Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1914-10-07

GENERAL ASSEMBLY C0NvENEs
special Session to Consider Cotton
MISUNDERSTANDING of Acreage.


lions confront the General Assembly
Of South Carolina, which convenes to-
morrow in special session to consider
the problem of financing the present
cotton crop and of curtailing the cot
ton acreage in 1918. Both Houses
will be called to order at noon, and
everything is in readiness. Members
are already arriving in Columbia for
the session, and it is thought that
practically the entire personnel will
be on hand when the hour for assem-
bling arrives.
The session was called primarily
for the purpose of dealing with the
cotton situation, but there is no limit
to the activities OF the lawmakers.
The question as to whether the bills
which did not get through at the
regular session are dead or can still
be considered will have to be decid-
ed. There are a great many meas
ures which passed one House and
were in the course of passage
through the other when the regular
session was brought to an end.
Matters Left Over.
II it Is decided that these measures
can be taken up, many matters left
over can be considered. SIch bills
as the so-called Fortner bill, to pre-
vent whites from teaching in negro
schools, the 2-cent passenger rate,
are third reading Senate bills, having
already passed the House, and if it is
decided that these are matters which
the extra session can or will con-
slider, the regular widespread scope
of anS,regular session will be the or
DER
Hpwever, there is a disposition to
limit the session to the purpose for
twhias ~ vas called, the considera4
ton Of ways aLd means for relieving
the cotton situation, and some reso-
luton to this effect may be put
through.
The major share of attention
seems to be centered on bills for re-
stricting the acreage of cotton ano-
ther year. There are several meas
ures suggested to accomplish this
end. The one drawn by Represen-
tative Stevenson would limit the
acreage to eight acres to the work
animal and make any excess punish
able by fine or Imprisonment. Other
legislators are known to favor the
plan suggested by w. b. Gruber of
an occupation license tax. Cecil G.
Wyche, the Blease House leader, has
an acreage reduction bill and there
are probably others.
Warehouse System.
A warehouse system for storing
cotton will be introduced by Senator
John l.. McLaurin, the bill provid-
ing for State valuation of cotton
warehouse receipts. There may be
other measures introduced along
this line.
Press comment throughout the
State, as we'll as expressions from
citizens in every walk Of life, indi-
cate growing opposition to the pro-
posed extension of the time for pay
ment of taxes and the proposed ST.
100000 bond issue to put the State
on cash basis and complete the re-
moval Of the asylum. However.
both of these measures will be intro
duced, it is believed.
Unless the scope OF the session is
limited there will likely be flood of
local legislation which would swamp
other business.
AS the members gather for the
special session efforts are being made
to reach some agreement on cotton
acreage reduction measure.
There is a great deal of interest
attached to what the special session
Will or can do, and there are many
opinions on the subject. A study of
the records shows that this will be
the first extra session Of the General
Assembly since 1882, when one was
held that year at the call Of Governor
Hagood
InvlgoratlnG &C s'is fsie and Slckly
The Old Standard general atrenothen ninp tonic