The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-01-18
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
A GENERAL REVIEW OF THE
FIRST WEEK.
Little Actual Business transacted But
a Great Deal Brought Into
Sight.
By w. II. McCaw.

with new bills and resolutions OF va
rious kinds; the grinding will begin in
earnest this week. But though no vote
has been taken in either house on any
measure Of importance, the trend Of
legislation and the quality and sound
ness OF the new law-making body can
be fairly well. judged fromsthe nature,
Of the new bills so far engrossed for
passage. Ideal political conditions pre-
vailed among the people when this
legislature was selected at last sum-
mer's primary elections, there being
no disturbing factional contests, and
the public mind was in better condi-
ton to make its selections from the
standpoint Of fitness and character than
in ten years. And last weeks work, as
far as went, gives every indication
that this is the safest, sanest, ablest,
soundest and most conscientious body
Of law-makers this state has known in
ten years. The bills SO far introduced
indicate a tendency toward statesman
like legislation, though Of course many
changes will have to be made in the
bills which seek needed changes along
important lines. So far there has been
little or no tendency toward freak leg
islation, and no violent or radical new
measures have been introduced or
spoken Of as likely to be introduced.
A feeling OF confidence prevails
throughout the state in this legisla-
ture, which therefore begins its work
in the most suspicious circumstances.
The bills of importance so far in
troduced are those looking to impor-
tant changes in the dispensary sys-
tenn, seeking the enactment Of q, com-
pulsory education law as a compile
ment to the child labor law, reaching
out for such changes in the primary
system as will prevent bribery and
curtail Keeling and searching for a
means of purifying the jury system
with regard to criminal cases by meth
DDS that will do away with professional
Jurors and prevent the jury lists being
worked on by keeping them secret.
Important changes are necessary in
the county government law, bat this
matter has been referred to COM
mission, which will report by bill, as
is the case with the school law. One OF
The most important matters to be dealt
with by this legislature is that touch
ing the financial condition of the state,
which is running behind with floating
debt of half a million, which conditions
must be remedied, the governor sug-
gests either by raising the levy or in
creasing and more nearly equallzing
the assessments. This piece of business
was awiting the comptroller generals
report which will come from the press
now in few days
Perhaps the most important dis
pensary bill is that by Senator Ray
ser. This bill, which has already been
outlined in this correspondence, takes
the purchasing power from the board
Of directors, who are given $1,500 a
year instead Of s400 and required to
meet weekly instead of monthly and
gives this authority to the commission
er, who is to get salary Of $4,000 a
year and is removable by the governor.
The commissioner is required to open
the sealed bids in the presence OF the
board and make only such purchases
from the lowest responsible bidders
as are necessary to fill bone fide orders
from county dispensaries. The three
members Of the county boards Of con-
troll are to be selected instead Of by the
state board, two by the county delega-
ton and the third by the mayor Of the
county seat town. This bill follows
closely the suggestion of Governor
Hayward.
The Teole bill is. the, old Rrace act
Of last gear with the tax feature for
enforcing prohibition eliminated.
The new Brice bill is practically the
original Brice bill Of last year, giving
towns and cities, as we'll as counties,
the right to vote out dispensaries on
elections called by fourth Of the
qualified voters. But such elections
NAV not be held oftener than every
four years.
Senator Blease's resolution calling a
thorough investigation by a commits
sion Of practically all the important
rumors that have been started about
the system. is Of importance. This
comes up as a special order in the SEN
ate next Tuesday and will doubtless
provoke a heated discussion. Though