The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-15

Columbia, Jan. 12.-The first day
of the second session of the legisla-
ture was spent most largely in re-
newing old and pleasant acquain-
tances, the house did no work, and
the senate very little Work started
In earnest on the second day. when
both houses attacked their calendars.
There will be little delay, the last
session having left plenty of business
for the present session, though much
of it has not thrived in cold storage.
and will be wiped off the calendar
with little ceremony. The flood Of
new bills began at once, the engross-
ing department was the first to get
busy, and its clerks are already
grinding out new bills.
There seems no way of avoiding
long discussion and fight on the
subject of Statewide prohibition, but
the representatives of those counties
retaining the dispensary are satisfied
that they will be able to keep them
In spite of the onslaught of the pro-
hibitionists. That will, of course be
one Of the fights of the session. It
|salwaysSss.
A matter that Is going to cause a
great deal of discussion and no small
fight, will be the report of the COM
mission appointed to investigate the
affairs Of the State Hospital for the
Insane. 1t will be shown in that re-
port that the legislature has given
the board of regents all that they
asked for in every instance, except
In the matter Of extension, and those
appropriations were always made
with the understanding that the
amount appropriated could be made
to suffice. The gross carelessness Of
the authorities of the institution in
many instances are shown by the
examination of witnesses, and there
Is In the hands Of representatives
other matters of a more sensational
nature that may be brought out The
report avoids sensation, but does not
seem to attempt to shield any one,
though it was limited, in many re-
spects in it's scope. It points facts
and leaves the legislature to draw
conclusions. 1t seems that there has
been serious carelessness on the part
of the authorities from the Board Of
Regents down, that SO many of the
abuses have not been corrected The
apparent disposition to make the re-
port appear as an arraignment Of the
legislature for parsimony by the
Board Of Regents and authorities Of
the institution promises to be a fail
ure. The report persists in taking
the color Of criticism of the man
agement.
From what can be gathered there
are going to be some rocks thrown
at Clemson in the matter of nepOtism
in the faculty. A bill is understood
to be in preparation forbidding kins-
men of the members Of Boards of
Trustees Of State institutions being
put in the faculties. 1t is said that
there are at least dozen such cases
in Clemson College, and some of
those who have been nosing around
to find out what is the trouble at
Clemson have determined that it
arises from the fact that so many Of
the faculty Of the institution are kin
to members Of the board that no
man can take the head of that insti-
tuition and manage it; cousins and
kinsmen Of nearer or more remote
degrees have already gotten in their
story before the presdnt can tell his,
and he talks to prejudiced ears. That
is some Of the loose talk, which this
correspondent does not undertake to
father or stand sponsor for, it will
all come out in the wash. The tenn
per Of the legislature towards Glenn
son Is rather critical, and has been
growing more so for years. 1t is felt
that there is something wrong with
the grand institution that ought to
be gotten right for the good of the
State and the salvation Of the insti-
tuition.
There is some hope that the legis-
lature may be induced to grant a