The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1915-02-25
CONSTRUCTIVE WORK DONE
FIRST FOUR WEEKS OF SESSION
WE'RE UNPRODUCTIyE.
Legislature Shows Itself Notably Pro.
gressive.-Reforms of Several
Sorts Ordered.

sage of number of laws distin city
constructive in their intent. All of
these measures have been enacted
in the last two weeks. The first four
weeks were practically without result
in so far as the passage Of Statewide
laws Of a constructive nature was
concerned.
There was a disposition when the
general assembly conve ned to wait
until Gov. Manning was inaugurated
before proceeding to grapple with
big propositions. The three weeks
following the Inauguration of Gov
ernor Manning were unproductive Of
results, but in the last two of the
six weeks Of the session many bills
of Importance were passed.
Administration Fares Well.
As result of activity in the last
third of the session, the administra-
ton programme outlined in the in
augural address of Gov. Manning
was carried out almost in it's entire
ty.
In his address to the general as
sembly on January 10, Gov. Manning
advocated the enactment into law of
the rules of the Democratic party,
the making of provisions for carry
ing on welfare work in cotton mill
villages and help for mill schools,
the raising of the age limit in the
child labor law from - to- ii years,
the establishment of State board of
charities and corrections, the passage
of a compulsory school attendance
law and providing ample State aid
for rural schools.
Of the eight separate recommenda-
tions of Gov. Manning named above
four were complied with in full, two
in part and two were refused at this
session.
Almost without change the general
assembly enacted into law the rules
and regulations under which the last
Democratic primary was held. In
addition the general assembly passed
special primary election law for
Charleston, containing the Austral-
ran ballot feature.
After receiving favorable action in
the house, the two bills carrying out
the recommendation of the governor
in regard to mill welfare work and
help for mill schools were continued
by the senate.
The bill specifically raising the age
limit in the child labor law from II
to IA years was not introduced in the
general assembly. One of the COM
pulsorv education measures had a
provision to this effect, but the COM
pulsory attendance bill that became
law did not contain this section. 1t
is thought that the raising OF the
child labor age limit will be accom-
plished in part as the compulsory ed
ucation law contains a provision that
children between the ages Of eight
and IA years must attend school for
the full term.
For Tax Reform.
One of the big features in the ad-
ministration programme was the ere
alton of a State tax commission to
have supervision over State and coun-
tv taxation systems. Although the
proposal for the commission was con-
siderably modified by amendments to
the original bill, it is believed by ad-
ministration leaders that the ne"
State tax commission will have power
under the act to put needed reforms
into effect.
Gov. Manning's proposal that the
fertilizer laws of the State be re-
vised by a commission was not ac-
cepted by the general assembly.
Following the recommendation OF
Gov. Manning, the general assembly
created the State board of charities
and corrections, which is to have su-
pervision over the State Hospital for
the Insane, the State penitentlary'
county jails and almshouses and prl-
vate institutions of an eleemosynary
character.
The compulsory school attendance
law passed by the general assembly
as distinctly an administration meas
ure in the form in which it was
passed. The free conference commit
tee responsible for the final draft OF
the law consulted Gov. Manning and
Superintendent Swearingen before
making its report. 1t was said that
the measure was acceptable to both
Of them. The compulsory school at
tendance law is strictly local option.
II makes the school districts the
units for enforcement and provides
that tha law go into effect in them