The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-01-09
TIE SKATE lEaIsLATusE-A SHORT ANp
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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
impoltio, at least, to loso favorable oppor.
tunity OF limiting and regulating, by law,
the volume of ignorant voters. Against this
omission can be set the passage of several
measures Of ths highest. Importance. The
chief of these are here described:
TIE Joint Resolution amending the Con-
stitution relative to the homestead, author
ICES aud requires such subsequent legisla-
tion 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 personality to every per.
son whether he is entitled tc it fer land or
realty, or not. This will obviate the hard.
snip OF the present law which operates to
deprive tenants aud INLAND holders of the
protection Of the homestead.
The Columbia Canal Bill as finally passed
ccdcs the water power of the State at Co.
lumbia to Messrs. Thompson and Nacle.
Northern contractors, and provides that
they shall be furnished with 25O 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 Ted by the contractors, who are to COM
plete the canal and erect a 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 1 500 horse power
is to be ccaed to the State for public use
aud benefit The Canal property is to he
transferred to the contrac ctors 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 SIS 900 to be used in con-
structlng caunl across Charleston Neck,
the money to be expended only when
contract is entered into by responsible per-
sons to purchase from the State a sufficient
| amount of rock from the quarrics at Coum-
b!a to reimburse the State for the outlay.
The canal is to be built between Limo street
on the sonth aud the city boundary on the
north e. Eil pSi Giess asy stEsss ssss HIsa
The CaSal commissioners will have author
| ity to authorize any railroad running to
this ciey t. connect with either terminus of
the canal by switch. This Canal is ex.
pectcd to give the City unsurpassed terminal
and shipping facilities, without any charges
| for wharfage
Tho 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 hypothccated and lost
| to the State, in Radical DAYS The State
Treasurer is required to issue to the Board
ofTrustces of the South Carolina University
a certificate Of State stock for $191 800
| 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
inaiIy 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
OF the State, the tuition to be free This
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 tho years 1876 and 1877
| AMI the full amount Of the taxes, costs and
penalties Of the year 1878, provided that
such payn,.ut be made on or before the 3lst
Nav. 1880 = fter that dato unredeemed
lands will be sold for the benefit of the
State.
The Act repeating "thc Act to alter and
"amend the law regarding elections, re-
pcals the "two box" law, passed during the
session of 1873, providing for separate bal
lot-hoxes whenever there is an election for
both State officers and Presidential electors
The old ono.box 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 final set
Element OF the public debt ON the basis CT
| the recent nncisinn nf thn Sunran,o nan.I