The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-12
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
BILLS WHICH WILL COME RE
FORE HOUSE DURING PRES
ENT WEEK.
State Warehouse Bill introduced n,
Senator McIaurin Will be Pushed
StrcnuOusly. Bills to Abolish Ho-
cry Mill; to Reduce Rate of In
tcrcst; Pcnsioning Confederate Vet
Grams; Railroad Mileage, Etc.

legislation, which, if enacted, will be
more comprehensive and far reach
ing in it's effects than any other mea-
sure to be considered by the present
session OF the Legislature, will be up
for discussion by the Senate Tuesday
night. The bill referred to is Sena-
tor McLaurin's, providing for the es-
tablishment of State warehouse
system to be used by the farmers of
South Carolina in the storing of their
cotton. A similar measure was pass
ed by both houses Of the legislature
last session but was declared uncon-
stitutional by the supreme court, the
decision being based principally on the
fact that such issue had not been sub
mitted to the voters Of the State.
The present bill, which has been
drawn up with the cooperation of the
Farmers Union and is being actively
urged and supported by the Union,
seeks to remedy this constitutional
defect by providing for the levy of
a tax of 25 cents on every bale of
cotton grown in the State for the DUR
pose of raising the revenue with
which to establish the warehouse sys-
tenn.
While this passage with reference
to the tax on the baled cotton will
remedy the constitutional imperfec-
ton, it has also been the object of
chiefest attack by opponents of the
bill and will be the point on which de-
bate will likely hinge Tuesday night.
Despite the fact that the bill has been
reported unfavorably. Senator Nc
Laurin has announced that he will
fight strenuously for its passage and
it is known that he will have the sup
port Of several other members of the
upper house.
The abolition of the hosiery mill
of the State penitentiary is the pur-
pose of bill introduced by Senator
Mars Of Abbeville which will be con-
sidered by the Senate during the COM
ing week 1t has received an unfavor-
able committee report and it's passage
is problematical.
The hosiery mill, with it's alleged
unsanitary conditions, has been the
subject Of messages by the governor
and has been referred to by him in
numerous speeches throughout the
State.
Further pensioning of the Confed-
crate soldiers of the State is proposed
under the terms of a bill of which
Senator Strait Of Lancaster is the au-
thor. The bill provides for a pen
sion Of 500 a year for any veteran
Of the Civil War or his widow after
his death. The exact number of vet
Grams in the State is not known, but
it is certain that this bill, if passed,
will mean a large appropriation for
this purpose
The reduction Of the legal rate of
Interest to six per cent is contem-
plated under the provisions of a bill
introduced by Senator McLaurin of
Marlboro which will be considered by
the Senate this week. 1t is understood
that warm fight will be waged on
this bill by some interests Of the State
and that Senator McLaurin will urge
Senator Earle's bill for the reduc-
ton of railroad mileage rates to 2
cents per mile will be among the most
important measures to be considered
by the Senate this week. 1t has been
reported unfavorably by the com.
mittee on railroads.
One railroad company operating in
the State is opposing it openly and has
sent to each of the members Of the
General Assembly a list of printed rea-
sons why it should not pass. The
company takes the position that it will
work a hardship on itself and that
such action on the part of the legis-
lature is unjustifable. Whether tho
legislature can, with propriety, re-
duce the present rate is a matter to
be settled by the members. 1t has
been noticed that in all legislation IN
Volving corporations, advocates Of Ia
Dor are loud in their condemnation Of
predatory wealth" and as yet cdpi-
Of either house.