The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1917-02-08
bone Dry BILL
IN UPPER HOUSE
SENATOR NlckLtS, EVANS AND
FRIDAY ARE AUTHoRs.-mANv
BILLS ARE PASSED.
UNDER THE CAPITAL DOME
interesting Review Of the Doinas of
the General Assembly During the
Past Week.-Many Important Bills
Are introduced IN Both Houses,
Columbia.

| are introduced In Both Houses.
Columbia.
Members Of the senate during past
week have largely spared for time
centering their attention at several
| sessions OH local and uncontestcd mat.
ters. With the calendar cleared of
these measures, Senator Ketchfn's
| Dill, relating to mutual fire insurance
| companies. drew considerable debate
| The bill IS originally drafted, admit.
| ted organization OF but one mutual as.
surance society in each county. An
amendment by Senator Nicholson of
Edgefield county modified the bill SO
as to permit the formation of others
ana operation in other counties than
that in which formed. The bill was
sent to the house at noon.
Prominent among bills introduced
III the senate was one by Senator
Evans, Friday and Nickles calling for
straight prohibition law. Three
other liquor traffic regulation bills
are pending, two retaining the proyis.
ions of the gallon month law as to
the amount Of whiskey that NAV be
ordered. but admitting shipments of
beer and light wines in substitute. A
third measure would reduce the
amount to quart month, without
the beer or wine proviso
Senator Padgett Of Colleton county
introduced bill. looking to the en-
forcement of law already on the
statute books, which requires that
notes and mortgages on real and per-
sonal property and bonds for the pay
ment OF money shall be assessed.
Through this bill Mr.. Padgett believes
that several million dollars worth Of
property will be placed on the tax
books Of the state. Foreclosure Of
mortgages is prohibited, unless com.
petent testimony is produced that all
taxes. due and assessable against the
mortgage, have been paid. A SO per
cent penalty is collect able for viola
ton
Suffrage Fails In Senate.
The equal suffrage referendum
which had been the storm centre III
the upper house Of the general as
sembly several days. was killed, the
vote being 25 in its favor with l9
against. A two thirds vote was neces
sary for it's passage. A similar bill
is pending in the house. and the faith
full "pickets," who have stood daily
pleading for their cause. will now
transfer their efforts to the lower
branch. The resolution provided for
vote by the people in the next gen
nro1 ole tn,
progress on the proposed measure be
effectively stayed, the agitators plan
to bring the measure to the front one
year hence.
Press Tax Bills.
Fundamental and vigorous meas
ures for the reorganization of the
states tax system were considered
by the finance committee Of the SEN
ate. A group Of bills presented by
Mr.. Christensen. chairman of the
finance committee, is advocated by
Gov. Manning, A. w. Jones, chairman
Of the state tax commission; State
Treasurer Carter. Comptroller Gen.
eral Sawyer and Chairman Lilies and
n. p. Cothran of the ways and means
committee Of the house. Chairman
Christensen said that the bills had
been prepared after five conferences
held during the last two weeks, at the
instance Of the governor, by those
present before the committee First
there is a group Of bills designed to
amend the constitution and prepare
! for the regular reaSsessment Of 1918.
! with the purpose Of getting all the real
estate and tangible personal property
| on the tax books and having it fairly
| valued Then there is a second group
! Of bills that propose to secure some
| immediate relief.
New Warehouseman.
Waite Gaillard Smith Of Orange
| burg was elected state warehouse
| commissioner on the 10th ballot. The
general assembly deadlock began to
| break on the 14th ballot. and after
| the 18th John J. McMahan of Rich
land one OF the thhree leading candi-
dates, withdrew. leaving only J. A.
Drake and w. G.. Smith IN the race.
| Mr. Smith won by vote OF 50 to 73.
The bill Of Senator j. f. Williams.
| which would allow the introduction Of
| testimony as to character and reputa-
tion OF persons charged with rcck-
| less driving Of automobiles, was sent
| to the house.
At the several conferences between
members Of the ways and means com
mittee, theh finance committee OF the
| senate, Gov. Manning and members OF
the state tax commission. 1t was