The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-02-12
APPROPRIATION and
GOOD ROADS BILLS
$4,000 If NECESSARY FOR FLU
EPIDEMIC.
Remaining Big Measures.
Dissatisfaction Among Many Regard
ing Highway Provisions
Is Heard.
Remaining Big Measures.

sembly sees practically all statewide
measures of real import decided upon
or passed, with the exception of i'm
proved highway legislation and the
general appropriation bills. The good
roads bill written by the select legis-
lative committee will be introduced
the first part of this week and there
is not much likelihood of the finance
measure 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 it's allotted forty days
adjourning sine die probably Feb
ruary 28. 1t was hoped that the ways
and means committee, having the re-
port of the budget commission before
it, would work fast this year and in
troduce the appropriations measure
early, but this was vain hope. The
excuse for delay given by the house
finance body is that it's deliberations
have been halted and delayed by the
frequent prolonged recesses of the
general 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 a resolution of the
ways and means committee, adopted
last week, not to hold any more hear
ings. 1t appears now that the house
will adopt the ways and means bill
sometime next week, but only after
debate, unless there are changes in
some of the recommendations of the
budget commission, which are not al
together 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 not want to go before
the people with heavy levy staring
them in the face, regardless of the
urgent necessity of larger appropria-
tions.
Good Roads Measure.
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 forI On the face of the
measure, with it's tonnage tax on mo-
tor-driven vehicles and two-mill prop
erty levy, they say, large additional
revenue is provided for road construc-
ton, but in reality there is very
small increase in funds. The coun-
ties are allowed to use the money
from the levy for the payment of in
terest and the. taking up of principal
on good roads bonds, and practically
all the counties have or will have is
sues for improved highways, they
claim, and this is but another meth
cd of financing these bonds. The new
method of licensing motor-driven We
hicles, they aver, will give some ad-
ditional revenue, but not sufficient
for an adequate highway system:
They are bold to admit that they con-
slider 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 a compromise of
the various views held on highways in
the General Assembly, and will meet
the desires of the majority of the
members. 1t is not likely that there
will be serious opposition to it, as
the advocates of hard-surfaced
state highway system realize that
they cannot get their wants this ses-
sion. This legislation all admit is
temporary, and is merely nucleus
for a more advanced bill in the fu-
ture.
The select committee is receiving a
deal of praise for its expeditions
work. 1t had a hard task before it
to reconcile the difference of the va
rious proposals and to bring in bill
as wrecking 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 reso-
luton putting the members on rec
ord as to an appropriation of $780,