The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-24

INSTITUTIONS a special inquiry as to
whether there are any useless expen-
ditures of the public funds and that
they also report as to whether econo-
my can be secured by dispensing with
clerk hire, or otherwise. without i'm
pairing the efficiency of the public
service. and that they also examine
into and ascertain whether or not
there is any overlapping or duplication
of work between the different depart
ments or the employees thereof.
The South Carolina general assem-
bly, spent the afternoon and the first
part OF the night of their last day of
the 1915 session in fraternizing and
singing while waiting for the free
conference committee to report on the
appropriation and county supply bills.
The piano in the lobby Of the capitol
was surrounded by legislators and
spectators during the time the two
houses were having recesses, and such
old familiar tunes as my Old Ken
lucky Home" Way Down Upon the
Suwanee River" We'd with such we'll
known hymns as Nearer My God to
Thee" depending upon whether or
not the crowd was saddened by
thoughts Of the early separation or
mellow with the thoughts of other
days and other times.
The spirit of good feeling was prev
alent on all sides and the lawmakers
felt, and rightly so, that they will re-
ceive the well done of their constit
uents over the constructive measures
achieved at this session. The legisla-
tors have worked hard and their de-
termination not to waste any unneces-
sary time has been kept ever fore
most in the minds of the members.
More constructive laws than have
been passed in years have been put
through at this session, and the mem
bers have redeemed the promises
made to the people in the campaign
last summer.
There is no happier man in South
Carolina over the result OF the pres
ent session than Gov. Manning. Such
important administrative measures as
the tax commission, putting the rules
Of the Democratic primary into law.
reorganizing the State Hospital for the
Insane. establishing a State board of
charities and corrections are among
those things which the governor rec
commended and which the legislature
enacted into law. The chief execu-
tive feels that the lawmakers have
cooperated with him in carrying out
the promises made TO tho people. and,
although he was overwhelmed with
the rush of the work incident TO the
several score bills sent TO him for ac-
tion on this, the last day, ne stopped
long enough 10 express his congratula-
tions to the. general assembly and tell
the members how happy he felt over
the results of the session. The gov
ernor remained in his office all day
and until late tonight transacting his
duties with dispatch, remaining "on
the job" until the end.
The young ladies who worked in the
engrossing department had the heav-
lest work of the night, for they had
to engross the appropriation bill, the
county supply bill and other measures
before they were ratified. Anyone
who knows the voluminous pages Of
one OF these bills can we'll appreciate
the hard work the engrossing depart
ment and the chief clerk, j. c. Town
send, were up against tonight. But, OF
course, they got away with it in their
usual satisfactory manner. testifying
to the efficiency of that department.
The senate this afternoon looked
like 1t was going to face a strong de-
bate and possibly filibuster over the
bill which would have given towns
that did not want dispensaries the
right to get rid OF them on a majority
petition of the qualified voters of such
towns. The real effort behind the bill
came from Batesburg. i'm Lexington
county, and j. Rutledge McGee, Of that
town, got his friends in the senate to
push the bill. 1t passed the house
with the unanimous support Of the
three members of the Lexington dele
cation. but when the bill came over to
the senate it was held up by Senator
Sharpe, Of Lexington. Senator j. j.
Evans. Of Marlboro county, champion
ed the bill. and after several parlia-
mentary skirmishes between these
two senator's the Lexington senator
won his point when tho senate, after
several roll calls and parliamentary