The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-03-09
4 Curiosity Of LEGISLATION.

HE following bill, which has passed both
Houses of the Alabama Legislature, and is
probably a law by this time, is curiosity o.
legislation
bill to be entitled an act to prohibit the dsposine
| OF agricultural products between tho hours a
suliset and sunrise
whereas, 1t is duty Of paramount import
ance that the General Assembly of Alabama
should provide adequate protection to the
agricultural interests Of the State; and
Whereas, the depredations committed in
the way OF petty thefts have been carried so
far as to demand prompt measures for their
suppression: and
Assembly no adequate remedy can be found,
except 10y regulations Of general application
controlling the hours of trade therefore,
SEC. l. BE enacted Jy the General Asse0,Jly
| q i(ajdna, That any person who shall buy,
sril, receive, barter, or dispose of any cotton.
corn, wheat, oats, peas or pota oes, after the
hour of sunset and before the hour of sunrise
OF the next succeeding Gay, shall be guilty OF
misdemeanor, and on conviction, Shall be
fined not less than SO nor more than $500
and may also be imprisoned in the county
jail, or put to hard labor for the county. for
not more than twelve months
Sec. 2. BE it further enacted, That this act
shall not affect the right of nun icipal cor2o
rations to establish and regulate, under their
charters, public markets within their limits.
tor the sale of commodities for Gu inary uur
poses, nor the right OF any proprietor or own,r
OF any plantation or premises, to sell Oh such |
plantation or premises the necessary grain
and provision for subsistence for man and |
beast for the night to travelling or transient |
persons, or for the use Of agricultural laborers |
In his own employment on such plantation or |
premises.
The purpose Of the bill is sufficiently
stated in the preamble. It is, in plain terms,
to prevent the petty thieves in the State from
steihng from the plantations. The method.
however, seems to be very Indirect, and cir
can easily be conceived of when
the law might turn very honest tradesman
INTO ylolator Of the law, and subject ID tine
and imprisonment for his off5nsa. 1t is very
likely, however, that the severe terms OF the
act viii not se enforced against other than
negro depredator7.
LAwIEssSEss IN ILLINo1s.-Whi.e the Chi
'ago Inter- Ocean is wagiug war Of externli
nation on phantom banditti in Texas and i
LOUISIANA, would il MT be well to pay some {
,lIght attention to Illinois ku-klux. A few
lays since, Gov. Beverage sent a message to '
he Illinois Legislature, IN which he saws: s
From recent and reliable information re- 9
elved by this department. il is evident that v
spirit OF aWlessness prevails in Williamson c
ounty, in this State. Murders have been n
olnmitted from the brush, and under cover t
+ darkness, and the murderers 90 unpun- "
shed. Men, armed and in disguise ride t
through the country at night, disturbing the $
eace, terrifying the citizens and committing II
cts of violence disgraceful to the age and to b
ur civilization Persons aud property are G
lsecure The people seem to be overawed a
ad terrorism and intimidation pervate alike
lie civil authorities and private citizens