The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-11-11
The Legislature.

Inc Gcncral Assembly OF Soulu SaIollla
will meet next Tuesday week, the 9th of the
month. From the indications as expressed in
the newspapers, and by the grand iuries Of
the different counties, We are led to fear that
some radical changes may be made in the in.
dicial system of the State. Without very Clear
proof Of needed changes, We think it best to
make changes slowly and cautiously.
1t is, we believe, q fact that our Courts now
are much more expensive than they were un.
der the Republican rule. This can, i'll our
opinion, be accounted for in the fact that
many minor offences have been greatly mag
nified, and removed from the jurisdiction OIL
the trial justices. II the nulnber of trial JUS
tees were reduced. and If the reduced mum
Der were paid a stipulated salary by the year.
with no contingent fees, the business of the
trial justices were empowered to try all small
cases, the business Of the Circuit Court would
be still more greatly reduced.
The penalty for carrying concealed weapons
should be fixed by law at a sum higher than
q hundred dollars or three months sentence
to the penitentiary, or else this class of of:
fences should be transferred to the trial jus.
tice court.
IF 1t should be determined to increase
the number of Circuit Judges, then the
pay OF all Judges and Solicitors should be re-
duced so that the increased number Of Judges
and Solicitors may not entail further cost on
which demands good service.
We need a law which will require insurance
companies to pay the full amount Of the poll
cy on which they receive a premium.
We could. on a pinch, get along with fewer
Railroad Commissioners.
Our convicts should be allowed to remain
in the county, and we Should lie allowed to
send for others, if needed, to open new public
roads, and to work the old roads. Let a law
be enacted which will authorize the appoint.
ment Of a surveyor whose duty it shall be to
survey new roads which may be needed, or to
make such necessary changes in the present
route Of old roads as may be advisable. Let
an overseer be appointed whose duty 1t shall
be to procure tents, blankets, cooking uten.
slls. work implements, and guards for as
many convicts as may be needed. With good
tents, which can be bought at small cost, the
overseer, guards, and convicts may be made
comfortable, while on their work. This law
as to convicts working the roads will relieve
the penitcntiary from its crowded condition
and be Of great value to the farming interests
Of the country.
We need to have another collection Of tax
es ordered this winter-not later than Febru'
ary-or in failure to get that, let us have two
collections next winter, so that citizens who
work for the county may receive the cas).
We need better school houses, and If any
portion of the levy now made for school pur.
poses could be diverted to the erection of com
Portable school houses, great good would bt
done to the people.
The needy Confederate soldier should not be
forgotten.
We need all the anti-prohibition Legislation
which may be necessary to secure an express
sion rom the people on that subject.
We need a change in the law, which allow:
town authorities to appropriate the fees re
ceived for whiskey license. The county is
held responsible for the Court expenses there
by incurred, and the county should receive al
the fees. The country people suffer equal
ly from the evils of drunkenness, and the
money should go into the general treasury q
the county. There is nothing clearer thar
his. For instance. the murder trials which
have inflicted such cost on the people. The
license fees to sell the whlskcy which caused
the killing, went into the town treasury
while the county Is left to hold the bag" and
to settle the incidental or consequential dam
ages.
We have a wise and conservatives delegation
to the Legislature, and we have no doubt Of
their ability, their fidelity, and their wisdom
to look after all our best interest in the Legis
lature.