The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-01-17
Friday, January II, 1908.
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

6iO11 1SE0kAu NO4N4s4@SA S@>AA-4>~-A'
Columbia. Jan. 16.-When the Sec
ond session Of the present leglsla-
ture convened in Columbia on Tues
day at noon the house and the SEN
ate were confronted with very heavy
calendars containing bills which were
continued from the last session.
The house calendar showed one
hundred and eighty-fve bills. and a
great many Of them will be killed
whenever consideration is given them.
On Wednesday it was decided to 60
over the house calendar anl see If it
would not be possible to eliminate a
number of these bills. and as re-
suit thirtv-four we're withdrawn from
the files of the house and six we're
recommitted. which still leaves cal
endar with which to start this ses-
sion of one hundred and fortv-fva
bills.
The eagrosSin@ department was
flooded with new measures. On Tues
day and on Wednesday these began to
pour into the hopper of the house and
they will continue to pour in for the
next several days.
The bill to repeal the lien law has
been introduced and, as at the last
session, it will pass the house and
the opinion prevails that it Will also
pass the senate at this session. There
are at least dozen bills proposing
various solutions of the labor contract
law. It is hoped that out Of the multi
tude Of laws there may be. evolved
some measure which will solve this
problem and meet the requirements
and desires of those who are inter-
ested in the question Of labor con-
tracts. It seems that something IS
absolutely necessary along this line.
In my next letter I will endeavor to
outline some Of the propositions which
have been made to solve the question.
There will also be a number Of pro-
hibition measures presented, and there
seems to be little doubt that the
house will pass some sort OF State
prohibition measure, especially II the
prohibitionists themselves can agree
on some one proposition looking to
State prohibition. In talking with
some of the senators, they seem to
think that the senate will not agree
on any State prohibition measure.
Governor Ansel in his annual mes
sage, while stating that he was pro-
hibitionist himself, approves the To-
cal option measure: which was pass
ed at the last session Of the leg1sla-
ture and which is known as the Carey
Cothran law.
The most important matter, 1t
seems to me, which this legislature
will have to deal with is to keep the
appropriation bill within bounds, so
As not to increase the State levy be-
.vond what it was last year. l under
stand that Comptroller General Jones
estimates that it will take about ST.
100000 to meet the expenses OF the
State government for this year. At
the last session the appropriation bill
was something less than this figure.
If the appropriation should amount
to this sum for this year it will be
necessary to make the State levy five
mills. and that Will be scarcely sui
fcient.
Governor Ansel recommends an IN
crease in the levy of two mills to pro-
vide for placing the State on cash
basis and to avoid the necessity OF
borrowing money, as has been done
for several years, to meet the lnteress
on the public debt. 1t is not at all
probable that the present legislature
will adopt the recommendation OF
Governor Ansel.
Every department Of the govern
ment is asking for more money, and
there seems to be no end to the de-
mands. It is argued by those con-
trolling our State institutions, espe-
ciallv our institutions of higher learn
mo. that the State is growing. that the
institutions are growing, and thai
there is need for more money to meet
the demands Of this growth.
The South Carolina university
last year got an appropriation OF
$4,000 to build homes for the profess
sors. and no doubt they will ask for
more money again this year. Win
throp college was given $4,000 last
year. for the parpcs7 Of building a