The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-02-11
LAW MAKERS OF
SOUTH CAROLINA
REPORT OF PARK COMMITTEE
TWO CENT RATE PASSED.
OTHER BUSINESS.
DISPATCHES FROM COLUMBIA
Doings and Happenings That Mark
the Progress of South Carolina Peo-
pie, Gathered Around. the State
Capitol.
Columbia.

.r Columbia. :
After reviewing the work at State
Park, the state hospital commission,
in its annual report prepared for the
general assembly, concludes with the
statement that "s125,000' could be
economically expended during the
year." ~. =
Members Of the commission are: j.
". Babcock, M. D., chairman; Robert
Wilson, Jr., j. M. Payne, o. L. John
son and E. H. Aull, secretary.
In the report it is shown that g.
1925 acres of land have been pur-
chased by the various commissions at
a cost of S78,360.43. The commission
reneWs it's recommendation that an
electric car line be constructed from
Columbia when the patients have been
removed to the, hospital.
Concerning the laundry and, power
plant the report says: ~"
1.-THE. main building of the laundry
is A feet by SO feet, and consists Of
foul wings or units of "a feet by q
feet each. It's height is IA feet to the
trusses and 20 feet additional to the
top of the monitors.
1.-THE power plant consists Of two
rooms: one for the boilers and n for
the engines and dynamos. This plant
has been planned for twice our pres
ent needs in equipment, and future
additions may be made without deteri!
ment to the structure The dimen-
sions are 60 by SO by Is feet"
"Yet we have" says the" report.
during the past year, been laboring
with full knowledge that the general
assembly and state officials had not
determined upon a policy for the de-
development Of State Park. So long
as this matter remains uncertain, the
general assembly can not be expected
to make proper appropriations for the
erection of buildings and the organi-
zation of the several colonies. which
i. has been proposed to locate in the
country. ss
The commission last year expended
$69, 212.S0 for work at State Park,
according to the report. /.
House. ;
When the 2-cent passenger rate
bill came up for third reading in the
house, Mr.. Sanders of York moved to
recommit it when objection was rails
ed to his amendment exempting rail-
roads less than 40 miles in length from
its provisions. The house, however,
killed the molten to recommit and
sent the bill to the senate by a vote
of 80 to Is.
Mr.. Belser said that If the house
did not want its bill to be declared
unconstitutional, it should be amend
ed so as to make q distinction be-
tween little railroads and big railroads
in the amount of the passenger rate
they could charge. He said that if any
little railroad could show that it could
not operate proitably under a fat 2
cent rate the law would undoubtedly
be declared unconstitutional. John
G. Richards, Jr., of the railroad COM
mission is of the same opinion, &C
cording to MI. Belser.
On an aye and nay vote OF 80 to
16 the 2-cent passenger rate bill was
sent to the senate"
After being severely man-handled
by amendments, the house passed to
third reading the Mcqueen bill, pro-
viding for the sale Of the state farms
and placing the convicts on them at
work on the roads in the various
counties. The amendment which will
probably do most to render the bill
ineffective was offered by Mr.. Lilies OF
Orangeburg and agreed to by the
house.
The house consumed over two
hours in debating the bill, some OF
the speakers wandering aield to spec
ulate what would happen should the
governor commute the sentences OF
the convicts working on the state