Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1900-02-01
LEGISLATURE At :. WORK. "
THE DlSPENSARY LAW WILL PROBABLY
REMAIN LIKE !! IS.
MEMBERS GET $4 AND IRE NOT
Doing "a Gods Thing"-FertiIizer Tax is
Reduccd-An Interesting Lotter.

|
may DO said of tho Legislative mills
they, too, grind exceeding slow-and of
their fincncss tho people will Judge here
after.
We suggested in our last that wo OK
pcctcd the General Assembly Of South
Carolina, aftcr tho adjournment over
from Thursday of tho week prior to Mon-
day of The past week, to got down to
business in good earnest and put in Il
good weeks work during tho past wcck,
but in this wo havo boon, in largo mea-
sure, disappointed, for whilst VIC havo
held the regular session from 10 A. M. to
o'clock I. M. each day, VIC have not
made very much progress toward clear
ing our heavy and constantly accumulate
ing calendar. and there seems to DC a
general disposition to pass over most of
the contested matters, and to dispose
chiefly of local bills, which arc usually
considered matters of course, and arc
generally passed without much, if any,
discussion unless there should happen
to be Il division in tho sentiment of tho
delegation, which sometimes caus IS
debate.
1t is very unwiso we think to postpone
tho moro important business of the sos
sion until the last days, whom there is
always Il rush and confusion, and thus
often serious mistakes and omissions
arc made in legislation.
We havo SO far in tho House held no
, night sessions, but they arc in sight, as
certain measures have already been made
special orders for night sessions during
this week; and then, TOO, q concurrent
resolution WAS passed last week author
iHing the appointment Of Il joint commit
tee of tho Senate and House to inquire
and report as to the application of tho
constitutional limitation Of forty days to
the present session, indicating, | think
that the Assembly is beginning to con-
template the termination of its labors,
and certainly there will be rush if the
committee reports in favor of tho forty
days limit. We predict final adjourn
mcnt about Washington's birthday, say
the evening before or night of 2lSt Of
February proXimo. OF course the farm
crs want to get home in time to pitch Il
crop for the next season, and the lawyers
in lime for the spring terms Of court DC.
rhc General Assembly has SO far ccr-
tainly proceeded very slowly and deliber-
atcly.
On Tuesday last the House passed, by
a very decided vote, the Josh Ashley bill
to reduce the privilege ol inspection tax
on fertilizers from - cents to II cents
per ton. Tho measure provoked
lengthy and heated discussion. The fate
of this measure, however, is still undc-
cldrd. as the conservatism Of the Senate
may decide against the wisdom of the
reduction, although it is claimed and adj
miltcd, believe, by the Trustees of
Clemson College, that they have in hand
a surplus from last year Of $lO,OOO, and
this fact, no doubt, more strongly than
any argument that was adduccd inlll-
cnccu the action of the House, but the
Trustees claim that they need this
amount and more, perhaps, for the
proper equipment OF the new textile de-
partmcnt, and to supplement the me-
chanical and other departments of the
college.
: or Wednesday Mr.. Jenkins bill to fix
sa.alI'S for all county officers in lieu OF
fees and costs, was referred to com
mittcc consisting of one member from
each county in the State. This commit
tee met and appointed subcommittee
to receive the schedule Of salaries from
each county and to report back to the
full committee, to hc incorporated in the
general bill. Our delegation has some
hesitation in regard to the wisdom Of
the measure, but have conferred and may
report the following Clerk Of Court,
sl,20o: ShrriT, $50: Probate Judge,
5000; County Auditor, 800; County
! Treasurer, Hl,Uon; County Supervisor,
500: two County Commissioners each,
500; Coroner, 500; Coun.s Superintcnd-
cnt OF Education, 5000. These amounts
are to be in full for the services Of each
Of these officers, and all fees, costs and
allowances accruing TO them are to be
turned into the general county fund.
On the same day Mr.. Hydricl>'s bill to
regulate Iancc OF life insurance poll
clcS III this State was, after Il hard con
test, ordered to Il third reading, with
several amendments. The object of the
bill is to protect unSnspecting people
against unScrupulous agents and the
hard conditions OF forfeiture imposed in
the policies written by some life insur-
ancc companies.
And also on the same day a bill to re-
Inirc all persons taking bills Of sale or
chattcl mortgages to have one di,irtcr-
"Sird witness thereto who can rea,. and
write, who shall read the same to the
person giving the same, and, in default
thereof, declaring the same to be Of no
effect The purpose of the bill is to pro-
tcct that class Of our people who can nci-
thcr read nor write from being imposed
upon by agents and others travelling
through the county and taking bills Of
sale and mortgages, including, without
the knowledge or consent Of the MAKERS
all the property such parties own, or Il
great many things not intended to he in
clu,lcd.
Also ON the same day a bill to require
persons taking ont warrants TO make ap.
pIicatinn therefor to the nearest MagiS
traic. The House refused the motion To-
strike out Tie cnactin9 words and or.
drrrd the same to Il third reading, and
the measure as amended may finally be
come Il law.
On Thursday thc bin to increase the