The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-01-10
WORK FOR THE LEGiSLATC RE.
Indications That Session of General
Assembly, Beginning Today Will
be Devoid OF Excitement.

Columbia, Jan. S.-The general as
sembly of South Carolina will meet
here Tuesday at noon. The promise IS
that it will be good-natured, con-
servative, progressive law-making
body of the best men in the State.
There is no reason whatever to expect
any fireworks or excitement. Peace
and prosperity have blessed the State
and there is universal good feeling
and friendliness prevalent. The prom
ise is that there will be but little leg
islation enacted. The press generally
has been suggesting that this would be
an excellent time for a brief session
and for ihe cnat1ment Of few and gen.
eral laws.
Just at present the most absorbing
feature of the approaching session IS
the matter of elections. There are a
number of elections scheduled. for the
session; some will be interesting and
others will be merely formal.
Ratification First.
When the general assembly meets
the various constitutional amendments
that were favorably received by the
voters will be reported. It will then
take legislation to ratify the constitu-
tional amendments. After this is done
the necessary statutes will come.
One of the amendments that was ap-
proved by the voters was one proVld-
ing for an additional member of the
supreme court. It will first be neces-
sary to ratify this action and pass a
law providing for the salary, duties,
etc., of this new judicial officer.
It will be at least a week before this
esn be done and the election of the
new associate justice can hardly be
scheduled for any time before the 10th
of the month. In the meanwhile this
election is likely to absorb most at
tention.
There is no immediate promise OF a
big fight on any issue. The liquor
question may or may not come up.
For the past twenty years there has
always been a Statewide prohibition
bill offered. It may be done again this
session and likely will be-, but it stands
no more chance of going on the statute
books than does a law increasing the
tax levy tenfold.
The Tax Question.
There is a likelihood Of some tax
legislation. There ought to be. The
present laws are ample, if they could
be enforced, but every one knows that
they have not been and will not be
and, while insisting that the present
laws are ample, it ought to be with
full knowledge that the constant ell
fort is to keep down assessments and
that as long as the system is local IN
its handling this will continue. Comp
troller General Jones and other dis
interested parties have suggested that
a high priced, high class central board
with proper authority. was the only
hope of a satisfactory revision OF the
assessments of the State.
The contract Labor law will likely
cone up for consideration, but the
general impression is that this statute
is in about as good shape as it can
very we'll be.
The lien law has been repealed, but
the general impression is that it IS
largely a matter of changing the sys'-
tenn of evidencing Indebtedness.
The defect in the situation that is
notorious is that the right to issue. a
chattel mortgage stands, and with the
decisions that are extant and the right
to contract as it stands, the repeal OF
the lien law has not accomplished that
which was originally intended.
Experienced Legislators.
There are very many members in
the general assembly whRhave served
there in previous bodies. This does
not apply so much to men who nave
been reelected, but to such able men
as Mr.. George S. Mower, Mr.. Frank B.
Gary. Mr.. Stevenson and others, who
are, perhaps, sacrificing their time to
re-enter legislative halls. AS rule
the men who have had most exper-
ience are the best legislators; they
offer few bills, talk little, do what is
!. to be- done and go home and attend to
kother duties.
Under the rule adopted by the house
sf its last session the ways and means
and the judiciary committees will be
much smaller in size, and those VINO
serve on these important committees
Will not be expected to have place on