The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-02-06
HE FIRST DEBATE
Takes Place in the State Senate Over
& Bill to
THE TRAFFIC IN SEED
Cotton and Unrnckcl Lint Cotton.
Full Text Of tho Rnl, and
How the Senators
Voted On 1t.


Voted On 1t.
.;F When Mr.. Gaines bill to regulate
the traffic in seed cotton and unpack-
ed lint cotton came up for second
reading in the Senate on Tuesday OF
last week, u general debate cnsued
which occupied almost the entire time
Of the Senate. AS the bill is general
in Its scope and Of much Importance
to the agricultural class, it's HI in fea-
lures are given rs follows:
Section /. The traffic in seed cotton
or unpacked lint cotton by purchase,
barter or exchange within the period
beginning August 18th and ending De
cembcr 20th Of each year without IL
s cense, or between the hours OF sunset
and sunrise, is hereby declared against
the public welfare, and is prohibited.
Sec. ,. The clerks OF Tie courts OF
common pleas are authorized and en-
powered To issue licenses 10 traffic in
seed cotton or unpacked lint COTTON by
purchase, barter or exchange within
the period beginning August l5th anu
ending December 2Oth of each year,
!. , 80 ..::ithin their respective counties
to such person or persons rs shall Tile
with said clerks, respectively, IL writ
ten application therefor, the granting
Of which shall be recommended in
writing by at least ten land owners re-
siding within the township wherein
said applicant intends to carry on such
traffic. Such license shall specify the
exact place whcreat said traffic shall
be carried on and the period within
which such traffic is permitted, and
shall continue in force for the period
OF one year from the date Of issue; and
for such license, if granted, Il fee of
three hundred dollars shall be paid by
for the use Of the county.
Sec. 3. All persons engaged in the
traffic in seed cotton and unpackcd
lint cotton are required to keep legibly
written in Il book, which shall be open
to public Inspections, the name of the
person or persons from whom they pur-
chase or receive by way Of barter, cS-
change or traffic OF any sort, any seed
cotton or unpackcd lint cotton, with
the number Of pounds and date Of pur-
chase.
Sec. 4 Any person who shall cngage
+ in the traffic in seed cotton or unpacli-
ed lint cotton within the period begin
ming August 18th and ending Dccem-
Der 2Oth of any year without license us
herein provided, or between the hours
Of sunset and sunrise, or who shall fail
to keep the book OF record us herein
provided, shall be deemed guilty Of a
misdcmcanur and on conviction shall
he punished by Il fine not exceeding
one hundred dollars or Imprisonment
not exceeding six months, or by both
fine and imprisonment, at the diScre-
tion Of the court.
4 Sec 5. The provisions Of this act
shall not apply to tho purchase of Gin
.ters" nor to the purchase OF seed cot
tc:; OR unpackcd lint cotton sold under
& process Of Law, IN tl.e collcctionof rents
M Or q Of liens : Or moft glgrs' prltYlionsly
glyelo Us fGhtt4Sa|l fa!s @1s vr,,ed Nr.
..ra,, a.o :. Jved to Strike out tile cnac-
ci.i . tss,adse, which was promptly sec
onded.
MIR. Gaines, the author Of the bill,
b resisted the motion, and stated how
the inequality OF the seed cotton law
now on the statute books mitigatcd
against Greenwood County with 4 bbc-
vile and Edgefield on her borders:
this was not only the case with his
county but with several other coun-
ties In the State which had had spec
ial legislative cnactmcntS and it is the
purpose and scope Of this bill to wipe
them all out and establish general
the State. Ills people wanted protcc-
tion and in granting it to them il
was his desire to extend it To others.
Mr.. Warren believes that there is
an abundance Of LAWS already on This
subject and opposed it because, in his
judgmcnt,it would work Il great hard
ship to the small farmers all over the
State. Under the present law mcr-
: Chants must keep a record book open
to inspection at all times and if any
cotton is suspected Of having been
stolen and sold, the owner has no
trouble in tracing it by the records.
Mr.. Mcleod strenuously opposed the
motion, and believed that it was high
time that existing evils along this line
should be rcmcdied. The record books
he declared, are a farce and are gencr-
ally filled up with fictitious names,
and this lie could assert from his own
knowledge. The County Of Lee is
hampcrcd just as many others by its
border counties, and lie wanted the
bill to become u law rs soon as posi-
bic. g
Mr.. McIver favored the motion, de-
claring' the bill to he extremely dras-
C!S Civ III ooiilC VI ClIC IDOI u
would almost amount To a coniscation
of property. The law, if enacted,
would not step stealing, and the small
farmer will be the innocent sufferer.
Mr.. j. w. Ragsdalc favored the
motion and told how the cotton acre,
age had been decreased in the Pee
Dee Country BY the cultivation Of
tobacco and he knew that lis county
desired no change in the seed cotton
law, as this matter had been thor
oughly discussed throughout his coun-
ty during the last campaign. The en-
actment Of the bill would encourage
rather than discourage stealing.
Mr.. Hardin was Of the opinion that
the existing law is unconstitutional
ana would not stand the test before
The supreme court and therefore adyo-
cated The passage OF the bill, believ-
ing IT TO be for the general good OF
the public.
MIR. Sharpe opposed the bill, bclicy-
ing that the law as it now stands is
amply sufficient.
On the motion to strike out the en-.
acting clause the yeas and nays wert
demanded and resulted as follows: