The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-18
Especial to News and Courier.

Especial 10 News ana Courler'1
Columbia, January 10.-The Con
eral Assembly Of South Carolina has
done more actual work in tho first
five days of session than has evor
before boon done. It has not only
done hard, but effective work, and
not content with good beginning
has mapped out abundant work for
the future. Night sessions have al
ready been started.
The legislation up to this time has
not been radical, it has been far
from that. There have been an
abundance of minor matters acted
upon and bills that contemplated
useless laws have been killed, be-
cause they ought to have been and
have not been passed simply out of
courtesy to some member. That
spirit seems to be fast dying out.
The continued lack Of political
feeling and the disposition to work
are thus far the two most conspicu-
GUS ftaturs of the Legislative session.
At thA last session it was quite the
unusual thing to ask that anything
be done because it bore tho stamp
of "Reform," and that old time
slogan was thing of the dim past.
Measures were considered on their
merit, except perhaps the dispensary
and income tax bills, which came
from "down STAIRS" with the Exocu-
tive badge
Let It be said, with rejoicing, that
not single member has thus far
this session pleaded for the passage
of any measure because it was prom
ised by "Reform," or because it will
help the movement. That day is
fast fading away, and the sensible
members SEQ it. There is ono SEN
ator and one or two members who
seem to be ignorant of this condition
if report be true, and the first thing
they know they will be loft high and
dry, with the possible satisfaction
that they have been of use to some
one else. If members could hear the
free comment on the Gubernatorial
situation they would appreciate the
fullness Of the new era. Something
the dispensary is about the Only
thing-may provoke partisan dis
cussion, but I doubt that. Mem
bers, influential ones, have told me
her ofore thoy have accepted on
faith bills that have come from
"down stairs." They say they have
done this long enough, and the
Governor have not been successful
with the bills they have asked be
passed. .-.a.'
DISPENSARY LEGISLATION.
Naturally the first inquiry is, what
will como of the dispensary Now this
is question that should be more
properly directed to q prophet. Gov.
Ellerbe does not know. Senator
Tillman is going to. again keep
"mouth and hands off" Senator so.
and-so and Representlye thus and so
know as little about results as the
on locker. 1t is curious but help
less sitution of not being able to
solve riddle. If tho members could
close their eyes and kick the whole
dispensary system overheard, with
out beng held responsible for it by
some of their constituents, they
would no doubt 80 do. Tho dispen-
snry is a political incubus, except to
those on the inside. There are Just
now five contending elements, first
and foremost for. the undisturbed
dispensary system; second for the
elimination of the profit feature--a
mere subterfuge; third, for prohibi-
tion; fourth, for licensing under the
restrictions of the Constitution; fifth,
for option between tho three sys.
TENS. e..... .'...
The high license element gives no
evidences of making a fight at this
juncture; they prefer to lot the other
schemes be tried and fail Governor
Ellerbe's plan will not be successful,
unless it should be shown to the dis
pensary advocates that it is the only