The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1913-02-12

What the Solons Are Doing
in Columbia.
WILL ADJOURN FEBRUARY ~.
The Present Ses lon So Far Has
Been Marked by a Total Absence
of Any Open Antagonism iowa d
Governor BIease.
Condensed from the News and Courier
Unless something extraordinary oc-
ours, the members of the General AS
sembly will be at their homes some
time on Washington's Birthday. The
House has already adopted the Court
hey resolution providing for adjourn
ment on the 22nd, and, as matter of
tact, from the present outlook that
will be easy of accomplishment. The
only important measures that will need
consideration will be the general ap-
preparation and supply bills, and these
are not often subject to hard fights.
The ways and means committeeis is Civ
ing the situation most careful study,
and Mr. Dick, chairman of the COM
mittee. and his competent co-workers
are getting every thing in shipshape,
There is very little prospect of de-
,layed adjournment, at least such is
not the prospect now, and such will
not be unless something breaks loose
at the last moment, and it will have to
be entirely unex1 cted.
BETTER WORK THAN WRANGLE.
Profting by the experience of last
session, when members spent much of
their time wrangling, over politics and
side issues and the lack of wisdom in
drifting into fights, the members Of
the House have about agreed that if
others want to do 80 that they. will
attend to their work and accomplish
what they can for the good of the
State and quit at that. There has been
no open friction, because 1T takes two
bodies, one rubbing against the other,
to create friction, and the consensus
of opinion has been that it is better,
pefhsps, for the common good to 20
out Of the way rather than have an
unseemly fight that will accomplish no
material good, and further. that the
people will in time see what is what.
NO EPocH-MAKING LAWS.
There is little likelihood of epoch
making legislation, such as the pass
age of general prohibition or dispen-
sary law, the repeal of the lien law or
anything of that nature. There will,
Of course, be a series of important
matters. In fact, it ia uncertain
whether any of the general measures
that have been PASSED by the House
will get through the Senate, or vice
versa. The most important matter
that the House has done has been to
pass the Rembert bill to tax water
power, and perhaps the most radical
enactment undertaken by the Senate
is to impose an inspection tax of one
eighth Of cent on each gallon of gas
oline or kerosene oil used in this State.
The House has not yet considered the
oil inspection bill, and the Senate is
yet to act upon the proposed tax on
water powers. These two are the only
suggestions as TO changing the tax
system of the State. No effort has
been started for the equalization of the
assessments on property in the State.
INTEREST RATE UNCHANGED.
The per cent legislation has been
overwhelmingly defeated and will
have no chance whatever of resurrec-
ton for the next year or two. 1t is
manifest that what the people want is
the use of money more than the .educ-
ton in rate. The suggestion was made
that proper amendment to the pro-
posed per cent bill was to require all
bankers in the State to lend their
money to all applicants in miller's
turn without regard to collateral Of
fered. Then, and then only, was it
argu d that the proposed bill would
have been effective.
WAREHOUSE BILL-ITS FATE?
What will become of the warehouse
bill? 1t is uncertain. It will hardly
pass in its present shape.
ASYLUM SITUATION.
Another question of revenue con-
eerps the development Of State Park.
the site Of the new State Hospital fer
the IHsane. -.