Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

The Senate assembled at 11:00 A.M., the hour to which it stood adjourned and was called to order by the ACTING PRESIDENT, Senator COURSON.

On January 18, 1994, Senator J. VERNE SMITH asked unanimous consent to make a motion that the remarks made by Senator WASHINGTON be printed in the Journal as follows:

Mr. President and Members of the Senate, after hearing our Chaplain, Dr. Meetze, in his prayer allude to some of the statements and sayings of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and of Dr. King's love, I feel that it is appropriate to address this honorable body at this time.

I believe that in 1994 that the members of all (and any) legislative bodies ought to stop and really take a serious look at some of the prophetic statements that were made by the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I remember that great speech in Washington. I sat there in front of the monument as he spoke about the dream he had; and I know that a lot of us remember that portion of his speech "I have a dream." But long before that speech, Dr. Martin Luther King talked about another very important issue--the issue of violence in America. He told us then that, if we did not do something about violence, as a nation we would live to regret it and true enough it is.

Today, here today, everybody is talking about violence--politicians, statesmen--everybody is concerned about the violence taking place within our nation. Well, Dr. Martin Luther King warned us about that years ago. He warned us about the number of guns that we had on the streets and what would happen if we did not do something to curtail the sale of guns, illegal and everything else. He warned us about what would happen to us if we did not do something about the materialistic greed; and as a result, we have the rappers and all of the other videos that emphasize killing and settling differences with one another with violence.

I think that those of us who are in the legislative bodies of America have an opportunity, at an opportune time, to really lift up what this great man prophesied to us years ago because we see it happening today right before our eyes. I think that we ought to also put a little more effort in the celebration, not of the man, but of those ideals in the dream and the proclamation that he made years ago. I know some of us say, well, it is a black holiday. But I am here today to tell you that it is not a black holiday. It ought to be a holiday for all Americans because of what he said, what he did, and the life that he lived.

He has given to us some idea as to which direction we ought to go. He talked about love. King was a man who did everything in a non-violent way and yet today, there are young men, boys, and girls who are using violence to settle their differences in the streets, in the home, and everywhere we go. We must do something about this violence in our nation. And yes, he told us so -- years ago. We didn't listen. But now, it is time to join hands together to exemplify and express the kind of love that he talked about because he also warned us that if we did not join hands and do it together, that we would die together.

It is not a black issue, it's not a white issue, it's not a red issue. It's an issue for all of us to deal with. And I thank God that he sent along a prophet, a young man who died at an early age, but he told us what we need to do and what we should do to move forward together.

No matter what side of the fence we are on, no matter what boat we came here on, we are all here together. We cannot talk about love. We cannot pray about love, Senator Smith, unless we demonstrate it and that's what we ought to be doing, not only as elected officials, but every individual should. I think Dr. King made it possible for us to stop and take stock of who we are and where we are to go.

Thank you Mr. President.

The following Bills and Joint Resolution were read the third time and ordered sent to the House of Representatives:

S. 1035 -- Senator Reese: A BILL TO AMEND ACT 761 OF 1964, RELATING TO THE CREATION OF THE ARKWRIGHT AREA FIRE DISTRICT, SO AS TO INCREASE THE BOARD OF FIRE CONTROL FOR THE DISTRICT TO FIVE MEMBERS.

(By prior motion of Senator REESE)

S. 1065 -- Finance Committee: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 12-36-2120, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS, SO AS TO EXEMPT THE SALE OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY SOLD TO CHARITABLE HOSPITALS PREDOMINANTLY SERVING CHILDREN WHICH ARE ALSO EXEMPT FROM THE PROPERTY TAX, WHERE CARE IS PROVIDED WITHOUT CHARGE TO THE PATIENT.

(By prior motion of Senator PASSAILAIGUE, with unanimous consent)

S. 1066 -- Senator Leatherman: A JOINT RESOLUTION TO PROVIDE THAT THE SCHOOL DAY OF DECEMBER 9, 1993, MISSED BY THE STUDENTS OF SOUTHSIDE MIDDLE SCHOOL, FLORENCE CAREER CENTER, AND SOUTH FLORENCE HIGH SCHOOL OF FLORENCE SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE IN FLORENCE COUNTY WHEN THESE SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED DUE TO WATER PROBLEMS ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE MAKE-UP REQUIREMENT OF THE DEFINED MINIMUM PLAN THAT FULL SCHOOL DAYS MISSED DUE TO EXTREME WEATHER OR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES BE MADE UP.

(By prior motion of Senator LEATHERMAN, with unanimous consent)

The following Bill having been read the second time was ordered placed on the third reading Calendar:

S. 1072 -- Senators Moore, Setzler and Ryberg: A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 7-7-40, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO VOTING PRECINCTS IN AIKEN COUNTY, SO AS TO REDESIGNATE AND ADD NEW PRECINCTS, PROVIDE THAT THE PRECINCTS ARE AS SHOWN ON AN OFFICIAL MAP ON FILE WITH THE DIVISION OF RESEARCH AND STATISTICAL SERVICES OF THE STATE BUDGET AND CONTROL BOARD, AND PROVIDE THAT THE POLLING PLACES FOR THE PRECINCTS MUST BE ESTABLISHED BY THE AIKEN COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTIONS AND REGISTRATION WITH THE APPROVAL OF A MAJORITY OF THE AIKEN COUNTY LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.

(By prior motion of Senator MOORE, with unanimous consent)

At 11:21 A.M., on motion of Senator PATTERSON, the Senate adjourned to meet next Tuesday, January 25, 1994, at 12:00 Noon.

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