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

THE FEE BILL.
Speech Of 1. g. McKissIcx, delivered in the
House sf Representatives, in December
lsst, In epposition to Hon. W. G. Bsnsrs
Bill TO repeal % much Of the Fee Bill %
allows costs to plaintiffs and dsfepdants
Attorneys:
Nh. SPsAxsR am ssts,ished at The in.
troduotisn int this House Of the Bill now
under consideration. II some illitsrate, un-
informed person had introdaoed il, I would
not have been % much astonished, but its
Introduction by gentleman ofdistin Ruishsd
abilities. OF profound learning, brought up
at the feet Of 0amaliel, aud now the com.
psnisn Of Q high Priest, who daily ministers
In the great Temple Of Justice, does astonish
me beyoud description. cannot under
stand u; It surpasses my comprehension.
am Ike the old philosopher, who while
rambling one evening looking at the beau
ties Of nature, came across . tannsry; the
tsuner's sign was COW tail hanging down
in front Of his deer, the stsmp OF the tail
extending through an augsr hole to the in
side, tho philosopher gazed intently at the
tail, tho tanner asked what he desired, he
responded, 'nothing," but added, "I have
travelled much in my time; have trsvsrssd
seas and oceans; have travelled over vast con-
tiasnts; have seen old ocean calm and %.
rene suddenly sonvulsed with raging billows,
wrecking the mightiest vessels that sail
upon the deep; have breasted the mighty
simeon sweeping over the desert Of Sahara;
have stood upon the towering Alps and gas
cd at the sunlit 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
comprehsnsisn. And Mr.. Speaker; l am
equally puzzled at the introduction Of this
Bill; it surpasses my comprehension.
For what purpose has it been iutrodsoedi
Why attempt to innsvste upon laws tho wis.
dom Of which has been established by tho
experience Of sgssi When this State was
province Of Great Britsiu Fec bills were
established for the people. The oldest Fee
Bill Of which we have any knowledge being
established in 1894. And since Eprland's
yoke was thrown off this State has ever had
an established Fee bill. Look back upon
the long array Of eminent Judges who have
adorned the Bench in South Carolina since
1776; lssk too at the wise legislators and
Statesmen Of South Carolina during that
eventful period. Those profound lerisla-
tors established Fee bills from time to time.
which met the approval of thuss eminent
Judges.
Now for the first 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.
Why j. it padsf Can it be that it 10 the bas-
thrd offspring or tnewar new wssed against
1awysrs2 deprecato 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 Fee bill was
brought up At the plow hsndles,-was fol-
lowing lazy mule hitched to . plow, on
his native Pea Ridge before some Of you
were bern, and while some Of you were gal
lsping corn etalk horses and chasing but
terAies from flower to flower. He was trans
ferred from the farm to the Office Of Clerk
ofths Court by the voice OF his district.
His services in that sfhee for 16 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 tho other ON the farmers
and other classes.
And had he been appointed by Judge -
. swors 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, AID
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 ysur vote on this
bill. Grsra sS.;nst the scphig!ry 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 TO
make mo pay hin. Who ought to pay bis
lawyers costs for issuing the necessary pa
pers in the suit! Every honest psrssn
would say at once that 1 ought to pay them,
for the reason, that Am at fault; the one
blamable for not paying the debt. Yet il this
bill becomes law Mr.. H. would have TO pay
said costs himself.
What injustice to . creditor What an
open violation Of every principle OF law and
equity And what q premium for delaying
the payment Of an hsnest debt
Such Legislation ID wrong dangerous.
Before the war preacher attempted
to baptise negro in "much water. Tho
preacher was unacquainted with the
place; as he went to immerse tho negro he
happened to stop in deep water, both he aud
the negro went down, and the negro badly
stranglsd exolaimed: "See here, if you don't
step this foolishness some boss will lose q
nigger;" and gentlemen Of this House If
You don't step this unwise legislation, plain
tif's and defendants Will be compelled to in
cur unjust expenses, While the shafts hurled
at the lawyers will Tau harmless at their
feet.
-~O~--