The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-02-04
NEWS FROM CAPITAL CITY.
HOUSE PASSES LARGE NUNRE,
OF BILLS DURING FIRST HALF
OF SESSION.
Senate Slower to Get Down to Work
FOrtncr Bill and Compulsory Edu-
cation Bill Most Important to Pass
HOuse-Candidates Announced -
Militia Appropriation.

Columbia, Jan. 30.-The General
Assembly has finished what may be
one-half Of the session, if q longer
time than forty days is not taken to
complete the business before the legis.
lature. During the past week sever
al measures Of Statewide interest
went through the house, but the sen.
ate has taken up for final consdera-
tion only a few bills, except local and
uncontested matters. All agree that
the legislature has this year passed
more bills in the first three weeks
than ever before. and that the detail
work has been greater than in any
previous year.
The two most important bills pass
ed by the house during the week
were the Fortner bill, prohibiting
white teachers from teaching in ne
gro schools and negroes in white
schools. This bill is now on the SEN.
ate side but has not been reported
from the education committee. It is
expected that there will be an un-
usual fight made on this measure
when it comes before the senate, and
Its chances Of passage are by no
means assured. The education COM
mittee considered this bill at it's meet
ing Thursday afternoon but decided
not to report 1t to the senate until next
week. 1t Is known that the bill will
meet serious opposition.
The house has expressed itself
again this year on the question Of
compulsory education. A local option
bill. introduced by Representatives
McCravey and Harper and a COM
panion bill of Senator Lawson's be-
ing linked with it, passed the house
by vote Of 65 to 32. The bill was
slightly amended from it's original
shape and in general way provides
that any school district or county
may vote for compulsory attendance
Of children between the ages Of s
and IL years upon the schools Of the
county. The bill also provides that a
written petition of One-third Of the
qualified electors shall be filed before
the election is ordered.
Just such a bill as this has passed
the house and senate last year ana
was vetoed by the governor, failing Of
passage over the governors veto.
The house also expressed itself on
the two cent rate bill by passing it by
safe majority. The house, however,
had already passed the two cent rate
bill last year and that bill is now
pending in the senate. On the SEN
ate side the bill has remained on the
calendar during the present session.
On the question OF primary reform
neither the house nor the senate has
yet taken any final stand. A belief
that is quite general among members
of the general assembly is that moth
ing will be done at this session OF the
legislature with regard to reforming
the primary. Senator Nicholson, the
author of the primary bill, Is working
with a committee of four other sena-
tors to reach some compromise on his
bill and to present this to the senate
for action. This committee has met
but has not yet passed it's proposed
amendments to the primary bill. If
this Is to be done, some Of the sena-
tors believe that the matter will be
left over for the State Democratic
Convention to tackle.
1t Is stated here that another can
didate may enter the race for COVER
nor. DR.. Olin Sawyer Of Georgetown,
u former member Of the general as
sembly, who Is regarded an admins.
tration man. will probably enter the
race. DR.. Sawyer was a conspicuous
figure in the general assembly a few
years ago, and Is q str ng political and
personal friend Of Governor Blease.
Charles Carroll Simms Of Barnwell is
looked upon generally as the admin
istration candidate, although Governor
Blease has declared that he will keep
his hands off in the fight during the
first primary.
Capt. James II. Clafy, Of Orange
burg, is an announced candidate for
the position Of adjutant general. Ad-
juntant General Moore will also stand
for reelection, and report has it that
Col Oscar w. Babbs, the present AS
sistant Adjutant General, will also
make the race.
There is great interest in South
Carolina at this time in militia af-
| fairs and last night the National
Guard Association held an interesting
meeting here. The association is adj
vocating an appropriation of $685.