Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-02-07

oneriHs, PROBATE Judges. and Trial Justices
are also made distrossipgly low. If the bill
passes as 1t roads we believe officers IN small
counties cannot live from their Offices. Wo
believe the fees will be afty per cent below
the The ante war foe bill, which was generally
conceded to be fair and low enough. We,
however,. have not examined the bill carefully
enough to speak satisfactorily Of it's provisions.
Atter short discussion Of the bill It waa
referred to committee composed of three
lawyers and four farmers. @
TAXES
No tax bill has yet been passed, but It is
generally conceded the levy will be small.
We 500 in many counties of the State the
press declares that the people cannot pay
another tax before next fall, and it is believed
no forciblo collection will be made this spring.
We feel sure our people cannot pay another
tax and run their farms. They have nothing
TO spare aud are generally in debt.
ENFORCED MORALITY.
The Judiciary Committee Of the House has
reported favorably on bill to make the use
of psofane or obscene language msde,
meanor. This. at first sight, may appear to
DO travelling outside the limits Of proper
legislation, but upon reflection fair minded
man must admit that such law is not i'm
proper. While tho streets and highways are
treo TO oil. yot no one travelling them should
be allowed to conduct himself in way shot
is offensive to others. Every parent is inter
osted to keep his children from the company
OF the vulgar and profane. aud if the use of
such language bo permitted in public it
becomes impossible to prevent children from
becoming contaminated by it. Besides tho
law says no words will justify an assault and
battery, ard yet the law gives to people no
protection against abuse with the tongue. A
man may stop in the public road in front Of
your door aud abuse you for hours, using tho
most violent curees and you have no rcmedy
If you shoot him it is murder. IF you strike
him it is assault and battery. There boing
but ono person, it is not riot, so that he
commits no offence, while your hands are tied
as to redrossing the wrong to you and your
family. Tho law should be qualified 90 that
it cannot be abused by bringing up persons
for every slight violation, or should not be
passed.
THE BOND COMMISSION
Have rs yet made 40 report to the Legisla-
turo. 1t hos been ut work since last August
and its report will doubtless be thorough.
The report is expected to bo presented to the
Legislature next Tuesday or "Wednesday.
DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
The State Executive Committee of tho
Democratic party met in Columbia last Stature
day and elected General John B. Kennedy
temporary chairman, pice Judge Haskell
resigned, on account Of his judicial position
General Johnson IIagood was elected "a mem.
ber of tho committee. The committee
adjourned until next Thursday, when tho
plan of operations for the approaching cam.
paign will be determined on,
RECONSIDERATION OF SILVER.
Resolutions have been introduced ;p tha
House in favor of the reconciliation of silver
Representatives Aiken and Evans voted in
Congress in favor of the silver bill aud we
think rightly.
THE PAY or WITNESSES.
The House passed o bill reducing the nav
OF witnesses in State cases in the Circuit
Court to so cents per day and s cents per
mile tor all necessary travel one way, in case
the Circuit Judge would certify to the mate
r'allty of the witness. The pay of witnesses
In Trial justices courts in criminal cases was
abolished. This will save great deal to the
counties and is en- approximation, to the ante
war law, when no witness in, State cases
receiVod pay from tho State or county.
GATES ON HIGHWAYS.
The Senate has passed o. bill to authorize
the County Commissioners. In the several
connties in the State to. allow the erection of
gates upon tho highways, wherever, in their
Judgment, the same mny be expedient This
law may be almost necessity in, aomo por.,
tions of the Safe to save fencing, whore timber
's scarce. Unless q necessity, we do not
think the power should be exercised, There
arc two etrang objections, to it, that tho cato
will often be left open md will create litiga-
tiion and other difficulties, as. we'll as tho
destruction Of crops. Again, tho highways
should be open if possible, for single porsop
in buggy with an unsafe horse must leave
tho horse after passing through the tho gate
and 60 back to close it. This may often
result in tho running away Of tho animal and
consequoht obstruction OF property.
pAY OF JUDGES.
Tho bill Of Gen. Hemphill to reduce the
salaries Of Circuit Judges to $4,000 year,
was amended by adopting substitute strik-
ing out of the salary bill tho words, "three
thousand five hundred dollars" md inserting
in place thereof the words, "three thousand
dollars" In this form the bill passed tho
House, and If passed by the Senate, the pay
of Circuit Judges hereafter will be $4,000.