The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-03-09
WAS AN ADMINISTRATION
GENERAL ASSEMBLY

kplun1bia, March At was herald
O the State that the recent leSls-
Ire was an administration gener'
assembly," Possibly it was. Al
rate, Governor Manning did not
o a single item in the appr' )r-a'
n bill. carrying nearly III &c ".i
On dollars, an increase OF more IMAM
38 half million dollars over the appfo-
L riation bill of 1916; he signed the
Huart-a-month act, which was a com
$promise by the prohibitionists among
themselves. and is absolutely con
trary in spirit to the local optioi
plank included in the platform upon
which Governor Manning was re-
elected: the agitation for reduction
of the legal rate of interest was or
no avail. and the interest rate re-
mains at eight per cent by contract;
the proposition to submit the ques-
ton of biennial sessions of the gen
e-al assembly to vote OF the people
was killed, and other measures looS-
ing towards the financial relief or the
tax-payers in the serious financial
condition which now confronts the
State we're either killed outright or
continued until the next session.
That the action of the Legislature,
both affirmative and negative, viii
have an important bearing upon the
campaign of 1918, is certain Inc
lew was raised from six and one-hait
mills to eight and one-half mills
Already overburdened with taxation
the people in every section of the
State are complaining. Reports re-
ceived from taxpayers in every coun-
ty of the State indicate that they had
expected their Representatives, at this
time particularly, to hold down ap-
propriations to the minimum-and
that they are disappointed, expresses
it mildly.
In former years in the political
history Of South Carolina, there nave
been times when legislative assem-
olies, at the first Of the two years ses-
sion. INDUCED in certain approprla-
tions. with the expectation Of retrleV-
ing at the next session, just preced-
ing the political campaign OF tnat
wear. The recent general assembly,
however, Judged by expressions from
people throughout the State who nave
watched the proceedings Closely mas
sover-reached the record OF past leg
islatures so far, that it will be I'M
possible for the session of 1918 to
relieve the situation to any extent
which will be satisfactory to the peo-
pie. The appropriations have been
too much increased for that-the
levy has been raised too high. There
were members Of both houses VINO
fought the extraordinary approprla-
tions: vino urged that this was no
time for a -million-dollar appro-
priation bill; that "war clouds were
hoyering over the nation; that the
<sholl wevil was at our doors; out
arguments were OF no avail. The
.steam-roller process was effective.
The house did make a protest
against the increases made by the
senate, but the senate increases pre-
vciled. To begin with, the ways and
means committee of the house sub
mitted a bill which was an increase
over the appropriation bill of last
year. The house increased the amount
carried by the committee bill. The
measure then went to the senate,
which further increased the appro-
rriations. With these increases, 1t
came back to the house, which re-
fused to concur, and the house passed
a concurrent resolution to recomm!t
the measure to the free conference
committee, with suggestings as to
items to be eliminated. The senate
killed this concurrent resolution, but
the house went ahead, anyway, and
spent a considerable time suggesting
reductions, with the result that reduc-
tions of only about 100000 were re-
commended. The senate refused to
agree, and the act was passed and
signed by the governor, exactly as 1t
stood, not single item being disap-
proved.
The bill carries $500 for law en-
forcement, in connection with the gov
ernor's Office and an additional $780,
600 for claw enforcement to be ex'