Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1910-02-03
STATES LAWMAKERS
GET DOWN TO WORK
Junketing Trips Ended. the Legis-
lature Will Now Consider
Important Matters.
Correspondence Fort Mill Times.

Important Matters.
Correspondence Fort Mill Times.
Columbia, Feb. There have
been no particularly interesting
developments in legislative cir
cleS since the communication of
last week.
The most of last week was
taken up in "junketing," a
term commonly applied to legis-
lative journeys away from the
capital, whether on business or
pleasure bent. Just here it
might be we'll to remark that
there has been considerable ad-
verse criticism of this body on
account of these trips. There
will, however, come no harm of
the trips of this session to Win
throp, Clemson and the Citadel,
as they will enable the members
Of the general assembly to more
intelligently pass upon the needs
of these institutions as they
come up in the several measures
to be introduced affecting the
institutions. Then, too, the
per diem argument against the
expense of these excursions can
not be used any longer, as the
senators and representatives are
now paid an annual salary of
5000 each, and whether they
remain in session 40 days or 40
weeks the cost to the State,
with the exception of some
additional items of printing, etc.,
will not be increased. Just who
is footing the bill for these
special trains is another question.
1t may be that the several COL
leges visited are putting up the
dough. If this is the case, why
the people are paying for the
trains. If the railroads are
furnishing them gratis well,
that is different matter. AS
was intimated in the beginning,
there can come no special harm
of these things.
Several bills relative to the
asylum have been introduced in
both houses. One of the most
important of these is by Senator
Hardin, of Chester, providing
for the purchase of lands not
more than ten miles from the
city of Columbia and upon
some railroad, the cost of which
shall not exceed $3.50, 600, and
finally constructing thereon new
buildings for the State Hospital
for the Insane. These bills also
look to the separation of the
races, and it is generally thought
that this plan will be carried out.
Debate upon the prohibition
bills has been postponed until
Thursday, February 3rd, when
it is thought the matter will be
taken up and finally settled for
this session at least. The house
of representatives is overwhel-
mingly for Statewide prohibi-
ton, but the senate is, where
you nearly always find it with
reference to a matter of this
sort, on the fence, and only a
vote will determine what is
doing. Senator w. H. Stewart
is outspoken in his views upon
the question. He is of the
opinion that such legislation is
unwise just at this time, and
that to pass Statewide law lust
now would be breaking faith
with the local optionists and a
breach of the understanding be-
tween the factions at the last
session.
Representative Richards bill
to amend the crop-mortgage law.
making it illegal to mortgage
crops before the first day of
April in each year, was killed
after a long discussion. Mr.
Richards is generally considered
an aspirant for gubernatorial
honors, and during the debate
upon this bill the politics there
in was referred to more than
once by the opposition. Mr..
Richards was instrumental. more
than any other man, in repeating
the lien law.
There appears upon the senate
calendar a bill introduced by
Senator Graydon, of Abbeville,
making it unlawful for any
teacher in the schools of this
State to inflict physical punish
ment upon pupils. A good many
OF the old-timers, who were
reared upon birch and lived in
the time when the old-feld school,
] the hlna- -hank rrolla. l -