The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-22

measure, but opposed the WorkmenS
compensation act.
Weekly Pay in Mills.
On the last day of the session the
bill was passed and ratified requiring
! weekly pay days in mills 'The rep
resentatives in the legislature of the
laboring element were intensely in
trested in this bill. and are very
proud of its passage.
Driving Out the Southeastern.
One OF the hardest lights Of the en-
tire session was on the measure pro-
hibiting insurance combinations for
he purpose Of fixing fire insurance
rates. This bill was aimed directly at
the Southeastern Tariff association,
and the State warehouse system fig
ared largely in its discussion. The
bill was not introduced at the i'll
stance of the warehouse commission
Ct, but during the fight for and
against the bill the commissioner was
day after day summoned before COM
mittees. There is no doubt that
the reduction in fire insurance
secured by the commission
er outside of the Southeastern and the
refusal of the Southeastern to work.
with the commissioner in the protec-
lion of State cotton had great deal
to do with the passage OF the Dill.
There was a clear majority in the
house of some % members for the
abolition of the Southeastern. On
Thursday night the members who
we're trying 10 save the Southeaster.
instituted a filibuster which kept the
house in session until after 8 o'clock
Friday morning. but the majority
against them was determined, and the
bill was showed through by main
force. During this flibuster Speaker
Hoyt was firm in his rulings, and re-
ectnd great deal of credit upon
himself by the manner in which he
handled a most difficult situation. The
bill was Diloted through the senate by
Senator Laney Of Chesterfield, and
through the house by Mr.. Odom OF
Chesterfield. and the agricultural COM
mittee
The bill was ratified and sent to the
governor on Saturday night. 1t pro-
hibits combinations OF insurance com
panies for the purpose of fixing rates;
provides for a review of rates by the
insurance commissioner, subject to
summary court review; exempts the
Mill Mutuals and Factory Insurance
association, and provides tnat nothing
contained in the act shall be held to
interfere with any insurance placed
by or through the State warehouse
commissioner.
State Warehouse Commissioner.
The strength of the State warehouse
commissioner was clearly evidenced
during the session On tine part OF
some there was opposition to him and
TO the SYSTEM but practically every
request which he made Of the legisla-
ture was granted. In fact, it may be
stated with truth that prohibition and
warehouse system were the dominant
issues in the South Carolina legisla-
ture of 1916. They had no connec-
/ ton and there was no attempt to con-
| meet them. and their being mentione1
toeether is not intended to convey
this meaning. What is meant to be
conveyed is the fact, as shown by the
records, that on every issue joined af-
flcting prohibition or the warehouse
system, either commanded an over
whelming majority of both house and
senate.
There was only one measure which
was advocated by the warehouse COM
missioner for the benefit of the farm
ers which failed of passage. This was
the Beattie-Laney graders bill. This
! bill would have enforced the federal
standards in South Carolina, and
have increased the annual value OF
the cotton crop to the farmers by at
least million dollars each year. The
bill was killed in the senate before
- rooobod tho oOuSe