The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-12-25
THE LEGISLATUIsE.


Tho last session of tho Legislature
of 1928 has ended and the acts
and doings Of tho individual
members of that body will
receive comment favorable or unfavor-
able ut the ballot box in November
next. II is matter of 10 little inter
est and concern, to know just what has
been done and what will bc the effects
upon tho business and industries of tho
State. With the acknowledgment to
start with that Improvement can yet be
made in the ability and personnel of
both Houses, yet it would be safe to
say that the makeup of tho present
General Assembly is infinitely superior
to any legislative body that has assem-
blcd in the State House since the war.
This perhaps after all is not saying
much, but it is certainly ono of tho
encouraging signs Of the times that
the voters arc gradually becoming
moro careful in the selection Of their
representatives, and that more regard
is now paid to tho ability and fitness
Of men for the position than ut the
party's first advent into power in 1876.
There is much to bo praised and
some little to bc criticised in the action
of the session of the Legislature now
closed. The greater bulk Of the bills
passed were Of no public interest or
concern, and as such are undcscrving
Of public notice or public comment.
Upon the other hand, some half dozen
measures of lasting and far-rcaching
consequence to the people and to tho
State at large, came up, were discussed
and finally disposed of, and it yet re-
mains to be determined whether the
action upon them was wise or unwisc.
The defeat Of the divorce law, we
believe, should be a source of regret,
and we do not hesitate to say that in
our opinion our lawmakers in thcir
final disposition of this measure let
pass by splendid opportunity to
remedy some Of the wrongs and evils
Of our social system and by SO doing
promote the peace and domestic hap
pincss Of the marriage union. A pru-
IDENTITY restricted divorce law is one of
the necessities of our civilization, and
it may he defeated upon the very
threshold of the agitation, but it will
be sprung and agitatcd again and
again, and mark it now, it will in
some shape or form finally pass the
Legislature.
Not only the General Assembly but
tho entire State should be congratulate
cd upon the final passage Of the rail
road bill. The measure in "loot takes
from the commission the power to fix
tariff rates, leaving them their
previous supervisory | ,wcr. That
the railroad law previously existing
was oppressive, will scarcely be denied
by anyone, and that in its operations
incalculablc damage was being done
the industries of the State is about as
well fortified rs observation, expert
cncc and reason could make it. Scna-
tor Gaillard in his admirable speech in
the Senate last week upon the bill
said: "Thc true policy should be to
leave the railroads to manage their
own affairs and fix their own rates,
subject only to correction in case of
abuse or violation of law or the rights
of the citizen. This is right that
inhcrcs in tho ownership of property
and right recognized universally save
only in railroad property. The amend
mont dcXtcrously affords an appear
ancc Of relief in the right of appeal
provided, but it will not deceive the
railroads. The right to invade private
property is preserved, and rs long as
this continues it will continue to rcpcl
all enterprises in this direction"
Still other matters Of importance
were undisposcd of, and we can SEQ
no urgent necessity for M adjourn
mcnt sine die at this time. Greater
and moro permanent evils result from
hasty legislation and from neglect of
Legislative action where action is de-
manded, than from spending a few
more dollars OF the peoples money.
OF course we do not advocate u reck-
less expenditure Of hard.carncd money,
but certainly our law makers should
bear in mind the objects of their mis-.
sion and not be so anxious to adjourn
md como homo rnunrllncs of tho