The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-04
NOTHING DOING FOR
PRIMARY REFORM BILL
RAeaH EIGHT

South Carolina Legislators Pass 1t UP
for Another Year Along with Several
OTHER Bills of Statewide Importance
Bills Passed 80 far Mostly Local.
Columbia, March 2.-Whateyer may
be said Of the general assembly, now
in the throes Of adjourning, it cannot
be just accused Of hurting any con-
siderable number Of folks. In other
words, nothing radical has been done
nor is 1t likely to be done. True there
have been shots at the railroads and
some other corporations, but in this
day and generation corporations are
no longer considered things" but
quite legitimate objects for jibes and
kicks, and even the railroads have had
openly insisted that service, equip
ment and development we're what the
people wanted rather than Kicking
tho enterprises. In this day it takes
political courage to come out in the
open and say that n thing is wrong
and should not be done when it is
merely aimed at corporation that is
without it's local interests.
Nearly three hundred acts and joint
resolutions have found their way to
the governor for approval, but in this
number hardly twenty-five are Of gen
eral Importance.
Mostly Local Affairs.
The great bulk Of legislation now is
of strictly local import, affecting coun-
ty affairs, rural policemen, county oll-
cials, municipal and county bonds and
school affairs. There are, for in
stance, twelve acts relative to rural
police systems for the various coun-
ties. This was never contemplated by
the constitution and all Of the twelve
acts might very easily have been en-
compasscd in one general statuteN that
would have stood far more prospect
of final passage than where the op-
portunity Is offered for the veto OF
one or two particular acts.
There is going to be no general
legislation upon expected lines. Moth
ing will come Of the efforts to provide
for primary reform. the compulsory
education bills will all go to tho
junk heap, either directly or by tho
veto route; there will be no revision
or modification Of the present abomin-
able system Of tax assessments; there
will be no highway commission legis-
!ation nor tax on automobiles for
road Improvement. All these are eth
er dead or dying.
There will be some important mca-
lures go through the mill--not of vi
tal Importance, but matters that are
regarded as being for the common
good, but which We're unexpected.
These Were Unexpected.
State banks will be permitted to
become subscribers to the national
.Gservc banking system
The governor will have the power
20 appoint a United States Senator for
ninety days, III the event OF the death
Of senator, but after the ninety days
The place is to be filled by election
from the people.
A general negotiable instrument act
has been passed. This Is in response
20 the National Bankers and Bar as
sociations, which are undertaking to
have uniform laws for all the states.
South Carolina is one Of the last
states to accept the uniform instru
ment act. Among other things 1t
does away with the three days of
grace.
The law as to publications of sum
mons has been changed to provide
for three instead of six publications.
Heretofore such notices have had to
run for six weeks; under the present
act such notices run for three weeks.
Under the Old Act.
Under the old act deed to prop
erty had to be recorded within ten
days so as to operate against simple
or contract creditors.
Mr.. Bclscr introduced bill at this
session to change this condition, which
was passed by both branches, so that
the deed becomes binding against
creditors whenever recorded, and the
ten day limit Is without its present eff
feet.
1t Is somewhat strange that two un-
expected issues should have been the
legislative bone OF contention. One
WAS tba Saunders ''rod ljphtn 1ietri.t