The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-02-18
CAPITOL CORRESPONDENCE.

At the beginning of the ses-
sion everything moved off so
easily the calculation was to end
the work by the 21st, which is
next Saturday, but it is impos-
sible, because of the mass of
matter to be considered, true.
there are not so many bills OF
general Importance, what few
there is, have been sidetracked
for the food of local measures.
The average newspaper does
not stop to think of the impor-
tance these local bills have upon
the communities they are in
tended for until his own COM
munity becomes interested. 1t
would be a great saving Of time
if the county authorities had
the power to legislate for mat
ters concerning their respective
localities, if they had this pow
er, in my opinion, just as good
laws would be enacted, it would
relieve the legislature, and give
it more time to consider and di-
gest the general laws affecting
the people at large, especially,
the great interests of the State.
There is no denying the fact
many very important matters
affecting the general welfare
must necessarily be acted upon
with such haste, that it often
happens such legislation gets
through in a half baked condi'
ton, only to be gone over and
over again at a subsequent ses-
sion to get the weak places
strengthened, or the bad features
remedled.
There are number of impor-
tant general bills to be present
ed the coming week, these will
create more discussion than any
bills so far considered, among
them is the warehouse bill that
has been discussed from time to
time throughout the session,
and, because of its vast impor-
tance, the vote has been delay
ed in order to give the members
full opportunity to study and
mediate over it's provisions. |
do not know how it will be final
ly determined, ont 2 do know
that, regardless of the outcome
at this session, it is conceded to
be the best piece of constructive
legislation that has been at
tempted IN this state in many
years.
The celebrated Fortner bill
which has come over from the
house, and is now upon the
senate Calandar, will create a
flow of oratory, much of it bun,
com; many regard this a con
structive measure, but in my
humble judgment, it is destruc-
tive rather than constructive.
There is no doubt of the popu,
larity of the principle, the argu-
ment is catchy, but when it is
given an unprejudiced consider
alton as legislation should have,
then the conclusion is bound to
be, it is unnecessary, impolitic
and unwise. I noticed my friend
"Bob" White has taken it into
his head The Manning Times
criticised him for his position on
this bill, I cannot imagine where
he got this idea from, because, l
did not know what his position
on it was, nor did I ever hear OF
his making a speech in the
house on the bill, and. had ]
heard that Bob made a speech
advocating Mr.. FORMERS bill l
should not have criticised him
for it, matters not how much !
disagree, because, it is a rule OF
mine to give everybody the
right to think as they please,
and will always accord to them
as much sincerity as I claim for
myself. If Mr.. White reached
the conclusion the legislature
should prohibit white teachers
from teaching in negro schools
he alone is responsible, not me,
nor is it for me to take him to
task for exercising his right to
vote as he thinks best. No, I
have not criticised Bob" for
his position on the Fortner bill,
and did not know how he voted
until I read his letter in The
Times.
Another bill of interest is one