The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-02-06
SYNOPSIS OF WORK OF
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
LEGISLATURE HAS MADE GOOD
TIME DURING SESSION.
Shaping Matters to Adjourn Without
Usual Rush-RevieW Of Session
by August KOhn.

sembly will continue in session for
two weeks, when it will adjourn. The
work Of the session is particularly
we'll in hand, and if it really became
necessary an adjournment could be
had prior to the 18th, which is the
fortieth day of the session. The ap-
preparation bill is in hand, and could,
according to the custom of previous
years, be passed and ready for ratif-
cation by the end of the week, but it
is evident that the purpose is to allow
latitude for emergencies, and, OF
course, in this particular instance the
emergency is the veto power Of the
governor.
Last year, it will be remembered, a
great many of the members went
home prior to the approval Of the ap-
preparation bill, with many items ELI
minated as a result of the veto power.
As it Used to Be.
It is perhaps fifteen or twenty years
since my good friend, A. B. Williams,
wrote a story about the general as
Fsembly that was then in session, and
he denominated it as "June bug
LEGISLATURE" This was intended to
mean that the legislature was allow
ed at that time to fly ct pleasure, but
that there was 2. "striGg tied to the
left hind leg from downstairs" and
whenever the June bug" few too
high, or got out of bounds, the "string"
from downstairs" was pulled and the
June bu" had to stop its light, that
was a very apt description of the gen.
eral assembly in those days, but what
ever is least apt to be tied with the
"string" from downstairs would be
best applicable to the present general
assembly. Of course, everyone who
knows anything about legislation un-
derstands that "down-stairs" is in
tended to mean the governors Office,
and the "up-stairs" is in no degree
responsible in this year of our Lord
to the "down-stairs." This condition
of affairs and the generous use OF, the
veto power has made the general as.
sembly cautious in one respect, and
expeditions in another. ~
By way Of illustration: At the last
session Of the general assembly COM
mission form OF government bill was
passed, as applied to the city'of Char
lesion. Governor B1ease vetoed the
bill and argued that it was not a cor
rect form of government. The house
has passed a bill L., 'rorat:ns Terha-
tim the act that has been vetoed, with
certain additions as to registration and
operation. :
Law As to Veto Power.
There is clause in the constitution
which reads as follows: IF bill or
joint resolution shall not be returned
by the governor within three days af-
ter it shall have been presented to
him, Sundays excepted, it shall have
the same force and effect as if he had
signed it unless the general assembly,
BY adjournment, prevent it's return, in
which case it shall have such force
and effect unless returned within two
days after the next meeting" It is
to meet this emergency that the gen.
eral assembly is giving itself two
weeks.
In other words, such bills as the re-
funding measure, the commission form
of government bill, and various othae'
matters, will be in the hands of the
governor, according to the present
program, three days prior to the ad-
journment. If they are not vetoed
within these three days, they will be-
come the law of the State, anyway,
and if they are vetoed, they must be
returned, as the provision Of the con-
stitution contemplates, in time for
them to be acted upon prior to final
adjournment by this general assembly.
This is Indicative of the sentiment
in the house and senate; that is, that
the important matters should be dig
posed of finally and conclusively by
the present membership as they invite ,
res possibility. 1t is the correct way in
which to legislate, and as a matter
Of fact the best thing that coa|i hai;1,en*
for the State would be no. 10 eonsld5s;