The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-10-06
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CONVENES TODAY
Special Session Called to Con-
slider the Cotton Situation.
REDUCTION OF ACREAGE
ing Staple Will Claim Share
of Attention.

QucSIlOHS confront the BeneTdl as
sembly of South Carolina, which
convenes tomorrow in special ses-
sion to consider the problem of
financing the present cotton crop
and of curtailment of cotton acre
age in 1915. Both houses will be
called to order at noon tomorrow,
and everything is in readiness.
Members are already arriving in CO.
lumbia for the session and it is
thought that practically the entire
personnel will be on hand when the
hour for assembling arrives.
The session was called primarily
for the purpose of dealing with the
cotton situation, but there is no
limit to the activities of the law
makers. The question as to whether
the bills which did not get through
at the regular session are dead or
can still be considered will have to
be decided. There are a great many
measures which passed one house
and were in the course of passage
NhiOuBh lht OluCl " utD the regular
session was brought to an end.
MATTERS LEFT OVER.
If it is decided that these meas
ures can be taken up the many mat
ters left over can be considered.
Such bills as the so-called Fortner
bill to prevent whites from teaching
in negro schools, the two-cent pas
senger rate, are third reading senate
bills, having alreauy passed the
house, and If it is decided that these
are matters which the extra session
can or will consider the regular
widespread scope of any regular
session will be the order.
However, there is a disposition to
limit the session to the purpose for
which it was called, the considera-
tion of ways and means for relieving
the cotton situation and some reso-
luton to this effect may be put
through
The major share of attention
seems to be centered on bills for re-
stricting the acreage of cotton an
other year. There are several meas
ures suggested to accomplish this
end. The one drawn by Representa-
tive Stevenson would limit the acre
age to eight acres to the work ami
NAL and make any excess punish
able by fine or imprisonment. Other
Legislators are known to favor the
plan suggested by w. b. Gruber of
an occupation license tax Cecil c..
Wyche, the Blease house leader,
has an acreage reduction bill and
there are probably others.
WAREHOUSE SYSTEM.
warehouse system for storing
cotton will be introduced by Senator
John L. McLaurin, the bill provid-
ing for state valuation of cotton
warehouse receipts. There may be
other measures introduced along
this line.
Press comment throughout the
state as well as expressions from
citizens in every walk of life, indi-
cate growing opposition to the pro-
posed extension of the time of pay
ment of taxes and the proposed
$1,5OO,000 bond issue to put the
state on cash basis and complete
the removal of the asylum. How
ever, both of these measures will be
introduced. it is believed.
Unless the scope of the session is
limited there will likely be a food
of local legislation which would
swamp other business.
AS the members gather for the
special session efforts are being
made to reach some agreement on
a cotton acreage reduction measure
COMMITTEE IN CONFERENCE.
The committee from the State
Cotton Congress charged with this
matter, consisting of Senator p. L.
Hardin of Chester, j. j. Lawton of
Hartsville and b. II. Boykin of Boy
kin, have been in conference today
with DR.. Wade Stackhouse of Dillon,
John G.. Anderson of Rock Hill,
w. A. Stuckey of Bishopville and
r. M. Cooper of wisacky, going over
the many proposed plans to cut
down cotton acreage and attempting
to evolve from all the suggestion" a