The herald and news. (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, January 17, 1905, Image 1
erat Rn-t
VOL. XLII. NO. 29 NEWBERRY, S. C., TUESDAY JANUARY 17, 1905. TWICE --A'WEV 15 AYA
THE FIRST WEEK OF
THE LEGISLATURE
MANY BILLS RELATING TO
DISPENSARY.
Pirst Week Has Not Resulted in
Much Real Work-The En
grossing Department.
Columbia, Jan. 16.-The first week
of the legislature has not resulted in
much real work by either branch, but
the engrossing department has been
heavier worked the first week than for
a number ofyears during the same time
This is caused by the unusual num
ber of new bills which have been
brought here by the new members
and the old ones as well.
There have already been more than
one hundred and fifty new measures
prepared and the end is not near in
sight. It shows a great unrest
throughout the state on many subjects
and besides there are many new
members who feel that they must do
something and that the way to do
something is to introduce new bills
and change existing laws.
There are already some six or sev
en new bills proposed to amend the
dispensary law. Mr. Brice has not
introduced the original Brice bill but
has another proposition to.amend the
dispensary. Just what will be done
of course cannot be even guessed at
at this stage of the the proceedings,
but I venture to say that I am of the
opinion that this session will make no
important changes in the present law.
The reason for this opinion is the
many divergent and conflicting rem
edies or changes proposed, and at this
session it will scarcely be possible to
agree on anything. It shows that
the people are dissatisfied with the
law as at present administered and
some change is certain in the near
future. The report of the board of
directors for the past fiscal year
shows a more successful one from a
financial point of view than in the his
tory of the institution and more mon
ey has been turned into the school
fund than ever before.
There seems to be a demand for
some sort of marriage license law,
judging from the number of bills in
troduced proposing some sort of leg
islation on this subject.
Then there are a number of propo
sitions to change the jury law, sever
al bills having been introduced on
this subject.
I There are seven or more proposi
tions to amend the state constitution.
It is not probable that many of these
will go through. One is to make the
terms of circuit judges sixteen in
stead of four years.
Th.e bill of Mr. DesChamps regu
lating the granting of free scholar
ships in state colleges provides that
the auditor must furnish the superin
tendent of education with a certifi
eate showing the amount of property
assessed for taxation in the name of
the beneficiary, the parent or guar
dian and then the superintendent of
education is to publish the name of
the beneficiary together with the cer
tificate from the auditor.
The sentiment seems to be growing
in favor of some sort of compulsory
education law and I believe some one
of the different measures proposed
will be enacted at this session. The
governor urges it in his message and
several bills looking to that end hiave
already been introduced.
The celebrations of the centennial
of the South Carolina college brought
a large number of people to Columbia
last week and the alumni and stu
dnts of the institution have had a
great time. It is something for a col
lege to have a history of a hundred
years behind it. A number of South
Carolinians have had honorary de
grees conferred upon them by the
college. Nearly all of the college
presidents in the state were made
doctors of laws.
The old solicitors in the engross
ing department say that the first days
of this legislative session have had an
unusual number of new bills. Up to
today we had written up one hundred
and fifty new laws or suggested
changes in existing laws. Of course
many of these will never become law
but there are those who feel that it
is necessary to do something and
who believe that doing something
consists in introducing bills that it
has always been the case that we have
a great many measures proposed
which never'go any further.
Mr. Earhardt has introduced a bill
to require all labor contracts to be
indexed.
The Newberry delegation has in
troduced a bill to change the charter
of the Newberry graded school so as
to make the trustees elective by the
people. It provides for only five trus
tees, one to be elected by each ward
of the town.
* * *
Mr. Higgins has introduced a reso
lution providing for a commission to
sit during the recess to revise the
school law of the state.
E. H. A.
REVIEW OF THE WEEK.
Legislature Down to Work-Much,
Interest Centres in Dis
pensary Measures.
Columbia, January 16.-The gener
al assembly today enters upon the
second week of the session. It al
ways takes several days for a legis
latiire to get organized and down to
work, but, while very little has been
actually done so far, a large number
of important measures have already
been introduced and the foundations
have been laid, as it were, for the
work of the session. There are a
number of new members both in the
house and in the senate, but a large
number of those who-have seen much
service in the legislature remain, and
the machinery in both houses is run
ning smoothly.
The chief interest in the session so
far centres in the agitation of the dis
pensary question. The Blease reso
lution, proposing to appoint a joint
committee consisting of two senators
and three members of the house to
conduct a sweeping investigation in
connection with the dispensary, has
been set for discussion on Tuesday.
The scope of the proposed investiga
tion is clearly set out in the resolu
tion, a part of which, while it has al
ready been published ln The Herald
and News, is given herewith:
(a) Whether or not it is a fact that
houses represented by agents who are
near relatives of the members of the
board of directors receive large or
ders at each purchase.
