assembly, and the mem
bers who want to come back-except, OF
course, the holdover senators-must
face their beloved constituents on the
stump this summer and defend whatso-
ever records they may have. The house
is composed largely of young men, new
to legislative and political life, and nat
urally ambitious, and no doubt most OF
the members will be candidates for re-
election.
| At the last moment almost, the anti
trust bill got safely through, though
somewhat disfigured by the pugnacious
senate. This is the measure introduced
by Mr.. w. J. Johnson, and Is the only
one Of several measures Of its charac-
ter which came in sight Of success. II
passed the house late, and on Thurs
day was taken up in the senate without
having been referred to a committees
very unusual thing. Senator Robert AL
drich, Of Barnwell, made the principal
fight against it, delivering carefully
prepared speech Of several hours du-
ration in which he openly defended
trusts and corporations as beneficial
land worthy of encouragement, citing
New Jersey as an example for South
Carolina to follow. 1t Is a coincidence
that Senator Aldrich should take this
stand, and that the most prominent ad-
vocate Of legislation and prosecution
in regard to the trusts, is Atty. Gene
raj G. Duncan Bellinger, also Of Barn
we'll, for between the two is a politi-
cal antagonism dcting back before the
days of Tillmanism.
Senator Barnweli, Of Charleston. at
torney for the Southern railway, also
fought the bill; but the senate by q
vote Of 21 to II, on Thursday night, at II
o'clock, refused to kill it and then sew
eral amendments were adopted. The
two most important Of these are one
to exempt insurance companies, and
another to strike out the rather drastic
provision requiring every corporation
through some official, to make aff1da-
Wit annually, as to its compliance with
the law. An amendment to exempt far
mers' organizations was voted down
The author Of the bill and its advo-
Gates preferred tov.ave the house agree
to the senate amendments rather than
run the risk Of having 1t killed or fur
ther amended in conference, and so the
amendments were accepted by the
house. The bill was originally a close
copy Of the celebrated "Hogg law 'of
Texas, famous in the annals Of anti
trust legislation. AS it stands, 1t for
bids all sorts Of combinations Of cor
porations or individuals in restraint OF
trade and competition, or for the pur-
pose Of controlling prices and the out
put Of products, and provides heavy
penalties for violations. Individuals
or corporations responsible for viola
tions are liable to forfeit Of not less
than 5000 nor more than $1,000 for ev-
cry offence and for every day Of such
offence, while corporations violating
the act shall have their charters revok-
ed and be forbidden to do business IN
this state.
! The one other important measure re-
garding corporations which has passed
is the bill giving the attorney general
authority to demand evidence necessary
for inquiring into the affairs Of corpor-
ations and trusts preparatory to pros
ecution. This legislation was asked
for by Mr. Bellinger. But the bill tc
revoke the charter Of the Virginia Car
olina Chemical company was defeated
The hostility toward corporations sc
apparent ten years ago, does not no"
exist in this state. There seems to be
real friendliness to railroads especilly
-rerhaps because the railroads are now
conciliatory and suave in their meth
ods where they used to be dictatorial
For instance, the bill to allow the
Southern railway to consolidate certain
llines-the old South Carolina and Geor.
gia and it's tributaries-was easily pass
ed, the communities interested favoring
the measure.
Another matter which did not gel
through until the last and then only by
conference agreement, was the road
law. This is bill framed by specia
committee to supersede the present
statute, which is held to be unconsti'
tutional because it contains special pro.
visions for each county. AS finally
agreed upon, the bill fixes the ages Of
citizens liable to road duty at from
IS to so; the number of days Is eight Of
more, and the communication tax for al
counties is 81. The bill is quite
lengthy, containing specific instruc'
tions for the maintenance Of the high.
ways by the county commissioners.
The appropriation bill had the easiest
time it has had since the Radicals lef
the Capitol. There was no fight on any
important appropriation except thai
for Winthrop college, which the ways
and means committee had fixed at $780,.