The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-24
what the General Assembly Did
and Failed to Do.
A fetal Of 2s7 Acts, Of Which Most Refer
10 Local Matters---siennial Sessions
---ssHork Of Tax Commission
Thrown Away, as to Foar-
dfths of It.


! &c did its work we'll and was disposed
to dosthe sight thing wherever possi-
ble. There was no evidence of hossili-
t. towards anybody or anything, and
aasogeshsr the Legislators, who have
finished their two years of labor, have
done as yell as they could.
The makeup OF the General Assem-
! BIZ is not as good as: it ought to be.
The primary sysssm has nos tended
TO bring the BEST nensto the front for
these positions. &c is, of course, quite
true ShaS there are very many high
toned, honorable and capable men in
the General Assembly, but what I
nasan to say is that as a rule, men
who have great deal Of business at
home ard who are Indifferent to pub
he honoss do net care to enter into q
scramble for a position in the General
Assembly. It's unfortunately regarded
as of TOO little honor and Importance.
This is altogether wrong, and it is
eersainly to be hoped that there will
Be some concert Of action in the va
rious counties to get successful men,
men who have property interests, men
who represent something and seme-
body, to run for the General Assembly
and to keep out freaks and represent
atiges who do no honor to their coun-
ties nor to their State.
IN the list Of ratified Acts that is
published in The News and Courier It
will be sean that there were 237 prop
osisi.ns that received favorable con-
sideration. OF this number very
large proportion relate entirely to
local affairs; in fact, more than a
Shird of ali of the bills passed are to
be put under the headings of claims
of purely private nature, bills to pro-
ride for bond issues for school pur-
poses, and amendments to present
statutes, increasing or lowering the
salaries Of some county officers. AS
4 matter of fact, the barest fractional
part of all the legislation this year
was OF general character.
There is, of course, difference OF
opinion as to what legislation is Of
most general importance and conse-
eRence. There can be no doubt, how
ever, that the most important and far
reaching action was that looking to-
wards biennial, instead of annual,
sessions of the General Assembly. 1t
is very difficult matter with the con.
stitutional restrictions, to accomplish
the passage of resolution looking to-
wards any amendment to the Consti-
tuition, but the necessary legislation
las been enacted by which the people
will, nexs November, have the oppor-
tnnity OF deciding whether. or not
they wish the Constitution amended
70 as to provide for sessions Of the
General Assembly every two years
instead OF every year.
Next ia importance to this is proba-
bly, the passage of the bill looking
towards the establishment of depart
nsens of immigration. 1t is reasona-
by expected that this department will
bsing about good se.ults. The idea
IS not a new one, but the State has
gone into the matter in earnest and,
With a competent. con- missioner, there
IS every reason TO expect good results
ssd an influx Of new blood.
There were great things to be e3-
reeted from the tax commission ap-
yoinsed at the recent sesisca of the
General Assembly. The State OF
South Carolina has not been, and is
not. operating upon cash basis, and
the commission was appointed for the
purpose of suggesting plans by which
the State would get out of debt and
continue to operate on cash basis.
The tax commission did.its work we'll,
sut the General Assembly did not &c
any further than to pass what is
known as the franchise tax bill ano
stop there. The tax commission was
sincere in proposing: a series of five
bills and it is, perhaps, unfortunate
for the State that thes General Assem-
bly, should have picked out the one
bill that was directed against cor
porate interests and passed it. 1t il
expected that this franchise tax bill
will raise about 800, 900, but, viii
the, complement franchise tax bill pro
posed by the tax commission the Stat'
would easily have had plenty o
funds; but, unfortunately, the PROPOSE
eion to- make the corporations pa.