Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-01-23
REVIEW AND FORECAST.
Legislative Situation as Seen BY Mr..
August kohn.

REVIEW AND FORECAST.
Legislative Situation as Seen BY Mr..
August kohn.
News and Courier.
COLUMBIA, January 21.-Just about
two weeks of the legislative session
have gone by. In that time there has
been considerable work done. The ses-
sion thus far has been one of the very
busiest In recent years. It has not
been so much that bills have been
adopted and new laws have found their
way to the governors office, but many
measures have been started in that di-
rection, but, what Is best of all, most Of
the propositions after being discussed,
have been defeated, and the statute
book has been left without further
complications.
There has been the utmost good feel
ing on the part Of members. There is
no sign Of factional feeling, the fact Of
the matter is there has not been for
years, and those who have thought Of
unfurling such flag have noted the
sad experience Of some Of their prede-
cessors and have undertaken to find
new methods Of achieving prominence.
During the entire two weeks there
has not been harsh or ugly speech on
the floor Of either house, and from the
present tone there is not likely to be.
Tomorrow's session promises to be
brief. The sessions begin at noon and
at o'clock the members hear the din
her call. At present the committees are
hard at work, and II would be useless
to undertake to hold afternoon or night
sessions.
The elections for the present session.
except those connected with the state
dispensary, have been scheduled for
Tuesday, and there is naturally great
deal of interest In the results.
In the matter Of the election Of
judges the candidacy of Senator Nc
Gowan against Judge Klugh Is taking
definite shape, and will be one Of the
fights Of the elections. There was
In the early days Of the session, but
recently this talk has dissipated, and
there is no longer any serious sugges-
ton of opposition to him.
Quite number Of members of boards
OF trustees OF state colleges are to be
elected. The disposition appears to be
to re-elect these members for various
boards, and In each instance the friends
Of the colleges are asking that the
members whose terms expire this year,
be reelected, as everything is moving
along so smoothly and pleasantly that
they do not care to interfere with the
L<o o,-I kl.AN 1NG. n.
tious and gratuitous work.
Both the house and senate have de-
c.ined to o.hold any dispensary elections
for the present and the present outlook
is that should there be any dispensa-
ry elections they will be in the very
last days of the session, when II will
have been determined beyond cayil
what, II any dispensary legislation will
be enacted at this session. The pros
poets are that the elections in this
connection will not amount to anything
much, except in the event Of entire fall
ure to obtain any legislation whatever.
The dispensary folks are working with
zeal and intelligence for the bill offered
by the dispensary committee, and
which will represent the concerted ef-
fort of the friends Of the system. This
bill provides for the same machinery
and conduct of the business as If half
of the state had not already gotten
from under" the dispensary system.
Objection has been made to the Nor
gan local option bill on the ground that
II may involve the counties that have
already voted the dispensary out In
~ew elections. II such be the case and
this Is not desired, It can readily be
amended. 1t Is also suggested that the
constitutional provision ss to the
granting of licenses Is somewhat diff
ferent to the provisions OF the Morgan
|ofit,-but II licenses should be permitted,
II Is suggested that there would hardly
be any counties that would take this
option as against county dispensaries,
such as are In operation in Georgia.
There has not yet been any legisla-
ton on taxation. The disposition is
to await the final report and sugges-
tions of Comptroller General Jones,
who Is held in high esteem by the
members. It is likely that the appro-
priations will be made by the assem-
bly,, but that the state levy will be left
for future consideration. The general
assembly will have adjourned before 1t
Is possible to ascertain the result OF
the new assessment OF property In the
state, and II is the opinion of Mr.. Jones
that the best thing Is to indicate, In
the appropriation bill, what money Is
to be expended, and then leave 1t to
the comptroller general and perhaps
others, to fix the levy on the basis OF
the assessed value Of the property. 1t
will be simply mathematical calcula-
tion.
Members of the board Of trustees Of
Winthrop college appear to be much
concerned relative to Mr. Laney's bill,
requiring the board to give Christmas
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the bill now Is, have received letters
urging the defeat Of the bill on the
ground that 1t will injure discipline,
and making the further statement that
II is intended to further consult the
wishes Of the parents, and asking that
in the meantime that there be no such
legislation.
This is not the first time that such
legislation has been suggested. Sew
eral years ago an act was passed abol-
ishing fraternities at all institutions
receiving aid or money from the state.
This bill was offered by Mr.. Garris and
was adopted with very little opposi-
ton.
The bill of the dispensary investigat-
ing committee giving II further author
ity, will go through the legislative mill
in a few days. The senate amended
the house bill, and the house Is now
expecting to agree to the few amend
ments adopted by the senate to the
house bill. The only material amend
ment is that the senate struck out the
amendment Of Mr.. LaFitte requiring
the committee to wind up its work be-
fore the end Of the session. The OBJ
lection to this was that the commit
tee is expected to have all accounts
1ue audited, which will take considera-
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that witnesses might leave the state
FOR twenty days and IL they remained
out of the state until after the end OF
the session of the assembly that the
committee would be powerless to get
hold Of the witnesses.