The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-01-09
THE LEGISLATURE.
Some OF Its Mistak es-SOme OF Hts
Wise Acts.

Some OF Its Mistakes-SOme OF Its
Wise Acts.
Without iniputing any blame To anybody
and without attributing other than the best
of motives 10 the General Assembly which
concluded it's labors on December oath, we
NAV be pardoned for speaking of some Of the
grave errors into which that body fell.
First-The General Assembly authorized
the county officers to borrow money with
which 10 pay cash for current expenses. To
borrow money for any such purposes as TO
pay current ex pepses of the county and 10 pay
cash to the school teachers wonld be such q
gross injustice to the people and the taSIpay;; pay;
any officer offending in this particular TO
strict accountability. To borrow money for
such purposes is not for the benefit OF the peo-
The fees In nearly every instance are fixed by
law, and the cost OF borrowing money TO pay
such claims In cash Is just 20 much tribute
levied upon the people for the benefit OF the
favored few. Only this and nothing more.
Take, for instance: the lees for dieting pris-
oners. The law in this instance, as In nearly
every other. fixes the amount TO be paid When
the treasury Is IN funds. Now, II the ja,lor
of the year, and before the taxes have been
paid, should he not pay for bis own accommo.
daton, or should the Taxpayers be mulcted
that we will not insult the readers intelli-
gence. Common honesty would prompt bis
Indignation at imposing upon the people the
cost OF anticipating the payment OF any such
debts. The jatlor, when be seeks the 1oo:
knows when The claims are TO be paid, and If
he wants to be paid earlier than the end OF
the year he should pay for his own accommo.
dation. 1t would be iniquitous for the county
officers to assume to pay any such costs at the
Second-Next to the law which authorizes
the county officers to borrow money without
a decent show at safeguards, was the foolish
and puerile act OF postpontng the collection
of taxes from the thirty.hrst OF December 70
the first OF March. Such postponement de-
the eOnnty ene
only few. The great mass OF taxpayers are
farmers. and as q rule they are as ready to pay
In December as at any other time. Their
lime. To give the large taxpayers two
months further time in which 70 pay did but
little good TO them, while the act has scared
capitalists who have been buying the county
paper. and now the county credit is not as
good as 1t was. The uncertainty as TO when
the taxes will be required has done incaleula:
BILE injury TO people whose salaries are hxed
by law, or whose contracts nave been oasea
ment. This thing OF tlnkering with the tax
collection has gone on long enough and the
people should demand that IL be stopped, and
that a defnite and particular day be fixed Tor
ali time 10 which 10 pay taxes.
Third-The General Assembly OF South
Carolina reduced the number OF trial
justices In Abbeville county. 1t fs the centre
In the county may call on them. II habeas
corpus cases are to be tried two trial Justices
are needed.
In that township are perhaps q larger per
cent. of we'll TO do farmers than In almost any
other township. They are white people.
They have titles to their own farms. pay their
debts, live In peace with all mankind, and
der all circumstances. They, more than any
other community, obeyed the Alliance de-
mand TO use cotton bagging. They have new
We believe the only offices that have ever
been awarded to that township were Jury
Commissioner. Trial Justice and Court Crier.
A few years ago 1t was deemed prudent to
30 Long Cane lost that officer. Now. the last
General Assembly has abolished the office Of
Trial Justice in Long Cane. II IT. should be
In order 10 abolish the place OF Court Crier
three places which we're secured 10 Long Cane
men have been abolished. Let us hope that
the office OF Court Crier will not be abolished.
that she hes should be deprived or Trial Justice
or what induces the Legislature to abolish
whatever that community gets.
The abolition of the offices OF Trial Justice
at A breville and Long Cane would likely not
OF these two offices would not affect the pub
lie treasury more Than jay bird would affect
the water in a mill pond, by taking drink
out of IT.. 1t couldn't have been for spite at
either community. We don't know why II
was done, and 1t may be that II Is noooays
business.
The General Assembly despite the proposed
extravaganza In permitting the borrowing OF
money ut the expense of the people for the
benefit of the favored officers and teachers,
almost without The semblance OF safeguard,
repealed the act which has heretofore reqnlr.
ed the treasurer 10 publish ali an nuHl report
OF his transactions and doings as financial
agent OF the people, but there was no connec-
ton between the Two acts. We see oy the
nit the repeal Of the law which requires the
treasurer 10 make bis annual showing. DE
believes that the people are entitled 10 know
what becomes OF their money, and the peo-
ole will not likely endorse any officer who
puts them In debt 10 anticipate payment Of
county expenses.
TO THEIR CREDIT.
In speaking out on matters wherein grave
error has been committed. we would not for
get or overlook the fact that some good legis-
lation WAS done.
Take for instance: The act which defines
the meaning and effect OF chattel mortgages.
The court having gone contrary TO common
reason and common justice it was we'll that
the Legislature should make declaration on
this subject The law now declares that the
law as 10 mortgages on personal property Is
lust as we have understood IL TO be for the last
years. 1t affords us much pleasure, too, to
note that our own immediate Representative
the Hon. F. B. Gary introduced this law,
which passed both Houses without objection,
and without alteration. That was q needed
law.
The law on foreclosure Of real estate was an
Interference with vested rights, and we be-
iieye should not stand as TO contracts existing
at the time OF the passage OF the objectiona-
BILE law. That act should never have become