The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-01-09

nuhureo DlilS ana joint resolutions became
laws. The whole cost of the session was in
the neighborhood of forty thousand dollars.
30 tar as we can discover, there was no un-
wise or needless legislation. The measures
which were not inally acted upon do not
appear to be of any particular Importance,
excepting the different bills in relation to
the registration of voters. 1t was wrong to
neglect to comply with the plain man
date of the State Constitution, and it was
impolitio, at least, to lose favorable oppor.
tunlty OF limiting and regulating, by law,
the volume of ignorant voters Against this
omission can be set the passage of several
measures of the highest Importance. The
| chief of these are here described
The Joint Resolution amending the Con.
stitution relative to the homestead, author
ICES aud requires such subsequent legisla-
tlon as shall extend the benefits of the
homestead to every head of family in the
State whether land owner or tenant, and
such as will give the benefit of the home
stead exemption in personally to every per.
son whether he is entitled tc it for land or
realty, or not. This will obviate the hard.
ship OF the present law which operates to
deprive tenants and non.land holders of the
protection Of the homestead.
The Columbia Canal Bill as finally passed
cedes the water power of the State at Co.
lunbia to Messrs. Thompson and Nasle.
Northern contractors, and provides that
they shall be furnished with $50 convicts
to work at developing the power. These
will be clothed and guarded by the State,
remaining under the direction Of the Board
OF Directors of the Penitentiary, but will
be fed by the contractors, who are to COM
plete the canal and erect cotton factory
within three years, not including the time
lost from overflow and other unavoidable
mishaps. When the water power is devel-
oped, an amount equal to l 500 horse power
is to be ceded to the State for public use
aid benefit. The Canal property is to he
transferred to the contractors only upon the
completion of their contract, they forfeit
ing their investments in case of failure to
comply.
The Charleston Canal Bill provides an
appropriation of $15 900 to be used in con.
structlng caual across Charleston Neck,
the money to be expended only when
contract is entered into by responsible per-
sons to purchase from the State q sufficient
amount of rock from the quarrics at Colum-
b!a to reimburse the State for the outlay.
The canal is to be built between Line street
on the south and the city boundary ON the
north, ,asa gill pSi aIDss any street NTH
The CaTal Commissioners will have author
ity to authorize any railroad running to
this city to connect with either terminus of
the canal by switch. This Canal is ex.
pected to give the City unsurpassed terminal
and shipping facilities, without any charges
for wharfage.
The Bill to provide for the investment
and use of the Agricultural College Fund
restores to the Fund an amount equal to the
proceeds Of the Agricultural Land Scrip,
given to the State by the United States,
which proceeds were invested in State
bonds, which were hypothecated and lost
to the State, in Radical days. The State
Treasurer is required to issue to the Board
ofTrustees of the South Carolina University
certificate of State stock for S191 800
bearing interest at six per cent, which in
tcrest shall be used by the Board for the
purposes for which the Land Scrip was orig
inally issued to the State by the United
States The Board of Trustees is author
lied to establish College of Agriculture
and Mechanics for the benefit Of White stu
dents, using the University buildings and
grounds, and establishing scholarships to
be used equally by students from various
sections OF the State, either By counties or
Congressional districts. The Board will
also have power to establish scholarships for
white male graduates of chartered colleges
,F fI,, Sfafa al l. n,I
new College of Agriculture and Mechanics
is in addition to the Agricultural College
aud Mechanics Institute, for colorcd stu
dents, which is in successful operation at
Orangeburg; and the two Colleges will be
hereafter maintained out of the income of
the Land Scrip fund
The Act to extend the time for the re-
dcmption of forfeited lands provides that
all lands heretofore forfeited to the State.
for the non-payment of taxes, may be re-
deemed by the payment Of one. half Of the
simple taxes Of the years 1876 and 1877
anI the full amount Of the taxes, costs and
penalties Of the year 1878, provided that
such pawn, ant be made OH or before the 31st
Nav. 1880. \ fter that datc unredcemcd
lands will be sold for the benefit of the
State.
The Act repeating "thc Act to alter and
"amcrd the law regarding elections re-
pcals the "two box" law, passed during the
session Of 1878, providing for separate BAL
lot.hoxes whenever there is an election, for
both State officers and Presidential electors
The old onebox system is restored.
The substance Of the Bill to provide for
the settlement Of the Consolidated debt Of
the State, the Ficken bill, has been hereto
fore published. 1t provides for q final set.