The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-02-26
Senator Blease Almost Succeeds In
Fixing State Levy at Five BJills-
Rate Bill Finally Killed-State Ball
to Be Held in State House.

I
to Be Held in State House.
Columbia, Feb. 21.-The way things
are done in the rush Is shown by the
way half a mill was taken from the
State levy today. Mr.. Blease, In the
senate. offered an innocent amend
ment to strike out one-half on line
one. No one seemed to know what
1t meant. but evidently thought It ap-
Piled to Newberry county. It was
adopted. Tonight Senator Maldin ex-
planned that he had overlooked the
amendment and moved to restore tho
Ave and half mill provision as pass
ed by the senate committee and the
house.
Senator Blease said he expected to
run for governor and as q final appeal
| asked for reduction In the States
levy. 1t was wrong. he argued. to
raise the appropriations. The raise wac
over 100000. ~
He ridiculed Gov. Ansers message
fand said any 15-year-old boy ought
to have been ashamed Of 1t. Gov.
Ansei had said the State was prosper
Gus. but he doubted It seriously.
Senator Blease made long speech,
giving what will probably DO Ills
platform. He argued that II the sen.
ate cut the levy to five mills that the
free conference would cut the ap-
propriations down to m,rt the reduc-
ton in lcvy from five and half to
five mills. He Jumped on the appro-
priation for the State fair. Senators
ought. he said, to look at this mat
ter as they spend their own money.
Senator Mauldin said there was an
OLD song about he who dances must
pay. The cold facts are that the leg
islature has already voted for expen-
ditures necessitating the five and a
half mill levy. There Is no use 10
create a debt.
Over his protest the levy was re-
duced and the State ran a deficiency
Of $4,000. II the State has been
prodigal in its expenditures then the
money must be provided. The financn
committee was unanimous in report
ing a Ave and half mill levy. The
Ave and a half mill levy will hardly
be enough 1t. was simply business.
The senate reconsidered the matt-r,
restoring the necessary five and half
mills.
| The insurance commission bill
passed the senate today. Their. was
compromise and cettlement by
which the senate again changed its
view and the bill now goes to the
house with a provision that the legis-
lature elect the commissioners, pro-
vided that no legislator be eligible to
the position. The senate amended the
Dill SO that the insurance companies
shall support the department by as
sessment Of not over $50 each. The
salary is raised to $2,5OO by the SEN
ate.
| The rate proposition was taken up
again today and apparently every
thing that looked like passenger
rate bill was wiped of the slate and
the sToole senate bill was killed by an
aye and nay vote Of 1S to IS. Then
the senate refused to reconsider the
death blow to the House. Carlisle
Gyles-Finley bill by q vote Of 21 to
IL. The senate now has no further
rate bills pending and has cleared its
decks.
The Brice bill to outlaw the South
eastern Tariff association was killed
by the senate today
Tho senate had some discussion to-
night over the salary OF the efficient
assistant clerk. The senate, by a vote
of II to 15, retained the salary as re.
ported. Senator Blcase wanted q
very email increase made. Senator
Mauldin offered an amendment Ia
the legislative supply bill, providing
an appropriation Of 5000 for expcn-
scs OF members coming back to elect
a senator. He said the people Of the
State did not expect senator's and men,
bers to come here for such an extra.