The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-02-03

Passage, by the House, of Bill to
Repeal the Lien Law.
Columbia, Jan. 31.-When the gem
eral assembly meets on Tuesday even
Ing. three weeks OF the present session
will have passed. There has not in
that time been measure that has
reached the ratification stage. This is
most unusual. Generally when the
session begins, some member. has a
measure that cannot be ratified soon
enough. but 1t Is quite different this
year. The fact Of the matter Is that
more time ought to to be given to
Legislation. and II the law-making
bodies met from year to year. passed
the general appropriation and supply
bills and meditated over other matters
the State would be Just as well Off
indeed. many say much better of.
There has been q growing sentiment
In favor of the policy Of letting well
enough alone and giving the people
time in which to understand the laws
that are already on the statute books.
+, The past weel@ has been largely
given up to the abortive effort to elect
an Associate Justice and to the pas
sage. by the house, Of the bill to re-
peal the lien Jaw. There are some
members who perhaps think that the
repeal fthe lien law will bring dia-
monds'and feather beds to the State,
but 1t Is going to take great deal
more than the repeal Of the lien law.
The poorer classes Of people in this
State must have some way Of getting
credit, and II the lien law be repealed,
some other scheme will be thought out
by the wide-awake merchant and the
man who wants to borrow money or
the equivalent--provision and ma
terials.
Two weeks ago the atmosphere"
about the State House was that the
Statewide prohibition bill would pass
and become law. Those who favof
Statewide prohibition now think that
they are not on as safe ground and
that. II they win at all. 1t Will be after
q hard fight. On the other hand. the
advocates of local option, as at pres
ent understood. between county dis
pensaries and prohibition by counties
are very much more encouraged. They
think that they have Won their fight
and that the Statewide prohibition
lists are afraid to test their strength,
and that nothing will be done at this
session Of the general assembly to
change the situation. 1t would not be
In the least surprising IL the statutes
OF 1909 did not continue an Act in
which the word 'dispensary" did not
appear In the title. The advocates of
local option are going TO sit steady in
the boat and do nothing, and say as
little as necessary. All they want is to
maintain the present status. and it
takes no legislation whateevr to ac-
complish this result.
!. In connection with the bill proposed
by the Charleston committee, 1t is to
be noted that those interested in this
measure are willing to have it so
amended as to give Charleston coun-
ty alone the privilege of voting on the
three yoptions--county dispensary, IL
cehse or prohibition.
There has been no material change
IN the situation In the election Of an
Associate Justice from the first ballot.
The indications are that there will be
no dark horse" to solve the problem
or to break the deadlock. The State
has the good fortune of having five
high-class men running for the place,
and some one of these Ave will he
elected. 1t may take some time to
reach conclusion. but the sentiment
now appears to be to elect some one
OF the five names in formal nomina-
tion.
The insurance legislation at this ses-
sion has assumed unexpected proper
tions. Commissioner McMaster has
suggested half dozen well-conceived
and well-timed bills, and in addition
many new suggestions have been made.
1t would be we'll to have whatever il
done In the matter Of insurance legis-
iation incorporated in one or two gem
eral bills and not to undertake to i'm
pose too many restrictions on either
life or fire insurance companies. TOO
often laws are suggested to fit individ-
ual cases and, where one company has
done something that does not suit, to
go after the entire list Of companies