Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1890-11-20
The Legislature

OF South Carolina will in
annual session next Tuesday. In some
respects It will BIO one of the most import
ant sessions .off tho Gonolal Assembly in
tho history of the State, because of tho
grave and weighty matters that will
likely demand legislative action. The
various measures of reform, SO long advo-
Gated by our people, and extensively dis
cussed during tho recent campaign, which
called anew to them tho attention of tho
public, will como up for consideration
4 and solution. "a
Ever since 10, when tho Democratic
party redeemed the State from the foreign
foe and native traitor, tho people havo
been demanding economy, retrenchment
and reform. We have constantly urged
U%SoHoTiy in public expenditures, reduc-
tion" of salaries and of offices. But dur
ing all these years there has been little,
IF any, change in II system of govern
ment, and consequently very little placti-
cal relief to tho people from tho burdens
of taxation. The trouble all along has
been, not with the mon who administered
our laws, but with our system of govern
ment. The timo, however, has at last
come for a change, and if the present
Legislature earnestly undertakes tho
task, however difficult it may DO, wc
look for much substantial Improvement.
A large majority of this Legislature have
boon elected on reform issues, and consc-
3quently tho people look to them for
somo measures of practical relief. If
much Is dono wisely and VOL along this
5&lino, it will doubtless require a longer
session than usual; but the time and
money would DO protitably spent could
tho desired purpose be accomplished.
Without attempting anything like an
exhaustive statement Of these measures,
we deem it proper to state some of the
most important.
. First in Importance, as we SEQ it, will
be the question of calling n Constitu-
IS honal Convention, to give us Il now
organic law. Tho September Stale Con-
yention declared itself in favor of tho
call, saying: awe believe tho present. law
q standing menac to our civilization and
@Ste our educational institutions, and that
yYo cannot obtain any great relief from
Eou burdcnsOmo taxes till this is done,
and wo have lost faith in the power to
amend tho present constitution so that it
will answer tho requirements" The
reasons for tho call being many and
potent, they arc stated only in n general
way in tho above declaration. This is
sufficient to Indicate tho will of the pco-
pie, andgHnsfr desire for a new draft of
soff organic law, mado by our own pco-
pie, to meet our present necessities. 1t
is truo that should this Legislature
recommend tho call by tho requisite two
thirds of the members elected to each
branch, still the question must DO sub
mittcd to the people at tho general cleo
ton in 1902, and n popular majority then
declaring in the Affirmative, the next scs-
sion of tho Genera Assembly shall pro-
( vide by law for calling tho Same. This
course may be long and tedious, yet it
will give ample time for the people to
discuss tho needed changes, and settle, in
q measure, upon some Of the fundamental
principles of the new constitution.
Another important matter that will
claim attention is tho phosphate inter
ests OF the State. 1t is probable that a
survey and classification of tho phos-
d plate beds will be provided for, and q
system of mining, under rigid rules,
devised. 1t is to be hoped that no sale
of the States phosphate beds will be
made, thereby enabling strong combina-
tons and trusts to be formed, to the
: great dotrimont of tho farmers who
would he forced to pay higher prices for
their fertilizers. This phosphate bust
ness should be settled on sound business
principles, amt in such Il way rs to pre-
vent the formation of trusts and COM
bines OH fertilizers. Capt. Tillman spent
several days in Charleston last week
gathering data and information from
~"headquartcrs" concerning the phos-
platc industry. He is giving the matter
q personal investigation, so that he may
be able to make some practical recon-
mendation to tho Legislature on the sub
icct.
3 1t is probable that the law regulating
the Railroad Commission will be amended,
so that larger powers will be given to
tho Commission to regulate tho railroad
traffic in tho State, and providing for tho
election of the Commissioners by the
people. This is IL difficult matter to
regulate properly by Legislative enact
mcnt, but the best is expected in the
way of protecting tho rights of the peo-
pic, without crippling or injuring the
railroads.
A bill will probably DO presented to
abolish the Board Of Agriculture, and 10
devolvc upon the Board Of Trustees Of
Clemson College tho duties now per-
formed by this board. The Agricultural
Stations and everything pertaining to
agriculture or mechanics or industrial
education will probably be put in charge
of the Trustees of the Clemson College,
thereby wisely making this institution
the center of Tic system for impartine a
practical knowledge of the science of
agriculture.
The public school system of the State
will likely claim attention. There is a
growing demand throughout tho State
that the school districts be reduced to an
area sufficient to allow one white and
one cOlored school separate in each dis
trict, and that tho School Trustees be