The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-01-20


Another piece of proposed legsla-
ton that is viscious is the bill intro
duced by Representative Toole Of Ak
en-. He has introduced bill which
reads as follows:
When any firm, individual or cor
poration engaged in the manufacture
Of cotton within this state either as
Il cotton mill, textile industry or by
whatever other name known or called
shall close its plant, factory or mill
for 20 consecutive days in one year
and such notice of the closing Of said
business he brought to the attention
of the governor he shall Immediately
instruct the bank examiner to proceed
to audit the books of the said manu-
factory and it, in the opinion of the
said bank examiner, who shall report
the same to the governor, he shall or
der the said manufactory to resume
operation within a period of ten days.
"The suspending of operation Of
business within one day of the 20
hercinabove provided shall be deemed
as a move to defeat the object of this
act and shall be considered closing
of "a consecutive days.
4. =. a. .-.y person, firm or corporation
violating the provisions of this act,
shall be subject to a fine of $1,000 for
each day business is not resumed after
notice to such corporation by the gov
crnor."
Just another piece of class legisla-
ton, and one subversion of every prin-
ciplc Of free government. Its only cf-
feet will be to drive capital out of the
mill business in the STATE and cause
new capital to seek other channels.
Next thing we will be having land
owners compelled TO furnish work for
tenants twelve months in the year.
Why cannot there be the enactment
and enforcement Of great fundamental
laws that apply to all industries :?
Have we not enough laws now? The
great trouble is that the laws we have
that are good are not enforced. There
is entirely too much tendency TO So
c.alism in such laws as that proposed
by Mr.. Toolc. Soon we will have the
State not only laying down minute
laws for the mill, store, farm and ev-
cry other activity. The condition will
become so intolerable that individuals
will quit trying to do anything; then
the State will be forced to step in and
run the various activities. Then we
will see high cost Of production and a
multiplication of the number Of unem-
pioycd. 1t is a great pity that there
should be n constant, mending on
slaught on invested capital in this
State. We have meddled with banks,
enacted laws for their supervision and
same might truthfully be said Of al
most every other duly incorporated en-
terprise There has developed such an
amount of government red tape that it
now requires the services of an ex-
pert lawyer to keep the owner out Of
the pentitentiary. We have gone al
ready entirely too far in the direction
of meddling. The meddling with banks
has not stopped bank failures; it never
will. 1t has piled on additional ex-
pense. Who pays for it? The bor-
rover has to pay, otherwise the bank
could not run. Instead Of helping and
protecting the innocent and the help
less. the laws that are being enacted
and many proposed laws are working
to the hurt Of the very man attempt
is made to help. There should be gen.
eral, broad laws, laws that anybody
can understand, and applicable gen.
orally to all commercial and indus
trial organizations. 1t might be law
that banks charge no more than 8
per cent. Such law that carried
penitcntiary offence when one was