The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-16
CAPITAL NEWS AND GOSSIP
Columbia, Dec. 14.-The genera
(By John K. Aull:)

Columbia, Dec. 1.-THE general
assembly, which convenes on January
l3, is going to try an interesting ex-
pertinent this year in regard to the
appropriation blll-experiment, SO far
as this state is concerned, though the
budget system is recognized in a
good many other states, and In his
recent message to Congress Presl-
dent Wilson recommended a budget
svstem~for the federal government.
The budget commission appointed
by the last session of the general
assembly has been busy whipping into
shape budget for the year 1929,
to be presented to the ccmlrg ses-
sion of the legislature. The commits
sion is composed Of the governor,
with The assistance of the chairman OF
the ways and means committee OF the
house and the chairman Of the finance
committee of the senate, who hold
public hearings during the month of
November, to determine the needs OF
the various state departments and IN
stitutions. Estinlaes are furnished
the governor by the comptroller gen
eral, and budget is to be submitted
by the governor within five days af-
ter the legislature convenes. Within
five DAYS thereafter the ways and
means committee of the house. and
the finance committee of the senate
are to begin joint meetings to con-
sider the budget as submitted. OF
course the legislature is not bound IN
any way by the budget, but the idea
is 10 get the whole matter on some
kind of definite basis upon which to
work, and also to get the appropria-
ton bill into the legislature and out
of the way before the closing hours
of the session.
Senator Christensen, of Beaufort,
is chairman of the finance committee
of the senate, and Representative
Bradford, of York, is chairman OF
the ways and means committee OF the
house. On account of Senator
Christensen's recent illness, from
which he has recovered, Senator
Ketchin, of Fairfield, took his place
at the hearing recently held in Col
umbia.
The working .cs the budget law
viii be watched with considerable IN
terest. Heretofore it has been the
custom for the ways and means COM
nittee of the house to hold hearings
and frame, the appropriation bill,
which has always been introduced
late in the session, and after the bill
is passed by the house, it goes to the
finance committee of the senate,
which remodels it and sends it in to
the senate. For several years, how
ever, the committees of the two
houses have been holding their hear
ings in joint session, to save time af-
ter the bill reaches the senate COM
mjttee.
The wishes of the senate have gen
orally largely prevailed in the mat
ter of appropriations for some years
past. At several sessions in recent
years the house has threatened to re-
iect the report of the free conference
committee, to which the bill is sent
to adjust the differences between the
two houses after the senate Fac re-
written the house bill. To reject the
report of this committee would mean
tina: the appropriation bill would de,
and the legislature would lsave to re-
main in session and pass another one,
or the governor would have to call
an extra session for that purpose.
The house, however, has never car
ried out it's threat, but the report OF
the free conference committee has
always been adopted in the final rush
hours of the session.
If the budget system will bring
about consideration of the appropria-
tion bill earlier in the session, even If
it accomplishes nothing else, 1T will
be we'll worth while. The appropria-
ton measure as it finally comes from
conference, carrying millions Of dol
lars. is now rushed through at the
very close of the session. oftlmes IN
the hours between midnight and day.
break, with sometimes only scatter
ing attendance of members: ans 1t
would be incalculably better to DIS
pose of the measure earlier IT the
session. both on account of rs M
pcrtance, and to clear the decks for
constructive legislation.
i There has been a good deal of anti
woman suffrage literature coming IN
to South Carolina from Alabama, and
some of it is very interesting. 1t
has caught the attention of the suf-
fragists in this State, and there have
been some replies to it in the press.
Opinions vary as to what course
the legislature will pursue in this re-
gard. It may decide to let the mat
ter lie over until the next session,
and give the people of the State an
opportunity to express themselves in
the election this summer. Perhaps
that would be the best solution of the
entire matter. This thing Of leglsla-
lures voting away the rights of the
states without submitting the ques-