Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-02-08
Legislative Proceedings.
On Wednesday. the Slst, the Senat,

hCSfSfatlVe EIOCeeuluSSs
On Wednesday, the 3lst, the Senate
were unimportant
Senator Arnim introduced bill to
amend the election law. This bill Is en-
titled :" A bill to amend an act entitled al
act providing for the general elections,
and the manner of conducting the same,
and it provides, first, that the managers OF
election shall proceed Immediately after
the closing of the polls at each election
to publicly count and declare the vote;
second, that they shall deliver their certl-
fcates declaring the vote, together with
the pollists and ballot-boxes, to the COM
missioners of election on the Tuesday fol-
lowing the election, filing a duplicate
thereof at The same time with the county
clerk, and forwarding another to the sec
retary of State; and third, that in the ap-
poilitment of managers and commission
ers Of election, at least one member OF
each board shall be member Of the op-;
posite political party to the one in power.
In the House, Hunter, of Charleston,
introduced the tax bill, which authorizes a
tax levy of sixteen mills Tor the State and
three mills for the counties, for the year
1872. This tax is to be collected as fol-
lows: Three mills on the dollar payable
between June lst and July lst, 1872 ten
mills on the dollar, payable between No
vember 10Th, 1872, and January 10th,
1878; three mills on the dollar, payable
between June lst and July lst, 1873. In
addition to this, the County Commission
ers are authorized to levy a tax of three
mills on the dollar for County purposes
This is douceaw for the taxpayers. Last
year the State levy was seven mills and
the County levy three mills. But the
money must be raised, and who are better
able to pay it than the taxpayers.
There is no necessity for this excessive
taxation-and surely the Radical -leglsla-
tors themselves have more regard for their
own party interests in this State, and
in other Republican States, than to pass
so open and bare-faced aswindhng tax bill.
Nehemias introduced a bill to regulate
the pay of the members OF the General
Assembly. It gives them fixed salary
of $1,000, payable quarterly, and twenty
cents mileage.
One Gather introduced q bill in rela-
ton to gambling. This bill proposes to
extend the definition and apply the pains
and penalties of gambling to the sport
known IS cock fighting; prohibits any
town or city council from issuing license
to any establishment where " chicken dis
putesa are INDUCED in, and provides that
any mavor or intendant sanctionlng such
license. or in any way offending against
this bill, shall be fined not less than $500
or more than $500.
June Mobley, of Union, introduced a
bill to protect labor when improving the
lands Of their employers, and its provl-
sions are that when any person employed
about a farm or plantation shall make I'M
provements in the premises of his employ
er, occupied by him, (the employee) he
shall be entitled to fair compensation for
such improvements, and unless such com
pensation be paid by the owner of the
land, the person occupying such premises
shall be entitled to remain IN possession
and shall not be liable to be elected until
a settlement is made
On Thursday, Feb. l, in the Senate,
further time was granted to the commit
tee to investigate the returns made to the
State by phosphate companies.
Whittemore introduced another amend
ment to the general election law.
The bill to abolish the Office of State
auditor, and confer the duties Of that Of
fee upon the comptroller-general, was
passed, and received its third reading.
In the House, the Charleston delega-
ton, to whom was referred the Metro
poitan Police Bill, submitted majority
report recommending the passage Of q
new substitute by Bowen, which appoints
R. B. Arisen, A. Logan and 81. c. Alinott
Police Commissioners, with power to ap-
point Superintendent at $500 salary
two Lieutenapts at 81, 200 salary; eighty
patrolmen at $500 salary. The Commits
sioners are to be elected at the next gene
raj election by the people, and can be re-
moved by the Governor, and to receive
$1,000 salary.
1t also establishes Police Court, with
three Justices, and abolishes the Trial
Justices from the corporate limits OF the
city. The County Of Charleston consti-
tutes the Metropolitan Dis trict, and the
members OF the force are vested With all
powers of Constables in every portion OF
the State; it also provides for Detective
Force. The Mayor is to purchase arms
and equipments for the Force: The new
Bill was made the special order fer Mon
day.
Yocum introduced a bill to appoint an
other financial investigating committee,
with power to sit in Charleston during the
coming summer.
Singleton gave notice Of new bill to
cancel the liability of the State on the
guaranteed bonds of the Blue Ridge Rail
road
In the afternoon there was long de-
bate, and number of new Bills of no
special consequence introduced.
The Legislative proceedings of Friday
and Monday were utterly destitute of any
general interest.