The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-01-31
As TO BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
House Jnudiciary Committee Says
Proposed Amendment Would
Not Be Advisable as it is.


Columbia, January 3o.-There has
been great deal of discussion as 20
whether or not the constitutional
amendment providing for biennial
sessions was properly submitted to
the people Of the state in the last
election. The vote was overwhelzn-
ingly in favor of biennial session and
Mr.. Beamguard. of York, has intro
duced in the house bill to ratify the
action of the people, and on this bill
the judiciary committee has submit
ted the following unfavorable report.
The Committee Report.
That in order to amend the consti-
tuition in any particular the proposed
amendment shall be submitted to the
qualified electors Of the state at the
next general election thereafter for
representatives At page 674 Of the
acts of 1904 we find a joint resolu-
tion proposing to amend section 9, of
article 3, of the state constitution, so
as to provide for biennial sessions Of
the general assembly. The section
as amended, says the act, shall read
as follows:
"The annual session of the gen.
eral assembly heretofore elected, fix
ed by the constitution Of the year
1896, is hereby postponed, and the
same shall be convened and held in
the city of Columbia on the second
Tuesday Of January, in the year 1896.
"The first session of the general
assembly elected under this consti-
tuition, shall convene in Columbia on
the second Tuesday in January in the
year 1897, and theheafter annually at
the same time and place until the end
of the session occurring Iii 1906, after
which the said sessions shall be held
at the same time and place biennially.
SHOULD the casualties of war or
contagious diseases render it unable
to meet at the seat of government,
then the governor may by proclama-
ton, appoint more secure and con-
veaient place of meeting. Members
of the general assembly shall not re-
ceive any compensation for more
than 40 days Of any one session:
Provided, That this limitation shall
not affect the first session of the gen.
eral assembly under the constitu-
tio,A."
Section of the act is as follows:
"Sec. 2. That the question Of
adopting the amendment prefaced in
the foregoing section shall be sub
nitted to the electors as follows:
Those in favor of the amendment
shall deposit ballot with the follow
ing words plainly printed or written
thereon: Unconstitutional amend
ment to section 9 of article 3 of the
state constitution, adding after the
word place. lin line ten Of said Sec
ton until the end Of the ession occur
ing in 1906" after which the said ses-
sions shall be held at the same time
and place biennia1ly. Yes
"Those opposed to said amend
Hent shall cast ballot with the fol-
lowing words plainly printed or writ
ten thereon: Constitutional amend
Hnent to section 9, article 3. of the
state constitution, adding after the
word "place" in line ten Of said Sec
tion occurring in 1906, after which the
said sessions shall be held at the
same time and place biennially.
No.
The question has arisen whether or
not the amendment was submitted to
the qualified electors of the state a;
the general election.
Section of article Of the consti-
tuition fixes the term Of Office of gov
ernor at two years; it provides that
he shall be elected at the first elec-
ton held after the adoption of the
constitution, which election was ac-
cordingly held in 1896; it provides
that he shall be installed at the first
session of the general assembly after
his election. According to the amend