The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-02-28
HERE'S WHAT THE
LEGISLATURE DID
SPORES OF NEW LAWS, MOST
OF THEM PURELY LOCAL.
Very Few Measures of State Wide
Importance Passed-Colleges
Were Treated Liberally.
News and Courier.

News ana Courier.
Columbia, February 23.-4Libcral-
ity, "pcrsonal privilege and letting
well enough alone. characterized the
session Of the General Assembly of
1905. 1t will 60 down into history
as conservative, liberal minded and
"standinY pat' General Assembly.
Tho people under the laws that have
been enacted will continue to enjoy
the same privileges that they have
heretofore been permitted. Those
who want to give liens can do SO, for
there has been no iatcreforcnce with
that statute. although persistent cf-
fort was made to do so. Those who
have been permitted to legally sell or
buy liquor will be allowed to continue
to do SO. for the Liquor laws stand
| exactly as they did year ago, and
except for few special Acts relative
to the distribution Of the profits in
the various counties. increasing the
pay of the boards Of control and pro-
vidin" for the winding UP Of the old
State lispensary nothing whatever
! was done on the liquor question. The
county boards continue to have the
same privileges that they have here
tofore had relative to The opening or
closing of the dispensarics; no New
rights are given the voters. except
| that in several counties, where an
h,c ,,O
trial is to be given and elections arc
provided for other counties. The
railroad laws stand practically as
they have heretofore done. and the
much mooted passenger rate legisla-
lion came to nothing.
There have been no general laws
enacted, unless the statute providing
for an insurance department and a
special officer Of The board Of health
and the creation Of two aow judicial
circuits be so REGARDED. While there
was abundant discussion Of general
issues, nothing special was done.
What was really done in an a(1irma-
tive way is best shown by the COM
plctc list Of Acts that have bean rati-
fed. This is the net result Of the
work-the rice after all The chaff has
br2n left in the mill. Tt is formida-
bic array Of legislation. but close in
spcction will show that practically
the entire list is OF local. county or
special legislation. as necessary. per-
llans as other things. hut not of such
general Importance. T have. at great
pains. undertaken to classify the list
Of ratified Acts so as TO give the read
cr better undcrstandin" of what was
done and to enable those interested
to find that in which they may be Is
pcciallv interested.
1t will be seen how important Il
| part county affairs now take in ley-
| iSlation. The list Of Acts relative to
county affairs includes items rang
ing all the way from authority TO buy
a couple Of bloodhountls, to pcrmis-
| sion to build a court house; from leg
islativc authority to abolish Offices, to
permission to cut trees along the pub
| lie highways. Some Of the counties
want TO reindcX thcil. records, others
| want 10 have their county affairs en-
amincd by experts; some want TO
borrow money: others have sinking
! lunIS that nave money to lend: some
want to tighten the stock law: 9th
crS 10 loosen it up hii. and all i'hiS
| appears to leccsSitatc legislation.
Some counties want more cotton
wci"hcrs; others want to fire some
Of those they have along with county
commissioners or masters, and there
has TO be more LEGISLATION. Some Of
the counties want to pay for clcc-
tions on new counties or other mat
tcrs, and others again want TO change
the law relative to the working Of the
roads. And all this. for some myS-
tcrions reason, calls for special Act
in almost every ease. If il be dcSir-
ed to furnish county Office with new
furniture State legislation seems ne
cc~:arN Funny, is il not?
Next to county legislation comes
n,at lreis|atjcn, authority for thc Is
#uancr Of new bonds. I'own, from The