The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-01-21
LOCAL MATTERS IN
THE LEGISLATURE
Rural Police, Bond Issue for Roads,
Change In School Laws and other
Things to be Considered

CNtngo LII ScnOOl Laws and other
Things to be Considered.
The State legislature having taken
recess over the week end the men,
bers of the delegation from this coun-
ty, with the exception Of Mr.. Irby, re-
turned to their homes to look after
private and public interests. A rep
resentative Of The Advertiser saw Mr..
ii. s. Blackwell and asked him as to
probable legislation affecting local or
county interests.
Bond Issue for Roads. 4
Mr.. Blackwell stated that he had in
mind personally a bill to provide for
an election in this county on the ques-
tion of issuing bonds for road-build-
ing Mr.. Blackwell said that he had
not yet come to conclusion as to
what size issue would be recommend
ed in the bill, as he had not yet got
ten the advice of the county supervis-
or. However, the bill will be intro
duced as early in the session as pos
sible and unless it meets with opposi-
tion the people will decide for them
selves whether or not they wish to
improve the roads
Rural Police.
Mr.. Blackwell stated that the dele
cation is fairly convinced that the
present rural police situation is far
from satisfactory and that the people
Of the county are doubtful Of the wis
dom Of continuing the service under
present conditions. What will be done
about the matter, whether the rural
police system for the county will be
abolished or whether change Of
some kind is made to meet the stua-
tion, has not yet been decided upon
1t is hardly probable that the present
arrangements will continue Mr..
Blackwell stated that there were about
fifty or sixty applicants for the five
positions. 1t has been rumored on
the stects for some time that several
Of the present force were not "in the
field for the positions again, but it
is now understood that all of them
are in a receptive mood.
TO Separate Freight Offices.
A bill OF great interest to the city
Of Laurens and one which will doubt
less meet with powerful opposition
when the representatives of the rail
roads arc given a hearing, will be a
bill introduced by Mr.. Blackwell yes
terday requiring the Charleston and
Western Carolina Railroad and the Co
lumbia, Newberry and Laurens rail
road to maintain separate freight Of
fees in this city. If this bill passes
one of the two railroads will have to
erect another freight station. The
bill was introduced at the instance OF
Laurens merchants. A petition sign
cd by large majority Of the mer-
chants Of the city was presented to
be introduced on the ground that, by
reason Of the occupancy Of the same
building by the two railroads and the
maintenance of but a single office
force for both lines, competition is
kept down and that consequently the
public is not getting the benefit of the
service which the volume Of business
here justifles. An inquiry among mcr
chants by an Advertiser representa-
tive yesterday developed that there IS
considerable dissatisfaction with the
conduct Of the freight Office at this
place, the complaint in most cases be-
ing that the merchants here are sub
jected to unreasonable rules of the
railroad company laid down, so it is
ceptional cases where the character Of
the. shipper or consignce is such as
to advise caution in making delivery.
Other arbitrary practices arc com
planned Of. The petition Of the mcr
chants wonid indicate that they think
separation Of the two Offices will
remedy the conditions complained Of.
Educational Matters.
Mr. Blackwell stated that the dele
cation had in mind several improve
ments In the educational system Of the
county. One of these Is change in
the method OF election Of school trus-
tees. For the past few years 1t has
been the custom for the county board
to appoint school trustees. In all
probability this will be changed SO
that the trustees will be elected by the
people OF the respective school dis
tricts 1t Is hoped that In this way
considerable friction hetwecn tho trus-