The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-02-23

Charleston.
The free conference committee ad-
hered to the general policy of the leg
islature to allow the State Hospital
for the Insane a liberal allowance.
One hundred thousand dollars was al
lowed for maintenance for improve
ments, and there was written into the
measure the authorization of the
borrowing committee, consisting of
the governor, the State treasurer and
the comptroller general, to make a
loan Of $4,000 additional for i'm
provements during the year, if SO
much be needed.
The governor signed the appropria-
ton and county supply measures
shortly before o'clock Sunday morn
ing without vetoing single item.
The prohibition law had a decided
inning In this session. of the legisla-
ture and 1t was early shown that a
majority of the members are earnest
ly desirous of driving whiskey from
the State. Many laws were introduc-
ed and several Of them were passed
to put teeth in the law" The first in
importance was the Eiles bill making
1t straight chaingang sentence f6r IL
licitly selling liquor in, South Caro-
lima. This pleasure is now law. NAV
Ing been approved by the governor
Saturday night, The chief executive
presented the author, Mr.. Lilies, with
the fountain pen with which he sign
ed the bill. Next comes the item in
the appropriation bill allowing the
governor to borrow $4,000, if so much
be necessary for the enforcement of
the law. The Carlisle bills, one re-
enacting the prohibition law and the
other cutting the monthly shipment of
one-gallon month to an individual to
two quarts, or allowing in Leu of the
whiskey five dozen pint bottles Of beer.
There was fight on this bill after it
had been passed, and free conference
cut out some of the inquisitorial fea-
tures' which many thought had they
remained in the measure would have
endangered the whole structure of the
prohibition. law.
Next In legislative importance was
the eaction Of administrator meas.
ures. The Torrens land system bill,
In modified form, the measure proyid-
ing for board of conciliation and ar
oitration for the settlement of dis
putes between capital and labor, the
liability of railroads for personal in.
Juries to employees, the regulation OF
child labor, providing that, after Jam
uary l, 1917, no child under IA years
shall be employed in mines, factories
or textile establishments that have
voted in the compulsory attendance
law, and the teaching of agriculture
In rural schools were adopted.
Another important administration
measure that was perfected was the
Dill amending the law creating the
State tax commission so as tc, provide
FOR board of review, which mad
Vertantly was left out Of the original
act In the engrossing department last
year. There was sporatic opposition
to the tax commission during the ses-
sion' but this amounted to nothing.
The administration measure for q
system of rural credits did not pass.
yet step in the direction of land
banks was accomplished when the
senate adopted resolution providing
Tor committee to investigate the
whoie question and report it's findings
10 the next session of the general as
sembly. A. ]. Bethea, president of
the senate, has appointed ID. Reese
Williams, of Lancaster, Alan Johnston.
VI Ne"perry, and j. l.. Shcrard, of
Anderson, us members of this commit
tee.
HoV. Manning stated Saturday night
that he was gratiied at the work done
ny the general assembly, particularly
So because OF the passage of so many
measures approved by the administra-
tion' The chief executive was also
pleased that so much had been done
In the way of progressive LEGISLATION
-ahd yet the levy had been held to
6 1-2 mills.
! The legislature showed Il spirit OF