The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-02-18

Z Legislative
2.....BreVitieS

Important Bill Passed.

Important Bill Passed.
{ At Thursdays session the general
assembly passed bill establishing
state department Of commerce and i'm
migration.
The bill is elastic in character anu
enables the department to look no.
alone to securing settlers OF desirable
character, but to inducing all kinds OF
investments in the state.
The move is due to the peculiar con-
ditions prevailing in the south, result
ing from the cotton growing and man
ufacturing situation the demand for
farm labor, the probability If the open
ing of the Panama canal and the de-
velopment of the West Indian trade.
Once the department is established
other southern states will doubtless
move on similar lines.
The matter of making fuller assess
ments on al classes of property con-
sumed most of the time of the general
assembly at Wednesdays session. Mr..
jeremiah Smith, Of Horny, had a bill
by which he proposed to get all class
es of property up to the full market
value. After g. considerable discus
sion the house killed the bill by de-
cided majority. Mr.. Dorroh's propo-
sition to provide for a process OF gar
nishment was killed. There was al
effort made to take up and consider
the general appropriation bill, but the
house was disposed to act upon other
matters and the general appropriation
bill had to go over until Thursday.
The house and senate have agreed
upon the Charleston license bill by
accepting the senate's amendment.
which reduces the maximum license
which can be imposed by the city
council of Charleston to $2,50O. This
bill left the house with maximum OF
$4,000. A protest was received against
recurring separate compartments on
the steam ferries, such as are now
provided for on railroad trains. This
was ordered printed in the house jour
nal. Senator Latimer officially called
the attention of the house to the ne
cessity of taking action relative to the
good roads movement. The supply
bill, which fixes the levy for all state
purposes at five mills, was introduced.
This levy is the same as it has been
! for some time.
The senate met at IL. o'clock
Wednesday morning, instead OF IL, as
the journal showed it had adjourned
to. There were a large number OF
senators who misunderstood the hour
and so they were present at 10 o'clock
Among those who thought the hour
! 10 was Senator Sheppard, the presid-
| ing officer. He called the senate TO
order, and then there came much ques-
tioning as to whether the hour was 10
or II. Senators differed, buut there
was a quorum present, and Senator
Sheppard submitted the question to
them. By vote OF 10 to it was de-
cided that 10 was the hour. Second
reading bills were taken up upon
which there was understood there
would be no debate. Nevertheless
there was some debate on the local
bill which had reference to increas"
ing the salary of the auditor CT Rich
land. Senator Ragsdale, or Fairfield,
objected to the bill unless the increase
should come out of the county and not
the state treasury. There was some
discussion then as to whether the
state uniformly paid two-thirds OF the
salaries of auditors OF counties, and
Senator Marshall suggested that fur
Their consideration of the bill be post
poned. The telephone bill was read
the third time, and then this action
was recommended, Senator Won Kpl'
nitz saying that he had some ameni-
ments he wished to offer. Senator Al
drich offered some amendments as to
the matter of costs in suits, but these
were rejected by vote Of 10 to 10.
At the night session Of the senate the
Clemson College scholarship bill final
ly passed, the amendments offered by
Senator Raysor being adopted. These
provided that the scholarships SHAH
be open only TO those who will take
the agricultural course, striking, out
the provision that they shall be open
to students in the mechanical couse.
There were a number Of other amend"
ments offered probably with a vie"
of defeating the bill, though, of course.
that did not appear on the face o.
them.
The house Wednesday considered
and acted upon two most important
matters. First it ordered to a third
reading the senate bill providing 1or
the establishment OF department OF
immigration. The senate bill was