The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-01-05
COMING SESSION or THE LEGISLATURE.
AN OUTLINE OF THE WORK BE
FORE THE MEMBERS.

OF THE WORK BE
FORE THE MEMBERS.
The Dispeusary Problem VIII Claim
Attcntion-Tbe Question of PEN
sions aud the New Counties win
Have a Hearing.
Columbia State.
IL Is now only q very few dsys before
the converting OF the General Assem-
bly, in annual session, January IL being
the date OF meeting. Inasmuch as the
largely OF new timber, the coming SEES
sion and its possibilities are being
more largely discussed at present than
anything else in South Carolina. The
possible action of the body in regard
to the dispensary law Is the feature of
the session that is receiving the great
est attention from the people as q
whole. On every side the law is being
discussed exhaustively, and all kinds
OF suggestions are being offered for its
Detterment.
Many think that the General AS
sembly will abandon the system alto
gether at this session, taking the
State out OF the business and going to
the licensed ~dispensary system per.
mitted by the State constitution. But
it is hardly probable that the body
will go SO far at this session. At pres
ent 1t looks as IL the law is going to be
patched up and continued, q fair trial
OF the system being asked for n year
at least. There eau be no doubt of the
fact that u great proportion Of the
people OF the State are now thorough
ly Disguised with the ~dispensary sys-
tenn OF managing the trffic in liquor
and are anxious TO be rid of the white
elephant. 1t Is very likely that the
fight will be made by the prohibition.
lists on the lines laid down some time
ago-the elimination of the beverage
and profit features, and the advocates
OF this amendment seem to be very
propose, but there is very little chance
for them. judging from present indica-
tiOns. Governor Evans has announced
that he will make no recommendations
as to the enforcement Of the law or as
to changes therein, taking the posi-
tion that at the close of his term this
would be going outside his province.
And Governor.elect Ellerbe takes tho
position, as already fully explained in
The State, that it is not his province
to make recommendations, but rather
to address the people in his inaugural.
Thus the General Assembly is going
to be left to handle the law without sug-
gestions. 1t Is understood, however,
that the State board OF control. at its
coming meeting, will prepare a series
Improvement of the law, which will be
submitted to the Legislature with the
request that they be given careful con-
sideration.
AS to what will be done with the
investigation OF the d~ispensary rebate
scandals which have been left for the
General Assembly to handle, the State
board having gone as far as it could,
OF course no one can tell just yet. 1t
is possible that the investigation will
DO pushed and made q thorough one.
Some action may be taken also looking
to the prevention Of the numerous
shortages among county dispensers.
The first days OF the session will be
to effect their organizations and elect
officers. The house will have to elect
"a speaker. Speaker Gary is standing
for reelection. Mr.. Jesse Il. Gants, Of
~Spartanburg is opposing General Gray
for the clerkship. There are numer-
Gus candidates for all the other posi-
tions. AS 500 as the houses have
been organized arrangements will be
made for the inauguration Of Governor
elect Ellerbe and the other State
officials, and General Ellerbe will de-
llvor his inaugural address, which Is
now In course of PREPARATION. 1t is ex-
pected to be a paper pitched on a pa
triotic key and based upon broad prin-
ciples.
There are a good many elections
| cnhnlr1nl f~ fNla ~1n11 l,s~r xLa
session. Among these will be the
election of a United States Senator,
which will be a mere matter Of form
then there is the election Of a superin-
tendent of the State pe~nititentiary.
Colonel Neal, it is said, will have oppo-
sition, but 1T Is generally thought that
he will be reelected.
The new county business is going to
consume much of the time of the Gen.
eral Assembly. Salem's contest will
come up before the body, and every
effort will be made in behalf Of the
proposed new county. OF course,
Cherokee, Greenwood and Dorchester
will have to be formed, the elections
having been carried in favor of those
counties. Some improvements are
contemplated in the new county law.
The pension law is among those ex-
topihS lb"o "hlSh ~ oChCuulCu W
undergo changes in the hope of i'm
proving Thorn very much. AS this
law now stands, many Of its principal
objects are defeated. 1t stands sadly
In need OF some Improvement. 1t is
being suggested that the law be SO
changed that the camps Of Confederate
veterans will be permitted to super
wise the distribution of the funds ap-
propriated by the State for pensions.
This suggestion Is meeting with much
favor.
The election and registration laws
will be slightly changed in some re-
spects, certain provisions considered
dangerous in case Of q constitutional
test OF being eliminated. The idea is
to make the law such that it will
stand any amount Of constitutional dis
section. One of the most important
measures to receive attention will be
the matter OF the redistricting Of the
State into congressional districts. Mr..
Patton's bill will be among the first to
go in. Several others will be intro.
duced also. These bills provide for o
much better arrangement of the dis
tricts than the State has at present,
without'anything being endangered.
At this stage it looks as If fractional
lines are going to be practically oblit-
Grated at the coming session and that
all the members are going TO work in
perfect harmony for what is for
the best interests of the State at
large. AS to the duration OF the ses-
sion nothing can be said with any de-
gree of certainty. 1t is very certain,
however, that the general desire Of
the DeoDle If tho State 10 for n q briof