The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-16

at present, the election of a successor
:. I0i. AIRED A. Richardson. As chief
.ame warden, will not com. before
the legislature His term expires IN
March
New bills have not poured into the
senate with the rapidity that usually
marks the opening days of the ses-
sion. Senators may have many bills
up their sleeves to be pulled out later,
but so far that proverbial hiding
place OF things mysterious has yield
ed up few treasures.
Three Of the most significant in
point of view Of public interest ar"
by Senator Nickles, of ,A'bbeville. One
Of these provides for a four-year
term for the governor. after wn.cA
he shall be ineligible for reelection.
Another proposes to lengthen the
terms of all Slate officers to four
years, without declaring them ineli-
gible to go before the people for
second term. The third provides for
biennial sessions of the legislature.
Two other bills for biennial ses-
sions have been introduced. and will
be reached on the senate's calendar
rCming week. The matter of
expense of holding sessions OF the
general assembly will likely be the
most substantial argument advanced
in favor Of the bill. There is grow
ing sentiment also in favor Of chang
ing the fiscal year. AS the matter
now stands, all appropriations for
State institutions and departments Of
the State government are converted
into the, State treasury on December
81. The legislature meets on the sec
ond Tuesday in January. and the ap-
preparation bill for thu year is rarely
approved before the first of March.
This leaves the various departments
without funds during the month OF
January. and they never know what
to expect. or how to lay their plans
for the year, until about the first OF
March.
In this connection, the general f.
nancial condition OF the State will be
reviewed. In the reports of various
State officials, which have been pub
lished in this correspondence, the
deplorable situation in this regard
has been called attention to, and this
IS one of the most important matters
which this general assembly will have
to deal. Ssas#@
The effort in the house to get
tt rough a Statewide anti-liquor bill,
absolutely prohibiting any shipments
into the State, has had a faint echo
in the senate in Senator J. Gordon
Hughes bill, providing for shipments
OF so pints of beer as an alternative
for the gallon of whiskeF now allow
ed each citizen during a calendar
month. Senator Hughes. in discus
sing his bill, said that the present
law places beer on the same plane
with whiskey. allowing only a gallon
of either article. eff the people were
to order 60 pints of beer in
lieu OF gallon Of whiskey. the prob
ability is that many would prefer
the milder drink said Senator
There are three distinct phases of
the liquor fight in this general as
sembly which can. be outlined at this
time. In the house the bill by Co. Jo-
seph Fromberg. of Charleston, to sub
NIT to the people a constitutional
amendment allowing cities of 10000
inhabitants or more-affecting SIR
lesion only-to have license sys-
tenn for light wines and beers. which
''oasnre has the approval Of Senator
Huger Sinkler, Of Charleston; the
'ron-clad prohibition bill introduced
in the house by Mr.. Richev. and the
beer measure proposed by Senator
Hughes, will bring on the fight early
in the session. Tbn statement bv
inrmer Governor Blease. in regard %
the Richey measure. clearly outlines
the position of the Reform party on
tn" liquor question. "Let the people
have what they want in regard to the
liquor question:" Is the effect OF the
-i4ter'l>w gwen by VI u. r
"'' tn he democratic State. That
IS What 1t is supposed to be. Just
at present, at is not, but the people
III soAn again come into their own,
and take over the reins Of govern
ment into their own hands," he said.
The bill by Col. Fromoerg provlu-
ing for a license system for Char
lesion in the matter of light wines
and beers has attracted State wide
attention, and the pro- liability is that
1t is going to provoke one Of the mosr
stubborn fights OF the session.
Senator Hughes has proposed in
the senate a two-cent rate bill, the
companion bill to which has been in
troduced in the house.
Members of the senate judiciary
committee have been put on the grill
by woman advocates of ballot for
BOTH" Not votes for women" be-
cause that is taboo. The newer al
literate slogan has been adonted and