The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1878-01-24
Editorial Correspondence.
COLUMBIA, S. c., Jan. .16, 1878

again., NO DillS ol any Importance
have been acted upon ,slnco tho reas-
sombling, except II bill, which came
up to day, ro>ostablishing tho lien
law. This bill through mistake, had
been engrossed for a third reading
before it had received, q second read
ing; but the journal, which had been
confirmed by the House, stated that
it had been read a second time, and
the question arose, "could wo 60 be-
hind tho journal?" After q spirited
debate it was decided in the negative,
and the bill camc up for q third read
ing, and [ was very much surprised
to find that q majority Of tho mem~
bors seemed to bo in favor of rc-cn~
acting the law. Tho bill, however,
was rocommittcd TO the committee on
Agriculture, and when it is report
cd back to tho House from that COM
mittce, the indications now arc, judg-
ing from tho vote to day, that it will
pass. In that evcnt, / trust tho Sem
alto may have the good sense to de-
feat it, tor in my opinion, considering
the agricultural interest of the State,
it is one Of tho worst laws we ever
had on our statute books.
Tho Judiciary Committee to whom
was referred the matter of our Trial
Justice systcm, at our special session
last spring, with authority to sit and
consider it during the interim Of that
session, and tho present enc, submit
ted elaborate majority and minority
reports, TO day, recommending the
passage of certain bills, abolishlng tho
prosent Trial Justice system, and in
lieu thereof tho establishment Of
County Courts, with. com mitting ma~
gistrates in tho Counties. Both the
majority and minority Of tho commit
toes recommends tho establishment of
these Courts, but differ upon some
points (of which l am not at this time
nformcd)-honce the two reports.--
The reports with accompanying bill
have been ordered printed and made
the epccial order for next Tuesday.
OF course, it is not possible to know
the tea lures Of thcso bills until they
are laid upon the desks Of The mems
bcrs, but | am not tavorably imprcs~
scd with the idea Of County Courts,
and at this timo am not able TO say
that | will support the measure. |
do not sec how County Courts can
be established without making thom
u moro expensive machinery than
the Trial Justice system.
The bond commission have not yet
submitted their report, and it is said
that it will be several days yet before
they are able to do so. Their work
has boon arduous, and presume they
intond to make it as perfect rs pos
siblo. The purport of their report is
not known at this time, but ''rumor"
has it that they have discovered that
many Of tho bonds are traudulent.-
The taxpayers, l think, can rest as
surcd that every bond, the least bit
tainted with fraud, will be eliminated
from the public debt, and their taxes
be. correspondlingly leduccd. This is
tho temper Of a large majority of tho
members at this timo, and there is
scarcely any doubt but what the LIE
gislature will be almost @ unit on
this subject. -,... ..
The Investigating Committee are
still hard at work. They have had
Niles G. Parker before thcm, and it
is SAID his testimony has been of inn
monse Importance to the State. Tho
proceedings Of tho committee are nc>
cessarialIy secret but enough has
leaked out TO warrant tho statement
that, Scott, Chamberlain, and the
chorubic Kimpton, have boen nailed
by his testimohey. 1t is said that
warrants have, or will bo issued, and
acquisitions made for them shortly
On yesterday, Mr.. George John.
ston, Of Nowberrya county, and Mr..
Robert w. Shand, of Union county,
Democrats, were sworn, in. They
were elected to FIJI vacancies from
80 /.