The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-21

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. age surprised and astonished me.
is as fertile as the valley OF the Mile
the soil In some places being five fee
In depth. As our State increases Il
wealth and population this section /
i bound to be the garden spot of tn
country. The decentralization an,
4 paralysis OF energy caused by the re
suits OF the war drove the owners o
these plantations to the cities an,
other States to engage in other pur
suits, and they have been abandoned
to the deer and wild turkey and free
negro, only to be bought up, however
and converted into hunting preserve,
by rich capitalists OF the North, VIII,
now grow fat upon our misfortunes
Over one hundred Thousand acres o.
these rich lands are now owned by
hunting clubs of foreign citizens with
not an acre under cultivation. IL this
is to continue these preserves should
be taxed in proportion to their ability
TO produce crops and not deer and wild
game. Ii millionaire buys q rail
road and converts 1t to the sole use OF
transporting himself and friends with
out revenue, the State would continue
to tax 1t upon its true value to the pub
lie, and 80 1t should be with the game
preserve. Ii it amounts to breaking
them up, well and good, the State
loses nothing, but, on the contrary re-
claims what belongs to her Industrious
| citizen: home and fertile folds. |
trust this provision of the constitution
will be thoroughly enforced by suit
able legislation.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT..
1t Is within your province to provide
the executive with board of pardons,
to whom the Governor may refer every
petition for pardon, which board shall
hear all such petitions, undor such
rules and regulations as the general
assembly may provide.
The Governor may adopt such re-
Communications or reject them but in
case of rejection he shall present his
reasons to the general assembly. AS
you will observe, there is nothing COM
pulsory In the matter, and, after all,
the entire responsibility is placed up
on the Governor. I can see no use,
therefore, for such board. But the
matter is left entirely to your wisdom
and good Judgment. II board is pro-
vided, allow me to suggest that it be
composed or outside citizens, and not
ohce-b olders and politicians, who may
possibly have "axes to grind"
JUDICIAL DEPARTMENT.
The supreme court of the State will
hereafter consist of g chief justice and
three associate justices. This will
necessitate the election by you at this
session Of an additional associate
Justice. would suggest that this
election be held as soon as practicable,
as the court is now in session and the
services of the justice are required. 1
have found in my experience with the
legislature that elections are the
greatest drawbacks to expedition in
II III.
recommend that all Of your elections
oe had during the first week of the
session.
The constitution has also provided
another appellate tribunal for the de-
termination Of grave constitutional
questions, consisting of the members
OF the supreme court and the circuit
judges. 1t will be necessary for you
to provide means for the payment of
the expenses of the circuit judges
when called to site in this appellate
court. 1t would be unjust to make
them pay their own expenses. would
suggest that the Governors contin
fient fund be increased to an amount
sufficient in your Judgment to meet
this additional expense and that the
Governor be authorized to pay the
same therefrom. This is the law now
as to judges who sit upon the supreme
court when one OF the justices is dis
qualified from any cause. The people
have a right in future to expect all
appeals to be speedily heard and de-
termined. A wide discretion Is allow
ed your honorable body for providing
courts for the speedy administration
of justice. The laws delay has been
q trite phrase for centuries, and |
trust you will find some plan for af-
fnr1inu tho manila rn1inf from tha
heavy burdens of court expenses oc-
casioned by the continuation Of causes,
which often amounts to denial OF
justice and brings the courts into dis
repute. There is q general demand
for relief, and there are only two doors
open for you under the constitution to
wit: the establishment Of county courts
or an increase in the number of circuit
judges. There seemS to be great OPP
position to the former in many of the
counties on the grounds OF expense
and the great number OF Offices neces
sary to be created upon their establish
mont. My Judgment is that an in
crease OF the circuit judges to ten
would afford ample relie! and give all
the time required to dispatch the busi-
ness OF the several counties. This
would require a like increase In the
number Of solicitors. The additional
expense to each county would be
$222.22 per annum, aud / am satisfied
the saving in Jail fees and witness fees
alone would pay this ten-fold. In the
county of Aiken six months intervene
between the fall and spring terms of
the court and prisoners who cannot
give bail a-2 required Gc isnguish In
jail at the expense OF the county for
this period and often longer. have
no doubt the same Is the case in other
counties. The courts cannot sit longer
than two weeks at moro than one term
during the year, and often adjourn
before the jails are delivered. [ re-
spectfully ask that you give this matter
your careful consideration.
Magistrates are provided for, In
place of the old trial Justices, with
salaries in lieu OF fees, to he fixed by
your honorable body. Their 1urisdic-
tion is defined in civil and criminal
cases, and this devolves upon you the
duty of providing for their appoint
ment and to determine the cases in
which they shall exercise Jurisdiction
within constitutional limits. I would
suggest that any Legislation as to the
salaries OF magistrates be made to
take effect after the terms OF the pre-
sent trial Justices expire, which will be
in December next. 1t Is your duty to
provide for tho interchange OF circuits
Of the circuit judges.
JURISPRUDENCE.
1t will be necessary to provide for q
change of venue In civil and criminal
casea over which the circuit courts