The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-25
Especial to News and Courier.)


! Assembly has now been IN session Tor
nearly two weeks, Although the work
has been persistent and continuous,
| the end ia not yet IN sight. The real
issues have not been touched, and no
really important measure has been
passed upon by both branches .: the
| Assembly, except It be the rc> oMtion
to extend the time for tho payment of
taxes without penalty, True quito u
| number OF important measures have
| been acted upon Independently by tho
two houses, but there has not yet been
any concert Of action. Tho disposition
has been manifest to kin or objection
able ler, r,sslation, and, OF course, the
usual allowance has to be made for un-
necessary legislation, No possible
complaint can be mado by any one as TO
| the disposition to work, but unfOrtu-
natcly there seems to be no curtail.
mcnt of proposed lcRiSlation--tkc vast
majority ot the measures arc Of purely
local concern. and there seems to be no
way to stop this perennial and pcsti-
u
without these propositions tho Gov
ernm"nt would waS along just IA SO.
rcnely as ever. 1t Is pleasant To say
that no stool legislation" has yet shown
itself. In the assemblies OF two other
States there arc bills with regard TO
kissing, in another an Act was passed
prohibiting foot ball, but happily no
such measures have yet hccn presented
at Columbia. Tho doctrine Of Col.
George ID. Tillman, as to sclt-govcrn-
mcnt, seems to be on the increase.
WHAT ABOUT THE SESSION?
Why, that Is just about as uncertain
thing rs tho ultimate fate OF tho dis
pcnsary. Whom tho members came
here no ono cav any need for moro
than thirty-day scsson-there was no
need before tho ncw Constitation, but
matters have logged along until almost
two weeks have slipped by, and still
there Is no dispcnsary bill before either
house, and tho appropriation and sup
ply bills arc still hung up in the COM
mittco room. There is room for radi-
cal Improvement along these lines, and
while tho ways and means committee
has had great mass Of work, and has
had to hear from many interests,
skeleton bill ought to be in tho hands
OF the members by tho middle Of next
week. So it is with tho dispcnsary
committee, mado up of ono member
from each OF tho counties.
Whilo thoro is still no reason why
the session should last over thirty days,
tho outlook just now is that it will bo
longer. The disponsary legislation
seems to be the bono of contention, vet
II bill comes before tho House, with
good endorsement, leaving the status
practically as at present and aimed at
tho "original package" stores, it can
be rushed through rs OF DID, and not
much will DO said about it either, as
this scems to bc Il timc when few want
to assume responsibility rs dispensary
legislation.
STATUS Or THE LIQUOR QUESTION.
The General Assembly is az much at
sea as ever on tho dispcnsary question.
No one socms ablo to solve the pending
problem. The announcement in the
News and Courier that tho judiciary
committee Of the House OF Representa-
tivcs In Washington Is unanimously
unfavorably disposed to tho Tillman-
Latimcr resolution has put decided
dampcr on tho situation, and left but
little doubt that Judge Simonton's de-
cision will bo sustained by the Supreme
Court. Tho House judiciary commit
tee In Washington has not, however,
made n report upon tho bill, and will
give hearing on tho mattcr Tuesday,
and Mr.. j. Z. X. Bryan will appear
against tho bill, while Mr. Barber has
been invitod to present tho Stato's side
OF tho case. 1t Is very much q case of
"is OF tho came opinion still"
Several days ago tho chairman OF
the House judiciary committee in Co.
lumbia offered resolution asking tho
Attorney General to present his views
OF the situation, In the shapo OF bill.
Tris resolution was withdrawn, as the
special Legislative committee had al
ready sought the corporation OF Gen.
Barber. 1t is understood that Mr..
Barber has cmphatioally and courto-
ously declined to prepare a bill, or to
DO responsible for any proposed legisla-
tion. Ho will willingly give his advice
or suggestion to tho special committee
but will not DO responsible for q bin.
To prepare bill and thon to have
some ono else look after tho ENFORCE
mcnt makes the matter rather complex
At times.
The special House committee has
number of bills before it, which seeks
to solve the problem, but the only one
that attempts to 60 into tho matter
fully ia that of Mr.. Pollock. He seeks
to put the original package stores on
the same plano as the dispensaries, es.
pecially with reference to the signing
OF applications-a veritable farce now,