Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-02-04
WITH THE LAWMAKERS.
Notes and Comments Relating Il
Work of House and Senate.

Work of House and Senate.
There was not a little feeling in the
house over the Morgan road law leav-
ing it to the various boards Of county
commissioners to fix the number of
days of labor to be required and the
communication tax in lieu thereof. The
minority died hard. When the bill
came up for its final reading, last Fri
day, Mr.. Pollock, Of Chesterfield, urged
that it was unconstitutional in that 1t
delegated to the county commissioners
power that the general, assembly itself
could not exercise-the power to levy
different taxes in the different counties.
Nevertheless a majority Of the men,
bers were impressed with this common
sense solution Of the problem, and they
passed the bill on to the senate.
The annual lien law. debate came up
in the house on Friday, the question
being the repeal of the law. When this
law was originally enacted some thirty
five years ago, it was with the under
standing that it was only to serve as
temporary expedient to relieve press
ing necessities of the agricultural in
terests and that so soon as the need
for it passed away it would be repeal
ed. There have been efforts to repeal
the law at almost every session since
the first five years Of existence; but
they have always failed. Several
members, including Mr.. Beamguard,
of York, and Mr.. ]. M. Wise, of Ches-
ter earnestly urged repeal last Friday;
the kind. The proposition to repeal
was voted down, 65 to 49,.
For some time past there has been
feeling that Winthrop scholarships
should have larger money value. AT
present they are only worth $44 year.
This is some assistance to many ben
eficiaries, but in case where the ben
eficiary cannot raise the amount suf-
f1cient to meet the balance Of her ex-
penses, the $44 are useless. Mr.. Rich
ards introduced a bill to make the
scholarships worth an even $1OO. The
proposition was debated from both
sides, and the bill was finally passed
to read as follows: THAT the board
of trustees Of the Winthrop Normal
and Industrial college shall have the
authority to assign the scholarships
provided for that institution by the
general assembly so that there may be
given to a county as many scholarships
as such county is entitled to members
in the house Of representatives, at
one hundred dollars each: Provided,
that said amount be taken from the
regular appropriation to Winthrop col
lege. These scholarships shall be
awarded upon competitive examina!
ton by the state board Of education;
Provided, however, that before compel
ing for said scholarships that appli-
cants shall make to the board of trus-
tees proof, upon certificate of auditor
and treasurer of their respective coun-
ties, Of their financial inability to at
tend college and shall receive from
said board permission to enter compet-
tive examination: Provided, that no
person shall be permitted to apply for,
nor shall receive such scholarship When
any sister of such applicant shall nave
held such scholarship"
The senate on Friday passed a bill
to outlaw the toy pistol-the little
paper cap cracker, held in such high
esteem by small boys. The arguments
in favor of the measure were that these
pistols are dangerous in themselves
and besides they serve to cultivate
desire for weapons that use powder
and lead.
There is little reason to hope that
there will ever be definitely hxed
time for the payment Of taxes 1t IS
noteworthy fact that the retrench-
ment sentiment in the general assem-
bly, is always limited. 1t is seldom
that a proposition that calls for more
taxes is killed merely because OF more
taxes. But when it comes to the dllly-
dallying about collecting taxes, the
hesitation policy Is generally strong.
There is a disposition to postpone set
tlement day to the last minute regard
less of the loss, extra expense ana
more taxes involved in such action.
The senate had under consideration on
last Friday another bill to fix the tax
paying time and passed it. 1t is real,
ly good bill if it should be ailowea
to stand; but from past experience II
is safe to say that it will be disre.
garded by the general assembly itself
before it ever has chance to go lnto
operation. It's main provisions are:
That all state and county taxes ana
all taxes collected, when state ana
county taxes are collected, shall be Que
and payable from the 18th day of Oc-
tober to and including the 31st day or
December of each and every year, and
if such taxes and assessments are not
paid on or before said time, a penalty
of five per centum thereon shall be
added by the county auditor on the
county duplicate and collected by the
county treasurer; and if the said taxes
and assessments and penalties are not
paid on or before the 31st day of March
next thereafter, the said county treas
urer shall issue his tax execution for
the said taxes and penalties, against
the defaulting taxpayer, according to
law.