Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1878-12-26
PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATURE

Among the D,attcrs of moro than ordinary
Interest which transpircd in the Legislature
on Saturday were tho following:
A bill was introduced by Mr.. Cleveland,
of Spartanburg, to authorize the funding of
tho bills Of the Bank of the State. This
bill proposes to allow the billholdcrs to fund
their bills at fifty cents on the dollar and to
receive from the State in lieu thereof con.
solidation bonds similar to those given in
exchange for old bonds under the consoida.
tion act.
Tho consideration of the bill to provide
for registration of voters in this State was
postponed uutil tho next session, upon the
recommendation of tho committee On prvi.
legcs and electiOne.
The bill reducing sheriffs' fees for dieting
prisoners to 20 cents day was passed to a
third reading in the House.
The bill for funding past Indebtedness of
Charleston County and the bill to alter the
municip pal election law Of Charleston have
both passed the House and are well on tho
way towards enactment.
The House testified to its earnest desire
TO economize time and the public money by
meeting Saturday night for the first time
in many years. Mr.. Callison's bill to abo!-
ish the Bond Court and reopen tho Consoli
dated debt question was discussed for about
two hours. MIessrs. Cooke and Bradley
spoke 10 favor of the bill, and Messrs.
Shand and Aldrich against it. 1t. is note
worthy that while Mr.. Aldrich argued in
favor of sustaining the Bord Court, he
announced that himself and others of his
views are opposed to evyinge tax to pay
fho snko hat a. ! II
which that court has decided to be valid.
The vote upon NIr. Callison's bill will be
tuken at 5 p. NJ. on Monday, and tho result
is considered very doubtful, while tho
chances for the appropriation for intorest on
any portion Of the consolidated debt other
than that recognized as valid by the Bond
Commission, seem, OF this writing, rather
slim.
The phosphate bill passed the House,
with some new features added. Under its
terms all who give bond can mipe in some
of the best rivers, including rivers adjacent
to Charleston. All tho rivers DOW worked
under exclusive rights are thrown open to
general rights, if not worked to the best
interest of the State. The bill gives marine
companies general rights, and provides for
an inspector and three commissioners, to
report at the next regular session upon the
entire subject. The advocates of general
rights predict good results from tho bill
duaing the coming year. Tho royalty has
not increased the past year.
The appropriation Of $4,000 for the Co.
lumbia Canal was killed.
COLUMBIA, December l6.-In tho House
tonight the Committee of Ways and Means
reported the legislative appropriation bill.
The total amount appropriated for lvgisla-.
tive expenses is $s4,758, against Sl05,600
last year.
The samo committee also reported the
supply bill. The tax for State purposes is
fixed at 81 mills, with mills for the con-
stitutional aohool tax, and county taxes vary.
ing from to 6 mills. In tho county Of
Charleston tho tax is fixed at 8 mills for
county purposes and mill additional to pay
the past indebtedness reported valid by tho
commission appointed to investigate tho
debt Of the county. This makes tho total
tax of Charleston county 0 mills. No pro-
vision is yet made to meet deficiencies aris-
ing from the tender of bills of tho Bank of
tho State in the fiscal years 1875 and 1877.
In this estimate no levy is made to pay
iutofest ou Vic uufeooBuIZeu cOusOhdateu
debt, and should the General Assembly
decide to make a levy for this purpose, to
be held subject to tho decision Of the Bond
Court, then tho tax far State purposes will
be 4a mills. The total amount in money |
necessary to be raised under tho bill, exolu.
sive Of. interest ON the unrecognised debt, is
$517,714 43.
The Committee Of Ways and Means have
worked very hard, and are up with their !
work. There is no reason why the General
Assembly should not adjourn on tho 28d !