(b) Is it a fact that members of the
board of directors are, or have been,
agents for certain wholesale houses,
from which large purchases are
made?
(c) Is it a fact that parties to whom
large orders are given are not whole
sale dealers but brokers, and that the
orders are filled by third persons, thus
making the state pay the commissions
of the middle man?
(d) WVas it necessary to purchase
the large quanity of liquors ordered
in December, 1904. to fill demands,
andl especially the new and fancy
goodics purchased which is unknown to
the trade?
I(e) Are the extraordinary heavy
purchases made necessary to the best
business interests of the dispensary
system?
(f) What is the financial standing
of the business ,and is it run on the
best principles for the interest of the
law as originally passed and amend
ed?
(g) Is it a fact that the state,
through the dispensaries, is violating
the constitution of 1895, in that it is
selling whiskey in less quantities than
one-half of one pint?
(h) Is it a fact that the state is sell
ing 5's in case goods to its custom
ers and charging them for one quart?
(i) Is it a fact that certain agents
are travelling over the state and offer
ing special inducements to county dis
pensers to "push" certain brands of
liquors, and if so, is it a fact known
to the members of the state board of
directors?
(j) Is it a fact that certain require
ments of the aw are dispensed with
by the county dispensers by order of,
or by the consent of, the members of
the state board vf directors?
(k) Has the whiskey which has
been recently purchesed been ordered
out from the dealer or is held in re
serve for future delivery?
(1) What is the indebtedness of the
dispensary for liquors which have
been bought but not delivered?
It was thought this morning by sev
eral members of the general assem
bly that the resolution would proba
bly pass.
Senator Raysor has introduced a
bill which carries out the suggestion
embodied by Governor Heyward in
his annual message, except that he
proposed that the state board of di
rectors Vhall be app9inted by the gov
ernor, shall meet weekly, and shall
be paid $1,5oo per year.
Senator Brice has introduced a bill,
which is practically a local option
measure. It requires an election and
the decision of a majority of the qua!
ified voters of a township city or
town before a dispensary can be es
tablished. and if the people vote
against the establishment of a dis
pensary then those already existing
are to be abolished. The bill purposes
to change Section 7 of the law so that
it shall read as follows:
Section 7. There may be one or
more county dispensers appointed for
each county, the place of business for
each to be designated by the county
board of control, but the state board
of control must give consent before
more than one dispenser can be ap
pointed in any county. and when the
county board designates a locality for
a dispensary, twenty days' public no
tice of which shall be given, it shall
be competent for a majority of the
qualified voters of the township in
which the dispensary is to be located
to prevent it location in such town
ship by signing a petition or petitions
to the county board requesting that
no dispensary be established in the
township. Any incorporated city or
town may secure the establishment of
a dispensary or dispensaries within
its limits in the following manner:
Upon the petition of one-fourth of
the qualified voters of such town or
city, as shown by the registration
books of the same, an election either
upon the establishment or removal of
dispensaries therein, being filed with
the intendant or mayor of such town
or city, he shall order an election,
submitting the question of the "dis
pensary" or "no dispensary" to the
qualified voters of the town or city,
which election shall be conducted as
other special elections, by managers
appointed by the town or city cover
ed, and if a majority of the ballots
cast be found and declared to be for
a dispensary, then a dispensary may
be established in said town or city,
but if a majority of the ballots cast
be found to be against the dispensary,
then no dlispensary shall be establish
ed therin, and any dispensary already
established shall be closed. Elections
under this section cannot be held of
tener than every four years.
No dispensary shall be established
inany conty,ton or city wherein
the sale of alcholic liquors was pro- i
hibited prior to July 1. 1893, except 1
as herein permitted. Provided, that,
where dispensaries have been estab- i
lished in such county. town or city
they shall remain established until re- (
moved or closed as permitted in this
act.
Provided. a dispensary shall not be
stablished in any town or or munici
palitv without a majority vote of such I
:!wn 4or municipality in favor of such t
%tablishment. t
The question of compulsory edu- <
cation promises to receive a great t
..al of consideration at this session i
f the legislature. and a compulsory i
-lucation law of some kind is being
%--ry strongly urged. Already com
pulsory education bills have been in- t
troduced in both houses. I
There will, of course, be a great f
deal of discussion in regard to the I
state's financies.
Bills have been introduced in the f
senate to reduce passenger fares to I
a and 1-2 cents instead of 3 cents.
Representative Joshua Ashley's bill I
to abolish the department of immi- I
gration has created but little interest.
Even those who fought the creation
:f the bureau do not want to pull it
lown, now that it has been establish
!d.
So far there have been no discus
;ions or debates in either house, and
It is impossible yet to reach any con
:lusion as to the feeling of a majori
ty of the members in* regard to the
mportant questions which will be up I
or consideration and discussion. It
s not generally regarded as probable t
that any radical change will be made
n the dispensary law at this session, <
t being stated that of the number of t
measures which will be urged it I
would be a hard matter to agree on
iny one during the present session.
