The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-12-11
LEGISLATIVE DOTS.

burg, has introducpi BIZ in the House
TO prescribe the punishment for certain
misdemeauors. The object Of this bill
is TO require the Courts of Sessions, in
cases where they have concurrent juris.
diction with inferior Courts, to
limit the punishment which can
be imposed in the lower Court, and
not to exceed it, We have not seen the
text Of this bill, but from its title sup.
pose it limits the punishment for As.
saults and Batteries and for Petit LARGE
nies to thirty days in Jail or 800 fine.
II 80 we think it would be unfortunate
for the bill to become law.
Mr.. Scudday presented the petition of
Mrs. S. +. Chaplin aud the officers of
the w. G. Il. u. asking for the intro>
duction into the public schools of text
books upon the injurious effects of the
use of narcotics and alcoholic stimulauts.
The petition was read and referred TO
the committee on education. The com.
mittee was discharged from the consid.
Grafton Of the petition, and it WAS ordered
10 lie upon the table. The committee
did not apparently think it desirable to
make the study of the use Of alcoholic
liquors part Of the common school
education. They are right. The boys
studying the subject might have felt it
| necessary to experiment in the interest
of the science of temperance just to
ascertain if the book. 'ere correct.
The committee on Is, bridges and
ferries, have reported favorably on o bill
to establish the Office OF county engineer
and TO define HE duties. If it passes
there will be thirty. four new Offices to be
filled in the State We doubt whether
the Office can be made advantageous to
the people AZ long as the present road
! law exists.
Col. McKissck's bill to reduce the rate
| of interest to seven per cent. has been
| reported unfavorably, but goes on the
calendar for consideration. 1t will
probably be defeated.
Mr.. w. II. Parker, of Abbeyille, has
introduced bill to prohibit the sale of
intoxicating liquors in the town of
I.owndesville, in Abbevile County.
Mr.. Mason has introduced bill
to devolve the duty of manager of the
| Columbia Canal upon the Superinten.
dent Of the Penitentiary without addi.
! tional pay. This is bill in the right
direction. There il no reason to pay the
Superintendent extra for his supervisory
control of the cOnvicts on the canal.
Mr. Davie has introduced bill to
authorize Trial Justices to issue warrants
for the enforcement of agricultural liens
| under certain conditions. This would
work mischief if it should become a
law. 1t is better to repeal the law
| entirely.
From dozen or more bills introduced
in relation to the sale of seed cotton, the
agricultural committee have selected aud
| reported favorably one bill, which is on
the House Caleudar, under the title of
"a bill to prevent the purchase of seed
cotton from certain persons" 1t is pro.
hibited to purchase: l. From any per.
son, or from any member Of his or
| against whom their exists Of record an
unpaid lien, mortgage, Judgment or
other legal evidence Of indebtedness, due
ing said cotton, withou. the written con.
sent of the party holding said claim. 9.
From any person, who il party to a
contract OF record to work farm on
| shares, without the written consent of
the other party or parties to such con-
tract. 3. From any person, who il under
contract of record 10 work for wages in
| any capacity upon farm. 4. From any
person who ia not engaged in farm labor
under contract of record. The violation
| of the Act 10 made misdemeanor pun.
| ishab!e with fine of $40, one half of
which goes to the informer.
Tho Columbia Canal is just now excit.
| ing more discussion than any other mat.
| ter before the General Assembly. The
investigation of tho work done and pro.
! posed was committed to joint committee
which, after taking testimony from En-.
S;IeeT Les and others, aud inspecting the
canal, appointed subcommittee, con.
siating of Senator Moore. IF Hampton.
chairman, and Representatives McMas.
ter, of Richland, and Mikell, Of Berke.
Icy, to prepare report for adcnt'on.
This report Is not yet quite complete,
and It 10 not known whether it will meet
the views Of the full committee. AL.
though the members are very reticent, It
is believed that the subcommittee will
report in favor of the completion of the
canal, according to the original plan,
with the dam at Bull Sluice. Some
members of the full committee are un.
derstood 20 favor etoppipg the canal at
Cemetery Hill, opposite the city, point
now nearly reached, ard damming the
river at that point. This would take a
little leas time but would involve the
building Of an enormous dam and would
| overflow the sites owned by the State,
and probably endanger the Broad River
bridge, It Is improbable that the aban.
donnlent of work will be recommended.
It is understood to be the belief of the
majority Of the committee that as much
work as was &c be expected has not been
done on the canal, but there seems 10 be
no deposition to charge the mismanage.
ment to any one. It may as we'll be
| realized that there will be hard fight
by many membefs to stop work on tho
canal, or to cripple 1t as much as posi-.
bic.
The committee on railroads have con i.
solidated their report In favor of the
most important amendatory measures
that have been introduced this session on
tho subject. These are: J.. Bill TO
repeal the Act Of December 81, 1882,
aud all Acts amendatory thereto. q.
BIZ to repeal section l,442 Of the Gene
raj Statutes relating to discrimination by
railroad companies. 8. Bill to amend
the Act Of December 81, 1889, and to
reduce the number ofirailroad commits.
a!oners. 4. Bill TO repeat section ,45S
Of the General Staintes providing the
mode of payment Of the railroad com.
rnissioners. S On all these bills the com
mittes report uhfavorably. With dissent.
ing report by Mr.. F.. W.. McNfaster.
Tho majority report says . !. aeWhile the
committee Is divided In opinion 40 to
the wisdom of the legislaticn heretofore
had on this subject, their conclusion IL
that at fhis aime IL is nnWise and inex.
pedtert 10 mako any radical change.