The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-02-15
WORK OF TIE LEGISLATURE.
Synopsis Of The Proceedings Wed
nesday.
House Refuses to Enact Marriage Record.
ing BilI---ScandaI in Secretary of
States Office Discussed.
BY w. H. McCaw.

BY w. H. McCaw.
Columbia, Feb. 10.-The house of
representatives is firmly set in its
preudices, or principle, or whatever
it may be called, not to permit any
change whatever in the laws regarding
matrimony. The conditions which
make this the easiest State in the
union to get married in and the most
dificult to again get released from
these bonds, will not be changed in
the near future in any particular.
The. house by decisive majorities kill
ed three bills in rapid succession yes
terday looking to records cf marriages
being kept by clerks of court. None
invalidated the marriage contract in
case the provisions we're not obeyed,
and Mr.. Hutto's bill made it entirely
voluntary, his bill being intended to
assist the historical commissions
work by allowing persons to re-
cord their marriages past and to come.
The D. O. Herbert bill merely re-
quired the person performing thu
ceremony to file certificate Of the
fact with the clerk of the court and
the Fishburn bill went bit further
and made it a misdeamor for either
the person performing the ceremony
or the contracting persons to fail to
observe the law. Although the consti-
tuition forbids divorce it was argued,
by even such able lawyers as Mr..
Fraser of Sumter, that these bills
were step in the direction Of divorce
and no change should be permitted.
The Herbert and Fisnburn bills were
strongly supported on the ground that
their passage would greatly relieve
conditions in the cotton mill COM.
munities where there were many
young abandoned women with chill
den, who had married worthless
scamps as are always to be found
among these transient populations,
and it was also urged that a law Of
this kind would break up such 'smar-
riage industries as has been built up
by sSquire'' Bales and others. A
pl eacher of the house also asked its
passage as protection to the preach
ers, who did not desire to be imposed
upon as is the case under the present
lack of law. Mr.. Moses Of Sumter
favored the bills
The senate passed the tenth circuit
bill amended so as not to interfere
with the present arrangements regard
ing judges and solicitors. It makes
ninth circuit out of Greenville, An
derson, Oconee and Pickons and
tenth circuit out of Charleston, Beau
fort and Berkeley.
Answering the invitation to address
the assembly on the 9th, in the interest
of the jamestown exposition, Gen.
Fitzhuhg Lee wires his regrets from
Washington, saying that on that day
the matter would come up in Congress
and ne could not reach Carolina. He
suggested that the matter could be at
tended to next year, but thought it
might be best for the assembly to take
action now..alcng the lines suggested
in his letter of few days ago.
One of the Interesting features OF
house legislation so far was the decis-
i've majority with which that body has
passed the Toole bill, which elimi-
mates the tax feature from the Brice
act allowing counties to vote out
their dispensaries. The senate has
killed a somewhat similar measure,
but the senate bill went further and
allowed not only counties but COM
munities to vote out their dispensar-
les, and the friends of the Toole bill
are no means discouraged with the
prospects of its passing the senate. To
hold this provise of half a mill tax
over the heads of those counties de-
string or which might desire to vote
out their dispensaries is looked upon
as threat, which is being resented.
The handwriting upon the wall has
been brought into bold relief by the
action of the house, which cones
freshest from the people.
At the nights sessions of the house
and senate the reply Of Secretary of
State CAN'T to the charges of the IN
vestigating committee was read. Mr..
CAN'T denies the substance Of the
report and declares that it can be dis
covered that his records are straight.
Mr.. Richards of the committee op-
posed the motion to refer both the
report and the reply to the ways and
means committee. He reiterated all Of
the charges of the report and said
that the issues between the committee
and Mr.. Can't were squarely before
the house, which should pass upon
them without reference. The matter
went to the committee.
The bill to repeal the law allowing
SPECIAL terms of court and special judges
was then given its third reading.
The bill meets conditions brought
about by the passage o.. the ten cir
cult will and becomes effective at
once.
The motion to continue the ten hour
bill failed, AZ to Al and Mr.. Toole, of
Aiken. its author made good speech
on its favor. He gave the working
mill population of the State as 80, 600
children under 16 years old, $4,000
women and 10000 men. Referring
to the netitionS against the bill from