Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-12-09
The Legislature,

Continues steadily at work, cutting out
such business as the various members think
tho interest Of their counties or State dc.
mand. Very little legislation has yet been
acted on. A number of bills in reference to
tho weighing of cotton and tho sale Of seed
cotton in small quantities havo failed to pass,
and very properly. Wo believe in no law
which will, in any wnY, cripple or impede
our farming interests, and every man should
bo permitted in daylight to sell his produc,
tions, when, where aud to whom ho plcascs
A bill to make school certificates receva,
able for county taxes has beou introduced in
both bodies, reported on unfayorably in he
House and tho bill rejected.
In the Senate bill to amend the law in
powers and duties has passed The pccond
reading; also bill to rcgulnto the penalty Of
bonds to be given by County Commissioners;
also q bill to apportion taxes botwoon vendor
and vcndeo on sales Of real estate. This We
consider needed law, but not having the
bill, we cannot give its provisions.
A bill to provide for the revision and codi-
lcation of the statute laws Of South Carolina
provoked lively discussion in the Senate,
but on Wednesday passed to third reading
The State Constitution authorizes aud directs
tho Legislature to mako provision cycry ten
years to revise, digest and arrange under
proper heads tho body of our laws, civil and
criminal, and form and promnlgatc per o.
codo. Tho Constitution is mandatory on
this matter, the language being tho Lcgisa-
turo shall, &c., but apart from this, there
arises from the confusion Of our statute law
such n pressing demand for this work, wo can
sec no room for opposition to it. A like bill
passed the second reading in the House aud its
provisions very properly leaves tho appoint
ment Of the commissioners, three in number,
to n convention of the Judges Of the Supreme
and Circuit Courts, and allows to each com !.
missioner $4,000. with $500 for clerical and
other expenses. This ought to secure the
bost legal talent and result in thorough
work.
In tho House bill has been introduced to
amend the Act to prohibit persons from liv-
ing together in adultery. Tho present law
is defective il not defining what in law
| constitutes the onenses mentioned in tho
Act and some of the judges have refused to
entertain ind;ctm ents under it,
| A bill to reduce the salnry of Adjutant and
Inspector General ard to fix the salaries of
tho clerks of certain officers is before the
House. Tho clerk hire of tho various State
| officers is entirely too largo and this bill
doubtless looks to ito reduction.
| Tho Hill no Nh nop6y o1,o,,.o A. a
timo for holding courts in the 9th Circuit,
has been reported on fayorably. Wo ali
know the Inconvenience Of tho present law
which brings tho three annual courts within
six months and then leaves us six months
without court. Tho very object Of three
courts year is defeated by this law, koepir e
parties in prison six months Mt the expense
Of the county, while it must also bear th'
expense Of tbgee courts year. We have NJ
doubt but Maj. Dendy will succeed with his
bill. We hope when the bill passes it will b,
q fixture, and that wo will not be again il
such u situation that the judges aud officer
Of court do not and cannot tell when tn
court is properly in session.
Tho samo committee reported favorably Oh
a bill to provide for the appointment of a com
mission to suggest amendments to the con
stitution. This is tho cheapest and por
haps safest course to avoid mprudont change
in tho constitution, and though the Scna,
seems to favor q convention, 80 incline to tn
opinion that the House plan will prevail. Th
commission is to sit during tho recess Of til
Legislature, revise tho whole constitution an
submit proposed changes year hence.
+ Tho same committee has reported unfa
vorable on a bill to repeal the lien law. 1Io
this incubus hangs on our people. Lik
. unrestricted interest tho day will como who
1t will pass away and prosperity will the
r begin.
t A bill to provide for an annual asscssmer
0 Of real estate was reported on nnfayorabl