Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-02-17
PALMETTO LAWMAKERS
EaiIy Doings of the Peoples Chosen
Representatives.

Representatives.
Several bills of more than general
interest were finally disposed of-not-
ably the bill to control telephone sys-
stems of the State, the cotton SEED
meal bill, the marriage record lVltal
statistics) and the industrial SIDE
track bill. Final action on Senator
Brice's dispensary bill was not taken.
Senator Hardin moved to indefinite
ly postpone Senator Blake's bill to re-
Quire railroads to construct, operate
and maintain industrial side tracks as
soon as it was read. However, he with
drew his motion and debate ensued.
Senators J. w. Ragsdale, G. w. Rags
dale, Herndon and Gaines spoke on
| the bill, and Senator Raysor submit
ted an amendment making the length
| of the side tracks one quarter OF
| mile or less. This was adopted.
The bill as sent to the house pro-
vides that manufacturing or indus
trial enterprises shall If they wish
have connecting tracks (nut over one
fourth mile) with the main lines" the
rights OF way to be given free. The
reasonable first cost of construction
shall be borne by the enterprise. but
the railroad shall pay back annually
20 per cent. OF the revenue derived
from the freight received until the
''entire reasonable first cost is re-
| funded.
Thirty days notice of application
must be given for track, and If the
railroad commission decides that it
shall be granted, construction must be-
gin 10 days after the railroad has Civ
en- the plans and surveys to the enter
prise. These must be submitted with
| in the 80 days from the application
date The track when fully paid for
is the property of the railroad. but
cannot be removed without the con-
sent Of the commission
The telephone bill was very slightly
amended. Senator Hydrick, the au-
thor, had the title changed so as to
include the firms, corporations. etc.,
governing the lines, and another minor
amendment was inserted. The bill
would probably have been sent direct
ly to the house but for parliamen.
tary ruling by the chair which main
tanned that 1t was not properly en-
crossed, being in bad shape from that
standpoint. The rule was asked for
and the chair read senate rule 2S to
show its position. Senator Hyrick
wished the bill to go to the house
just as it was.
Senator Hardin had the cotton seed
meal bill called up as special order.
This is the bill to put cotton seed
meal under the same inspection as
fertilizers aren ow. Senator Manning,
fertilizers are now. Senator Manning,
reading. by inserting section stating
that the meal shall be divided into
three grades, yesterday substituted
for this an amendment stipulating
two grades. one standard" and the
other low The difference in the
grades is made by per cent. of am
mona. The bill, if it becomes law.
takes effect June 1st of the present
year. An amendment submitted by
Senator Mayfield was adopted. 1t pro-
Yides that when violation Of the law
as to standard occurs, any seller of the
fertilizer or meal may be taken as an
agent Of the company. and papers may
be served upon him. 1t was sent to
the house.
A bill By Senator j. w. Ragsdale
on the calendar for second reading,
providing for the collection of vital
statistics in the several townships anu
counties of the State, was killed just
at the hour of adjournment.
Senator Williams had third read
ing bill on the calendar to regulate
the practice of medicine in this State
but withdrew it to allow house bill
c2 the same subject to be discussed.
The house bill is practically the same
except that it does not contain the
amendments eXempting osteopaths
and homeopaths from it's provisions
| The amendments will be printed in
the journal and the bill discussed TO.
c; -.
Herbert's house bill to proyiue
| beneficiary scholarships at Clemson.
and Senator McLeod's bill to regulate
the traffic in seed cotton were made
special orders. Senator McLeod's bill
prohibits the traffic without license
between August IL and January 15.
Senator Won Kolnitz bill to close
portion of the Clements Ferry road in
Charleston county is now in the house.
This bill was suggested by Mayor
Rhett ,at the request of the govern
ment. which wishes to use a portion
of the land in connection with the
navy yard
OF the 80 second reading bills on
the calendar only four were read. All
or these were practically local in charc-
ter and application.
THE House Of Representatives spent
ali Euesday ~acting-on-the bill to
provide for record of marriages,
and the bill to repeal the lien law.
Each OF these bills comes up every
year. and each is killed with persist
ent regularity. The marriage record
bill is killed on the ground that it is a
| step toward the enactment of a di-
vorce law, and the bill to repeal the
alien law is protection to the poor.
as it permits them to give mortgage
on muscle and to get money with which
to work independently, whereas. if
there was no such law they would not
be able to work for themselves, but
would be forced to work for others.
The arguments in favor of the bill
repeating the lien law are that by fore
Ing the people to give up the lien GUS
tom they would get on cash basis,
could buy their supplies cheaper at
cash prices and would become citizens.
These points were brought out very
forcibly yesterday by Mr. Kibler, the
author OF the bill to repeal the law, but
although he and its other advocates
made strong fight, the bill was killed
by vote of so to 40.
Another matter disposed OF finally
was Mr.. Efrd's proposition to have
the members elected for four-year
terms should the people ratify the pro-
pos&i to have biennial sessions The
four-year terms resolution came up
one day last week, and falling to re-
ceive the necessary SO votes, the action
Of the House was reconsidered. Yes
terday the number who voted in favor
Of the bill was but g., while 80 opposed
it. r. action of the House could not
be reconsidered second time, so the
resolution was lost.
The following Dassed third reading.