The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-02-16
LAST WEEK OF THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
A FILIBUSTER IS ON IN BOTH
HOUSES. -.
Prohibitionists Trying to Force a
Vote on Their Measures-Very
Little Accomplished so Far.

Columbia, Feb. Saturday is
the fortieth day of the legislative ses-
sion, and in all probability the gener-
al assembly will adjourn some time
Saturday. Some Of the members think
that adjournment will be reach
ed some time late Friday night. There
have been threats from the State
wide prohibitiQnists that they were
going to keep the legislature in ses-
sion indefinitely unless a vote were
reached on the prohibition bills, but
those who have watched the sessions
Of the legislature for a number OF
years have no idea that the present
session will 60 beyond the forty days
There is no limit to the session,
and, as a matter of fact, there was no
limit last year, except as to the pay.
This year the members receive 5000
each for the session, whatever =. its
length. Last year and during previous
years they received four dollars per
day for not exceeding forty days.
They could adjourn as soon after they
met as it was possible for them to do
so, and receive four dollars per day
each for the days they were in ses-
sion, or they could run beyond the
forty days, their pay, however, stop
ping at the end Of the forty days. An
adjournment was always reached by
the fortieth day. The members right
ly. took the view that the State could
not expect them ITO stay in session
without compensation. There is no
special reason for adjourning on the
forieth day this year, but that has
been the custom, and an adjournment
is looked for, as stated, on Saturday.
Little Accomplished so Far.
The legislature has accomplished
very little so far, and perhaps it is
just as we'll. twenty-five acts have
- been ratified, twenty-one of which
are purely local measures. The only
Act of general interest which has
been ra6iified is the bill introduced by
Senator johnson, af Fairfield. ex-
empting beneficiary students in State
institutions from the obligation to
teach provided they are appointed to
positions in the government service.
(The titles Of all the Acts which have
been ratified are published on the
second page of this issue of The
Herald and News.)
The Appropriation Bill.
The general appropriation bill has
passed the house, and is now in the
senate. The bill carries an expendi-
ture of $l,592,6S6.30. The house re-
fused to include in the appropriation
bill an item of $4,000 for the sup
port of the Confederate Home, which
has recently been completed and is
now ready for occupancy, but increas-
ed the appropriation for pensions
from $25O,OOO to $4,000. The house
included an item for $4,000 for the
purchase Of school books for use in
the public Sehools7 Of the State. The
proposition to make this appropria-
,tion was introduced by Mr. Doar> The
sum Of $50.000 is appropriated "for
the purpose Of providing free school
books to the deserving children Of the
State attending free public schools. .
The question of who are deserving
children is to be determined by the
trustees Of each school district, and
the amount is to be apportioned
among the counties of the State ac-
cording to the enrolment of children
in free public schools.
Prohibition Measures.
The prolibiticnists have not been
able to force a vote IN either house
on the prohibition measures. The op-
ponemS of the measures have been
filibustering, and the prohlbitlonlsts
have also been filibuStering to force
their bills. The prohibitionistS have
been seeking in the senate to get their
bills made special orders, but the SEN
ate refused to make any special Or
ders. In the house there have been
some spirited debates on the prohibi-
tion measures. On a motion to lay on
the table a motion to strike out the
enacting words of the prohibition bill
the house laid the motion to kill the
bill on the table BY vote Of 63 to
81. This, Of course. was 4 negative
vote, and, while the house refused tc