The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-09-25
Wednesday, Sept. 25, 1885
Convention Short stops.

The time for the Introduction OF new mat
ters into the Convention has passed. MANY
OF the Bills or Ordinances heretofore lnlro-
duced have been passed upon by the commit
tees and it is fair TO presume that the Coh'
vention will now go actively TO Work. before
the week is out we may expect 10 see lne DE-
ginning of the end. 1t now seems thaI le"
radical changes will be made.
Mr.. Klugh has introduced some good oilIs'
among which is one to protect the people IN
the matter Of insurance.
The time for Charleston's double represen'
1ation in the Senate is drawing 10 close.
The subject of small counties is still one oi
more or less interest and great effort will oe
made to facilitate the organization OF coun-
ties In remote sections.
The homestead will likely remain as 1t IS.
The disposition Of the liquor questlon seems
10 satisfy those who are opposed 10 the ois'
pensary. The dispensary law Is Inade const'-
tutional. The Legislature will have power 10
regulate the liquor traffic.
The right 10 vote will be conferred on tax
paying females in towns and cities in cleo
,ions where taxation and the incurrlng OF
debt is involved.
The State will likely refuse to grant divorce.
but will recognize divorces granted In other
States.
The school tax will no doubt be divided
among the races.
The Legislature did the right thing in CIV
ing the printing to Calvo. He is the public
printer, and was entitled to it by every rea-
son of fairness.
The office Of public printer should be rec
ogn,zed rs any other Office Is recognized, and
the price should be fixed by law. AS we'll let
out the offices of Governor, Superintendent
of Education, or any other office. to the low
est responsible bidder. If the county offices
were let out to the lowest bidder we have no
doubt that men could be found who would oe
willing to I'LL the offices for less money tnan
the salary fixed by law. The public PRIMER
is a most important and responsible one.
If he is incompetent he may delay the ses'
sions OF the Legislature. IF he is disloyal 10
the party or faction in power he could, II he
so elected, sometimes defeat legislation by
his dilatory work.
The Convention will perhaps fix the pay OF
members OF the General Assembly at three
dollars q day. Such action is wrong, and is
done in the interest of that class who seek 10
rule the State. No.good representative, as
matter Of money, can afford to go 70 Colum-
bia for less than five dollars a day. The Leg
islature did a small, picayune business In nX :
ing the pay of members OF the Convention at
two dollars 1t Is a poor sort Of statesman
that isn't worth five dollars day. Speaking
for the Press and Banner, on an Independent
question Of salaries, we would vote for no
man who thinks his services are worth less
than five dollars. 1t is a very small, and q
very cheap business, to ask Legislator TO
take q fee less than sufficient to pay bis board
at a good hotel.
The Abbeville members Of the Convention
came home Saturday but they have gone
back. We are inclined TO the opinion that
the Convention will not be unnecessarily
prolonged.
Mr. MCGOWAN introduced bill to make the
age of consent and of lawful marriage sixteen
years. This bill ought to be killed. The age
of responsibility in such matters should be
the same as the age for accountability for
murder, arson, theft, ETC. No amount OF leg
islating can restore a soiled dove and no
amount OF persecution will prevent moral Of
fences Of this sort.
Up to this time the Convention has under
consideration enough legislation, with which
IL has proper connection, to fill large vol
ume. 1t is to be hoped that large per cent.
OF 1t will be killed.