Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1908-01-28
WORK OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Interesting Review of Developments
and Forecasts of Outlook.
corresnondence Of the Yorkxille ENQUIRER.


Correspondence Of the Yorkvile Enquirer.
Columbia, January 27.-The legisla-
ture has now been in session nearly
two weeks. and although no really i'm
portant measures have passed either
branch, ii Is evident that the lien
law. so far as it applies to the mer-
chant and farmer, will be repealed, that
there will be no radical legislation and
that no state prohibition law will be
enacted. 1t Is more than likely that
there will be number Of changes
made in the Carey Cothran law passed
last winter and 1t is probable that one
of these amendments will provide
means. for closing all dispensaries in
counties where they are now in opera
ton, except at the county seat. 1t is
safe to say that the entire York delega-
tion will vote for such an amendment,
as we'll as the delegations from all the
Piedmont counties, backed by sufti-
cient number from other counties to Sc
cure the desired end. 1t Is evident that
many If not all the counties in which
dispenSarieS are located are out for the
coin and are not considering the strong
probability Of speedily killing the goose
that they think is laying the golden
eggs.
The leading topic since the legisla-
ture assembled has been the repeal Of
the lien law, but since the blow has
practically fallen, it has lost much of
its terror. 1t Is now evident that there
Is practically nothing in the proposition
hn
which provides for the repeal, was
passed on Friday by vote Of IS to 80;
but before being voted on was thor
oughly discussed in It's various phases
by members favoring and opposing 1t.
Many of the speeches were clear, logi-
cal and forceful from the viewpoint OF
the speaker, but 1t was not until Hon.
]. P. Carey Of Pickens, the recognized
intellectual giant Of the house, proba-
bly,, the ablest lawyer and most logical
debater In the state, and who, men ia
miliar with all the more prominent leg
islators who have served during the
past twenty years, say Is the most able
man they have yet seen on the moor,
commenced to speak In opposition to
the repeal that the layman fully real
ICED that there was little else than pol
itics in the question which has been
for years. We will not attempt to
quote Mr.. Carey literally, but in sub
stance he said that he was opposed to
the repeal until after the people sup
posed to be most deeply interested, and
who had not yet spoken, the poor white
renter, had spoken. He wanted them
to have the privilege Of voting on the
question at the primary next summer
He said that really the repeal OF the
lien law would not affect them for the
very simple reason that no law could
be passed that the courts would not
turn down, taking away the inalienable
rights of all men to mortgage their
property and that the courts had de-
cided that a crop before it was planted
was property and could be mortgaged
as well as afterwards, and therefore
the renter would be in position to give
as good or even better security by
means of chattel mortgage than he
had been doing under a lien. Mr.. Carey
did not qualify his statements. He did
not say 1t was probable that so and so
was the case, but said 1t was the case
Solicitor Henry In private converse
ton with the writer confirmed Mr.
Carys assertion as did two other able
lawyer members Of the legislature. AS
stated above Mr.. Cary Is man OF
magnificent ability. His utterances,
when he takes the floor and that Is not
often, always receive the undivided at
tention Of every member as well as all
others in the house. He never deals In
generalities, but confines himself to his
subject and makes the sparks fly.
We asked one Of the most able and
influential lawyer senators why 1t was
that the legislature would repeal the
lien law If It's repeal did not mean an
Improvement in existing conditions?
without hesitation he replied, simply
to take it out Of politics"
Representatives Saye, Epps and
Glasscock have each been quite unwell
since coming here, but all seem TO be
somewhat better now. Mr.. Glasscock
was absent from the house for day
or so.
Mr.. Epps has introduced a bill pro-
hibiting cock fighting in this state.
DR.. Save has prepared his bill rela-
tive to working the roads in York coun-
ty. 1t has not been introduced, but
will very likely be this week. On FRI
day he introduced a bill in reference TO
certain practices of some life insur-
ance companies and their agents which
Is calculated to be Of great value 70
the insuring public in case 1t becomes
law.
Senator Brice Is generally recognized
as one Of the most indefatigable work.
ers and influential members Of the SEN
ate. He has already introduced a mum.
ber Of bills, some Of which are OF local
and others general interests.
1t Is the opinion Of those In position
to know that the legislature Will ap-
propriate the $4,000 asked for by At
torney General Lyon to be used In MS
efforts to put the grafters behind the
bars.
There can be little reason to doubt
that Winthrop will receive practically