The dispatch-news. [volume] (Lexington, S.C.) 1919-2001, 1921-02-23
HAPPENINGS OF THE
LEGISLATIVE WEEK


Of the legislative session slipped by
with very little accomplished in the
way of passing to a finality any laws
for the statute books. The week just
passed was one of hard work, how
ever, both houses holding night ses-
sions daily In the senate the main
fight came on the bill to abolish the
tax commission and the one which
! would have esta blished the eight-day
in cotton mills. The tax commission
was given another lease Of life, the
senate by q decisive vote refusing to
pass the bill Of the Saluda senator to
| abolish the commission. DR.. D. N.
Crosson senator from Lexington. was
among those who spoke in favor Of
| the tax commission and against the
| passage Of the bill. The Lexington
senator made a strong plea for the
! tax commission, showing where it
| had placed on the tax books much
! property: which had heretofore es-
! capped taxation. At the conclusion Of
| his sepech he was warmly congratu-
| lated.
The fight in the senate for the pas
sage of the eight-hour bill for textile
mills was staged Thursday night and
| lasted we'll into the night. The SEN
ate chamber was crowded to overflow
| ing with operatives from mills in the
| city and the battle ragged until the
midnight hour. After listening to
| several speeches on both sides Of the
question, the senate refused to follow
the house, which had earlier passed
| the bill, and voted to strike out the
enacting words.
Associate Justiceship.
The death Of Associate Justice Gage
of the supreme court bench at his
home in Chester early last week pre-
cipitated a contest which has impeded
legislative work and may necessitate
the general assembly remaining in
session another week. Ten candi-
dates entered the race but several of
them have withdrawn. The leading
candidates up to the time Of adjourn
ment last Friday night were Mr.. J.
F.. Carter Of Bamberg, Gen. Milledge
l.. Bonham Of Anderson and Senator
J. II. Marion of Chester, running in
the order named. Among others voted
for are Prof. Rucker Of the Univer-
sity law school and circuit judges Nc
Iver. Shipp. Sease, Townsend, Moore
and Rice. The deadlock appeared
complete Friday when the legislature
adjourned.
The most important matters now
before the legislature pertain to rails
| ing of revenue. OF these chief in
terest centers in the general appropri-
alton bill. which came from the house
carrying Il total Of $6,563.361.71 and
| calling for levy Of II mills as
| against - mills last year and also sus-
| pending tn" twO-mill road tax, MAX
! ing Il total decrease in the state levy
Of three mills. This bill is still in
thu. hands of the senate finance COM
mittet and will be reported out some
time the latter part of the week.
There are some indications that a
stiff fight will be made on some parts
, Of the appropriation bill when it is read
in the senate.
In addition to. the appropriation
/ bill the house has passed bill impos-
ing q tax Of one cent a gallon on
gasoline and another bill imposing 4
graduated tax on inheritances over
$500 and has under considera ton
; an income tax bill and business
license tax bill. 1t is hoped if these
measures become law to materially
reduce the levy on property, but their
passage is BY no means u foregone
conclusion. The senate finance COM
nlittee submitted an unfavorable re-
port on the inheritance tax measure,
which in most cases means the death
of a bill In this case, however, a
determined effort will be made to put
this measure over, despite the un-
favorable report. The main argu-
ment for this form of taxation is that
1t will tax large estates which have
been accumulated under the protec-
ton OF the state and to that extent
will tighten the burden on those who
are hardly able to pay much taxes.
1t is poir ed out that had the state
had Suc' law on the books tn" last