Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-02-09
Legislative Correspondence.
EcoIunp1A, s. G., February Q, 1882

In and we congratulate ourselves and the people
Of the State that the long session is now nearly
ended and our work as legislators will soon be
concluded, and trust that ''we may have
builded better than We knew and that the re-
suit may tend to promote the perpetuity Of good
government In our State and tho welfare and
prosperity Of oil her people Time only will
tell.
On Monday last very interesting debate
arose on the question Of limiting the rights of
married women to contract and to be contracted
With, to contracts with reference to their sepa.
rate properly only. The married members were
generally in favor Of the Limitation. while the
unmarried mon were opposed to this restriction
The amendment proposing tho Limitation was
adopted.
The onactlng words Of bill to abolish the
use Of seals upon certain instruments, to wit:
Deeds, mortgages, assignments, leases, powers
Of attorney, &c., were stricken out without de-
bate.
On Tuesday the bill to increase the royalty
on phosphate rock and phosphate deposits to
So per ton, excited long and very interesting
discussion, the friends of The measure insisting
that in justice the royalty to the State ought 10
rock is now much greater than when tho royalty
was fixed at ST per ton; while the opposers
thereof argued that it would bring tho marine
companies into direct competition with tho land
rock companies, who pay no royalty to the State,
and that the increase of tho royalty would tend
to drive the marine companies from the busi-
ness; that this enterprise would languish and
the States revenue from it would be diminished,
If not entirely cut off. An amendment to in
crease tho royalty to $l.25 per ton, to be esti-
mated on tho crude rock and not after it has
been steamed and kiln dried as heretofore, was
adopted. This is very material ohpnge and it
is estimated that il will increase the revenues of
the State from this source between $25, 900 and
$4,000 per annum. The question of the phos-
pilates is ono that seems TO be very little UNDER
stood and very difficult one TO dcal with T
have never believed that the State wos receiving
fair and just remuneration for tho liberal
franchises and privileges granted to these COM
panies; but just when and where and how 10
get the desired relief against strong corporations
claiming vested rights, is the problem for sou-
ton. The State ought not and does not, be-
lieve, desire TO embarrass or opprcss these COM
panics, and 1t must be remembered that while
they arc now making very heavy dividends on
their investments, at least it is so stated, that
they have heretofore had TO incur very heavy
expenses in experimenting and developing these
phosphate deposits.
The consideration of tho bill to declare tho
law relating to liens on crops in this State,
upon which you commented recently in an
editorial in your paper with disapproval of some
of the features thereof, was Indefinitely post
poned.
A bill to provide for the recording Of chatel
mortgages and mortgages on real estate in
separate sets of books and 10 provide for the
separate indexing of the same, has passed and
been ordered to o third reading and will doubt
less become law, as there seemed to be no op-
position ID II. The only conceivable objection
would be the additional cost of separate books
for the purpose, which is slight.
The people Of Columbia are delighted with
the prospective development of the great water
power which lies so near them, and tho fond
dream of long years ago may yet be realized, as
the bill TO authorize the Canal Commission TO
transfer and deliver to the Board Of Directors of
the South Carolina Pententiary the property
known as the "Columbia Canal" with its ap-
purtcnances md to develop the samc passed to
tho third reading without opposition, and au-
thorizes the board 10 employ such convict labor
as may be necessary and not to expend more
than $4,000 per annum. hope there is '.mil-
lions in it," both for Columbia and the State.
The bill to amend an Act to establish voting
precincts in the various counties in this State,
establishes two new precincts in Oconec county,
viz: Holly Springs and South Union. This we
had done on the request Of citizens living in the
vicinity Of these places.
On Thursday morning the bill 10 repeal the
usury laws Of This State oame up under the
head of unfinished business, having on the day
previous occupied the attention of the House
for some considerable time, and after further
discussion the motion to 'strike out" tho enact
ing words was carried by q vote of 72 to 80.
In this connection | will mention that there is
now pending before us Senate bill to incorpo-
rate the Southern Loan Association, which is 10
me much more Objectionable than tho repeal of
the usury law. II authorizes this company to
loan money, secured by mortgages on real
estate, at ten per cent. per annum. If it should
become law it would secure the exclusive pri-
vilege to this company, thus creating danger
Gus monopoly and would be IN unjust discrimra-
ton against our own people, as most of tho
corpora' ors and bulk Of the capital como from
without the limits of our State. trust We will
bo able to defeat its passage in tho House.
The Governor has returned largo number
Of Acts with his approval, among them tho Act
to charter the Gilmer Manufacturing Company
and the Act TO prohibit tho sale of spirtuous
liquors in the town of Seneca City except by