The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-02-01
HOUSE PASSES THE ~.
LOCAL OPTION BILL
NDIsPENsARY QUESTION Is NOW
WITH THE SENATE.
Prohibition Measure Defeated-The
Work Of The Legislature
t*s 49, .,;.. Reviewed,
Special to The Herald and News.

Special to The Herald and News.
Columbia Jan. 31.-One half Of the
session concluded yesterday. It mark
ed decisive action by the house on
the burning and all absorbing ques-
!, tion before the people of the state
at this time, the state dispensary.
The debate began on Tuesday at IL
O'Clock and was continued Tuesday
night and Wednesday until one
O'Clock, when vote was reached.
The state dispensary people in the
house realized that the dispensary
as state institution was doomed, so
far as the house was concerned, so
when the local option bill came up,
Mr. Smith Of Colleton, who is a
prohibitionist, offered an amend
ment in the shape of a straight pro-
4 hibition measure, and it was On this
y amendment THAT the fight was real
ly made. The state dispensary peo-
pie Immediately became ardent and
enthusiastic prohibitionists and raj
lied to the support of the prohibition
measure as preferable in their opin-
ion to local option as among the coun-
ties.
= The debate was able on both sides,
all the speeches being above the
-, average. When the vote came the
prohibition amendment was defeated
by vote Of SIS to SO, all the men,
bers being present except Mr.. Nor
ton, Of Marion, who has been sick
for several days. The local option
bill was then ordered to third read
ing ana will be sent to the senate
today.
The purified dispensary bill offer
ed by the state dispensary advocates
was killed, but in case the senate
should refuse to adopt the local op-
tion bill and send to the house the
purified dispensary measure the
fight would then come up on that
bill.
Just what the senate will do does
not seem to me to be at all certain.
>. It was claimed that the plan to send
by the house was part of a scheme to
perpetuate the state dispensary for
the reason that the senate would not
stand for prohibition. All the indi-
B cations point to a close fight in the
s senate, though the local optionists
are claiming a majority in that body
because Of the passage Of the Smith
resolution calling for the abolition
of the state institution. While that
may be the sentiment Of the senate
! on the abstract proposition, the
members may not be able to agree
on what shall take the place of the
state dispensary. For instance, they
may not agree to the local option bill
passed by the house. Still all indica-
tions now point to the abolition Of the
state dispensary.
The report of the special investi-
eating committee was submitted on
Tuesday. 1t brings out nothing new
or what was not already known.
In, view Of the dispensary fight for
, the past two days very little else
, has been done. In fact, practically
3 nothing in the house.
4 The senate has passed the 10-hour
/ law somewhat in the shape Of a COM
promise. Or, rather, to meet the plan
Ialready agreed upon by the mills.
The mills have already reduced two
hours. This bill provides that two
more hours shall be taken off on
uly l, Of this year and on January
1908, the sixty hours week shall
ecome effective. This will probably
ss the house. +a":-.
he senate has killed the bill intro
Rd in that body to abolish the lien
though it has not yet acted up
he bill passed by the house,
sh it is not probable that it will
sse itself and the indications are
the lien law will remain In
A resolution has been introdue-