The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-02-02
WITH THE LAWMAKERS
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Columbia. Jan 2O.-The passage By
the house of measure reducing the
legal rate of interest in this State,
the debate on the equal suffrage
measure in the senate, and the speed
ing on their way of number of To-
cal measures, characterized today's
session. OF the general assembly.
The house by a suDtantial majority
sent to third reading the bill pro
posed by Mr.. J. Howard Moore, Of
Abbeville. to reduce the legal rate OF
interest in this State to per cent
There was lively debate upon the
measure, but the majority was over
whelming AS a matter OF fact, how
ever, the bill as passed by the house
reduces the rate Of interest just l
Per cent AS the law now is, the
legal rate is per cent. except III
case Of contract, under. which it may
be s per cent The measure as pass
ed by the house today provides for
a per cent rate, except in case OF
contract, under which it may be made
per cent. The measure as it pass
ed the house was in the nature of a
substitute proposed by Messrs. Thom-
as P Cothran; of Greenville, and ,jo-
seph A. Berry. of Orangeburg, which
includes judgment rolls as well as
loans, and provides for a legal rate
of 6 per cent, provided that under
special contract the rate may be made
per cent. There were vigorous eff
forts to exempt building and loan as
seciations from the provisions of the
proposed law. but they failed. There
was also an effort to make the legal
rate Z per cent fat, which failed.
Most of the time of the house this
morning. was consumed in the discus
sion, Of this measure.
The bill now goes upon the house
calendar for third reading, with ev-
cry probability of its passage by the
house, which will send it to the SEN
ate for the action of that body.
The question of equal suffrage for
women came up in the senate this
morning, and was debated for more
than two hours. No vote was reach
ed by the upper branch, and there is
no certainty as to when a vote by
the senate may be reached upon the
PROPOSED referendum to the people IN
regard to this matter.
Liquor Muddle.
NJ indication as to what the gen
eralE assembly may do in regard to
the Various liquor bils before it has
yet Ibeen given upon any test vote.
The .Richey ''air-tight, iron-clad'
meal sure I'M the house was recommit-
ted ito the !committee on police res
ulatEons in the house this morning,
upon motion of Mr.. Thomas s. Nc
MILAN, of Charleston, who wanted to
get lin his unfavorable minority re-
port upon the measure This bill, un-
der the motion of Mr.. Mcmillan,
agreed to by the author, retains its
place upon the house calendar.
The Charleston delegation today
proposed a measure which would
place Beaufort in the same circui,
with Charleston, in order to avoid
certain constitutional inhibitions as
to change of, venue from one county
to another in the same circuit, Char
lesion now being in a circuit to her
self.
Mr.. Thomas P. Cothran, of Green
vile, introduced a measure in the
house which would require the Aus
tralian ballot system in all primary
elections. L..
To Freeze Out Audubon.
The game warden cfl,e was again
touched upon in the general assem-
bly, today, when Mr. n. G. Evans, OF
AkEdge6eld, introduced in the house a
y bill to provide for the appointment Mt
of chief game warden by the govern
sor, upon his own responsibility, ell.
minating the recommendation of the
Audubon society 1t will be recalled
that Governor Manning vetoed the
act which would have placed the Sc
lection of chief game warden in
the hands Of the legislature, instead
of appointiFe by the governor. The
governors veto was sustained, The