The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-22
COLUMBIA LETTER.
The Latest News from the Legislature.
Special Correspondence Of InteHigcncer'
COLUMBIA, S. c., Feb. 90, 1899.

can take place tomorrow n1Snt, p''C
which will probably not take place pe-
fore Friday or Saturday. 1T depends
very largely upon the condition OF the
Governor, who is still confined to his
room, and may not be we'll enough TO
examine and approve the large number
of bills now ready for his signature.
Should adjournment take place before
these Acts are approved, and, from any
cause, they are neither vetoed nor ap-
proved, they would not have the force
of law until the next General Assembly
meets and has been in session three
days. If, however, the General Assem-
bly now being held continues In ses-
sion beyond three days after bills have
been ratified by the Senate and House
they become laws without the Govern
ors signature, if not vetoed by him.
Besides there are several important
measures, engineered by some OF the
newly initiated members, which should
pass, and, as an act of courtesy, the
older members, though through with
their work, will not insist upon imme-
date adjournment.
The greater part of last week was
taken up in both houses by discussions
OH the liquor question, and there was
great surprise in store for those who
had planned and hoped to see the State
dispensary carved up and divided be-
tween the various counties. 1t soon
developed, particularly in the House,
that agitation does not always mean
dissatisfaction Of the majority. AS
soon as vote was reached, which came
first on the Prince prohibition bill, it
was seen that the State Dispensary had
an overwhelming majority, and the
twelve or more measures making in
roads upon this great institution, were
killed just as fast as they came up, or
were indefinitely postponed. The only
thing left is the Archer Senate bill,
which is now locked up in the House,
and will probably never be heard OF
again. 1t is true that q bill passed the
House last Thursday by decisive vote
of IA to "a denying the State Board the
right to grant hotel and beer privi-
leges, and the jackson bill prohibiting
the further desecration OF the palmetto
tree, the emblem of the State, by hav-
a facsimile blown into bottles or used
on labels, also passed, but this Lcgls-
lature is loyal, and very decidedly so,
to the State Dispensary. If the voters
of the State desire to see change III
the State Dispensaly system, they will
be forced to make it an issue in the
next campaign. Governor Sheppard,
in his able address in the Senate on the
subject of submitting the question to
the people, among other things said:
81 believe that the more it is let alone
the more plainly it will demonstrate
that in its continued existence in this
State, failure will crown its efforts and
disaster will Overtake those who dabble
in It," He referred to agitation in the
he believes the people
should be allowed to express their
wishes through their ballots.
There was no session of the Legisla-
ture Monday. Both the Senate aud
House met, but remained in session
only 2 short time. The Senate ad-
iourned because of the intense cold and
the inability OF the State House engl-
neer to heat the building, owing to
frozen water pipes, and the House adj
ioulncd as Il mark of respect to the
deceased assistant clerk, Mr. Cason.
The Senate reconvened at 3 o'clock,
but finding the building had not been
heated, adjourned. The House reaS-
selnbled at s o'clock but could not
stand the cold and adjourned also.
Quite an interesting question was
raised in the House touching the proper
construction Of Section Is. Article 10,
page As, OF the Constitution. 1t is
claimed that according to the above
provision the General Assembly has
nothing whatever to do with the levy
of taxes for County purposes, but that
the County Commissioners are required
to make the levy. 1t might be well
for our Commissioners to look into this
matter. The General Assembly has
gone ahead making the levy. but with
the understanding that it does not i'll
terfere with the rights of the Commits
sioners to make the levy if they really
have that right. The Legislature does
not, by making the levy, mean to con-
strue the meaning of the Constitution.
They are giving the Commissioners a
guide only, and the commissioners
should ratify the actions of the Legis
latllrc in order to offset any claim of
exemption on the ground of illegal
levy.
A Sunday law las been passed to
prohibit corporations working their
employees in machine shops on Sum
day. The compulsory vaccination bill
has also passed.
The rllmors charging irregularities
in the. management and condition OF
the State penitentialy have resulted III
the Introduction by Mr. Stephenson, OF
IL