The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-10-06
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
TO MEET TUESDAY
TO CONSIDER COTTON SITUATION
AND OTHER QUESTIONS
Assembly in Extra Session May Fill
Vacancy Of JudgeShip cI Fifth
Circuit.

II
european cotton markets, the general
asse sembly will assemble in the capitol
U in Columbia on Tuesday at noon in
extraordinary session to grapple with
A the problem consrohting South Caro-
II lima. as we'll as other cotton States.
II The question Of financing tie present
&cotton crop and cutting down or total
ly eliminating the cotton acreage next
year will be considered by the legis-
lature
Probably over score OF measures
have been prepared by members deal
inc with the crisis, but the four emer-
gency measures agreed to and drawn
I'D by Senator Jonn l.. McLaurin, of
Marlboro county and Representative
W. F. Stevenson, of Chesterfield coun-
ty, are the best known. These meas
ures will be introduced in both
branches Immediately after the leg
islature is called to order on Tuesday.
The quartette of proposed bills are:
Proposed Bills.
A State warehouse system for stor-
Ing cotton and State valuation of
warehouse receipts. The State is to
secure loans for the cotton grower and
hints have been made that supple
mental legislation looking to the es-
tablishment OF State bank to ne
gotiate loans on the cotton may be
necessary.
Prohibiting the planting of more
tnan eight acres of cotton to the work
animal in 1915, and excess planted be
ing punishable by fine and imprison-
.ment of tie person guilty.
"A bond issue OF S1,50O,000 at per
cent to place the State on cash basis
and complete the removal of the State
asylum to the new site at State Park,
.ew miles north Of the city. The au-
thors of this measure would provide
s5OO,G00 of this towards placing the
State on a cash basis and the other
s1,OG0,OOO to go towards completing
the asylum, but that out of this s25C,-
900 already advanced by tle State on
tie work at State Park should be re-
paid.
A joint resolution extending the
payment of all county and State tax
es to May 10, 1915, without panalty.
The acreage reduction measure has
attracted the major share Of attention.
Another proposal for obtaining this
same end has been suggested by W.
B. Gruber, of Waherboro, through an
occupation license tax. Total elimina-
ton of all cotton planting for next
year is advocated by many and will
be urged on the general assembly.
Cost to Taxpayers.
While the governors call OF tne gen
eral assembly was for the purpose Of
considering the cotton crisis the scope
of lie lawmakers is unlimited once
they assemble The session will cost
the taxpayers Of the State at least
$4,000, and it may run to 100000 or
more. 1t is not thought that the ses-
sion will last many days. 1t cannot
last over one month, for the present
members go out of Office on Monday
following the general election in Nov
ember
It is believed that if cotton acre
age reduction law is passed it will
be conditioned on the principal cot
ton growing States doing likewise.
Such law for South Carolina alone
with none of the other cotton States
reducing acreage would work only
hardship on this State and not be
of benefit towards any material de-
crease in cotton production, as is eTi-
dent from a study of t1e situation.
Vacancies in House.
There are two vacancies in the
Il house caused by deaths since the last
session of Pringle T. Youmans, of
BRicAlanG, and J. L. Robertson, of
III #Coneton. Three vacancies exist in the
$ senate, Francis H. Weston, Of Rich
land county, having resigned to ac-
cept the position of United States dis
trict attorney for this State; B W.
Crouch o. Saluda, having resigned to
become assistant district attorney
and T. J. Mauldin, Of Pickens, having
resigned to accept the judgship of the
18Th circuit. Besides there is Ques-
ton as to the right Of two otleL mem