Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-07
SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE.

SOUTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE.
TUESDAY January %, 1878.
In THE SENATE, the committee on agricul-
ture reported favorably upon the petition of
citizens of Fort Mill township, y ork county,
to allow them the benefit of the fence law
Mr.. Mccall introduced concurrent reso-
luton providing for the appointment of}a
Joint committee, to consist Of three from the
Senate and - from the House, to devise
proper legislation in redistricting the judicial
circuits of the State. r'.rFaf- tt,. III III
A communication from the, comptroller
general was received, giving detailed state
ment of the public debt of the State The
recapitulation is as follows:
Bonded debt provided for in the Con- '"5
solidation Act, principal. .......$5, ,99e, ,568 81
Bonanza warrants (big) .."..... 1881 70
Bonanza warrants (little) )........... $40, 600 90
Deficiencies of l375-76, 76,........."..:.... 800 90S0 81
Deficiencies OF 7677,............."." 1878 05
A communication was received from the
Governor; announcing that he had approved
the joint resolution to ratify the amendment
to the Constitution relative to,public school
tax and tax on polls. f:...r ......t .fpsla
In THE HOUSE, Mr.. Petty introduced q
bill to authorize the establishment of graded
schools in the various towns of the State.
The bills and reports in relation to Trial
Justices came up fer consideration The
House went into committee of the whole aud
Mr.. Buist was requested to take possession of
the chair. In order that our readers may
clearly understand the nature of this busi
ness. we present short synopsis Of the changes
sought to be made in the present laws relat-
ing to Trial Justices. Three or four different
plans were submitted to the special commit
tee appointed to investigate this matter, but
the committee could agree upon none of them,
and majority and a minority report we're
submitted to the House. The FIRST is to re.
tain the Trial Justices and their courts as
now constituted, and to reform their jurisdic-
ton, thereby diminishing the expense Of the
present system. Second, the establishment
of county courts 10 each county. whose juris-
dction shall embrace the present system Of
Trial Justices and County Com missioners,
&c., to be clearly defined by special act of
the General Assembly. The third PROPOSE
ton is to increase the number of Circuit
Judges, and decrease the size of their circuits
and circumscribe the jurisdiction of the Trial
Justices ... ........ .......... r.......yf
Mr.. Holmes, in behalf of the minority of
the committee, asked leave to withdraw the
minority report.
Mr.. Memminger offered the following res
olution: ., .'f.- 20, .-a"., t"h,,,
Resolved That in the opinion of this commit
tee, it is expedient to restore the former system
OF trials in civil causes by giving to the Judges
of the Courts of Common Pleas exclusive juris-
diction in all suits involving more than $40. That
the Jurisdiction Of Trial Justices in civil causes
limited Wharein ia n
volved. That the jurisdiction Of the Trial Justices
in criminal causes remain as at present. That
the bills be recornmitted in order that they may
be prepared to carry out these views.
The colored element were much opposed to
these resolutions and numerous amendments
were offered to place the jurisdiction of trial
justices in civil causes at 800. Mr.. Simp-
son, of Anderson, said that be was opposed. to
the whole matter, and was anxious to get rid
of it. He thought it unwise at this time to
revolutionize the judiciary system. Mr.. ST.
monton said that he considered it a most dan.
garous time to make material changes in any
of our laws We are, said he, on the eve Of
another general election, and it is not wise
that we should carry into that election any
issues that we can possibly avoid. move,
therefore, that the committee rise and adopt
the following resolution: . -4:...-
Resolved, That the whole question respecting
the trial justice and judiciary system and the
measures seeking amendments therein, be re-
ferred to a commission to be appointed by this
General Assembly, under the provisions of the
Sd Section of the 9th Article Of the Constitution
to revise, digest and arrange, under proper heads
the body Of our laws, both civil and criminal"
These resolutions we're adopted almost
unanimously, the entire House evincing much
relief in being able to get rid Of the volumin.
Gus bills before them, which would have taken
fully week to read and discuss. ....
Mr.. Blue introduced a joint resolution to
provide for the assessment of real estate in
the several counties of the State in the year
1878 This bill provides for the reassessment
of all the real estate of the State at the same
time that the assessment of personal property
is made The object of the bill is to read
just the tax books in the auditors Offices in
the various counties of the State, and place
upon those books vast amount of real prop
erty which does not now appear on the books,
but upon which the holders have regularly
paid the taxes In short, the bill seeks to es-
tablish the real value of the entire taxable
property Of the State. .........
Mr.. Ficken, from the ways and means
committee, to which was referred the memori-
al of sundry citizens asking for the establish
ment of license tax to be paid by all par
ties selling goods by sample in other towns
than that in which they reside, reported fa-
vorably on the bill introduced to carry out
the objects Of the memorial. A minority re-
port, signed by Messrs. Simpson, Muller and
johnson, and unfavorable to the BILL was SUBJ
mtted. The majority report places the H.
cense tax at 800, and does not provide for
rebate to merchants paying tax on sales.
Both reports were placed on the calendar.
WEDNESDAY, January 80.
In THE SENATE, the concurrent resolution