The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1920-02-12
IMPORTANT BILLS
YET TO Be PASSED
GOOD ROADS ANON G MEAS
URES TO BE CONSIDERED
AT THIS SESSION

practically all Statewide measures Of
real import decided upon or passed,
with the exception of improved high
way legislation and the general ap-
preparation bills. The good roads bill
written by tie select legislative COM
rnittee will be introduced the first
part of this week and there is not
much likelyhood of the finance meas
ure being completed before next week.
The general consensus of opinion
among those conversant with the
methods and the work of the General
Assembly is that it will run at least
one week over its allotted forty days
adiourning sine die probably February
%. 1t was hoped that the ways and
means committee, having the report
of. the budget commission before it,
would work fast this year and intro
duce the appropriation measure early,
but this was vain hope. The excuse
for delay given by the House finance
body is that its deliberations have
been halted and delayed by the fire.
/, quent prolonged reeesses of the Cen
eral Assembly.
The real work on financial legisla-
ton will have to be accomplished this
week, and the way has been made
clear for this by resolution of the
ways and means committee. 1t ap-
pears now that the House will adopt
the ways and means bill some time
next week, but only after debate, un-
less there are changes in some of the
recommendations of the budget COM
mission, which are not altogether
agreeable to certain of the members
of, the House. There seems to be the
usual disposition to curtail appropria-
tions which come up each election
year; those members desiring reelec-
ton do not want to go before the peo-
pie with a, heavy levy staring them
in the face, regardless of the urgent
necessity of larger appropriations.
There appears to be some dissatis-
faction with the bill prepared by the
select highway committee among the
friends of real State highway sys-
tenn, which they claim this bill does
not provide for. On the face of the
measure, with its tonnage tax on mo-
tor-driyen vehicles and two-mill prop
erty levy, they say, large additional
revenue is provided for road construc-
ton, but in reality there is a very
small increase in funds. The counties
are allowed to use the money from
the levy for the payment of interest
and the. taking up of principal on
good roads bonds, and practically all
the counties have or will have issues
for improved highways, they claim,
and this is but another method of fl
nancing these bonds The new method
of licensing motor-driven vehicles,
they aver, will give some additional
revenue, but not sufficient for an ade-
\te highway system. They are bold
that they consider the pres
- superior to the select commit
= 5ll.
kS sspite these objections, however,
Z is probable that the measure as
afted will be passed with possible
amendments. 1t is compromise of
ti7elvarious views held on highways in
Me General Assembly, and will meet
sthe desires of the majority of the
members. 1t is not likely that there
will be serious opposition to it, as the
advocates of a hard-surfaced State
highway system realize that they can
not get their wants this session. This
legislation all admit is temporary,
and is merely nucleus for a more
advanced bill in the future.
The select committee is receiving a
deal of praise for its expeditions work.
It had hard task before it to recon-
cile the difference of the various pro-
posals and to bring in a bill as a
working basis which would be at all
likely of being accepted. Those who
are not enthusiastic over the present
bill realize that the committee did a
conscientious piece of work.
Another matter of large interest to
come up in the House this week is
the disposition of the concurrent reso-
luton putting the members on rec
ord as to an appropriation of $780,
900 to be expended under the direc-
ton of the extension department of
Clemson College in efforts being made
to counteract the effects of the boil
weevil. There is much opposition to
n ~ 1N&L