The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1904-02-25

BAMBERG, S. c., THURS
to vote upon the removal as we'll as the
establishment of dispensary, and while
the general proposition was not fought
directly by the friends OF the dispensary
the bill was 50 amended So to place tax
of one.half mill upon any county voting
out the dispensary and to deprive that
county of its share Of the dispensary
school fund after the deficiency is made
up as provided in the constitution.
THE THIRD HOUSE.
It is said by those who have been around
the house forty years that never have
there been so many lobbyists as graced
the capitors halls this year. Not only
have attorneys and representatives of
railroads, cotton mills and other concerns
appeared before the committees-which
is legitimate, proper and necessary-but
agents of corporations and special inter.
ests have been exceedingly busy button
holing the members. Representatives Of
the Southern Railway, the Bell Telephone
company and the dispensary have been
particularly conspicuous. As matter of
fact, it is safe to say that two Of these
three concerns-the Southern Railway
and the dispensary machine could have
come very near blocking any legislation
that either of them might have cared to
oppose in the general assembly that has
just adjourned.
| NEW CRIMES ON THE CALENDAR.
Quite number of new crimes, SO to
speak, were created by the general as
sembly this year. For instance, it was
made a crime to operate gambling slot
machines; to improperly brand foods; to
give false names to horses that entered
races, and to ship shad, oysters and
clans out of the State, and to decline to
fill unused wells. Of course, the general
assembly had to do something ard it was
just as well to take a rap at the slot ma
chimes and the fling of horses teeth and
the filling of wells as anything else.
AS TO COTTON MILLS.
There were quite number of measures
proposed relative to cotton mill interests,
but there was no disposition to affect in
juriously the cotton mill interests of the
State, and if there had been any PROPOSE
ton which would have given encourage
ment to them it would probably have
passed. Among the measures killed that
were regarded as being against cotton
mill interests we're the McMaster liability
bill, the Davis seat bill, the johnson anti
strike bill, the Toole ten-hour labor law
measure, and some others more remotely
connected with this large interest. The
only bill that was passed that could in
any way be regarded as affecting injuri-
ously the cotton mill interest was that of
Mr. Irby, which provided for the redemp-
ton of checks issued to employees. 1t is
understood that most cotton mills do not
use this check system, but pay in cash
every two weeks.
MAKEUP OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
The makeup of the general assembly is
not as good as it ought to be. The pri-
mary system has not tended to bring the
best men to the front for these positions.
It is, of course, quite true that shere are
very many high-toned, honorable and Ca
pable men in the general assembly, but
what mean to say is that as rule, men
who have great deal of business at
home and who are Indifferent to public
honors do not care to enter into scram-
BILE for a position in the general assem-
bly,. 1t is unfortunately regarded as OF
too little honor and importance. This is
altogether wrong, and it is certainly to
be hoped that there will be some concert
of action in the various counties to get
successful men, men who have property
interests, men who represent something
and somebody, to run for the general as
sembly and to keep out freaks and repre-
sentatives who do no honor to their coun-
ties nor to their State.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
There is, of course, difference of opin-
ion as to what legislation is Of most gen
eral Importance and consequence. There
can be no doubt, however, that the most
important and far reaching action was
that looking towards biennial, instead OF
annual, sessions of the general assembly
It is very difficult matter with the con
stitutional restrictions, to accomplish the
passage Of resolution looking towards
any amendment to the constitution, but
the necessary legislation bas been enact
ed by which the people will, next Novem'
Der, have the opportunity of deciding
whether or not they wish che. constitu-
ton amended so as to provide for sessions