The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-02-19

at the Things yet 10 be Attend
News and Courier.
Columbia, Feb 16-The Legislative session
for 10 s Is now about at an end. Inc nnai pol
ish remains TO be put on the hand lWork Inc
general outline OF the work has oeen nolsh.
ed, The details of certain policies have not
vet been determined upon, hut the general
outline ard scope OF the specimen that IL to
go into the furniture COLLECTION oi the Work ol
1908 are fixed.
There will be State tax levy OF ST mills.
There Will be no fundamental change In the
LIQUOR situation. 49,
All prohibition laws have been killed.
there will be no change In the present credit
The contract labor law will be amended 80
as 10 meet the decisions OF The Federal and
state Courts declaring The existing statutes
void.
rue indine-up commission Of the d'spen
sary will bs continued In Office Tor nht''leht
,Ime O close its business and IN" di'pefs"ry
property, real estate, VIII he Hl1 al puoliC
auction for rot less han S7o 600.
The perennial tieht OH The depari1nf nj o
agr cuiure and Immigration has fniltd, and
Mills Looking to that end have been Killed IN
the Senate.
Inere mas been disposition 10 deal liber-
ally with the educational system.
R-aliZlng the growth OF the STATE, the ue-
mand and hunger for higher education hno
leges-Clemson, Winthrop. the University o
Sonth Carolina and the Citadtl-have been
given ki dly consideration and an opportu-
nifty To grow. ,,
| rit and is found to he VOL king satisfactorily
The disposition; and IL Ia decided, Is 10 lei
| the voters In tbe COMMUNITIES aHected oerlof
| whether they want dispepsaries or MOI, AND
| the voters are 10 be given opportunity of Vot
| ing out dispenearies where obi ctions ble by
| towns instead Of by counties as heretofore.
| Aiken, Union and Cclleton, and. perhaps
BarnwelI, are 10 be authorized TO hold early
elections TO determine whether these coun'
ties shall continue their county dispensarles
or jon the prohibition counties.
| In view OF the decision affecting Inc new
| issue OF Charleston city bonds all bonds mere
after Issued for school buildings or school puf.
roaes are TO be exempt from all STATE, county
and municipal taxes.
The desire is TO tighten up ON Insurance
| companies. A bill to prohibit prize box life
i.suraDce is to become law. In the mater o,
fire insurance there seems TO be unrest, and
two bills, one about the contract and the 9th
| er TO outlaw the Southeastern Tariff Associa
| lion. are the most likely. Whether either
will do particle OF real good or are efforts to
| the merits is not the question:.
8 .veral BILLS intended to better protect poll
cy holders In local and mutual companies WILL
| be enacted.
| In the matter OF railroad legislation there
| have been several bills that will cause these
corporations more or less trouble and expense
| to get to the ratification stage. The Graydon
fellow servant liability Dill is on Inc House
| aide. Tue three bills recommended by the
| Legislative com mittee are on the Calendars
| the two major bills have uniavoraole reports
| on the Senate Calendar, and that angurs bad
| The railroads in common with otheS have
| had a rough time OF 1t during The New York
panic, and the disposition 10 10 give them q
| chance 10 breathe and live.
mi eons nnft n Roff "a tF,n q
railroad Interests has been the passenger rate
question. The issue has resolved Itself into 9
waiting contest. The final result is uncer-
tain. The proposition as offered by Mr.. Fin
| ley, exactly and not changed 10 meet vary
| ipg views and gather strength, will pa OF
nothing will be done.
There have from the first vote been fourteen
Senators opposed to any rate legislation
The latest announcements are that Senator
Blease and Senator Smith and perhaps others
stand for a l-2-cent rate bill, without any
frills, and that they are against the Carlisle
bill. Al first the advocates Of rate LEGISLATION
| TO vote on the rate bill. They pleaded and
begged for the test OF strength and TO get tc
voting, but for the last few days they have
been absolutely Indifferent and evidently
| viously so earnestly sought.
Had the vote been taken last week the
Toole bill would have gone to the Legislative
graveyard. What win happen now Is un
certain. A vote ls promised tomorrow
The Senate has passed bill providing fol
twelve Judicial circuitt-two new ones. The
house las provided Tor one additional cir
cuit, This would appear to make the new
circuit certain, and the chances are that the
TWO circuits will be provided rather than
sacrifice one. This and other actions indi.
cate the spirit OF nberality and more gener'
ous legislation than has heretofore prevail
The subject OF biennial sessions has hardly
been mentioned and seems to have but little
encouragement.
Calhoun County was the only new county
question or prof. ositton mentioned. There
/ was no opposition whatever TO this county
and the o angeburg delegation acted very
considerably and generously TO the new
The ind ications are that there will be all
Insurance department established, and that
the Stale will supply ample machinery lor
good department. The ccmmibslcntr Will
probably be paid 81 800.
Arrangements Will be made 10 have ih.
registration lists revised and corrected. II il
admitted on all sides that the registration
lists are in deplorable condition, and thai
sometbing ought 10 be done. 10 get these listh
In better shape and that everyon ought Ia
be made to register so as 10 gel more general
and better jury lists from which TO selecl
jurymeD.
The fish ant oyster law appears 10 be giving
satisfaction, and there is no fort 10 interfere
with IL. Senator Christensen has had few
immateria! amendments adopted, but moth.
Ing important.
All tbs bills looking to State or general
system OF rural police have been killed.
There has been no change In the pistol
totipg laws. There we're various suggestions
OF changes, but nothing was done 10 amend
the law.
The general Asse no bly, will adjourn on the
22dd Of February. This will be either Friday
night, after mid night, or late Saturday night.
Some Of the members think that by putting
on bit OF legislative steam that members
Ing, while others think that the best thing Is
TO take life easy and go home Sunday.
A great many towns, townships and couD-
Ties have tond iesues coming due this year
that they have arranged 10 have refunded
and incidentally have asked 10 have them
exem pied from taxation.
There has been no change in the tax or az
sessmenL laws, both OF which need improve.
ment.
Tne income tax law-the greatest farce on
the statute bookk-remains unchanged.
The bill! to tax timber independent OF the
land will not pass, as IL has not yet gotten
It's second reading on the Senate eide.
All bills that do not get their second rea =
ings Monday, and that are not duplicated In
the olber branch OF the Assembly might as
well be K illed gently. as Monday Is their last
chance, according 10 The rules OF the game.
There have been more "a uestions OF person.
al privilege" on the Senate side this year
than in any d. zen previous sessions.
No com % issions have been established by
the General Assembly this year.
The feeling has been The best, and there he's
been no III feeling or bitterness in any OF the
debates. thus lar. II there IL Still such b
thing Bs O reform or a htralght out faction no
one hears OF II.