The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-01-10
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
CONVENED YESTERDAY EER|!DDIA!Yl
More Legislation Expected
ON Whiskey.
TAX QUESTION
A SERIOUS ONE
Many New Members Appear in Both
Houses S-.PrepOnderance OF Farmers
IN Legislature Liquor, Insurance
and Taxation Indicated Major Prob
ncmS for Consideration.
(By w. j. Cormack.)

'lcmS for Consideration.
CBy w. j. CormackD
The regular session of the general
assembly for 1917 will convene here
Tuesday at noon.
1t is believed that an effort 10
tighten up the prohibition law, the
passage of an equitable bill on fire In
surancc that will be acceptable to
both the state and the insurance COM
panics. bringing the latter back into
South Carolina, and probable amend
ments to the tax laws Of the state,
making for moro equitable assess
ments and putting property not now
taxed on the books, will be the prin-
cipal items Of legislation attempted.
However, as there are n new mem
bers OF the house of representatives
and IL in the senate, whose ideas of
legislation are not known, other major
problems may spring up galore.
The political complexion of both
houses of the general assembly Is
known to be anti-Blease by large ma
jorities-the estimated membership of
the minority faction being 33 in the
house and the senate. However,, 1t is
believed that the central committee
nominated In the Blease convention
here last fall will attempt to put
through a legislative patform. II this
should happen, spirited fight Is pres
aged with little chance Of the Blease-
ties accomplishing their object.
Governor Manning has completed
his message and it is in the hands Of
the printer. 1t will contain about 5000
words. What administration recon-
mendations he will make is not known,
but 1t is understood that he will pre-
sent for passage some far-reachng
measures for economic reform and
social betterment. His message will
be read IN both houses after their or
ganization Tuesday afternoon.
The agricultural interests of the
state have the largest representation
in the general assembly, while the
legal fraternity comes nnvt In the
house there arc "A Simon pure"
farmers and in the senate only three
The senate has six planters, three
combination bankers and planters, one
real estate dealer and planter, one
20 Il
and farmer The house has six plant
crs, seven combination merchants and
farmers one minister whose side line
Is farming, one lawyer whose avoca-
ton Is farming, one merchant and
planter and one stock raiser. The
house sports" 3S lawyers, while the
senate points With pride" to % mem
Ders OF the legal fraternity. The
house includes in its membership one
law student. Tho medical profession
is represented by one physician in the
senate anH two physicians and one
dentist in the house. The senate has
the edge on the house with three
full-flcdgcd bankers to two In the lat
ter body, but the house possesses the
lone capitalist OF the general assem-
bly, However, the senate has COM
bination banker and merchant, which
IS Offset by the house with dual
merchant and broker. One editor sits
in solitude in the senate, but three edi-
tors and one publisher will associate
sl the house. The senate will hear of
the high cost Of living from one mer-
chant and tho house from quartet
One clerk graccs the halls of legisla-
ton, and he Is in the senate. The
hodse will listen to solos on me-
chanics from railroad locomotive en-
ginecr, pedagogy from a teacher,
scientific craftsmanship and the mile
age book nuisance" from a travelling
salesman. exposure" and develop
ment' from photographer, the
soothing effect Of the weed" from
manager Of tobacco warehouse,
Longevity" and protection" from a
life insurance agent, conservation Of
the leather industry and the effect of
the tango on the shoe" from shoe