The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1920-02-10

mencement of the fifth week of the
General Assembly sees practically all
statewide measures of real import de-
cided upon or passed. with the en-
ception of improved highway legis-
lation and the general appropriations
bills. The good roads bill written by
the select legislative committee will
be introduced the first part Of this
week and there is not much iikeli-
hood of. the finance measure being
completed before next week.
The general concensus 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 allcted forty days.
adiourning sine die probably Feb
ruary IS. 1t was hoped that the
WAYS and means committee, having
the report of the budget commission
before it, would work fast this year
ard introduce the appropriations
measure early, but this was a vain
hope. The excuse for delay given by
the house finance body is that its
deliberations have been halted and de-
lsyed by the frequent prolonged re-
cesesses of the general assembly.
The real work on financial legis-
lation will have to be accomplished
this week, and the way has been
made clear for this by resolution
of the ways and means committee,
adopted last week, not to hold any
more hearings. 1t appears now that
the house will adopt the ways and
means bill some time next week, but
only after debate, unless there are
changes in some of the recommenda-
tions of the budget commission,
which are not altogether agreeable
to certain of the members of the
house. There seems to be the usual
disposition to curtail appropriations
which come up each election year:
those members desiring reelection do
rot want to go before the people
with heavy levy staring them IN the
face, regardless Of the urgent neces-
sity of larger appropriations.
There appears to be some dlSsatis-
faction with the bill prepared by the
select highway committee among the
friends Of q yea! State highway sys-
tenn, which they claim this bill does
rot provide fer. On the face OF the
measure, with its tonnage tax Oh mo-
scr-Gr;vcn vehicles ard twc-y7:!l prep
erty levy, they say, large additional
revenue is provided for road con-
struction. 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 prin-
cipal CT good roads bonds. and prac-
tically all the counties have or will
have issues for improved highways,
they claim, and this is but another
method of financing these bonds. The
new method of licensing motor-driv-
en- vehicles, they aver, will give some
additional revenue, but not sufficient
for an adequate highway system.
They are bold to admit that they
consider the present law superior to
the select committee bill.
Despite these objections, however.
it is probable that the measure as
drafted will be passed with possible
amendments. 1t is compromise Of
the various views held on highways
in the general assembly, and will
meet the desires Of the majporlty OF
the members. It is not likely that
there will be serious opposition to It,
as the advocates of a hard-surfaced
highway system realize that they
can not get their wants this session.
This legislation all admit is tempo
rary, 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. 1t had a hard work before it
to reconcile the differences Of the
various proposals and to bring in a
bill as working basis which would
be at all likely Of being accepted.
Those who are not enthusiastic over
the present bill realize that the COM
mittee did conscientious piece OF
work.
Another matter Of large interest
to come up in the house this week
is the disposition Of the concurrent
resolution putting the members on
record as to an appropriation of
S15O,O0O to be expended under the
d;roo+;o, IF tba oytension Hana rt,npnt