Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-01-24
Correspondence Of the Keo,Ucc Couriei
FROM COLUMBIA.
COLUMBIA, January 2l, 1878.

10 TIE KEowBE COURIER: Tho General
Assembly met on Wednesday, 10th instant
and began it's work with renewed vigor. Many
new bills are being constantly introduced
which arc Of great importance. Those which
have aroused the most attention md ci;cita;!
most discussion from members is new lien
law, the whiskey law and moro stringent
criminal law, which makes rape, arson and
burglary punishable with death. Since the
return of members from thoir several homcs
there hus been q great change of feeling and
opinion as to the lien law. Tho enactment of
the usury law and tho repeal of tho lien law
hps put the people in groat many of the
counties without credit or securities. Hence
this change Of opinion among members. They
say that the people in the most of the counties
of tho State will be in actual want if the
Legislature persists in its Opposition to both
those laws, and they have como here prepared
to re-enact tho lien law, which is, by far, tho
most Objectionable of the two. The lion law,
which is now before tho House. is not so
expensive as the one which has beon in forco
heretofore 1t gives those making advances
lien over all other lions existing or otherwise,
provided tho same is .fN with the Clcrk of
the Court of the County, but not recorded as
heretofore. Tho impression is that this bill
will become law.
The whiskoy law to which we had reference
is the samo now in force in Virginia, and is
known rs tho Moffet Bill Punch Eaw. Tho
ruling idoa Of tho bill is to raise revenue
on all liquors sold by liquor dealcrs, and is
so arranged as to make the consumer or
drinkcr pay the tax. The bar keeper is re-
quired to keep register, and when each
drink or quantity is sold he by means Of the
punch registers tho amount sold, and pay to
tho State the tax on each drink or quantity
he sells. quarterly. The Auditor of the
County has key to tho Register and at tho
ond Of each quarter collects this tux. The
bar keeper registers by turning q crank, which
he, under sevore penalties, is required to do
in tho presence Of the person to whom he soils,
and in turning the crank no registers in q
cylinder the amount. From this cylinder the
auditor collects the tax. Thore is great oppo.
stion to the bill.
The bill amending tho criminal law proc
poses to mako rape, arson and burglary
punishable with death. The loose manner in
which the laws have heretofore beon enforced
and tho rapid increase Of these great crimes
have produced general feeling of insecurity,
both by person and property, and there is a
demand for somo very stringent law against
the commission of these crimes.
The Judiciary Committee have reported
three bills in which it is sought to recorganize
tho courts. Ono of tho bills proposes to in
crease the number of Circuit Judges and give
them the whole Jurisdiction which the Trial
Justice Courts have, with only magistrates
with power to bail over criminals, the second
| bill proposes to establish County Courts
similar to those which were in use immediately
after the war, and the third socks to revise
and remodel the Trial Justice system. Each
of these bills has it's advocates and there will
be great deal Of discussion of these subjects
| The jurisdiction given 10 Trial Justices under
the present law creating these courts has
beon thought too large and the abuse growing
out Of this needs correction.
The committee appointed to investigate the
management Of the penal and charitable
institutions Of the State have made their re-
ports The report was ordered to be pub-
lished and the evidence to be given to the
Attorney General, which he will use in
prosecutions. We will send to the CoURIEr
copies Of the report when printed.
1t is reported by those who have authority
TO speak that the Committee on Public Fund,
have evidence to convotall tho late prominen
officials Of the Radical Government from
Scott 70 Chamberlain,v which will be used u
proper time, and occnaIon. The investigation
Ioe Oorbin on the psst n the Senate Commit.
ltee win in catohipg thid saltqse wliiol
"a SS{s q