Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-02-19
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

house today. AUGUST hoHN'
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
More Important Proceedings OF the
House and Senate.
Correspondence Of the Yorkville ENQUIRER.
COLUMBIA, February 17.-With one
week more Of its session before 1t, the
general assembly has yet number OF
bills on the two calendars; but 1t Is
probable that when the 40 days are up
many Of these will be left to die OF
neglect, for the bills unacted on at
this session are done for. But the two
houses have been steadily at work last
week, and nearly every day each Of
them has held two sessions. At this
rate a great deal Of legislation can be
disposed Of the coming week, and 1t Is
possible for the legislature to get
through in time for the governor and
his staff to attend Military Day. at
the Charleston exposition on George
Washington's birthday.
= The house passed the appropriation
bill readily, and on Saturday took up
the supply bills. The general supply
bill contains a mass Of details and only
a few Of local interest concern the gen.
eral reader. But the house has passed
two important bills-an antitrust law
and a new road law.
At one time it seemed possible that
there would be no legislation regard
ing trusts despite the abundance OF
agitation on that line, and even now,
after the house has passed q stringent
measure, the passage by the senate is
by no means assured. The bill which
has succeeded Is the one introduced by
Mr.. w. ]. Johnson, Of Fairfield, and Is
modelled very closely after the celebra-
ted "Hogg law" Of Texas. 1t forbids
any and all sorts of combinations In
restraint Of trade and competition, or
for the purpose of controlling prices,
and the output Of products, and pro-
vides heavy penalties for violations.
Individuals or corporations RESPONSE
BILE for violations are liable to forfeit
Of not less than 5000 nor more than
Sc. 1000 for every offence. while corpora
tions violating the act shall have their
charters revoked and be forbidden to
do business in this state. The law Is
broad enough in its terms and Is
it can be made effective Is seriously
doubted.
On the other side of the Capitol, the
opposition to corporations Is not 30
strong as in the house, and 1t was no
surprise when the senate rejected the
very radical resolutions of Senator
Graydon to repeal the charter Of the
Virginia Carolina Chemical company
on the ground that 1t is a trust. Sena-
tor Graydon made strong fight for
his proposition, but was unsuccessful,
the voting standing 20. to 10 against
the resolution.
Another measure aimed, it seems, at
the same corporation, was Senator
Mayfield's bill to establish a state fer
tilizer factory, the idea being to utilize
the penitentiary convicts for mining
the phosphate belonging to the state,
and for manufacturing 1t into CONNER
cial fertilizer or acid phosphate. The
debate on this measure was also rath-
er extended, but 1t was at length de-
feated, the vote being % to 10.
The bill passed by the house provid-
ing a new road law is one of the most
important matters yet considered by
the general assembly. 1t was deemed
necessary because the present act is re-
garded as unconstitutional by reason
of the fact that 1t includes special leg
islation" in the shape Of different pro-
visions for different counties.
The bill leaves it to the county COM
missioners to "fix a minimum and
maximum age for road duty, but in no
case shall it be less than 18 years or
more than so years." and the number
Of days shall be not less than three nor
more than eight, ten hours being con-
sidered a days work. The commuta-
tion tax "shall be not less than 81 nor
more than 81, the amount to be regula-
ted by the board Of county commits
oil RI nannSGitu
their respective counties" It Is left to
the commissioners discretion to en-
ploy other labor or to utilize convicts
or both, the Communication tax being
available for this purpose. This bill
was prepared by committee Of one
representative from each county, ap-
pointed at the last session. It has not
yet been considered in the senate.
The general supply bill fixes the
state levy at five mills-the same as
last year-which Is, Of course, exclu-
sive Of the constitutional three mill tax
for the support of the common schools.
Reduction of taxation is a dream Of
the demagogue not yet realized even
when the amount and value Of taxable
property has so greatly increased.
The bill to include domestic fowls
under the provisions Of the general
stock law met its death in a peculiar
way. Both houses passed it, but the
senate amended 1t so as to include
chickens. The house refused to agree,
and the matter was referred to con-
ference committee and then to a free
conference which reported that they
had agreed to change the words do
mestic fowls to turkeys, geese, ducks
and guineas," which would leave
chickens out. The senate refused to
accept the report and this killed the
bill-a measure on which much time
was spent.
The redistricting bill is an important
measure that has gone through this
week. The MCGOWAN bill, which orig
mated in the house, was on Tuesday
passed by the senate with one amend
ment, but only after considerable de-
bate. Clarendon is taken from the
Seventh district and put in the First,
and the house has agreed to the
change.
The levy for York, county as fixed by
the house, is as follows:
York. mills. The following addi-
tional items for townships to pay inter-
est on railroad bonds issued in aid of
the Charleston, Cincinnati and Chica-
ga railroad: In Catawba township, q
mills; in Ebenezer township, II mills;
in York township, 81 mills.
NOTES FROM OGDEN.