[t seems probable, however, that
.here will be some dispensary legisla
tion in the very near future. What t
:hanges will be made in the law it is, I
>f course, impossible to predict. Sen
itor Tillman's speech at Gaffney has
set the friends'of the dispenary to work
to improve the system, if possible. Its
enemies ar proposing a number of i
:hanges, of course. But, while the T
nvestigating committee provided for t
in Mr. Blease's resolution may be ap
pointed it does not seem probable
that at the present session any radical I
:hange will be made in the law.
J. K. A.
, 1
THE HOMAGE OF THE WISE.
Dr. J. A. B. Scherer Fills Pulpit of
Central Methodist Church-A
Strong and Practical Sermon.
Dr. James A. B. Scherer, president
of Newberry college. delivered a
strong, forceful, and exceedingly
practical sermon at the Cent,l~ Meth
odist on Sunday night. Us subject
was "The Homage of the Wise." His
text was Matt. 2:1. The following
is a brief synopsis of the speaker's
rearks:
There came wise men. Who were
they? We do not know. Some think1
that they were kings, others that they
were simply scholars. Some think
that they were rich, others that there
were somewhat poor. We do not
even know how many there were.
Certain great teachers have believed
that there were twelve. It is now
commonly supposed that there were
three. because three gifts are men
tioned. We do not know who they
were, but we do know that they were
wise men.
How do we know that they were
wise men? Not because the scripture
calls them so, for the word "magoi"
may be variously translated. We
know that they were wise because of
what they did with reference to the
Savior.
They were led by a star, the story
tells us. The astromomer Kepler cal
culated this star, which is as truly
natra as an of the others but it was
ised of God for a divine purpose. The
vise men believed that it was God's
tar. so they followed it. The first
eason why I know they were truly
vise is because they had an eye for
3od's token.
Have we? God often sends signs
o us men, but we have not always
.n eye for them. We know how to
liscern the face of the heavens, but
ve cannot discern the signs of the
imes. We are interested in the eas
ern war. for example, because of its
ommercial possibilities, but are blind
o the christian opportunities which
t presents. We talk about the pre
,ailing lawjessness in our country, but
re blind to its manifest token of
hristian indifference, for if the chris
ian citizenship of this country were
ight, then the country would be right
rom Maine to California, and in
iorth and south alike. To bring it
loser home-I am stricken with a
ever. The physidians battle for my
ife. For weeks the issue is in doubts
nd at last they win. Let us also
tope that the good God has also
ieard the prayers that have been sent
ip for me. I become convalescent.
have to lie there in bed and think.
nd when once I begin to think about
piritual matters as much as I think
bout the weather, then I see very
learly that this sickness is a token
>f God. It is a sign that life is un
ertain but death is sure. Then the
,ood God makes me well again. I
o to my work and become too busy
o think. His tokens 'are forgotten
vhile I give myself to the study of
he stock reports.
Now let us go back to the wise 'men
)f the east. They have come almost
o the end of their journey after per
aps two years of wandering follow
ng the sign in the sky. We find them
ow in Jerusalem searching the Old
Pestament. The star has led them
o God's word. And this brings us
o the second reason why we may
ow those men were truly wise.
Phey had an ear for God's word?
4ave we? Do we make it the man of
ur council? Is the family altar erect
n our home? Do we honor God's
vord before our children? Do we
>ractice it in our daily life? Do the
eachers really teach it in the Sunday
;chool. or do they play at teaching.
f we would be truly wise we must
ave an ear for God's word.
Led by the star and also by the
cripture. the sages finally reached
ethlehem. and found the child with
is mother, in a certain house. Then
hey spread their trophies at His feet
nd worshipped him. The third rea
con why I know they were truly
vise is because they had a heart for
;od's Son. Have we?
How foolish it must have seemed
o the outside world to see those
vise and weary strangers bowing
lown in worship to a homeless little
)aby! And yet they were wise. They
mew that he was a king who did not
ieed garish finery to make him glor
ois or a throne to make him royal.
They worshipped him as the eter
al God who could well dispense
with our poor human accessories of
-plendor. The world still says, just
i it said then, that it is foolish to
ive real homage to the Savior. They
10 not say that it is foolish to go to
:hurch, or to be called christians.
hese things are fashionable now-a
lays, but they are often something
rery different from the real worship
>f Christ. The world still says that
t is foolish to take him exactly at
is word and make the Golden rule
:he rule of our useless life and inter
~sts. But God tells us that if any
eem to be wise among you and de
ireth to be truly wise, let him be
ome a fool, and he may be wvise.
hall we listen to the world or to
od? Daniel. the teacher of the an
:ient wise men, tells us that if we
seek the wisdom of God, then "they
hat be wis shall shine as the bright
ness of the firmament and as the