The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1889-02-15
THE FEE BILL.

Speech Of I. G. McKIssIcK, delivered In The
House Of Representatives, in December
last, in opposition to Hon. W. G. Bsnet'l
Bill TO repeal 90 much Of tho Fee Bill ~
allows costs to plaintiffs and dsfendsntl
Attorneys:
Nh. SPBAKER an sstenished at the In
trodsctisn ints this House Of the Bill now
under consideration. Ifsome illitsrate, un-
informed person had introduced il, would
not have bsen 30 much astonished, but iti
introduction by . gentleman Of distinguished
abilities, Of profound learning, brought pp
at the feet Of Gansliel, aud now the com.
pslisn Of high Priest, who daily ministers
In the great Temple Of Justice, does sstonish
ne beyoud description. / cannot under
stand IL; it surpssses my comprehension.
l am like tho old philosopher, who while
rambling one evening looking at the beau
tics Of nature, came across tannsry; the
tanners sign was COW tail hanging down
in front Of his deer, the stump Of the tail
extending through an augsr hole TO the in
side, the philosopher gazed intently at the
tail, tho tanner asked what he desired, he
responded, nothing" but added, al have
travelled much in my time; have trsvsrssd
seas and oceans; have Travelled over vast con-
tilsnts; have seen old ocean calm and Sc
rene suddenly eonvulsed with raging billows,
wreeking the mightiest vessels that sail
upon tho deep; have breasted the mighty
simeon sweeping over the desert Of Sahara;
have stood upon the towering Alps and gas
ed at the suplit clouds at my feet while the
thunders reared in the vallies below; have
ascended into the very heavens and listened
at the music Of the spheres, aud all these
things could understand and explain, but
how that cow got through that auger hole,
and couldn't take in her tail surpasses my
comprehension. And Mr.. Speaker; l am
equally puzzled at the introduction Of this
Bill; it surpasses my comprehension.
For what purpose has it been introduced
Why attempt to innovate upon laws tho wis.
dom Of which has been established BY tho
experience Of agssi When this State was
q province Of Great Britaiu Fec bills uere
established for the people. The oldest Fec
Bill Of which We have any knowledge being
established in 1894. And since EnElsnd's
yoke was thrown off thi. State has ever had
an established Fee bill. Look back upon
adorned the Bench in South Carolina since
1776: lesk too at the wise legislators and
Statesmen OF South Carolina during that
eventful period. Those profound leEsla.
tors established Fee bills from time to time.
which met the approval Of those eminent
Judges.
Now for tho frst time in the history Of
this State an effort is made to abolish por-
tion Of our Fec bill, the original of which
was wisely established by our ancestors.
Whr- il il nadsf Can it be that it 10 the bas-
tsrd offspring OF tnewnr now wesed against
lawyers? 1 deprecate every effort, by
whomsoever made, to array one GLASS Of citi-
xens against another. In every community
there are lawyers, farmers, preachers. ply
sicians, merchants, mechanics and millers.
They are necessary factors in society; and
it is wrong, egregiously wrong, to array ono
class against another.
The author of our present Fec bill was
brought up nj the plou hsndles,--was fol-
10 wing . lazy mule hitched TO q plow, on
his native Pea Ridge before some Of you
were bsrr, and while some Of you were gal
lsping corn etalk horses and chasing but
terfies from flower to flower. llo was trans
ferred from the farm to the office Of Clerk
Of the Court by the voice Of his district.
His services in that sfhce for l6 years made
him familiar with our Fee Bills.
And in drawing up the present Fec bill
he had one eye on the lawyers and officers
Of the Court, and the other ON the farmers
and other classes.
And had he been appointed by Judge ~
. sworn referee to draw up fee bill equal
alike to all parties the present would have
been the identical Fec bill he would have
drawn.
For no one moro deeply feels fer, and
sympathises with the farmers and laboring
classes than he, knowing by bitter expert
snee the difficulties against which they have
to contend in the great strugglsifor human
existence.
Farmers, look we'll to yeur vote on this
bill. Guard against tho sophistry Of law
yers. Think for yourselves.
Leok for moment at the practical effects
Of this bill. Suppose justly owe Mr.. II.
will not pay him, and he 10 forced to sue 80
make mo pay him. Who ought TO pay bis
awyers costs for issuing the necessary pa
pers in the suit! Every honest person
would say at once that ought TO pay them,
or the reason, that am at fault; the ons
'lamable for not paying the debt. Yet il this
ill becomes law Mr.. II. would have 10 pay
aid costs himself.
What injustice to . creditor What an
pen violation Of every principle Of law and
equity And what a premium for delaying
he payment OF an hsnest debt !
Such Legislation is wrong. dangerous.
Before the war preacher attempted
Q baptise negro in "nuch water. The
preacher was unacquAinted with the
lace; as he went to immerse the negro he
to step in deep water, both he aud
he negro went down, and the negro badly
tranglsd exclaimed: "See hero, if you don't
tsp this foolishness some boss will lose =
ligger;" and gentlemen Of this House If
Iou don't step this unwise legislation, plain
IFS and defendants win be compelled to in
ur unjust expenses, while the shafts hurled
L the lawyers will fall harmless At their
est.