The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-24
ERG, S. c., THURSDAY, JANUARY a. 1913.

Stralghten out this admitted lnJuS-
tice. Nothing is going to be done in
a legislative way, one way or another.
The liquor problem is being settled,
as is the vice question, largely by ma
tional legislation. Prohibition is be-
ing largely Influenced by convictions
in the federal courts, and the same
thing is applying to the vice situation.
Only the other day Columbia white
man was convicted and sentenced to
the penitentiary in Atlanta for con-
Quoting a rendezvous in Columbia,
! under the statute which prevents
such places within the five-mile zone
of any army cantonment. The fed
eral courts are getting quick action
in both the prosecution of those who
bring liquor into the State and those
who monkey with" the soldiers.
This condition is, perhaps, some
what responsible for the absence of a
straight prohibition bill at this ses-
sion. For years and years bills have
been introduced looking towards
absolute prohibition in South Caro-
lima. The Reed statute is doing the
trick" now and the burden of the
suggestionst a this time are towards
Tightening up the quart-a-month law.
For instance, Senator DuRant wants
to restrict the permit on which the
quart-a-month is obtained to ply
sicians prescription. Senator Johns
tone, of Newberry, wants to make
the judges of probate more directly
responsible for the issuance of these
permits. Then, on the other hand,
there are several propositions to in
clude the various concoctions that re-
suit in intoxication. Dr.. Neuffer
wants to stop the promiscuous sale of
paregoric; Senator DuRant is gun
ming" for Jamaica ginger that brings
the jags. Senators Friday and Sher-
ard and Representatives Langford
and Norton have a bill by which they
would prohibit the sale of all pro-
prietary medicines, as well as cor
dials and tonics, that bring about
drunks. This is the trendoof the
legislation rather than involving the
principle in the quart-a-month law.
Ultimately, of course, it is expected
that there will be "bone-dry" condi-
tions as result of the passage of the
amendment to the federal constitu-
ton, providing for nationwide pro-
hibition.
Combination Disposition.
There does not seem to be a de-
cided disposition towards the consol-
idation of offices suggested. There
was one proposition to combine the
office of the State bank examiner with
that of insurance commissioner. The
idea seems to have been practically
abandoned. The committee on bank
ing and insurance on the house side
considered the proposition and de-
termined that it would not recon-
mend a bill along these lines, there
by leaving Independent and as at
present, the Offices of State bank ex-
aminer and insurance commissioner.
Then there was a suggestion OF
combining certain activities of the
commissioner of agriculture, COM
merce and industries with Clemson
college and of dividing other of these
responsibilities.
The talk now seems to- be to ''let
we'll enough alone" and not to dc
anything with reference to the divorc-
ing of any of these duties. The indi-
cations are that the department will
be left alone, except that it is posi-
Bile that something along the lines
of the Toole bill providing for
managing commission, and may be
provided, although the idea of com
missions is not in high favor just
at the moment.
Perhaps the most important
measure passed by the House is the
Cothran Australian ballot system
The House has passed this bill and
sent it over to the Senate, where the
chances are that bill along these
lines will be adopted. The central
idea of the Australian ballot system
of secrecy and non-partisan manage
ment is provided for, and thus far
there has been no suggestion OF
partisan temper in the discussion OF
the proposed Australian ballot
system.
The legislative session thus far has
been particularly and pleasantly de-
void of partisan feeling. There, has
| been talk in the interest of some OF