The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-01-01
The Work Of the Session.

'cccHI ScsSloi. Among tnCSc arc mem
toned the following:
The Joint Resolution amending the
Constitution relative to tho home
stead, authorizes and requires such
subsequent legislation as shall extend
the benefits of the homestead TO every
head ola family i'll the State, whether
land owner or tenant, and such as will
give the benefit Of the homestead cx-
cmption in personally to every person
whcthcr he is entitled to it for land
or realty, or not. This will obviatc
the hardship Of the present law which
operates to deprive tenants and non-
hnd holders OF tho protection of the
homestead.
The Columbia Canal Dill rs finally
passed ccdcs The water power Of the
state at Columbia to Ncss:s. Thonp-
son and Naylc, Northern contractors.
aud provides that they shall be fur
1',Shcd with 250 conv;cts to work at
developing the power. These will be
clothed and guarded by the State, re-
naming under the direction Of The
Board OF Directors Of the Pcnitcntiary.
but will he fed by the contractors,
who arc TO complete the canal and
erect Il cotton factory within three
years, not including the time lost from
overflow and other unavoidable mis-
htps. When the water power is de-
Vclopcd, an amount equal to 1,5UO
horse power is to bo ccdcd to the
STATE for public use and benefit. The
Cana! property is to be transferred TO
the contractors only upon the con-
plction of their contract, they forfeit
ing their investments in case of failure
to comply.
The Bill to provide for the invest
1ncnt and use Of tho Agricultural Col
lcgc Fund restores to the Fund nm
amour! equal to the proceeds Of The
Agricultural Land Scrip, given to the
state by the United States, which pro-
cccds were invested in State bonds,
which were hypotlccatcd, and lost to
the State, in Radical days. The State
Treasurer is required to issue to The
board OF Trustees OF the South Caro-
lima University n certificate Of State
stock for $l9l,S 800, bearing interest at
six per cent, which interest Shall be
used by the Board for the purposes
tor which The Land Scrip was origi-
hally issued to the State by tho United
States. Tho Board Of Trustees is au-
thorizcd TO establish College of
Agriculture and Mechanics for the
benefit OF white students, using the
University buildings and grounds, and
establishing scholarships to be used
equally by students from various sec
tions 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 tho State, the
tuition to be free. This now College
OF Agriculture and Mechanics is in
addition to the Agricultural College
and Mechanics Institute, for colorcd
students, which is in operation at
Orangcburg; and tho two Colleges
income OF the Land Scrip fund.
The Act regarding tho funding of
the bills Of the Bank of tho State au-
thorizcs their funding in Consolida-
tion bonds at the rate of fifty cents on
the dollar, the first coupon being
payable in 1881.
The Act creating q Department of
Agriculture places it under the con-
troll Of a Board consisting of tho Gov
crnor, the Master Of the State Grange
the President Of the State Agricultural
and Mechanical Society, and two other
persons to be selected by the General
Assembly,. The Commissioner Of 40
riculturc an! his clerk will be under
tho control Of this Board, which shall
also have power to require County
Auditors to furnish such statistical and
other information as may be needed.
IT shall investigate all subjects regard
ing agriculture, immigration, &C.,
supcrintcnd and quarantine diseased
stock, take charge of the Fish Depart
ment, eXact and issue licenses for
Fertilizers, (rcplacing the present
phosphate inspector and agcnt,) in
spcct fertilizers, &C., and generally
devote itselfto the advancement of
tho Agricultural interests Of the State.
The Act to require Railroads to
furnish consignccs an itcmizcd state
ment OF freight charges, and requiring
them to settle according to tho bill of
lndlng, expresses its scope in its title.
The penalties for violation of its pro-
visions arc, first, a penalty Of double
inc amount of the charges to be recover
ca oy the consigncc by civil process :;
and second, that tho agent so Offend
ing shall be guilty of misdemcanor,
ana punishable by fine of not less
thahSlo or moro than 800, or i'm
prisonment for not less than five or
more than thirty days, unless he be
acting under orders of n aunor;o,