The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-03-04

laws is small. The whole matter Of
taxation was avoided and left over
as one OF the problems for next ses-
sion.
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
There was no legislation enacted
that might be regarded as hostile to
the corporate or industrial interests
of the State. The child labor bill
was adopted more in spirittof set
tling agitation than of hostility, and
there was nothing done TO affect
railroad, insurance OF other con1pan-
les doing business in the State.
These were quite number of meas
ures introduced affecting railroad
interests, but most of them were con-
tinued or killed. The DeBruhl bill
relative to baby carriages and the
Lanham bill increasing the amount
| of free baggage were continued. The
only measures enacted affecting the
railroad interests to any extent were
the bill of Mr.. Johnson to protect
the rates in bills Of lading and Mr..
Ragsdale's Act relative to railroad
companies having relief depart
in the law is that by which the time
| for bringing suits for damages as
result of wrongful death" was ex-
tended from two to six years. Mr..
Thomas's bill on another line gives
the right TO sue for damages in case
of death from injuries received by
defective public roads or streets.
| Mr.. DeBruhl and other members
frightened up some Of the existing
statutes as to railroads posting
notices of delayed trains and re-en-
acted omitted statutes as to rates
and as to publishing rates. On the
other hand, as a result Of the in
creasing truck business, and espe-
cially the banana and fruit business
in Charleston, the railroads will here
after be permitted to haul trains on
any Sunday where such trains are
devoted entirely to the fruit or vege-
table traffic.
IN HONOR OF HAMPTON.
A conditional appropriation Of
SIC, 600 was made for monument to
Gen. Wade Hampton. The bill pass
ed both the House and Senate with
out word of discussion. The bill
provided for commission to take
charge Of the matter and the monu-
mene is to be built when the citizens
Of the State raise as much as $4,000
and the States fund is not available
until the people contribute their por-
tion. The commission will under
take to apportion the $4,000 between
the various counties and in that way
give those who are interested some
thing definite TO do.
UNFOLDING THE DIsPENsARY.
There was little liquor legislation.
The influences against any interfer-
ence with the dispensary law are
still too great to allow the accom-
plishnent of any radical changes in
the present system, regardless of
merit. Mr.. Hoods bill was passed
relative to the purchases of liquor
from State distillers; provision was
made for more latitude in the sale Of
alcohol by wholesale druggists, and
a bill was adopted providing for the
location of dispensaries in Williams
burg. Otherwise there was no
change in the dispersary law, ex-
cept as to the appointment of chief
State constable, which has no effect
upon the operation OF the system.
WILL CLEMSON ASSUME THE TASK?
The House refused TO appropriate
anything for the St.Louis Exposition.
There was no opposition to the idea
or to the Justice of the appeal, but
members simply thought the State
could not afford TO invest money IN
such an advertisement at this time.
It is unfortunate that such an idea
prevailed, but it was from the first
regarded as hopeless to attempt any
considerable appropriation for the
Exposition.
The perennial fight to increase the
number Of judicial circuits or to pro-
vide additional Courts was again de-
feated. While there was no econonl-
ic outburst On the part Of members,
all measures looking to the creation
of new Offices were defeated. The
position of chief State constable was
created, but the pay for that officer
does not come out of the general
funds. the dispensary paying for his
WOrk. me 1iouSS CouIAiio0o tt'o
Senate bill providing for an oil in
spector, and the Senate in turn kill
ed the bill providing for an insur-
ance commissioner and fire marshal.
The Office of phosphate inspector is
abolished at the expiration OF the
term Of the incumbent.
APPROPRIATIONS SLIGHTLY REDUC-
The General Assembly might be
called liberal in its appropriations.
| The expectation was that, in view OF
the deficiency and refusal to increase
the tax levy or provide additioned
sources of revenue there would be
some pruning in appropriations. The
Act for 1903 is very much the same
as that of last --ear and shows re-
duction of only about $4,000, and an
aggregate of about $l,050,000. There
were no important reductions in any
of the items that remain in the Ap-
preparation Act, except that for the
| litigation fund against the alleged
trusts. The State has already az
propriated 5000 for the pending
cases. and at this session both