The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-27
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
OF LEGISLATURE: ; HOkk
Few Affirmative ActiOns-More Fail
ures to Pass Good Measures. Man
Aing's Bitterness-High Taxes.

36449; the enactment OF Quart-a-
month liquor law; the bill providing
for forfeiture to the State of the Co.
lumbia canal property unless some
agree shall be entered into, within
80 days, betyeen the special commits
sion appointed by the legislature with
the interests now in control of the
property; the insurance legislation,
and the creation of State highway
commission, looking towards the I'M
provement Of the roads in the State
and taking advantage of the federal
appropriation apportioned to each
State, South Carolina having failed 10
receive her share so far on account
of lack Of highway legislation which
would meet the requirements Of the
act Of congress, are the main features
of the affirmative action taken by the
general assembly of 1917, which
reached final adjournment at 5:2s
o'clock yesterday afternoon, after
session Of A days, including Sundays,
legal holidays, and the few days dur
ing which the Legislature was lot IN
session during that period
What They Did Not Enact.
The general assembly failed to pass
the legal interest rate reduction. A
bill to reduce the legal interest rate
to s per cent, with q provision that I
per cent might be contracted for,
passed the house, but did not get
through the senate. The law as it now
stands, provides for legal rate OF Z
per cent, with g proviso that per
cent may be contracted for. The
Moore measure as it passed the house
would have reduced the interest rate
! per cent. The proposition was not
acted upon by the senate, and goes
over until next year, under the blan-
ket resolution continuing the bills on
the calendar.
The bills proposed in both branches
to give Governor Manning free rein in
the matter Of the appointment of chief
game warden were killed by amend
nent. There was a lengthy dght In
each house upon this proposition. The
entire matter having consumed so
much of the time Of the general as
sembly, and having attracted so much
interest throughout the State, 1t may
not be amiss, in a review of the ses-
sion, to call attention to its status.
Colonel Alfred A. Richardson, chief
game warden, was appointed by Gov
ernor Blease in 1912, succeeding Mr..
James Henry Rice At the time OF
Colonel Richardson's appointment, the
department required an appropriation
from the State for maintenance. Dur
inc the four years Chief Richardson
has been in Office there has been such
enforcement of the law that consid-
erable amount has been turned into
the State treasury this year, for the
public school fund, from fees and
fines collected, and instead of now be-
Ing a financial burden upon the State,
the department is not only self-sus-
tanning, but a source of revenue.
Cononel Richardson's term of Office
expires during the month Of March.
At the last session of the general as
sembly an act was passed placing the
election of chief game warden in the
hands of the legislature. The act went
to the governor within three days be-
fore final adjournment last year. and,
under his constitutional right, the
governor held it upon his desk until
this session, when he vetoed it, and
his veto was sustained. That left
the law as it stood-the governor
having the power of appointment, up
on the recommendation Of the Andu-
bon society.
Colonel Richardson, at the annual
meeting of the Audubon society this
year, was recommended for reappoint-
ment
Senator Niels Christensen, of Beau
fort, then introduced in the senate.
and Mr.. N. G. Evans, of Edgefeld, in
troduced in the house, measure
which would relieve the Audubon So
ciety of the duty of making the rec
ommendation, and leave the matter
entirely with the governor. In both
branches Of the general assembly the
bill was amended to the effect that
the election of chief game warden
should be placed in the hands of the
people, to be chosen as other State
officers are chosen, and that the en-
cumbent should retain the position
until the next general election. The
act, with this amendment, was rati-
fed, and sent to the governor. 1t
was vetoed by him, and in the veto
message, published in The Her
aid and News, the governor brought
sensational charges against COL
onei Richardson and those asso-
ciated with him in his official du-
ties. Debate upon the veto message
was adjourned by the senate until the
first day of next session.
For the Right of the People.
Senator John F. Williams, of Aiken,
made a brilliant and stubborn fight for
the right Of the people to elect their