The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1899-02-01
SsSTHE<s<S
BEST ADVERTISING MEDIUM
NJ
Western South Carolina.
RATES REASONABLE.
SUBSCRIPTION 81 PER ANNUM
JOB PRINTING A SPECIALITY,
The Legislature.

the township board OF assessors q
his township to the effect that such
person owns and habitually uses at
least one road vehicle with tires nvt
less than four Inches wide shall be
exempt from road duty aud from the
payment of Communication ROAD tax.
OTHER NEW BILLS
Mr., Scarborough-To aa,hoi ize tie
construction, maintenance and opera
tion of telephone and telegraph lines
in this State and to provide for tie
assessment of just compensatitn for
such rights.
Geo. ". Brown-To amend the
act providing for the appointment Of
magistrates.
Thebill to amend the code Of civil
procedure passed it's fcal reading.
SECOND READING BILLS.
Mr.. Graydon's bill to amend the
law regarding magistrates as it ap.
plies to Abbeville county, and Mr.
Scarborough's bill to reqaire mem,
bers of the State board of control to
give bond in the sum of $4,000
passed their second reading without
debate.
TO REPEAL THE LIEN LAW.
Debate on Mr.. Verner's bill to re-
peal the lien law was resumed. When
the discussion was adjourned Mon
day, Mr.. Woods had the floor. He
said that he did not care to resume
his speech.
Mr.. W. J. johnson then obtained
the floor He said that despite the
many assaults upon the lien law it
stands today. 1t stands as skele-
ton credit, upon which the poor man
is enabled to obtain loans before a
single seed is placed in the ground.
It stands to enable him to pay his
obligations and his taxes. The re-
peal of this law would take away the
freedom Of the poor white farmer and
would practically reduce him to
bondage.
Where is the necessity for the re-
peal of this law? A man is not com
PEELED to give or to take lien. Itis
an easy and honorable mode of
credit, and what would the poor nan
do without it. Labor could be right
II regarded as capital.
Mr.. Marion of,Chester said that be
had had no intention Of speaking
upon this bill until Mr.. johnson had
made bis speech, but he was com
pelled to state his position in justice
to the people of Chester county. He
said that there is no question Of
greater Importance to the agricul
tural class and 10 consequence to all
other classes of professions and labor.
The underlying question has not
been touched. It was this, is it not
fraud to give lien upon crop be-
fore it is planted. 1t would be bet
ter to do away with the law and to
mortgage the land upon which the
crop is planted.
Mr.. Ashley asked if it would be
worse to mortgage the homestead or
to give lien on the crop.
MIR. Marion said that it was wrong
to give lien on labor which has not
been wrought, on muscle never
brought into play. There is condi-
t5n of cause and effect between the
depressed condition of the country
and the lien law, and it is difficult
for people to see how iniquitous the
lien law is. There are three classes
of farmers, the large land owner, who
is compelled to rent or let 60 uncul-
tivated large part Of their land
There is middle class which plants
its own land, and then tenant class,
which must till the soil of others
He claimed that all three classes
were hurt by this law. If you place
this instrument of easy credit in the
hands of this poorest class Of farm
ers, you put him on the down grade
to ruin. Il is az alluring bait, and
many take it, and it is the duty Of
the general assembly to offer protec
ton to these people.
Mr. ". j. johnson asked if small
farmers would not be compelled to
give up their farms, and would not
large farmers have more land.
Mr.. Marion said that be thought
that condition could be no worse than
at present, for the lien law was now
driving men into the cotton factories.
The repeal of this law may work
injury for year or two, but there
will come time when the people
will be better If.
Mr.. Stevenson made one of his
ooo;ocf tho hill onI