The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-02-22
GENERAL ASSEMBLY HAS
ADJOURNED Sine DIE
ACTION ON ASYLUM VINDICAT
ES DIR. BABCOCK.
100000 to Buy Land And Erect
Buildings Other Important
Matters. -

Matters. -
Columbia, Feb. 21.-The general
assembly adjourned at about eight
o'clock Sunday morning, having been
in session for the customary forty
days.
Possibly the most important action
taken during the session, in addition
to the passage Of the annual appro-
priation bill, was on the asylum mat
ter, the substitute bill presented by
the free conference committee being
adopted late On the closing night Of
the session. The bill provides for
the appointment by the governor Of
a commission of five, who are au-
thorized to purchase land and erect
such additional buildings as they may
decide upon, the commission being
authorized to borrow 100000 from
the sinking fund, or elsewhere. The
superintendent Of the hospital, DR..
Babcock, and the chairman Of the
State board Of health, Dr.. Robert
Wilson; Of Charleston, are to be
members Of the commission, the 9th.
er three to be business men to be
named by the governor, it being stip-
ulated that no member Of the gen.
eral assembly shall be eligible to ap-
pointment.
The general assembly killed the
important railroad legislation which
was urged and the discussion Of
which consumed a great part Of the
entire time Of the session. One Of
the measures which died was the
Graydon senate bill which as origi-
nalfy drawn provided for passen-
ger rate of not more than 2 1-2 cents
per mile-the rate now in force by
agreement Of the railroads, the legal
rate being 3 cents-and required the
acceptance Of mileage book coupons
on trains. The senate killed the first
section Of the bill which reduced the
legal passenger rate to 2 l-2 cents,
and so loaded down the other section
with amendments that it would have
been of no practical effect. The meas
ure had a checkered career in the
house but had sufficient headway to
get through with amendments, and
the whole matter went to free con-
ference Saturday night, and the bill
was killed by the refusal Of the SEN
ate to adopt the free conference COM
mittee report. -.
Another railroad measure which
met its death in the closing days of
the session. was the senate bill,
which the house killed, to provide for
a fve-mile base for freight hauls.
This bill also included express COM
panies. ''
The Statewide = prohibition bill
which passed the house and went to
the senate-a bill exactly similar in
it's provisions to the measure which
the senate killed-ded on the SEN,
ate calendar as a second reading
bill.
The bill which passed the house
providing for an investigation OF
Clemson college met a similar fate
IL the senate.
The Asylum Bill.
Following is the act passed Satur-
day night by the general assembly to
reorganize the State Hospital for the
Insane:
A joint resolution to create
commission to purchase lands for the
use of the State Hospital for the In
sane and erect buildings thereon and
provide the means therefor.
Be it resolved by the general as
sembly Of South Carolina:
Section 1. That Immediately upon
the approval Of this resolution the
governor shall appoint commission,
consisting of five members, to be
known as the State hospital commis-
sion, two Of whom shall be the su-