Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1911-12-27
NOT LONG BEFORE soLONS MEET
The Outlook for tho Coming Session
of General Assembly.

General Assembly # South Carolina
will meet. 1t Is the second session
Of the present body. Under such con-
ditions the measures that have been
left over from the first session will
be under consideration.
The first question that will be ask
ed is: What will be dono? Tho out
look now Is that but little will be
done. 1t will, OF course, be busy
session, with all Of the pending cleo
tions, the enactment Of the Code, tho
consideration OF the vetoes that will
be reported by Governor Blease, and
the normal amount OF legislation that
Will be necessary for fast growing
State.
1t has been said, year after year,
that II tho General Assembly were to
meet, pass the general appropriations
bill, provide the funds through the
supply bill, and then adjourn, that
the State would be best served. 1t
has been said time and again that
there are too many laws on the stat
ute books now, that too many OF them
are not properly enforced, but this
appears to have but little effect, for
year after year volume of moro than
public printer as a result Of the work
Of the session. TO stop tinkering
with existing laws would be real
UtOpan dream, but thero are Ii5
measures, OF moro or less Importance
on the House side that have been left
over for consideration at the approch-
ing session, to say nothing OF tho bills
that have been held up by the Cover
nor.
"rhosc Held Up' Bills.
The first business Of tho assembly
after 1t settles down will be to act
upon the various bills that are likely
to be returned with tho veto Of Gov
ernor Blease, although ho has tho
right to let any measure he might
now have on hand become the law OF
the State.
Among the more important acts
that have passed both Legislative
branches and that are without the
Governors approval are:
The bill to provide for an lnvestiga-
ton Of the affairs Of tho State dispen-
sary and commission
The act that was passed at tho So
licitation Of the newspapers Of the
State to protect themselves against
accidental or unintentiOnal libel
The "shoestring" county bill
The act providing for an election
by the voters Of Charleston to deter
mine whether they wish a commits
sion form OF government, and a simi-
lar act adapted 20 Chester and other
cities.
The act relative to the distribution
or the old dispensary funds.
Probably All Talk.
There have been repeated sugges-
tiOns that this will be a stormy scs-
JI-il1 h,i i,,,,> ,I,,
proceedings, and the like. This is
largely talk. and If there is anything
taking definite shape, those who are
handling the movement are keeping
things very quiet and holding their
power In reserve. 1t is, perhaps lust
as we'll not to count on too much OF
this class OF fireworks as a side diver
sion.
Judicial Elections.
The election Of many judges. how
ever, will give members a cOnSidcra-
bic DIVERSION When the session be-
gins, the resignation OF Chief Justice
Ira b. Jones will be in hand, and if
the members expect to get down to
business the sooner they have and get
through with their elections the bet
tc for their peace Of mind.
No Liquor Fight, Maybe.
Of the past twenty years will be
avoided. There will be no agitation
OF the liquor question. There Is not
the shadow OF n possibility Of mate
rally changing the present status. as
much as it may be necessary or advis-
able so to do. Some Of the counties
that may be diSgusted with present
conditions, and the heavy tolls that
are being paid outside dealers, may
want to change conditions by having
an election to try and re-enter the
dispensary columns. There is, how
ever, no. symptom Of a general
change, or even Of it's being under
taken at this time.
As to Horse Racing.
The race track situation will come
up for consideration. 1t may amount
to real fight or it may go by default.
Most frequently issues Of this kind
are not fought out, but are allowed
to drift along. The matter Is now in
the courts, and If the courts decide
that the races arc against present
laws it will hardly be necessary to go
further, as the stoppage Of the races,
If accomplished by the courts, Is the
result that Is sought by those press
ing the matter.
The Tax Question.
The General Assembly could very
we'll. in what is more or less IAN off
year, devote some Of its time to real
tax reformation. Comptroller Cen
eral Jones has been trying for years
to get cooperation along cert n re-
form lines, but without avail ap-
pears that the tax situation is more
or less "loadcd," from the manner in
which II Is 1nnrOochp1