The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-01-11
: THE LEGISLATURE.
Tho Law Makers Organized and Start
- to Work-Whaley Elected
~ Speaker.
Special Cor. Herald and News,

Special Cor. Herald and News.
Columbia, S. c., Jan. 1O-!The leg
! lslature of South Carolina has been in
session only two days, and vet the
law makers have gotten pretty we'll
down to business. The all important
thing to be done was the election of
speaker, and the fight of the three
candidates for this high honor was a
spirited one indeed. Hon. r. S.
Whaley, Of Charleston, Hon. d. d.
McColl, Of Benncttsville, and Hon. j.
Wright Nash, of Spartanburg, were
the three who offered for election.
The race was conceded to be between
Mcssrs. Whaley and McColl as was
proved on the first ballot, when it was
seen that Mr. Nash had no., chance.
Mr.. McColl had conducted an ag-
gressive campaign, and had gained
considerable strength towards the
last, but not enough to give him the
speakcrship over Mr.. Whaley, who
was elected on the second ballot by Il
vote of Ga to 55. Both of the "sidcs'
claim that the dispcnSary was made
an issue, and that the other side did
it-but it is safe to say that the vote
would have been very materially
changed had it not been for this fact.
Mr. McColl, who is personally very
popular is II conservative dispensary
man while his opponent is an anti
dispensary man of strong anto scnti-
ment. There are some who say that
the vote was the first test of the dis
pensary question, though it seems
hardly fair to either side.inasmuch as
there were several eases of "split"
on the two sides.
Mr.. Frank B. Gary was elected
chairman pro tenn, and presided until
the newly elected speaker was sworn
in. Mr.. Whalcy at once devoted him
self to gcttin" the House in good
wnrkin" order and today the appoint
ment of committees will be announced
along with the other appointments.
Newbcrry's delegation received good
appointments.
In the senate the usual dispatch
was in evidence. and the work of
organization was done very quickly.
Lieutenant Governor Sloan opened
the proceedings in the absence of
Hon. T. G.. Mcleod. who will be in
augurated next Tuesday along with
the other state officials. One Of the
first bills introduced was resolution
by Senator Bleasc approving the
President 5 action in the Brownsville
military matter. and calling upon the
two state senator's to uphold the
president in his action. 1t occasioned
some little debate among the senators,
who thought that some Of whom
took the position that it was matter
of proprietary whether this govern
mcnt. shruld dictate to federal gov
crnment how they should do. But
the aenatc sided with Senator Blease
and passed the resolution by vote
of l6 TO 21.
There are number of very import
cussed. for that matter-and the Gen
cral Assembly will have its hands full
in doing it, There is the all important
dispensary bill. which last year was
the red IA" to bull to some people.
Several bills will be introduced along
this line, and both sides are endeavor-
inc to get there first. The advocates
of the system will shortly introduce
the now famous Raysor-Manning-Till-
man purification bill, while the op-
ponents of the system will introduce
bill modelled after the Morgan local
option bill Of last year, with the Ii
cense feature omitted. Another
measure which will receive the atten-
ton of the law makers will be bill
from the dispensary side abolishing
the board of control and placing the
management Of the dispensary under
one man, like the insane asylum and
the penetentiary are managed. 1t is
thought that the sentiment Of the
assembly will soon be learned, and a
test vote will likely come. this week.
Mr.. Aver, of Florence, introduced in
the House Wednesday bill in which
he desired to place on record the SEN
timent in favor Of q purified dispen-
sary. This was refused immediate
consideration, but will likely be
brought up today. Another topic to
be considered is that of taxes-and