The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-10-27
The Plans for Relief
Newberry Observer.

Extraordinary evils require extra
ordinary remedies. And, so the
plans being devised by the legisla-
ture for getting the people out OF
financial trouble are extraordinary
The most startling and radical leg
islation that South Carolina has
known is the proposition contained
in bill to issue $50,O0O,OOO in
notes for the relief of the cotton
growers OF the state and, incidental
ly, for the relief of all the peopl, of
the state. A measure to relieve the
farmers alone would be class icgis-
lHtion, and therefore not pcrmissi-
bic under the constitution end the
laws; but in this proposed ieslsla-
ton for the farmers all the people
are to benefit.
The proposed measure-which
stands every chance OF passing-is
to have the state to issue notes, or
bills, to the amount Of fifty million
dollars and have these notes to cir
culate as money. 1t is species OF
Hat money, but Is different from
the ordinary fiat" money In this,
that 1t is based on good security. for
cotton In warehouses will be back
OF the gold certificates issued by the
federal government
The plan is to issue these notes.
amounting to $25.00O.000. and buy
Gotten with 1t at 10 cents a pound;
put the cotton in the warehouse and
keep 1t there till It can be sold for
that, and when 1t is sold the notes,
no matter In whose hands they may
be, will be redeemed by the state
out Of money received for cotton.
In order to carry out a plan of
this sort 1t is absolutely necessary
to limit the production of cotton;
else the state and its citizens would
come into competition in selling cot
ton, and the state might have trou-
BILE In disposing Of its warehouse
stock at 10 cents IL the cotton grow
ere were allowed to grow an IT,
limited amount; therefore, another
act is on its passage limiting the
area to be planted to six acres per
horse
These acts are "paternalism" of
the most pronounced type, and on
that account, under ordinary condi-
tons, we would be opposed TO them:
hut the business conditions ara so
paralyzed, and by no fault Of the
cotton growers, but by a European
war that nobody was expecting and
whose effects of course nobody could
anticipate, that anything that the
state can do that is fair and safe
ought to be done, and the present
plan seems to come as near to an
swer'ng both Of these requirements
as anything yet proposed.
There will be difference of opin-
Ion among the people as to the wis
dom OF these plans, especially on the
subject OF curtailment-some think
Ing the curtailment should be entire
and others that it should be upon
bales grown instead of upon plumber
OF acres to the horse. Other methods
or curtailm"nt were carefully cor
sidered by the committee in franz
ing the bill and by the house in con-
sldering 1t, and the overwhelming
opinion was In favor OF putting the
restriction on the acreage to be
planted.
Whatever doubts there may be as
to the wisdom and practicability of
any plan tho legislature is deyisirg
there can be no doubt of the fact
that the members are trying to do
the best for the state and the pco-
pie.
There are two unavoidable draw
backs to this plan; but there would
be az many, perhaps more, to any
other that could be devised. These
are: 1. The delay that is ncces-
sary in putting the plan into opera
tion, for the plan will have to be
submitted to vote of the people be-
fore notes or bonds could be issued.
which would probably be done at the
general election; and, 2, after the
plan Is ratified by the people some