Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-01-18
New Series No. 5o5.--vol'mo LxlT.----No. 8.

ways ana means Committee, and a
bill limiting Clemson Colleges In
come from the fertilizer tag tax to
one hundred and seventy-five thou
sand dollars per year has been in
troduced and referred to the Ways
and Means Committee. This bill was
discussed by the committee at somo
length, and by my request carried
over until Wednesday at S D. M. for
report. did this in order that
both sides might have q, chance to
come before the committee for
hearing, as Clemson seemed to have
but few champions on this commit
tee. My impression is that Como
such bill is sure TO pass the House at
th1s session, provided the same can
be done without running the risk OF
passing law that might be declared
unconstitutional which sought to
take any part of Clemson's income
from this source and use it for any
other purpose.
Having nothing to do on Saturday
Mr. Harris and spent part OF tho
day at the State farm, across the
river IN Lexington county. On this
farm the negro criminal boys, run
ming In age from the youngest to
something like 10 years, are sent in
the hope Of reforming them At
present there are about 100 boys
there who are kept under guard dur
ing the day and made to work on
the farm, and at night confined in
quarters for safe-keeping. | was told
that this branch of the State peui-
tertiary was more than self-support-
ing, they having produced last year
ABOUT 240 bales OF cotton and other
things in proportion.
Sn fOr Hn1n~oftp 1,n
agreed on any legislation looking to
our county government, but trust
we Will at an early date.
Personally l think it best to do
away with County Commissioners,
and create a commissioner from each
township, to be elected by the voters
OF the respective townships. On ex-
animation l find many Of the coun-
ties having such a law, and from
conversations with members from
some of these counties, notably Spar
tanburg and Union, am told the
plan has worked well with them,
and much more satisfactorily than
County Commissioners.
AS made tho campaign last sum-
mer expressing myself as fayoring
some such Law and was elected
cannot help but think a good Dor-
ton of our people are willing to have
such a law. My idea, in fairness to
the two County Commissioners elect
ed last year, would be to let the law
remain as 1T Is for the year 1911. but
make 1T operative for 1912, allowing
the delegation from the county to
recommend to the Governor those to
be appointed for the first year, and in
the primaries Of 1912 let the people
say who they want in their respective
townships. f. Nj. Cary.
Organization Of House.
Columbia, Jan. 14.--Editor Keo-
wee Courier: | thought probably
that few items from the capitaI
would be of interest to our frlends
in Oconee.
The House was organized on Tues
day by electing Hon. M. L. Smith
Speaker unanimously, Che having no
opDosition), and Jas. A. Hoyt Clerk
over j. W. Gibbes, of Columbia. Nc
Gowan Simpktns was elected Reading
Clerk; j. S. Wilson, Sergeant-at.
Arms; r. N. Pratt, Chaplain.
Among those who have positions
here from Oconee are J. r. Kay, who
Is one Of the door-keepers of tho
House, and Harry Earle, who was
elected clerk OF the Judiciary Com
Wlttee. or the Senate.
The new furniture that has lust
been installed adds much to the an
pearance and comfort of the House.
IL would appear to a new member
that the leaders are determined ia
extend the session through the forty
days from the way they have begun.
Before the House was fully organ
lied there was an effort made to rail
road bill through increasing the
state officers salaries, which If It
had carried would have added about
$4,000 more to the taxes, but It
came to an untimely death, or at
least is safely pigeonholed for the
present.
Up to the present there have been
even 200 bills engrossed. Some very
important measures are proposed.
but among the number there is plen-
ty Of room for "bill killers to get
in some good work
think the most important legisla-
tion claiming the attention of the
General Assembly this session Is the
rearranging Of the school law. The
Gducat1onal Commission, which was
appointed at the last session to re-
wise the law, have made their report.
They recommend q great many
changes which, it seems, are good,
hut some that am not competent to
say whether 1t would be wise to In
corporate in the law or not. 1t re-
mains to be seen what its fate will
be.
Mr.. Cary and visited the Lexipg-
ton county farm, where the State
reformatory for negro boys is locat-
ed. The State owns 500 acres OF
land. They work IS mules on tho
farm and produced 1873 bales Of cot
ton, together with large amount OF