The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-27
Tho Work OF the Legislature.

The Legislature has adjourned. Ine taA-
PAYERS will feel sense OF relief at the an
nouncement. A. session OF three months
has been consumed in legislation that ought
hardly to have occupied as many weeks.
Some measures have been adopted which We
cannot approve, and much has been LETT un-
done which might and should have been ac-
complished for the public good. But, on the
whole, we must say that we are deVoutly
thankful that the Legislature has done no
worse.
The number OF bills and joint resolutions
considered was between five and six hum
dred, about two hundred OF which have be-
come laws. OF these last comparatively
few are OF any general interest Let us gee
what has been done.
Glancing back at the work OF the session,
we lind that the General Assembly has
passed the joint resolutions necessary to
carry into effect the constitutional amend
ments ratified by the people at the last elec-
tiou relative to the increase OF the State
debt and the time OF holding the State elec
ton; it has repealed. the general License
Law OF last winter, the repeal to take effect
On the let Of April, 1873; it has empowered
the CITY Council Of Charleston to establish
House Of Refuge and Industrial School for
young vagrants and others; 1t has directed
the Attorney General to Institute criminal
or other necessary proceedings against the
late Commissioners Of the Sinking Fund; 1t
has provided for the more efectual collection
OF the poll tax by afixing penalty OF one
dollar and sending the taxpayer to jail In
default OF payment thereof; 1t has enacted
new code Of fees for probate judges, trial
justices and clerks OF courts; 1t has essayed
to protect verdant spectators In real estate,
by passing an ''act to punish any person
cor persons who shall sell and convey
"any real or personal property on which
'a lien Of any kind may exist, without
stgiving notice OF the same to the pur-
s.chaser;" 1t has appropriated $4,000 OF the
taxpayers money to reward Messrs. Major
Lewis Merrill ct al. for catching Ku-Klux; 1t
has sought to aid and encourage manufac-
lures by granting rebate Of the tax on
capital invested therein for ten years from
the present date (not from the date OF In
vestment;) it has ordered county coroDers
to report their suspicious 10 cases OF homi-
eide to the Governor; 1t has altered the law
relating to deposits from foreign insurance
companies, so that they may be made either
in State or United States bonds; It has alb
rogated and sunk the war debt OF the State;
it has reduced the number OF trial justices
10 Charleston to five, at $1,000 per annum
each; it has authorized about half the
counties in the State to levy special taxes
varying frorn two to three mills on the
dollar; and ithas taken upon itself to regu-
late anew the election OF Mayor and Alder
men In Charleston. The principal effect OF
this last measure Is to fx the third Wednes.
day in October as the day for holding the
municipal election, and to take from the
City Council the power OF deciding contested
cases, vesting it instead 10 board OF five
commissioners, to be appointed by the Gov
eruor.
The most important OF the bills that have
been introduced and have failed to pass,
are the following The bill to require trial
iuslices to give bonds;! the bill to regulate
the deposit OF State aad county funds; the
various bills seeking to abolish the office OF
county auditor; the bill to repeal the fence
law; the bill to incorporate the Charleston
Water and Canal Company; tie bill to in-
corporate the Pharmaceutical Association
OF South Carolina; the general incorpora-
tion law; the bill to make drunkenness on
the part OF solicitors and trial justices an in
dictable offence; the bill to provide for an
investigation OF the State debt and a regis
tration of the bonds, stocks, coupons, &c.
and the bill to encourage the rebuilding OF
the burnt district OF Charleston.
The rejection OF this last measure was
wanton wrong to the metropolis OF the
State, which we are at loss whether to at
tribute to Grass stupidity or disappointed
cupidity.