The Lancaster News

WOULD AN EXTRA SESSION AVAIL?

Should the governor call an extra session of the legislature for some time during the summer, there arises the question: Would it avail anything? There would, of course, be the same members attending which attended the regular session, and they having voted upon the good roads legislation, could hardly be expected to change their views and vote for the proposed highway legislation. There would have elapsed little time for the sounding of public sentiment, in the highly probable event that the legislature did not know what is the sentiment while the legislation was under discussion. But it is likewise true that some time will have elapsed and it is quite possible that the legislators returning home from the regular session were met at the depot by the knowledge that the people were keenly disappointed in not securing some legislation by which the highways might be improved.

The people ARE keenly disappointed. The governor of the state has said in a public statement that he is keenly disappointed. And there is reason for that disappointment. The advancement of the state industrially, agriculturally, financially, socially, educationally, religiously, and in every other conceivable way, has been seriously retarded. Good roads are conducive to all of these things. Good roads increase the earning power of man, teams and motor driven vehicles, farm machinery; enhance the value of property.

But the legislature refused to give to the state what would materially increase the benefits derived from all vocations and all callings. There might be one way to get good roads legislation from the members of the present general assembly at an extra session. That is, present them with petitions signed by a majority of the voters of the state and tell them "that is what we want you to do:" then see that it is done. If the legislature can not see, then some one will have to see for them.

Should an extra session be called and avail nothing, it would be a heavy expense upon the state for which there would be no results. But if there is any assurance that the legislature will make any provision for better roads in South Carolina, by all means, let's have the extra session.