The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-11-10
The Governors Reply.

South Carolina take steps Of coopera-
ton.
The Governors Reply.
Gov. Blease sent the following let
ter Tuesday afternoon in reply to the
resolutions:
Mr.. ]. J. Evans, Bennettsville, S. c.
Dear Sir: Your wire of November
6 received.
7 presume you are aware of the fact
that when the general assembly raised
their salaries, and in order to do so
attempted to evade the constitution,
that ley provided that for each ses-
sion of the general assembly the mem
bers shall receive $500 each.
1 fought this very vigorously, being
member of the general assembly at
the time, because I believed that it
was a violation of the constitution to
raise the salaries, and furthermore be-
cause under the act members would
receive the same pay for an extra ses-
sion, even though it only lasted one or
more days, that they receive for the
regular sessions. I thought then / was
right, I still think I was right, and
your telegram convinces me beyond
doubt that was right because were
I to call an extra session of the gen
eral assembly now, under this act,
each member would be entitled to $500,
even though tehy only remained in
session but for a very short period.
At the same time, you will remember,
the legislature took a recess and went
home and then came back for few
days to elect United States senator
! to fill the unexpired term Of Mr.. Lati-
mer. Many of the members OF the
legislature took pay for this extra few
days session. AS senator, I took the
position that it was not right, and that
no man had a right to take pay for
the extra few days. I refused to &C
cept my check and returned it to the
| State treasurer. I was endeavorlng
then, as senator, to keep down what l
considered useless and what might be
some day very expensive legislation,
and am now still of the same opin-
ion as I was then. Furthermore, were
I now to call an extra session of the
legislature, who would be benefited
The farmers who are wealthy and who
have been able to hold their cotton,
while the poor man who is compelled
to sell woldu receive no benefit from
! the extra session, but would be COM
PEELED to pay his share Of the taxes
which the extra session would cost,
and which would possibly be 100000
or more. In addition to this there are
g large number Of taxpayers who have
no cotton to hold. They would be
compelled to pay their part of the
taxes for this extra session, and would
receive no benefit whatever therefrom.
The constitution provides when the
regular session shall be held, and no
xtra session that I might call could
do away with this regular session, for
it is compelled to convene; therefore,
if it met only for a few days at the
regular time, under the act, which I
mentioned in the first part Of this let
ter, they would be entitled to 5000 and
their mileage. Therefore, to call an
extra session Of the general assembly
would entail a. very heavy expense
upon all of the taxpayers Of this State
when only those who have held cotton
would be benefited thereby.
The State officers have not their re-
ports ready, and some Of them could
not possibly got them ready before
the convcning Of the regular session
Of the general assembly; therefore,
the extra session could not act intel
ligently upon matters which would be
brought up in the regular session,
based upon these reports, and for this
reason, in my opinion, an extra ses-
sion of the legislature can not be we'll
held. at this time
Now, as to the cotton proposition:
! am with you heart and soul; will do
anything and everything within my
power to help the farmers to get a
better price, and in my opinion, II the