The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-01-20
Glance at the Present Legislative Sit.
uation.
Columbia State, Jan. is.

Columbia State, Jan. IS.
With to-day commences the second
week of the annual session of the new
general assent bly,. So far very little has
been accomplished, and at present it
looks very much as if the two houses
will not get down to any work of general
public interest before the week is we'll
advanced. In the first place, the week
opens with tho inaugural exercises, which
will take place to-day, and Of course very
little else will be accomplished. Some
new bills are likely to be introduced. but
there is no intimation whatever that any
of those of general effect will be among
them. The dispensary matter is resting
easv as vet behind the scenes. In the
second place, tomorrow is legal holi-
day, being General Lees birthday, and
no session uf either house will be held.
In consequence of this, many of the
members who went home Saturday will
remain over to-day and tomorrow and
will hardly put in their appearance here
again until Wednesday morning.
Looking back over the first week Is re-
cord, one cannot see where anything of
Importance has been accomplished. The
new members of the two bodies-and
both are largely composed Of new men
have been feeling their way along, getting
the hang of parliamentary methods and
watching the movements of the old mem
bers and those supposed to be in posi-
ton to outline the policy for them to pur-
sue. The members realize that at this
session men will have to stand or fall
upon their own merits. Governor Ev-
ans message does not seem to have crea-
korl ,,oho Qvnant o O fn tha Ellro-
son College criticism, and that meets with
some favor in various directions. Neither
has Senator Tillman's interview been
talked about among the members to any
extent.
Many members who have bills affect
ing the dispensary and other very i'm
portant measures have been holding
them back, it is stated, waiting to hear
what Governor Ellerbe will have to say
in his inaugural address and to see the
recommendations said to haYe been pre-
pared by the State Board of Control in
regard to changes in the dispensary law.
So far as the dispensary law is concern
ed, it may be mentioned that it is now
considered certain that the fight for local
option, with tho high license under the
dispensary system in accordance with
the provisions of the Constitution on the
OuS udDO3 adu WIG dlSpOhCol.y 40 oS ~ GO
ent arranged, on the other. will be made.
Mr.. Burns has not yet presented his bill.
to do away with the constabulary feature
of the dispensary law, but it will doubt
less be introduced ere many moro days
pass by. The house has already shown
an inclination not to have such matters
referred to special committees consisting
of one from each delegation, and, as re-
suit, there is likely to be a very live
ly debate on the floor of the house
over ell dispensary bills. The prohibition
bill will be introduced as soon as Mr..
Childs is out and will be thoroughly dis
cussed.
There is going to be some effort to have
the State pension laws improved, but ex-
actly in what respect has not yet appear
ed.
So far as the railroads are concerned,
several bills OF considerable interest have
been presented. The most far-reaching,
and the one that would cause wall to 60
up from through travel if it becapa
law, is Senator Ragsdale's bill to require
all passenger trains to stop at all railroad
stations. This bill is now in the hands
of the senate committee on railroads, as
is also Senator Rsgsdale's bill to make
railroads liable for the flooding of lands
by embankments, etc. Mr.. Livingston's
bill to amend the corporation law so as
to cure the defect preventing the secre-
tary of State from granting rights of way
in charters issued by him, will hardly
meet with opposition. Then there is the
Jim Crow car bill, which, it is said, is
very likely to 60 through, q change being
made in the general passenger rate in
this State, doing away with the second
class rate.
Mr.. Anderson's bill to- repeal the Act
prohibiting emigration agents from ply
ing their trade in this State is likely to 60
through without opposition. It comes
supposed to be the desire Of the colored
people.
Considerable debate on educational
matters is indicated blythe resolution to
require treasurers of each State educa-
tional institution TO submit. an itemized
statement Of the expenses of such insti-
tuition, the bill of Mr.. de Loach to have
the income from the privilege tax ap-
piled to the general fund, and Senator
Norris bill looking 70 the placing of the
Clemson students on footing with the
boys at the South. Carolina college so far
as tuition is concerned.
Aside from the above bills, all of which
are pending, there has been nothing to
appear in either house OF very special in
trest to the people of the State.
The question of the formation of new
counties will come up before the end of
the week. Already steps have been taken
towards allowing certain proposed new
county schemes about which there have
been contest to be aired in the legisla-
ture. Salem and Dillon belong in this
class. Some amendments are considered
probable to the law governing the forma-
tion Of new counties.
The county government law as it now
stands on the statute books is regarded
as cum mbersome by some of the mem bers,
and it is likely that efforts will be made
to amend it. The feature Of the law
which makes the chairman Of each Of the
township boards member of the county
board Of commission ers has the result of
making the latter board too large aud un-
wieldy in counties containing a large
number of townships, and it is thought
that it will be better to limit the number
of members of the county boards to not
to some extent the idea of township rep.
resentation, but it is thought that this
can be compromised by two or three
townships uniting in the selection of one
of their number to represent them on the
county board Of commissioners.
1t is also said that an effort will be
made to let each county regulate for it.
self the salaries to be paid to its officials.
The argun nent on this line is that the
county governments should have as much
right to regulate such matters as the
municipal governments. Each city and
town in the State decides for itself what
salary shall be paid to the mayor or in-
tendant and other city officials, and it is
urged that if similar privilege is given
to the counties. those in charge of its at
fairs would be no more apt to abuse their
power than any other set ofofticials would
do. They represent the taxpayers oftheir
counties, and their acts are subject to the
close scrutiny of grand juries, and they
would not be allowed to 60 wrong if they
wished to do so. Now, as the matter
stands, should any particular county de.
sire to pay more or less to it's officers than
the other counties pay, it must go to the
4 nd tt<r rvo,,r3lat of