The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-12-17
Editorial Correspondence.
ConuMs1A. s. O. Dec. 10 1ssb

Is, COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. IL, 1885.
DEAR SENTINEL: Yesterday and to day
were busy days in the General Assembly,
and the House calendar is growing beau
SitSlly less. On Thursday the bill to
repeal the lien law passed the House by
a considerable majority, but there is not
much probability of its passing the SEN
ate.
The bin providing for the census to be
taken this year, though it passed the
House with an overwhelming majority.
stands poor chance to become law.
There was lively debate in the House
last night on q joint resolution to amend
the constitution 80 as to deprive Char
lesion of one Of her Senators. The
resolution wns introduced by Mr.. Stan
ysrne Wilson of Spartanburg. Mr..
Wilson supported his resolution with
unanswerable arguments, but there were
only 81 members who wore of his way of
thinking. This is doubtless the enter
ing wedge though, which will in the
near future bring Charleston on equal
footing with the other counties 80 far as
representation in the Senate is concerned
bill hns passed the House to regu-
late the introduction in the General AS
sembly of bills relating to private inter-
ests. Should it become law it will
greatly reduce the business Of each ses-
sion. Had it been the law ut the begin
ming OF this session, the Assembly might
have adjourned by the 18th instant
without being hurried. This with the
short bills hereafter necessary for incor
pointing towns, &C., will roduce the
printing and reading of the House at
least fifty per cent, and consequently
save that much in time.
Heretofore the whole General Assem-.
bly, has frequently been occupied for an
hour or more on the passage of one bill
to incorporate some company which never
organized, but now they will have to
raise some money before they can get
ehartor. 30 it is safe to conclude that
the acts hereafter will not be numbered
with so many charters which are dead
lotter. 1t is strange such law has not
been passed before.
There has been much complaint about
90 many people being exempt from road
duty, and, strange to say, right in the
fsce Of this, to day, House Bill, exempt
ing Confederate soldiers from road duty,
= was passed to third reading. The pro-
verbal eloquonce of Col MoKissick of
Union triumphed over the opposion.
A proposition III now before the House
to allow the sinking fund oommissiop 70
use money in their hands for purchasing
lands IN the neighborhood of the Peni-
tentiary on which to work the surphs
convicts. The motion is to strike out
the enaoting clause of the BILL and pend
ing the decision the House adjourned.
The convict business in this State is now
the great question in this State. The
man who can solve this question so as to
reconcile humanity to the convicts with
the financial interests of the State, is the
man we are looking for.
COLUMBIA, Dec 13, 1885.
Attorney General Miles left Columbia
to day for Washington to argue before
the United States Supreme Court, on
behalf of South Carolina, the celebrated
Blue Ridge Bond Scrip Case. 1t will
be heard this week. The Attorney Cen
eral has great hopes of SUCCESS, but the
supreme Court is composed of 30 much
legal material that theresult is uncertain.
1t will doubtless be decided very soon.
b.