The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-02-01
OUR COLUMBIA LETTER.
Columbia, January 30, 1905.

during the last few days Having the
elections of their minds and having
enough bills reported on by the com
mittees to furnish basis OF work, the
members have been able to give serious
attention to some of the most lnpOr-
tant matters that are presented.
concise review, such as this tries to be,
cannot take acccunt of the many Dllls
that are introduced, reported unfav0r-
ably by the committees ana rejected
by the house.
The House of Representative got to
its serious business When 1t took up
the bill of Josh Ashley to abolish
the department of immigration, the
bill! having received IL favorable report
from he committee on agriculture.
Citizen Ashley defended the bill in
one ot his characteristic speeches and
several other members attacked the
immigration idea, but 1t was noticeable
That none of them had a word to say
against the commissioner who Is car
rying on the work Of the depart
nent The friends of the department
have not vet shown their strength,
even in debate, and the matter comes
up again Tuesday as Il special order.
Another important fight took place
over the bill To change the South Car
olina College to Il State University,
and resulted in the defeat Of that
proposition by Il vote OF % To Al. The
friends OF other State Colleges, par
tually if not Immediately this scheme
would njurc these other Institutions
and many of them voted against it
with those who were opposed to the
University idea on other grounds.
THIS is a sore disappointment to the
warm friends of the South Carolina
College, as they are very anxious to Sc.
cure the university charter and had
amended the bill SO as to avoid affect
ing any other school. If u prediction
will be pardoned, the situation may re-
suit in the friends OF South Carolina
College taking up the proposition of
Superintendent Martin to abolish the
Citadel aud utilize it's machinery in
forming q State University. Up to
this time the South Carolina College
people have distinctly .disclaimed sym
pathy with Mr. Martins plan.
The judiciary committee of the
House has in a long report declared
that there is grave doubt Of the validity
Of the amendment to the constitution
providing for biennial sessions passed
upon favorably by the people at the
| last general election. 1t seems that
the constitution requires that the gov
ernor shall take Office during the ses-
sion OF the Legislature following his
that after the session Of 100G the legis.
lature shall meet biennially; q Cover
nor will be elected in the summer OF
1906 and il the amendment is put into
effect the legislature will not meet un-
til 1908, 80 that the governOr-elect
could not be installed for two years
after his election. The judiciary com.
mittee recommended that the House
appoint q commission of ebio lawyers
to look carefully into this point before
the amendment is ratified. The House
has agreed to this, the commission tC
report mt the session next January, &c
the change to biennial sessions is not
yet certain, especially as there are
other legal difficulties involved.
The House has passed stringent
and broad bill to prevent corruption
immediate result Of the practices
which prevailed to disgiaceful exten,
in the election of last 6ummer. Tht
bill originally introduced by Mr.. Nor
gan was amended and passed. AS il
now stands the bill makes bribery II
the primary o misdsmeanor, punish
able by fine or imprisonment; 1t for
fund except regular church election
it requires the candidate to file 6
pledge not to use money or whiskey IL
seeking votes and to render swOrT
itemized statement OF his expenses a.
the close of the campaign, failure Il
comply with this provision to nullify
the candidates. election.
The Senate has also worked ha.i
this week, holding one night session
day. But it has not passed very maLl
important measures. The compulsory
education bill has been debated agaiI
and has not yet come to final vote
A bill to prohibit the employment d
clerks In the engrosaing department. O.
the two houses of persons related t.
memhsra n'ea aaSa.ea ct the general ;SS ssssm5iy wa va
failed to pass. The Senate has ala
had under discussion Mr. Ardney's bill
to amend the law as to trespass 80 a
to require persOns hunting on tht
lands of another to first secure permi 10
zion whether or not the land is posted
The elections on Thursday resulted
as expected. The only conteats were
in the race for judge Of the seventh
tiary board. Judge d. A. TOWNSEND
was defeated for reelection by a ma
jority Of one, Senator D. II. Hydricl
receiving on the fret ballot o majority
over both Judge Townsend and Rep
resentative e. p. Sanders. Judge
Townsend is the first judge to be de
| 1cdISu IOr To-el6CtlOu III ten years Will
possibly one exception.
Judge Ernest Gary was without op
position re-elected Judge of the fifti
circuit; Capt. D. j. Griffith was in thu
same manner re- elected superintendent
Of the penitentiary, and as members o.
penitentiary board. Messrs. A. X. San
ders and John G. Mobley were re.elec
ted but DR.. NJ. q. Rowland was defeat
ed for re- election by representative w
D. Kirby. Usually some member o.
the Legislature is a candidate for po
sition on the board and usually he il
elected unless there are several legisla
tors in the race.
From now on the legislative mill vii
hum and the legal output will be con
siderable. The immigration question
compulsory education and the dispen
sary are yet to be debated and actet
upon while the questions affecting tax
alton have not even been touched
There is much to do in the next tel
days. j. H.
A Pleasant Occasion.