The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1916-02-24
LAWMAKERS END SESSION.
Continued from pape /, column 6.)


accomplished in a general bill, but
under the rules Of the house what are
known as strictly local bills seem to
have the right of the way, and first
one county secured the right to sell
it's liquor outside of the State through
the old county boards, and then an
other adopted that plan until it be-
came unanimous, but in each case
separate act was passed.
Mr.. Cothran called himself an "old
dog in legislation" and this is alto
gether true, and emphasizes how i'm
portant it is when good men can be
secured to accept a place in the gen.
eral assem- mbly, like Mr.. Cothran, to
have them continue in their service.
It was Mr.. Cothran's suggestion that
relieved the strain of legislation to
very marked extent and helped to let
everybody go home happy. He sug-
gested an amendment to the rules by
which bills that are known as local
uncontested measures might be con-
sidered each day for thirty minutes,
and it is remarkable how much ,legis-
lation was enacted in the course of
this thirty minutes, and thereby gave
tremendous relief to the legislative
mill.
Notwithstanding this, on the last
day of the session, 124 acts were rati-
fed. There is rule that no bill shall
be read on the last day of the session,
and as there were no sharp issues for
settlement the rule was abrogated
and a number of bills given their fl
nal reading on thej last legislative
day. 1t would be better if this rule
were made so that no bill could be
read for the last time three days be-
fore final adjournment. 1t would
give the engrossing department a
chance and it would avoid the mis-
takes that always happen in the
crowding and crushing of the last
moments of the legislative session.
The mass of local legislation con-
tinues to grow. This is probably due
to the growth of the State, to the
prosperity that is dominant and to
the desire of one member to please
another. Never before have delega-
tions welded such great force in
what might be called local affairs,
and if the present gait continues the
wheels of legislation are going to be
so much clogged that general and
constructive suggestions are going to
be sidetracked. There were probably
fifty or more acts passed with REFER
ence to bonds, both outstanding and
prospective, for school buildings.
There were a dozen or more Dllls
with reference to county court
houses. Twice that many referred to
other public buildings in the various
counties. A score were enacted au-
thorizing bridge and roads construc-
ton. An armful of charters were re-
newed or amended, and the consti-
tuition of 1895, which undertook to
abridge the local legislation, has out
lived it's usefulness to a large extent,
largely because of the willingness OF
members to oblige their friends on
"strictly local matters.
All efforts to increase the salaries
of State and judicial officers to an
ADEQUATE basis failed. This was
largely due to the fact that politicai
year is approaching.
There was very much more inter-
est in the election Of the judge for
the new judicial circuit than there
was in the establishment of that cir
cult, and while the salary is regard
ed as entirely Inadequate the men,
bers are convinced that they have Sc
cured a judge much above the aver
age in the State.
The new county of Mccormick was
authorized, if the supreme court ap-
proves, practically without opposi-
tion.-News and Courier.