The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-01-16
GREAT NUMBER OF NEW
LAWS ARE PROPOSED
THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SESSION OF
THE LEGISLATURE
Difficult to Prophecy What the Mill Will
Grind Out-The DispenSary Agitation.
The Elections.

Colunbia@ January 15.-The first
week Of the legislature of 1906 has
closed. Something over two hum
dred bills proposing amendments to
existing law and to give additional
laws have gone into the hopper.
What the mill will grind out it is
too early in the session to prophecy
but if present rate is kept up for a
couple more weeks the hopper will
contain more grain than can be
ground out before adjourning time.
The house started off very we'll
the first week by killing a good
many proposed laws. About as good
business as a legislator can engage
in is to kilt bills. This is the last
SESSION for this Legislature and many
of the members want to do some
thing for campaign purposes during
the coming summer either IN their
campaign for return to the leg1sla-
tt,re or to secure some other posi-
ton.
Yet, when you sift it down one
legislative session is very much a
counterpart of those that have gone
before. A gentleman reminded me
the other day Of the remark Of a
distinguished statesman of Virgin
ia made many years ago. He said
it was necessary III Our form OF
government for the congress OF the
United States and the legislatures
Of the various states to assemble
That when they meet each member
should be given all the opportunity
he desires to introduce bills and to
speak on them and when every
body had had his say let the appro-
priation and supply bills be passed
and adjournment had and the mem
bers go home to tell the people what
they had (not )done. The idea was
that we had cniarelE too r:nct
legislation and too many changes
in our laws. All Of which, is very
true. And yet the !eeisiatvre has
decided that there is. defect in the
passage of the resolution relative to
biennial sessions and the people will
have. to vote on it again. SO the
biennial sessions matter is deter
red for two years more at least. AS
a matter of fact we do not believe
much good will come of a biennial
session amendment anyway. How
ever, the people will have another
opportunity to vote on it.
Since the decision of the supreme
court sustaining the Brlce law there
is considerable speculation as to
what the legislature will do on the
dispensary. The prohibition forces
claim it as a victory for their side
and the dispensary forces claim
that the dispensary will win and the
two forces are lining up.
There are numerous bills propos-
ing amendments to the law and sew
eral proposing to abolish the law al
together. Mr.. Taylor, of NeWber-
~, has a bill to abolish the state
dispensary and wind up the busl-
ness. Mr.. Rucker, of Anderson,
has a similar bill which requires
an election in each county on dis
pensary, prohibition, or license.
Then Mr.. Morgan, of Greenv1lle,
has a license bill. Another member
has introduced the old Childs pro-
hibition bill, which was i'll the leg1s-
lature some fifteen years ago. 1t
is too early yet to forecast the re-
suit. When there are SO many va
rying opinions and proposed soI1-
tons of any question the result
generalllv is that nothing is done.
Arrangements are going ahead
for the election Of members OF the
board of directors.
The senate resolution for these
elections fixes the date for We'd