The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-03-04
MEMBERS OF LEGISLATURE ARE
DOING Very LITTLE BUT
HOLDING ON.
LATE STATE CAPITOL NEWS
RevIew Of Tho Latest News Gathered
Around the State Capitol That VIII
Be of Interest to Our Readers Over
South Carolina.
Columbia.

Inc house anu SENATE IeCelNeu @
special message from the governor
about the FORMER bill and the two
cent passenger rate bill. Something
was also said in the message about
the constitutional provision that an
act shall become a law if the governor
does not sign it or return it to the
general assembly without his sigma
ture in three days after he receives 1t.
The message intimated that the legis-
lators would have plenty of time to
pass the FORMER bill and the two cent
rate bill while the governor was %
sidering the general appropriation
bill, and that unless the two bills
were acted on the governor might call
a special session of the general as
sembly next spring.
AS a matter of fact, the house has
passed both the Fortner bill and the
two cent passenger rate bill.
Nothing was done in the senate to-
ward redeeming itself. Its session OF
routine, negation and reaction con-
tinued.
I'VE are a levless people" cried
Senator Werner Of Oconee county, IN
a vigorous speech made against the
Lawson-Harper-McCravey compulsory
education bill, which Senator Lawson
had canned up.
Senator Werner said that a compul-
sorry education law could not be en-
forced. He said that the people OF
South Carolina had absolute disregard
for law, and told the senator's that re-
Gently a citizen had said that he could
committe murder in this state with
out fear of punishment. The senator
from Oconee said that compulsory
education would stir up strife. He
also asked: "Who in the name OF
heaven wants you to clothe his chill
dren?"
. The senator said that he was pre-
pared to talk to tho end Of the session
a.. against the bill. He yielded to Sena-
tor Carlisle, upon whose motion de-
bate was adjourned until next day.
Though the prescribed 40 days OF
the general assembly, of South Caro-
lima are ended, up to this time not a
single progressive statewide measure
has been enrolled for ratification.
While other states have enacted and
are enacting measures Of constructive
reform, notably the Western States,
South Carolina Is content with mega.
tive, routine and eve reactionary
legislation.
The Weston bill to provide for the
medical inspection of school children
passed the senate but Is hung up in
the house, and the same is true Of the
Sullivan bill to provide for the estab-
lishment Of a state pelagra hospital
and commission aad the McLaurin
warehouse bill. Primary reform meas
ures have been killed in both houses.
The lower house has passed one such
bill, but notice of intention to veto any
bill Of the sort has been received
from the governor.
The upper branch Of the general
assembly has moved slowly, wasting
time and opposing measures even
when there was an opportunity for
corrective amendments. It's action
with regard to the Nicholson primary
bill is an example. The two principal
reasons given for the death Of the
measure were that it was a matter for
the party, and that there was no evil
dence Of fraud. 1t was stated, fur
Their, that the people of South Caro-
lima were not educated up to the fact
that fraudulent voting is a cri:ae. This
was given as a q why the pro-
posed reform measure should not pass.
Because of the attitude of the sem
ate, the following measures r still
on its calendar: ).
Third Reading-The Young-Mitch-
um bill to establish an industrial re-
form school for girls: the Lawson bill