Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-12-10

charge juries on matters of fact as well as OF
law, was defeated by very large majority,
rs well as Bill to reduce the number OF
peremptOry challenges now allowed to de-
PENDANTS in criminal cases.
The Prohibitionists and their opponents
have had several tilts in the House without
any very decided results as to what is the
views Of majority of that body. The Bill
to provide for the submission to the voters
of Abbeville county Of the question of Iii
cense" or "No License" in the Incorporated
towns of said county, at Il special election,
was the subject Of long discussion in the
House. 1t was very ably argued pro and
con. The bill was rec0mmitted, and will
probably fail to pass. From the best infor-
nation | can gather, the sentiment OF a
majority of the Legislature is opposed to
Legislative interference, and that the ques-
tion should be settled by the people under
the local option; but there is no disposition
to extend the local option to any town in
which it is now prohibited by Legislative
enactment unless it is asked for by large
majority of those interested.
| There was an organized effort made to
abolish the Trial Justice system and estab-
lsh a county court instead thereof. This
was defeated on the ground that it would
entail great trouble and expense to people
who live at a distance from the Court HOus-
es, whether they might be litigants or wit
nesses, and greatly increase the county eX-
penses, as it would involve the expense of
the salary of County Judge, County Court
Clerk, County Solicitor, juries, &c.
We learn that the York delegation have
agreed upon . mills as the amount to be
incorporated in the Supply Bill for county
purposes in York county.
An election was held last Friday by the
Legislature in Joint Assembly for Chief
Justice and Six Circuit Judges. W. d..
Simpson was elected Chief Justice without
opposition. Gen. Moore's name was with
drawn from the contest against Judge AL
drich, and this left all the present incum-
bents without any opposition. Presley,
Aldrich Hudson, Witherspoon, Wallace
and Cothran were reelected.
In regard to the census question there is
nothing settled. Your readers will remem-
ber that last year the House passed Bill to
require the Governor to have census taken,
and appropriated money to defray the eX-
penses thereof. The Senate rejected the
re-apportion the representation in the House
of Representatives. The House has again
passed the Census Bill, but the Senate has
not yet acted upon it.
TheSenate, on Saturday, passed ajointres-
olution proposing Constitutional amend
ment enabling the Legislature to accept the
United States Census as a basis of Legisla-
tive apportionment, which if agreed to by
the House, would enable the representa-
tion to be re-apportioned, as the Constitu-
ton requires, without any cost to the State.
The Senate also proposed an amendment to
the Constitution to make the State Super
intendent of Education elective by the Leg
islature and to increase his term of office to
| fonr vaarS a lSo to piye the aDDOintment
of County School Commissioner to the Gov
ernOr
A bill has passed the House and is now
under discussion in the Senate, to authorize
County Commissioners and municipal au-
thorities, to work criminals, sentenced at
hard labor for less term than twelve
months. on the public highways. Is.