The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-01-17


rent of Politics Evident In Nearly
Every Move.
(By j. Rutledge McGhee)
Columbia, Jan. 13. (Special)
finst week of the 1917 session of the
General Assembly has passed and
FROM indications 1t seems that the
present session will be quiet one,
with only a ripple here and there to
create any great attention. The com
pleXion of the assembly shows about
eishty per cent. new material, but
from what can be learned in advance
this material will measure up to the
average personc sent here as the
representatives of the deer pccpul,"
in former years
Less than thirty old members were
sent back to the House while the Sen
ate side has only eleven new members
two thirds of that body being elected
each two years. Each house the past
week spent It's time in getting .the
kinks out in order to start work in
earnest the coming six weeks. Mat
ters left over from last session were
attended to, and the decks were clear
ed for action. Several bills intro
duced the first week give something
of an indication of what will be the
discussion In this assembly. Among
these may be mentioned the "air
tight liquor bill by Representative
w. R Richcy, Jr., Of Laurens, who
has, introduced q straight out prohi-
bition measure designed to prevent
shipments Of liquor, wines or beer
into the state. This bill will likely
be the bone Of contention, as likewise
the liquor bill Of Senator Hughes, of
Union, introduced in the Senate,
modifying the present gallon a month
law, so to allow shipments of sixty
pints Of beer in lieu of gallon of
whiskey. 1t is likely that several
more bills will be introduced bearing
upon the liquor question. Represcn-
tauve Toole, Of Aiken, has introduce
ed bill taxing soft drinks Of all
kinds--coca cola, chero cola and the
like.
Another matter of statewide inter-
est Is the bill by Messrs Walker and
Boyd in the House to abolish the state
warehouse system entirely. The state
warehouse system will likely come in
forSits usual share Of attention at the
hands OF the general assembly. Jno.
l.. Mc1aurin, in his report, submits
his resignation, and a new commits
sioner Will have to be elected. 1t is
well known that the system has been
under fire ever since It's creation by
ne special session OF 1914. Those
who oppose the system point to the
fact that in October and November of
last year there were so many ware
houses empty, and that the small
farmers, and that it has not served
its purposes. Those politically in
clined--and most everybody around
the state house is politically inclin-
ed', else they would not be repre-
senting the people. also say that Mr.
McLaurin attempted to use tho system
to elevate himself, or to aid his friend
or friends along that line. They state
that his resignation is most happy
one"-at the same time giving him
credit for being man OF ability.
Others take the view that he allowed
his zeal and partizanship to run. away
with his Judgment. His successor
will have been elected by the time this
isSin print. There arc several appli-
cants for the job.
Another matter Of state wide inter-
est is the state highway measure SO
ably advocated last session .in the
house by Joe Berry, of Orangeburg.
This bill has been introduced again,
and will be fought to some conclusion.
1t Is matter which vitally concerns
the future progress OF the state, and
likely there Will be some interesting
speaking upon the matter. The
Spartanburg delegation Will intro
duce measure to place million dol
lar In bonds on that county for good
roads, similar to the one which was
passed by the Greenyille delegation