The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-02-15
Members OF General Assembly Seem
in mo- Hurry to Cease Arduous La
bors and Depart for Home-Appro-
priation Bill still I'm Scnate--Eiec-
tion for Fifth Justice Absorbing
Interest-Conjecture as TO Break
Ing OF Deadlock.


journment to be had within the week
after the general appropriation bill
has been passed by the House.
The Senate has now had the ap-
preparation bill for a week and Is Civ
ing IL serious and mature considera-
ton. and there has been no report On
II by the finance committee of the
Senate.
The bill will no doub show In
creases since II left the House, for
the two branches have made pro-
vision FOR tae new science building at
Winthrop since the House acted on
the appropriation bill.
The bill will. as was expected show
increases over what II did last year,
but this Is To- he expected i'm n grow
ing and fast enriching State. and II Is
what is found In every State and
nation.
Nothing. absolutely nothing. has
been done TO revise or otherwise im-
prove the tax system or. what Is most
important. secure an equalization Of
the assessment OF property that would
be a real equalization.
More interest was taken In the
Justiceship election last week than i'm
almost anything olse. There have
been twelve ballots. hut the joint
assembly Is really no nearer a selcc-
ton than II was on the first ballot. 1t
Ia freely predicted that there will he
~ election By Thursday. IL not soon
~ -rlsefe are'pffs PORTS 4or~-umors' OF
what will happen tomorrow, as tre;e
have previously been. and the safest
prediction I'm this particular contest
is that no one knows or can foretell
what will happen.
The impression, however, Is that
n the deadlock continues beyond the
twenty-lrst ballot. there will be
readjustment and that some new
name will DC presented OF course.
there Is every possibility that some.
thing will happen" before that time.
but there Is no telling.
During the week four of the most
important matters proposed for legis-
lative consideration have been con-
unued until next session.
First. The general revision OF the
school laws OF the State.
Second. The proposition to pro-
vide a highway commission and pro-
vide for its support by license on
automobiles.
Third. a cooperative plan Of ad-
vertislng the state by fund contri-
buted In part by the State and in part
by the larger railway systems of the
State.
Fourth. The proposition To have
the privilege tax go directly into
the State instead of going to Clemson
College. and have the general assem-
bly, provide for Clemson as is done
with other institutions.
There has been a good deal Of talk
about the Gubernatorial-j judicial con-
troversey. A bill has been prepared
and introduced I'm the Senate provid-
ing for Gubernatorlal appointments of
special Judges. but II will not pass
and the status will remain exactly as
II In at present.
The best feature OF the controversy
is that II may become so acute that
no special Judges will be appointed
during the year. ind this Is as IL
should be. The understanding was
when twelve circuits were established
that the regularly elected Judges
done. There Is a deep seated and well
grounded objection To using tempor-
airy Judges. and II would pay the
State and be far more satisfactory
both TO the bar and the people. If
there Is rcal need for more Judges. To
elect some one whose special duty II
shall be to hil positions made vacant
by the illness or legal disability Of
Circuit Judge.
The State this year appropriated
more money for special Judges APP
pointed by Governor Ansel than the
full salary OF an additional Judge, in
cludlng travelling expenses. The con-
troversy Is likely 10 so accentuate the
custom OF special Judges being ap-
pointed that II will break up the prac-
tice.
The two measures of most general
interest that have been passed -
both branches of the general assembly