The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-03
PASSED AT LAST.
Members Of the House Vote for the
Biennial Sessions Bill.
IT IS NOW UP TO TIE PEOPLE


To Say Whether they Want sh'
Legislature TO Meet Every
Year or Every Two
Years.
After hard fight the House Of
Represen 5atives passed the blennla
sessions bill on Tuesday, Jan. 26. The
bill passed the Senate at the last ses'
sion and is almost certair tt' become
law. If it does it means that zoe
people Of South Carolina will be called
upon to vote Do this question, IL the
next general election, and II maiori-
ty OF the votes caS5 are in favor OF
biennial sessions, the legislature will
will meet every second year after 1905.
The fight oE the biennial sessions
bill has come up every year since the
session: OF 1895. There have been in
timationS that in the past the bill
vas advocated for home conSunp-
tion," and that the members Of the
house knew that in passing the bill
they would rely upon the senate to
kill it. But the action Tuesday was
brought abou5 by conditions that had
to be faced squarely. The senate had
passed the bill last year, and the house
after its repeated kicks on account
OF the lack OF support on the part OF
the senate on bills which before had
been killed-was called upon to de-
clare itself in favor Of the measure
without any strings tied to it. The
number OF votes required was SO, and
the bill received 81.
Mr.. Moses, Of Sumter, opposed the
biennial sessitn constitutional amend
nent. The people do not attend the
general elections and they do not
take any interest or care about con-
stitutional amendments. The LesiS-
lature Of South Carolina is one Of the
cheapest. Long terms lead to careless
ness and possibly extravaganza. He
thought it a good idea to bring the
people together. The people have a
perfect right to have their laws
changed when they involve hardship.
TIE people do not demand this leg
islation. He wanted the people to
vote often on their candidates.
Dr.. Black said he would favor the
bill on the line Of economy. Every
two years was enough.
Mr.. Beaoguard wanted to put the
whole issue squarely up to the people.
It is in the line Of economy and his
people want such legislation. He
proposed to favor the bill before his
people.
Mr.. Richards insisted that bis peo-
pie knew what was going on and were
fully posted on public issues. His
people wanted such bill.
Mr.. E6rd insisted that he has
favored this resolution for seven years
and the resolution has passed the
House. All that ought to be done is
to pass the Senate resolution an5 then
take up the matter OF tenure later.
All that is asked is to let this whole
matter go to the people.
Mr.. Dorroh urged that it was a
routine bill. The only argument is
that the penp!e want this law. This
is legislative body and ought to con-
slider tl.is measure on its merits. He
was an economist. BE regarded the
Legislature as d necessity-aS much
IS the grand Jury. AS to TOD much
legislation, II We need it We must
have it. There must be great deal
OF legislation to keep up with the
rapidly changing conditions in this
State. He thought there was danger
in leaving too much power to the
Governor. He believed it better to
pay members fixed salary and an
unlimited session. South Carolina is
one Of the few States that has annual
sessions and it has less statute law
than most States. There has. been a
steady growth Of crime, and it is as
sensible to argue il favor If one ses-
sion OF the grand jury. Tie Legisla-
ture reets to pro7ide fer changed
conditions.
Mr.. Haskell urged that biennial
SESSIONS would lead 80 hasty legisla-
tion. Conditions lave net changed
since 1895, and the proof ought to be
offered to show that there IS necessl-
ty for changing the sessions. Georgia
changed back to the annual sessions
and called extra sessions nearly every
year. The Legislature may easily
save more than the cost OF session.
In Alabama, where the cooperative
power is supreme, that corporate
power secured quadrennial sessions.
Corporations want infrequent sessions.
Mr. r. S. Whaley said there was 20
campaigning in his county. He has
previously opposed this bill. In thirty
four out Of forty. four States there are
biennial sessions. III Texas they have
ouadrennial sessions and IN Ave States
they have annual sessions. He bad
letters from forty-four States and was
now convinced that the demand was
for biennial sessions. He was OF the
opinion that the majority OF the peo-
pie were for biennial sessions. This
bill would not take effect until 1907.
Mr.. r. II. Rainsford was convinced
that the people want biennial sessions.
There was no use to argue that bien.
NAL sessions would not save much
money.
Mr.. Lide, Of Oraugeburg, was
heartily and thoroughly in favor OF
the State advancing itself and going
10 biennial sessions. There is nc
necessity for annual sessions and such
matters as are needed can be acted
UPON for two years. A bill could &c
over for two years as we'll as for one
wear. The people would get along oJ
waiting little.
Mr.. Holman favored annual ses
siops of the Legislature.
Mr.. Magill insisted that the people