The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-02-12
The GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Both House and Senate Hard al
Work---chiId Labor Develops
Strength in House.

Columbia, Feb. By vote of 57'
to 5 the house refused to strike out
the enacting words Of the child labor
bill. This does not necessarily mean
the success of the measure but it was
a very great victory for the advocates
of the bill. The house adjourned
without taking further action on it.
There were exciting scenes on the
floor of the house yesterday and a
number Of members arose to ga ques-
tion Of personal privilege" which
means that member feels that he
has been misinterpreted, purposely
misquoted, or something of that kind.
The feature OF the day was the
speech of Col. G. W. Croft Of Aiken,
who favored the bill. Aside from
being lawyer trained at debate, Mr..
Croft has remarkable command Of
language and his speech was fine
effort. There were some splendid
speeches made in opposition. Mr..
Banks of Newberrry made the shortest
but one of the best and most logical
speeches of the day. Mr.. Rucker
bettered any other effort he has yet
made. Mr.. Prince spoke with his ac-
customed vim and directness.
In behalf of the bill there were
several champions who held the floor
well. NJ. Webb of Aiken, who has
worked as an operative in a cotton
mill, opened the debate. Mr.. John
McMaster made very forcible
speech as did Mr.. F. II. McMaster.
Mr.. Logan of Charleston awoke the
tiger in the otaewise amiable disposi-
ton of Col r. B. A. Robinson.
The fighting of the day was rather of
the broad sword variety than of the
rapier.
After the house had been opened
with prayer Mr.. Logan offered reso-
luton that careful investigation of
the Torreus or Australian system of
making transfers OF land titles be
made, and to that end that the gov
ernor should appoint committee Of
five to make such investigations with
out pay.
The resolution was killed.
The senate held two sessions morn
ing and night, and the proceedings
of both sessions we're full of interest.
The jury law passed its final reading,
the senate agreeing to the house
amendments, and the bill viii proba-
bly, be ratified and signed by the gov
ernor today. The bill to allow women
who pay taxes to vote for presi Dental
electors vas killed. The bill to bring
domestic fowls under the provisions of
the general stock law passed its third
reading, afer a hard fight.
st the morning session there was a
rather sensational encounter between
Lieut.. Gov. Tillman and Senator
Graydon, growing out of the formers
ruling the senator out of order on a
parliamentary question. Senator
Graydon appealed to the senate from
the presidents ruling, but afterwards
withdrew the appeal at the request OF
Senator Barnwell, who frankly said he
was only striving to prevent an un-
pleasant scene in the senate chamber
There was never any question as to
how the senate would have voted, but
as Senator Graydon withdrew his ap-
peal the incident closed without any
Fody being able to claim victory
or defeat.
At the night session Senator Tlder-
ton injected some spice into the pro-
ceedings by charging in speech that
the clerk Of the supreme court had
been on the floor of the senate lobby
ing against bill which the senator
was trying to have passed.
st the night session the bill
regulating the salaries of coun-
ty officers was taken up aand
tinkered with for a while. A lot of
amendments were made, but as the
bill has yet to run the gauntlet of the
house, no attepmt viii be made to
print the provision of the bill until it
finally gets through both houses
Senator Aldrich offered an amend
ment by which the salaries of the
treasurers could be made different
from the auditors. The amendment
was lost, and the salaries Of the two
officers will be the same in each coun-
ty.
Senator Barnwell wanted an amend
ment that those who accept the sala-
ries provided in this bill should be de-
barred from entering suit in the
courts for the fees that he would have
received under the fee systenr The
amendment was lost.
Senator Manning proposed al
amendment, which was adopted, pro-
viding that in towns of over 5000
inhabi tants the township assessors re
ceive pay for not more than five days,
in towns between 5000 and 10000
population they should receive pay
for 10 days services, and in cities Of
over 20, ,OGO population they should
receive pay for 20 days services.
Senator Brice moved to recommit
Senator Herndon's bill to require the
public printing in each county to be
let to the lowest bidder. He said
York county once had special bill of
this kind and it proved to be an end
less source of annoyance and confu-
sion. The object of having county
matters published is for the informa-