The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1903-02-11
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, February II, 1903.
The LEGISLATURE.

week just passed in the limited space
atour command, therefore we shallnot
attempt to do 80. Suffice to say that
the members have wasted no time in
useless debate or in idling away
the time Both branches are now
having morning and evening sessions
and the work is we'll in hand.
At this writing, Saturday morning,
the House has been considering the
Marshall child labor bill This bill
has already passed the Senate, where
it originated and BY the time this is-
sue is in the hands of our subscribers,
il will probably have been passed bv
the House. The passage Of this bill
together with the discussion OF the
compulsory educational bill and other
measures Of like import shows an
alarming tendency toward paternsl-
ism unwarranted by the constitutions
ussges and customs of q free people
living under republican form OF
government, and unless this tendency
10 checked at once it may lead to
eraver results and far more reaching
evils of which We know not DOW OF.
The Senate, by large majority,
passed resolution extending the
tine for the payment of taxes for the
year 1872, without the penalty.
uutil March 81, 1908. but the
House killed similar resolu
tion. The Senate resolution will
come up in the House for considers.
ton and when the vote is taken the
result will doubtless show decided
change in the sentiment of the House
Is will simply be carrying out time
honored custom of one House throw
ing. the burden of censure on the
other.
Persons Who use kerosence as q
means to generate light will hail with
pleasure the passage by the House of
bill providing for an inspector of
oils even If somebody gets the pie
There is not a person within the State
who use kerosene, but appreciates
the urgent necessity of such meas
ure. The grade Of oil now sold in
this State, as far ss Illuminating pur-
poses are concerned, is worse than "a
light hid under q bushel," and he
who provides remedy for the evil
under which the people Of the State
are suffering by reason OF low grade
Of oil now being sold at such high
price, is q Christian. benefactor and
q statesman.
The bill to regulate the hours of
railroad employees met a just and
righteous death in the Senate. This
was another one of the dangerous
measures which have been and are
yet to be considered at the present ses-
sion. All such questions as this, as
we'll as those of a similar nature,
should be left to capital and labor for
q satisfactory settlement. Legisla-
tive interference with the labor aues-
ton but widens the breach between
the two great conflicting interests in
our economic system and keeps the
wounds in q constant state of irrita-
ton.
The bill to regulate the sale of cot
ton seed was killed. The object of
this bill was to prevent the sale OF
cotton seed at night, but its provi-
sions were too broad and sweeping.
Had this bill became a law a farmer
could not have sold cotton seed af-
ter nightfsll without laying himself
liable to the penalties thereto at
taehed. With as much reason could
the Legislature forbid the sale Of
beef, pork, mutton, butter, milk,
poultry, egga, ETC., as we'll as forbid
the sale of this agricultural commod-
ity.
The House did a wise thing in
passing the bill to increase the penal
ty for usury. There is class Of un-
fortunate citizens whose necessities
oftantimes forces them TO borrow