Smyrna times., 1879-02-12


ran of St. Georges Hundred introduced in |
the House on Thursday last bill to amend |
Chapter III of the Revised Code. The |
amendment provides that in the selection |
of newspapers for advertising sheriff's |
sales, one paper shall be a paper published |
in the hundred in which the property sold
is situated, or in the hundred nearest
thereto. Mr.. c. is considered a member
who looks upon a thing clearly and honestly
before taking hold of it, and the very fact
that he has introduced this bill is the
clearest evidence that it is founded on right
and justice. We have already expressed
our views upon this subject, and we feel so
assured that the proposed change is right
that we do not see what adverse influence
can come against it, but that coming from
interested parties. 1t is natural for those
having the patronage Of the present law to
wish to hold on to it, but when justice to
both debtor and creditor is looked at it
must strike every one as proper measure.
1t is the unfortunate man who has to part
with his property whose case should be con-
sidered. The forehanded man who wants
to sell his property without compulsion),
gives his sale the most publicity where he
expects the purchasers to come from,-the
paper published where the property is To-
Gated and not erclasirely in a paper or papers
in distant section of the county. The
same is true of the creditors interest. 1t
is his or their interest to have it bring all
it can be made to, and the vicinity where
the property is situated is usually where the
buyers come from, and where the advertising
best tells. The Republican charges, because
this bill originated with Mr.. Cochran that
it is done in the interest of the Middle
town Transcript, but the Republican, it is well
known, has a larger pecuniary interest in
the present law than in the interest of any
debtor or creditor, and, is not therefore a
competent witness in the case.
We will not discuss the question further
but call in the opinion of one or two con-
temporaries. The Seaford Inder argues to
the point when it says
SIN several instances sheriffs sales have
taken place in front of the hotel in Sea-
ford, which the people knew nothing OF
until it was announced from the portico,
and yet some of the property was in Seaford
Hundred. Now, had the sale been adyer-
tised in the paper published in the hundred
in which it took place, instead of papers
published in another part of the county
it would have reached the eyes of more
persons that resided in the hundred and
country adjoining, and brought out more
bidders and buyers than it did, and in al
probability the proceeds would have beer
sufficient to liquidate all liabilities, anc
leave a small surplus for the benefit of the
defendant. In offering these suggestions
and commenting upon the unwise pro
visions of the law, we are not influenced by
motives Of selfishness or prejudice, but we
are impelled solely by a conscientiou
desire to see the interests of the peopl
protected-that their misfortunes may no
be made feast for politicians; that tn
iniquitous shackles may be removed from
the sherifs' victims, by permitting them,
not to advertise as we have suggested, to a
least ascertain if the papers having tn
"largest circulation" are complying witt
the law and are distributed among legit
mate and bona tfde patrons"
The Middletown Transcript confirms tn
above when it says:
" During the last year, we are informed
several properties in the vicinity of Smyrn;
offered at sheriff's sale, were advertised i
one paper at Dover and in another at th
very lower edge of the county, while in th
neighborhood in which the condemne
property was situated, the sale to take plaC
was only announced by bar-room poster
The same thing has frequently occurred
this county, but the fault does not seem [
be with the sheriff so much as with the la
now in force regulating the advertising
such sales. AS we have before asserte
sales of property in this hundred of
Georges have been advertised exclusive
in papers that do not circulate TWEEN
copies in the hundred, and Just as few
adjoining hundreds, though the purchaser
nine times out of every ten, come from Il
immediate neighborhood in which the CO
demned property is situated. The
tendance of bidders at sheriff s sales in Il
lower part Of this county, during the pa
year, has been very poor, and the figures
which the property has been knock
down has frequently been low beyond
reason"
The case is clear and needs no furth
argument, and it will seem very strange
the members of the Legislature do I
make the changes as proposed by \
Cochran.