The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1889-12-18
For the Ledger.
THE LEGISLATURE.

to coslate from the mass of Legislative
proceedings such matters as would be
OF interest 20 the general reader. There
IS so much rubbish, local, special aud
general, now on the calendars, as to
warrant the conclusion that about the
only wise measure now before the Gen
eral Assembly, is bill to provide for
the revision, digest and arrangement
OF the Statute Laws of the State of
South Carollna.
There is a necessity, of course, for
special and local legislation, but the
objection Ia to the much of it, and es>
pecially when it is so transparent, that
n deal of it is attempted for buncombe
Only.
The great a.d absorbing question,
which has occupied the attention Of
the House during the past week was
the Clemsoa Agricultural College,
This subject was under consideration
for two days end nights. 1t was ably
aud wei! discussed, barring the par
tsan feeling exhibited on both sides.
This bill passed the House on Satur.
day with slight amendments to the
original draft Of bill as published IN
your paper of last week. 1t occurs
to me, that the ardent supporters of
this measure, are asking too much. An
Agricultural College in this State, is
an experiment and all experiments
should be conducted cautiously and
II there was ever time when econom,
ic legislators should go slow that time
is the present, but have not time or
space to discuss the many provisions
of this bill here, but | was constrained
to dissent from the majority in many
of its details.
The Joint resolution to call a Con-
stitutional Convention failed in the
Senate, for the want of the necessary
twoNthirds vote.
a number Of amendments to the
Constitution have been proposed, but
the Senate seems averse to tampering
with the present Constitution of the
State. Among the amendments pro
posed it may not be out of place to
mention several of the most impor-
tant
A Joint Resolution proposing an
amendment, relating to an
educational qualification for elec.
tors or voters ; one providing Cor
biennial sessions Of the Legislature +;
another that Legislative sessions are
hereafter to begin on the third Tues
day in January; an amendment to
: abolish the homestead law another
y '"hi1ie .-.-- g. ~ Courts : and .,.s ssill
,sN,ch y "po'eS I" strike 7n'
W. Of NE Constitution, which
me County of Charleston two
Fnny or all the amendments pass
both Houses, they will be submitted
to the people f,r ratification at the
next general election.
The Senate has killed a bill to al
low ten members of jury to render
verdict also "A bill to allow Judges
to charge jury as to matters of fact
as well as law.
The Senate has passed n bill to
make the notes Of stenographers, bind
ing as testimony, rulings and charges
of Circuit Courts Of this State.
The House bill to reduce the saIa.
ries of State officers and their clerks
failed in the Senate by close vote
While the reduction proposed did not
amount to mach, it was step in the
right direction.
The bill to amend the law relating To
labor contracts, so as TO include and
make binding oral contracts, failed in
the House. a bill to require Solici-
tors to act as the legal advisers OF
County Commissioners, has passed the
House.
The Senate mas passed to its third
reading, bill to amend the General
Statutes relating to tare on bales of
cotton. No allowance for breakage
in weighing 's allowed, and the actual
tare alone is to be deducted, i. g. to
say, 10 ponds when Cotton bagging
is used and "a pounds when Jute bag
~SiuG is used.
The Committee on Ways and Means
have reported the bill to raise supplies
aDd appropriations for the year com
mencing November 1st. 1889. The
tax levy named is 81 mills.
Your readers have been duly noti.