The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1882-02-09
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
Col. ;. eIA, Feb. Z, 1882.

and no doubt the people will draw sigh
of relief at the end of two months in
Fiction Of law.making. One thing may
be put down as certain, however, and
that is that the people cannot be one
half SO glad that the end is coming as
the members are themselves. The ses-
sion has been very arduOus ono from |
the beginning, and somo Of the gravcst
and most important questions that have
ever presented themselves have occupied
the time of the law. makers, aud, be it
said to their credit, that it will be very
difficult 10 find any General Assembly in
which the purposes and methods Of the
demagogue have had so little influence
Us in the present body. They have met
and settled questions upon their merits,
aud we do mot believe there are twenty
members in either House who have teen
swayed in their course by considerations
Of personal popularity. The whole pur-
pose has appeared to be to ascertain and
do that which was best for the State.
The work Of the past week has been
very important, in that it has embraced
almost every variety of subject, from the
tax levy to the smallest local measures.
The tax for next year il one.q quarter of
mill less than last year, after all Of the
so-called extravaganza Of the present
Legislature, with its long session, it's ex-
penses for printing the Revised Statutes,
its appropriations for the University and
Citadel, tho building of the Columbia
Canal and all the other matters of which
so much fuss has been made. Therefore,
it will be seen that the administration Of
the government is judicious and wise.
Among the important discussions Of
the past week was tho battle over the
Usury law. Messrs. Ficken and Dargan
spoke for it, and Mcssrs. Simpson. Ruck-
er, Chase and others against it, and the
bill was overwhelmingly defeated. Then
the subject of raising the phosphate roy
atty came up on Mr.. Simpsons bill to
charge two dollars per ton instead Of one.
It was amended by Mr. Perry, of Charles.
ton, 30 as 10 charge one dollar and twen-
ty-fye cents per ton, and passed in that
shape by both branches Of the General
/. Assembly. 1t was favored by Messrs.
Perry, Eagan, JohnStone, Simpson and
others, and opposed by Messrs. McCrady,
Sloan, Aldr;ch and others. Il presented
some very grave legal and financial ques-
tions, and Mr.. Murray favored referring
them to the Attorney General, the Comp.
troller- General and the Department of
Agriculture for investigation, and report
to the next Legislature in order that we
might know the fscts about the whole
question. This, however, could not be
done under tho bill as it stood, and,
therefore,, no vote was had upon tho prop.
osition for reference, and the bill, as
amended by Mr.. Perry, was passed.
This amendment will increase the States
royalty on phosphaies about twenty. i've
thousand dollars year, If it can bo made
applicable to the Coosaw Company,
which is disputed question. If it can
not be made so applicable, it will not add
much TO the revenues of the State.
The bill to re.cnact tho bill to facili-
tate the completion of the Blue Ridge
Railroad has passed tho House and gone
to the Senate. II will probably pass and
become law.
The House has at last decided to pay
the balance due Judges Reed, Shaw and
others on salary, and sent 1t to tho SEN
ate, where there is every prospect Of
favorable action, and thereby an injustice
and wrong will be corrected after 80 long
time.
The bill TO provide local option law
for the cities, towns and villages has
passed, and will become law. We will
publish copy of it in short time.
The past ten days have also been
eventful days in the Senate in another
respect, which has been the subject of
universal regret. Senator Fishburne,
who is high.toned gentleman when
sober, has for some time past allowed
himself TO imbibe Of ardent spirits to
such an extent as to destroy his judgment
and discretion. He has been extremely
troublesome to the Senate, and on nu.
merous occasions has been borne with to
marked extent by the Senate, although
he was greatly impeding the public busi-
ness. He was irritchle ani almost NOR
bid from strong drink, and no one was
surprised to bear that he was in per-
sonal difficulty. The first occurrence
was between him and Senator Smythe,
who was entirely blameless, and was for
several days suh'scted 60 the danger of .
personal IN ter, which was on one
or moro oce .,ons prevented by tho in
tsrFerence Of friends until both parties
were placed under peace bonds, though
it would be difficult to assign q cause for
acquiring bond from Senator Smythe,
as he was throughout acting in discreet
and proper manner on the defensive.
Col. Fiahburne, it is said, Immediately
upon his release extended invitations to
Col. McCrady. Gen. Islar and Senator
Smythe TO visit Toronto, Canada, without
assigning any cause. ba. the purpose was
evidently to send challenge without
violating the duelling laws. The season,
however, is rather cold for whiting such
Northern climate, and tho invitations
were Of course declined. Only few
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