The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-01-25
A WEEKS DOINCS
! At COLUMBIA
Both Houses Rocking Along
At a Steady Gate.
FIRST MESSAGE
CREATED A STIR
The "Firing" OF All the NOtaries Pub
lie and Dispensary CopstabIes by
Governor Bleasc has Created Quite
Little stir Among the Law Makers.
Marriage License Bill Progressing.

NONern0T DicaSc ms trcateu Qu1tc
Little stir Among the Law Makers.
Marriage License Bill Progressing.
tEy j. r. McGhee)
. Columbia, S, c., Jan. %. (SpecialD -
fThis week in the general assem-
bly, has not been altogether an unin-
teresting week. Both houses seem
TO have the work fever, and matters
are being pushed with no little pre-
cedent breaking speed. an added in
terest in the work was the proclama-
zion of Governor Blease-frst OF his
istratiOn--revoklns S:e commits
sions of all notaries public in this
state, a proclamation similar to the
one Gov. Tillman sent to the general
assembly when he first became gov
ernor. 1t created no little stir, and
upon the visitation of many members
of both houses to the governors Of
flee the time limit was extended to
February TO- instead of summarily
January 21st., as contained in the first
message. 1t is argued that there are
many notaries in this state who do
mot exercise the position OF that Of
z flee, that there are too many who
abuse it, that it gives too much power
ITO individuals who are not competent
to exercise the duties of this office
and that there should be some weed
ing out" process in this office anyway
On the other hand, there are those who
with NO
count Of the fact that he is causing
some to suffer for the misuse of the
powers of others. Governor Blease
recommended that some bill be intro
duoed limiting the powers of nctaries,
and this bill has been introduced in
the House by Representative Mower
of Newberry, the bill making the term
or office OF notary five years after
he shall receive his commission. The
application must be endorsed properly
Another act Gov. Blease has created
some little stir is the one abolishing
the state and county constables.
Hon. 'Chas. A. Smith lieutenant gov
ernor. who, of course, is president of
duties with surprising alacrity, sur
Drising TO some on account Of the fact
that MIR. Smiths duties are all new
to him in that he has never been
member of the Senate and the rules
of that body are different from those
of the House. The business of the
Senate under his direction is con
Quoted with dispatch and accuracy.
The past two weeks of the session
has demonstrated the fact that this
assembly means to get down to work.
Committees have been working on
time and the real administrative work
will start next Monday. In the senate
the marriage license bill has been
the House, where it in all likelihood
will go through as it stands. 1t nee
essitates licenses before marriage of
three days, but marriages otherwise
arc rot rn'lfcd The senate also has
under consideration the ever annual
telephone bills. and in
fie meeting of the committee on rail-
roads the other day there were pres
ent many prominent officials of the
railroads and telephone companies
among whom may be mentioned S.
II. Hardwick, of the Southern, r. B.
Pegram. of the Southern. Judge Pal
mer, of the Southern Bell Telephone
company, together with p. A. Wilcox,
OF Florence, f.. b. Grier, of Greenwood
attorneys for the Coast Line, A. w.
Anderson, of the G.. & w. C.. and others
They were here on the mileage rate
bill of Senator Carlisle, some upon
the telephone bill of Senator Sullivan.
The former wishes to abolish the Drac-
tice of compelling passengers to ex-
change mileage for tickets, whereas
the latter wishes to compel telephone
companies to furnish the long dis
tance lines when the local lines are
i'm use where the two lines extend to
a town or city. No report has been
made upon them, but it is likely that
both will he reported unfavorably.
In the House. the Rembert bill to
Increase the salaries OF all state Off
&ials died aBorning--that is, it will
not apply to the administration which
was sworn in on the 18th Josh Ashe-