The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-02-19
Legislature Has Crowded Calen-
dar Of Important Bills and
Should Adjourn Saturday.
MUST EXTEND SESSIONS
OR NEGLECT BUSINESS
Appropriation Bill and Practical
ly All Other Important Meas
ures Yet to Be Disposed Of.

Columbia, Feb. 17.-The forty days
cf the general assembly will be up
Saturday night but it appears un-
likely that the body will finish its
work by that time. If it does some
very important legislation will have
to be passed over, including the gooc
roads b:il. The bills will not be TAX
en- up r ni'fner house until tomorrow.
The senate I,as made them special
order for tonight but it is hardly
probable that it will discuss them be-
fore tomorrow. It certainly seems very
unlikely that vote Will be reacnea
on them before tomorrow or Wednes-
day. It will be impossible for the bills
to get through by Saturday night un-
less the Senate votes or and passes
then? tonight.
Senator Christensen served notice
on the senate las, week that 1t would
be humanity impossible for the legls-
lature to adjourn this week. Ee said
the finance committee of the senate
would Lave to have three or four days
in which TO consider the appropria-
ton bill It will hardly be able to re-
port it back before Thursday.
The senate has much work ahead
OF it. The bill abolishing the tax
commission has not yet been acted
upcn It will cause a fight. The bill
preventing the sale Of patent medi-
ciaes, extracts, etc. for use as bever-
age is also on the senate calendar
awaiting action as is the house bill
p, ovidins for memorial building at
the University to the men who fell
in France.
The house has the constitutional
convention resolution and several
other important matters to dispose OF.
The Christensen bill providing for
- -..Eade,et system las not yet been
taken up.
There are so many important mat
ters awaiting consideration in both
houses that il seems out Of the ques-
tier that adjournment can be reach
cd this week.
II is expected that the Senate will
get to work on TIE compu!sor., edu-
cation bill this week The bill will
probably be amerded somewhat n the
up-,er house The House Gu. the num-
be7- of months child is required to
attend school down to four. The
Senate may raise it back to SIX.
The appropriation bill went
through the house in splendid shape.
There was probably less debate on 1t
this year than il. many. many years.
Objection was raised only 20 about
half a dozen items. The WAYS and
means committee was sustained IN
practically every instance.
The till, as amended, carried a To-
.al- $4,000 greater th@n reported. TEE
levy was not affected.
The greatest change was the addi-
ton OF an item Of $4,000 TO cover
the expenses of delegation to the
peace congress to look after the cot
ton interests.
There was slight tilt over the
law enforcement fund but the fiGht on
il this year was tame indeed conlpar-
ed with last year and the previous
year
Last year and in 1917 also the
house OF representatives cut out the
,i.- enforcement fund. This year an
effort was made to strike it out but
L was retter weak and failed by an
..v,.rv*;a e,n.inG majority.
The charge was made that the fund
was used for political purposes in
1917 an, 1913.
Practically everybody connected
with the State government gets a sal
a.y raise this year. The appropria-
ton bill gives all clerks, etc. a raise
OF ten per cent. The heads Of all
departments have already been rais-
ed Tl,, fate Of the supreme court
justices raise IS somewhat Indefinite
as yet. The senate passed to third
reading a bill allowing al supreme
court justices who reside in Columbia
$500 additional. Senator 2IcCoI
made 4 fight on the measure on third
reading though and held it up.
The senator from Marlboro de-
clared that nc did not object 70 pay
ing the justices more-he links +ho--
are entitled to it and ought to have
it but he dislikes the plan hit upon
to raise them. de thinks it an eva
sion Of the constitution.
The bill introduced IN the house oy
Representative McAGams to control
venereal diseases is now q law of the
land. It was signed by Governor
Cooper Saturday.
Another bill Of interest signed by
the governor Saturday Was the Davi,
bill, which prohibits the location Of
court house within eight miles Of
county line This bill was passed 20
prevent B1ackville from getting the
court house of Barnwell county
There has been very little display
of factionalism at this session There
is minority group in the house that
sticks together pretty we'll but they
have not engaged in any factional
talk on the floor of the general as
seubly The nearest approach to it