Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1904-02-10

franchise will be one half of one mill.
In Mr.. Jeremiah Smiths bill the fee
is $40 per annum for each concern.
Another revenue bill not named
above is the measure to license the
catching of oysters, CLAIMS; terrapins
and other sea products.
phase was very clear. The presenta-
ton of the case by MIR. Moses, and
later by ". ]. Johnson was very con-
vincing that the pace has been set by
other States, and that the revenue to
be obtained by South Carolina will be
in excess OF the annual deficit of. the
last three or four years: -,
The bill provides for a tax Of three
mills on the gross receipts Of the fol-
lowing corporations, to be paid before
the first of June Of each year: Any
railroad company, express company,
street railway company, navigation
company, water works company, pow
er company, light company, telephone
Or. telegraph company, parlor, dining
and sleeping car company.
Upon companies which are not pub
lie utilities-such as cotton mill, banks,
oil mills, and such institutions char
tered by the State-the tax is to be
cne-half of one million the capital
stock. With the other concerns the as
scssment Is on The gross receipts. With
| the companies not public utilities the
payment of the franchise tax must be
made before the first day Of April,
and with the public utilities the tax
of three mills on the gross receipts OF
the preceding year is to be paid before
the first of June. the time Of year
when the State Is most in need OF
'ready cash.
The work OF the house Friday was
varied in its nature, and bills Of many
kinds we're rejected and were passed:
The bicycle and automobile bill was
sent to the senate; the Charleston
Medical college bill was passed; the
bill to give exclusive jurisdiction to the
United States upon certain landed ac-
ouisitions was accepted IN the 0riginali
and the bill to establish breweries and
beer dispensaries was killed.
An effort was made to recommit tue
bill relating to the riding of bicycles
and automobiles before it got to the
senate but the house refused to stop
the bill in its passage. preferring TO
have any necessary amendments mate
in the senate. Mr. Moses called atten7
ton to the fact that while the bill per-
mits d bicycle rider TO get permission
to pass a conveyance. the driver OF an
automobile must get down and stand
besiue his machine. And Mr.. Cooper
directed attention to the fact that
while The bill prescribes punishment
for the "flrst offence" it makes no pro-
vision for other offences. The house
thought that recommittal would be
tantamount to killing the bill and the
motion was voted down.
The following bills passed third read
ing: Mr.. Richards to Increase the
scholarships at Winthrop from S44 to
sl0O each; Mr.. Kibler's to provide Tor
in insurance commissioner; Mr.. Maui
din's providing for the investigation
into the causes Of fires and to provide
ior the prevention of excessive fire in
surance rates; and the tax commits
sion's bin to require the payment OF
franchise tax by corporations. MT
Mauldin's bill was not thoroughly &C
ceptable to the insurance companies
as has been reported, nor can 1t be
called an insurance company bill, fol
while they accept the bill as whole
tha companies were not pleased Win
the provisions which permit the COM
missioner to investigate complaints
that the rates are too high and to
make the companies give-Iatts on rhef
same basis rs in ot!lss States.
Thee somewhat of disposition
.le;..J,aye great many bills made spell
~cial orders and to give the genelai|
orders chance, Mr.. Williams moved|
that all the special orders be discharg7l
ed for the day and that the house pro-
ceed regularly with the calendar This
was agreed to and quite a number otI
Hills we're gotten Off the calendar wherei
they might have remained for some
time as there are special orders enougnl'
10 keep the house busy for. seyzsal
dayc. 4. -. ~