Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1919-02-05
Doings of che Legislature Re-
ported by The Advertisers
Editor.

i ported by Inc advertiser
Editor.
| Columbia, February 4.-As the
weekend adjournment included the
!, ;. first Monday it was day longer than
usual, in order to give the lawyers
who are members of the general as
sembly an opportunity to attend to
professional duties pertaining to the
usual first Monday sales, etc. How
ever, practically all have returned
and will at once get down to solid
work.
have heard many expressions of
real satisfaction over the election of
Gov. Sheppard to fill the vacancy in
the Senate caused by the death of
ESenator Nicholson. His long expert
ence in legislative matters will en-
able him to take up the work of the
late senator practically without inter-
!ruption.
The Senate will hold memorial in
honor of Senator Nicholson. AS he
WAS held in very high esteem in that
ibody, many of his co-workers will "a
vail themselves of the opportunity to
pay him last tribute.
Tomorrow at noon joint session
of the upper and lower houses will be
held for the purpose of electing a
superintendent and three directors
of the penitentiary and three trus-
tees of the Charleston Medical Col
lege.
The impression prevails that the
bill passed by the House abolishing
the present tax commission and pro-
viding for a commission of IA men,
bers instead of will be killed in the
Senate. A large number of legislators
are of the opinion that a men, some
of whom would doubtless be lacking
in efficiency, would OF perform the
duty of equalizing property as salts
factorily as the present commission
of three men. The impression prevails
here that the proposed change in the
commission is intended more to
change the personnel of the board
than to change the law itself.
Several good roads measures, one
of them being the plan providing for
the twenty-five million bond issue,
have been introduced in the House
and Senate and the matter will be
discussed and debated from every
angle this week. What the final re-
suit will be is purely a matter of con-
lecture at this time. There is how
ever, a strong desire, expressed on
every hand, in favor of good roads
Legislation.
The absence of liquor and railroad
Legislation is conspicuous at this ses-
sion. The quart a month for medici-
nal purposes is giving quite general
satisfaction. While too much amedi-
cine" is being ordered in some places
in the State, the federal law that goes
into effect the 1st of July Will regu-
late that. H. H. Evans of Newberry,
better known as Club" Evans of
dispensory fame, has introduced a
law providing for an increase of the
quantity from one quart to7one gal
Ion but that bill will.be killediby some
of US some morning before break
fast. 1t is regarded here as joke.
A very drastic bill looking to the
regulation of the sale of favoring ex-
tracts and some patent medicines
that contain such large percentage
of alcohol as to be purchased for bev-
erage purposes has been introduced
and will pass in an amendment form.
The text of the bill as originally in
itroduced is so drastic as to seriously
handicap a druggist and viii not
meet the approval Of the majority of
the House in that form. Some legis-
lation along this line IS needed but
it should not work a hardship on
druggists who are law abiding citi-
|zens.
It is very gratifying that both the
Senate and House are progressing
with their work without the slightest
friction or lack of harmony. Further
more, the executive and legislative
departments are working together
harmonious!y with common pur-
pose-to promote the welfare of the
people iouth Carolina.
will say, as matter of local in
terest, that l have introduced a bill
providing for the expenditure of the
Communication tax (the road tax) on