The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-09
WORK FOR LEGISLATURE.
Many Matters of Importance VIII be
Brought Up

oistaht--January 1.-THE various
members Of both houses are already
considering proposing new bills and
changes In old laws that will make
the coming legislature an interesting
one. or course, one of the principal
fights will be on the subject Of prohi-
bition.
AS previously mentioned, the State
is now exactly evenly divided on the
liquor system, so far as membership
IN the house and senate and counties
are taken-21 counties operating
county disbensaries and 21 being dry.
IL LIaurens Is included, there being a
contest on this result now pending.
In view Of the prohibition conference
here this week. the statement that
several of the most prominent MEM
bers OF the house will champion pro-
hibition makes the fight very inter-
esting one.
Besides this, however, there are sew
eral other matters. It thought by q
majority that the annual talk against
Commissioner Watson's office will
hardly be made or II 1t should be
1t will be even much weaker than
usual. There Is some talk OF making
him also commissioner of labor with
an assistant for that work.
There will be little II any fight on
the office Of insurance commissioner
as 1t has been in operation only one
year and SO far has been entirely sue
cessful under the administration Of
Commissioners McMaster.
There Is q proposition. however, to
create a new office-that Of an ex-
pert examiner for the books Of the
various counties. In fact. Capt. Ed
mund Bacon, who Is an expert at this
work, has already secured the en-
dorsement Of number Of counties
for the passage Of such a bill. The
work Is now being done under the su-
pervision OF the comptroller general
who witnesses the annual settlements
as required by law. The investigation
OF claims and the payment Of them is
a matter for committees from the re-
spective grand juries and the fact that
1t has been carelessly done in many in
stances is responsible for the bad
bookkeeping and the shortages that
come up occasionally.
very strenuous effort will be made
70 pass compulsory education bill
this year. At the last session there
was one introduced and but for the
dilatory methods Of some of the meth
DDS OF some Of the members. might
have passed. This year the support
ers Of the bill will be more strongly
organized, and there is chance for
enacting such measure.
The proper policing of the rural
communities Is another matter with
which the committees will have 70
struggle. From number of the
most influential county papers there
nave been calls for a law that wouId
provide proper policing of country
districts and several bills are expect
ed
one OF the most important subjects
ror the consideration Of the general
assembly is the revision of the tax
laws. Year after year the comptrolle,
general has urged that something he
done along this line SO that all prop
erty would be assessed on an eoua,
oasis and that the constitution OF tho
state which requires that property be
assessed at its true value be enforced
TO do this 1t is believed that It will he
necessary to change the present meth
cd Of selecting tax boards and tho
method Of receiving the returns From
the past policy of previous legislatures
this will probably be placed in the
hands OF a commission to sit between
the sessions and present some plan
for change.
A number OF members will also ad-
vocate abolishing the tax on building
and loan associations At present. as
required by law. these associations are
taxed as are all other corporations.
but 1t Is argued that these companies
are as potent and perhaps more so
than savings banks for the salaried
men who depend upon their invest
ment In these associations to buy
and build homes, and therefore there
should be different method OF taxing
them.
Last but not least there will be
bill for an appropriation for enlarg-
Ing the State capitol or for another
building which will provide offices for
those who are now occupying commit
A.