The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-16
ON THE HOME STRETCH.
The General Assembly Almost Ready to
Adjourn.
Ne,Us und Courier.

COLUMBIA, S. c., February 13.-
The General Assembly of South Caro-
lima is in it's last days. 1t has been a
pleasant and serene session, and in a
few days more the lawmakers Of Caro-
lima will be at home telling the good
people why they voted for this or
against the other proposition. There
will not be mucn to be explained this
time; that is, nothing specially now,
for there was not what might be called
radical legislation. No fundamental
change was made in any existing laws.
The dispensary system remains the
same. The County government sys-
tenn remains unchanged, except in
three or four Counties until at least
the next session. Taxes remain the
same. The Offices remain the same.
The educational system remains the
same as for years. The machinery Of
the Courts remains unchanged: and so
the people of the State will witness
no disturbance of their present condi-
tions.
The bulk Of the legislation this year
has been Of local and what might be
called imperative character; that is,
the usual appropriation, supply and
general laws that have to be re-enacted
cvery session have been passed, and
in addition there has been great
dool of local LEGISLATION, Some of this
local law w-making has been necessary,
but a great deal more of it has been
absolutely useless, but as the Yellow
Kid says in Hogan Alley: "It comes
high, but they had to. have me. .
There could be no meeting of the AS
sembly unless such measures were
proposed and adopted, and so it seems
almost a loss Of time and energy to
hope for any change in this direction:
With the proper effort the General
Assembly could easily have adjourned
yesterday, and if there is no adjourn
ment on Wednesday, as fixed by the
concurrent resolution, it will be an
imposition, and it can only be excused
by some unforeseen event or compli-
cation, or the desire of the members
to continue their pay Of 81 per day,
and it is, of course. presumed that the
lawmakers of great State would not
think of salary grab. With We'd
nesday fixed for final adjournment,
legislation stands in much better
shape towards that end than is usual.
It is so unusual and remarkable as to
be almost beyond recollection, that
the supply and general appropriation
bills should be in the hands of COM
mittees Of conference three or four
days in advance Of adjournment. The
House and Senate have both given the
supply and appropriation bills their
third reading; both of these Houses
have indicated their position on
amendments, and the points Of differ
ence have been emphasized. In the
supply bill there are only three points
of difference to be submitted to the
committees: they are relative to the
levy and conditions for Charleston
and Bamberg Counties, and as to the
general provision as to penalties for
the non-payment of poll taxes. 1t is
very unusual for two Houses to come
so near to absolute agreement upon so
general bill. There are also very
few points of difference on the appro-
priation bill. The chief differences
on any bill Of general Importance are
on the County government bill, and it
is doubtful if heads or tails can be
made out Of the matter. although
everyone seems to insist upon radi-
cal improvement of the existing law.
The only thing that is suggested as
being in the way of final adjournment
on Wednesday is the bill locating the
polling precincts Of the State. The
House began the consideration of this
bill last Saturday evening, and as the
Senate bill is under consideration
there should DC no trouble on this
score, and, moreover, if the measure
shoald entirely fail, the present vot-
ing places arc about as good as can be
designated in a new Act, and there
need be no occasion te spend thous-
ands of dollars to arrange for polling
precincts, when the elections in South
Carolina are settled at the primaries
and the polling places now in exist
ence arc as satisfactory as any new ad-
justmeat would be.
Reports from conference commit
tees have been received earlier than
usual, and practically all of the differ
enccs on bills between the two Houses
have been obliteratcd.
Whatever of fighting still remains is
mostly on the Senate side. where
both of the new County propositions
are: where the separate coach bill IS
awaiting its fate: where the Werner
dispensary exemption bill is resting on
the Calendar. and where quite Il mum
Der Of other important matters are
awaiting consideration. death or
adoption.
Politics and liquor have been two of
the features Of The session work
Tue political tall! and ups and downs
have been prolific, and will not close
witt. the session, but members will
10 doubt take home with them the in
spirations and prcjudices against Ger
tam candidates and measures that;
have been nurscd in Colombia. Most
of the politics here has been OF aqulct