Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-02-16
WORK OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY

End Of Session Drawing Nigh With
Little Aeeomplished-Bitter opposi-
ton to Warehouse Law, Because OF
Jealousy Of Observation-Disclosures
ton Dominates Majority-Appro.
priation for Legal Advice Threat.
n TroubIe-York Members Figure
Prominently-county Board Of As
sessors.
Correspondence The Yorkville Enquirer
Columbia, Feb. 15.-What will prob
ably be the last week Of the first ses-
sion Of the seventy-first general as
sembly of South Carolina, opened to-
day. So far the major portion OF the
work Of the session has been devoted
to local matters-that is, matters af-
fecting the various counties Of the
state. Although more than 500 bills
have been introduced in the house
alone and perhaps half as many more
in the senate many Of these bills are
trivial and were put in the legislative
hopper for no other purpose than to
afford their authors an opportunity to
90 into the campaign next year and
claim that they tried to do something
for the people.
Probably the most important OF the
statewide measures so far passed by
both houses are the liquor bills ana
the cotton warehouse bill. One Of the
liquor bills is to enable the state to
take advantage Of the provisions OF the
Webb law; the other provides for a
state wide referendum on prohibition
to be held on the 14th Of September,
next. Led by Mr.. Warren OF Hamp-
ton county, the warehouse system has
been fought rather s~trenuously on two
occasions this session. Defeated In his
efforts several weeks ago, to have
the warehouse act repealed. Mr.. War
rem renewed the attack when the item
in the appropriation bill providing for
the maintenance Of the system came
up in the house Saturday. Mr.. War
rem was almost frank enough to state
that a considerable part Of his dislike
for the system came from his anti
patty for the commissioner; but the
house found it inconsistent to share his
il-feeling for Senator McLaurin, and
the various amendments he offered to
the item in the appropriation bill got
scant consideration. AS the bill goes
to the senate, $4,000 is the amount at
the disposal of the commissioner.
Things turned up rather awry In the
house for the administration Friday
night, and 1t all came about as a re-
suit of the $4,000 carried in the ap-
preparation bill for legal services for
the governors office. An appropriation
of the kind is said to be without pre-
cedent in the history Of the general
assembly, and nc sooner had the item
beer reached than several members
Jumped on 1t like a duck on a bug.
Mr.. Moore of Abbeville, said 1t was
rumored that the money was to be
used to reimburse n OF the Manning
campaign managers for his services;
but DR.. Dick Of Sumter, Indignantly
denied the rumor, though he admitted
hat the appropriation was asked for
because Of the strained relations be-
tween the governor and the attorney
general. Perhaps the strongest speech
in opposition to the appropriation was
hat Of young Mr.. Barr Of Georgetown.
The prediction vas freely made In the
course Of the debate that 1t would re-
suit in the loss Of political prestige Tor
Governor Manning If the item remain
ed in the bill, and that the incident
would be made the most Of by any
candidate who might oppose him Tor
denomination next year.. Five mem
har. Af tho uyoUo and mQQnS commit
tee, among them Mr.. Bradford OF York,
broke away from their associates and
refused to support the item. Mr.. Brad
ford stated that he did not intend
from the first to vote for the item,
that he considered it an unwarranted
expenditure Of the public funds n
that he had not obligated himself In
committee to support 1t. The admin
istration forces finally won on the
was the sort Of victory that may prove
more expensive than profitable.
There Is going to be q good deal OF
talk in both the house and senate this
week on the primary bill, the charities
and corrections bill, the asylum bill,
and other statewide matters; n
when the talk is at an end, 1t Is pre-
sumed there will be some voting. The
voting in this legislature Is pretty
One-Sided, however, ana IL Is all out d
foregone conclusion that if the word is
passed down the line that the admin
istration wishes this or that bill en-
acted into law, the wish will be COM
piled with.
The rural library bill, by which the
state was to furnish free reading mat
ter for rural and mill communities,
seems to have gone by the board for
this session. Senator Beamguard in
PRODUCED the bill in the senate and
supported it in an excellent speech,
but the small appropriation-small
for the worthy results 1t would have
accomplished-shooed off some of the
very senators whose constituents
would have proited most by it. The
bill is certain to be r~e-introduced at
the next session.
One item Of particular interest to
York county in the appropriation bill
provides for a new gymnasium at
Winthrop college. Thirty thousand
dollars is to be expended for the build
ing by the state, half the money to
he available this year, and half next
voor Dr JnhpSaD president Of VIM