The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-02-24
LAWMAKERS END SESSION
REVIEW OF THE WORK OF 1916
SESSION.
Most of Administration Measures
Were Enacted Into Law.-Much.
Local Legislation.

COluulDl feD. LU.-lu tuo general
assembly, which adjourned without
debate at 5:35 o'clock this morning,
there were three features: Prohibi-
ton, politics and passionless legisla-
tion. Prohibition was probably pre-
dominant. Whatever the prohibi-
tionists wanted they secured, and it
was altogether without what might
be called 1.-The steam roller process. !"
AS is expressed in politics, they just
had the voteS," and whether prohibi-
tion is a success or failure there
cannot be any charge that the friends
of this system of handling the liquor
traffic lacked for sympathy. The es-
sential accomplishments in the line
Of prohibition we're, first, the grant
ing of authority to use so much as
$4,000 for the enforcement of the
prohibition laws. Second, the max
ing of the violation of the laws a
chain gang offence. Third, the re-
duction of the allowance for person
al consumption during any one
month from one gallon to half that
quantity. Fourth, the application of
every known and conceivable method
of prohibiting the sale, storage or
transportation of liquor, except in
two.quart quantities. Fifth, the re-
enactment of every prohibition stat
ute that could be found in the rec
ords under the ratification act. The
only measure that was advocated by
the prohibitionists in the senate and
which failed in the house was the
Carlisle bill, which sought to pro-
hibit newspapers from advertising Ii
quors in South Carolina, and then
the house insisted and secured a
more liberal allowance of real beer
for personal consumption under the
two-quart month statute.
Status of Prohibition.
Prohibition is political as we'll
as an economic issue in this State. 1t
is regarded today as extremely popu-
lar in South Carolina. 1t is politi-
cal balloon at this time, and is going
to be used during the coming sum-
mer for all it is worth. Then the q
cent rate bill, which died in the SEN
ate, was another of the several cam
paign propositions utilized on the
house side.
Perhaps the most distinguished
feature Of this session of the general
assembly was the utter lack of pas
sion. In by-gone days the line OF
demarcation between Tillmanites and
anti-Tillmanites was very sharp.
Then came the line between the dis
pensary and anti-dispensary advo-
Gates, and more recently the advo-
cacy of Blease and his policies was
an acute issue. Once or twice there
was slight symptom of an effort to
inject partisan politics, but it was a
complete failure, and there is nothing
that was done at this session of the
general assembly that bears any OF
the ear marks of partisanship.
Quite true, policies that were ad-
vocated by Governor Manning were
accepted, but they were accepted on
their merits, rather than as political
factors, and in most cases, such as on
the Cancellation bill, there was entire
unanimity. In other cases, as on the
workingmen's compensation act, urg-
ed and advocated by the governor,
there was entire failure, and it was
not even brought up for discussion.
Completion of Plans.
Most of the work accomplished at
this session was rather in the nature
Nof completing last years constructive
undertakings; that is, the tax COM
mission law now in effect was
strengthened in the opinion of its
friends by provision for board of
review, which is to act as a supreme
court in matters of taxation. Then
the Torrens system, which passed the
house last year, was enacted into
law. This system for the present is
made optional, but it is thought that
it will be so appealing to people that
they will voluntarily accept the pro-
lection and economy that the system
is expected to afford The McCul-
Tough child labor legislation, also ad-
vocated by Governor Manning, was
also enacted into law. This is a
striking illustration of how much can
be said in a few words. The entire
act consists of exactly twenty-five
words, and reads:
'No child under the age OF IA
years shall be employed in any fac
tory, mine or textile establishment
of this State after January 1, 1917
There was no need to say more.