The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-07
COMING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE,

oVhi''N SIooioh VI iiIL LIuOLnIUVl,
AN OUTLINE OF THE WORK BE.
FORE TIDE MEMBERS.
Tho Dispcnsnry Problem VIII Claim
Attcntion-Thc Question OF Pen
sions and tho New Counties Will
Have n Hearing
| Columbia State.
1t is now only a very few days before
the convening OF the General Assem-
bly In annual session, January II bcing
the date OF meeting. Inasmuch rs tho
body is II new one, composed very
largely OF new timber, the coming SEES
sion and it's possibilities are being
more largely discussed ut present than
anything else in South Carolina. The
possible action OF tho body in regard
to the dispcnSury law is tho feature of
the session that is receiving the great
est attention from the people us q
whole. Ga every side tho law is being
discussed CNhaustivcly, and AL kinds
Of suggestions arc being offered for its
| pcttrrmcut.
| Many think that tho General AS
scmbly will abandon tho system alto
gcthcr at this session, taking tho
State out OF the business and going to
the licensed dispcnsary systcm per-
mittcd by tho State constitution. But
1t is hardly probable that tho body
will go SO far at this session. At pres
cnt it locks as If the law is going to DO
patched up and continued, Il fair trial
Of the system being asked Tor ono year
at least. There can be no doubt OF tho
fact that great proportion Of the
| people OF the State are now thorough
| Is ulSguStcd with the dispcnsary Sys-
tom OF managing tho trtlic in liquor
and arc anxious to be rid Of the white
elephant. 1t is very likely that the
tight will be made by the proA ibitiou
lists on the lines laid down some time
aEO-thc elimination OF the beverage
aud profit features. and the advocates
OF this amendment seem to be very
hopeful OF accomplishing what they
propose. '1'. ~ : w.. '''t}r chance
| Tor thcm, Iaasiuss iru.I pcs 49,. .:,'
lions. Governor Evans has unuouucvu
that he viii make no recommendations
As q tsr enforcement OF the law or as
iN charge; therein. taking the posi-.
t!on that at the close Of MS term this
woutd We going outside his provinces.
And Governors Ellcree takes the
poS!ilon. n> already fully explained in
The State. that :: IS not his province
|
to address the people in his inaugural,
IAuS tie Genera. ASse mbiy is goiu.
10 be left 10 handle the law withou; Suy-
geStlons. l. IS un0erS COO. hove, q ,
that tuc State board o. control. 1T its
coming meeting. VII! prepare a series
OF ruco!nm" "nQatl0rS cooking TO the
improve !nent rt the Jaw, when will b.,
submit, q 20 the legislature with the
request tnat they be given careful con.
siucratiop.
As to what will be done with the
investigation Of the dispensary rebate
scandals which have been left for the
General Assembly to handle, the State
Z board having gone as far as it could
OF course no one can tell just yet. II
: Is possible that the investigation vii
= be pushed and made Il thorough one
v Some action nay be taken also look ins
u to the prevention of the numerous
: shortages among county dispensers.
Is The first days Of the session will b,
: busy ones. The two houses will hav,
q TO effect their organizations and elec
II officers. The house will have to elcc
! IA speaker. Speaker Cary is STANDING
:. Tor reelection. Mr.. Jesse II. CAN'T, O
J. Spartanburg is opposing General GRAY
= for.thc clerks ship. There are numcr
J. GUS candidates for all the other posi-
tIOns. as soon as the houses have
been organized arrangements will b
, made for the inauguration Of Governor
elect Ellerbe and the other State
officials. and General E!lcrbc will dc.
liver his inaugural address, which is
30" IN course OF prcpartlon. 1t is eX-
pecteu TO be paper pitched on pa
trlotic key and based upon broad prin-
ciplcs
Incrc are a good maNy elections
scheduled TO take place during the
session. Among these will be the
election Of Il United States Senator
which will be mere matter OF form :
then there is the election Of Il suDerin-
tcndcnt OF the State pcnititeUtiary.
Colonel Neal it is said, will have ODpo-
sltion, but it is generally thought that
| he Will be reelected.
The new county business is going to
consume much Of the time of the Gen
cral Assembly. Salcm's contest will
come up before the body, and every
cilort will b. 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 cx-
listing laws which are scheduled to
undergo changes in the hope of i'm
| proving. them 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 3D.
propriated by the State for pcnai0na.
This suggestion il meeting with much
favor.
The election and registration laws
will be slightly changed in some re-.
spects, certain provisions cOnaidcrcJ
| dangerous in case OF q constitutional
test Of being eliminated. The i0ca /.
to make tho law such that jt viii
stand any amount OF constitutional dis.
| section. One OF the most invDrtaGt
measures to receive attention uiIl Dc