The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-01-08
FORECAST OF WORK FOR
PRESENT NTLEGLSLAT1VE SESSION
Session VIII Probably Last Thirty Days. Time for Ses'
sions Thought Well as Sessions Action


The appropriation bill last year car
ried nearly s3,ooo,ooO, and the levy was
S15 mills. If all the appropriations which
are asked for at the coming session, or
dinarily, extraordinary and otherwise,
should be granted, State levy OF some
thing over 10 mills would be required.
Appropriations.
1t is hardly within the range OF prob
ability thatthe legislature will make all
the appropriations asked for, or that the
appropriation bill will aggregate the
total of the amounts requested in rhc
various estimates and measures pending
There will be trimming almost all along
the line, where increases are sought, and
the effort will be 10 keep the levy down
to its present figure. Some are doubtful
as to whether that can be done; but If
can be done, and the levy even reduced
if the strictest economy, consistent with
efficiency, is practiced.
There will be 10 fight upon any ap-
preparation asked for in connection with
the war emergency, if the members are
satisfied that it is necessary. At the
meeting of the State council of defense
recently, when the proposed legislation
to be submitted by that body was drawn,
Governor Manning suggested an appro-
priation of $4,000, which suggestion
was coneurred in by Major Richards,
who was defeated for governor by Man
ming in 1914. All factions and political
faiths are in accord upon the matter Of
adequate support, financial and other
wise, of the war measures of the State
and the government. Likewise, there
will be no disagreement upon such .ap-
propriations as the members are con-
vinced are necessary for carrying on
properly the various activities OF the
State. But there will be stubborn op-
position to starting any new enterprises
at this time, or to branching out into
anv new lines of endeavor, or to taking
on any burdens not demanded by the
war emergency, and, as stated, the leg
islature can, under the proper program,
not only not increase the levy, but re-
duce it, and at the same time take care
of all the necessary war emergency
measures, if it will.
The Council Of Defense.
The State council of defense has out
lined a measure which will be submit
ted to the general assembly, creating the
council as a State institution and defn-
ing its. powers and duties.- There are
two sections of the proposed measure
which have. come in for considerable
criticism as being too sweeping in their
provisions. There is one section which
devolves upon the council the power not
only of investigation, but of censorship,
with heavy penalties involved, and real
lv clothes it with even greater powers
than the courts now have. These sec
tions, however, before they are enacted
into law, will in all probability be so
amended as really to express what the
council must intend. There is hardly
any probability Of the Legislature cloth
ing any body of men with such arbitrary
powers as these two sections, taken to-
gether, would actually confer. In the
main, and as the council of defense evi,
IDENTIFY intends it, the proposed act is
otherwise wen-drawn, and will very
probably be passed in such shape as to
meet the wishes Of that body.
The Elections.
The general assembly will have mum
Der of important elections on its hands
One associate justice of the supreme
court and seven circuit judges are to be
elected. Associate Justice Hydrick Of
the supreme court will in all probability
be reelected without opposition The
terms of the following circuit judges
will expire during the coming year, ne
cessitating elections by this general as
sembly: Judges 1. W. Bowman of the
first circuit; Hayne F. Rice Of the second
circuit; John S. Wilson of the third
circuit; T. H. Spain of the fourth cir
! cult; Ernest Moore Of the sixth circuit
F. B. Gary Of the eighth circuit, and
T. j. Mauldin of the thirteenth circuit
Judge Mendel L. Smith of the fifth cir
cult, who, it was stated some time ago
had been appointed major in the judge
advocate generals department of the
army, has made no statement as YET
in regard to whether or not he will ten
der his resignation. In case he should
resign during the session, three members
of the Columbia bar and one member