The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-02-08
PROPERTY RIGHTS THREATENED.

One OF The most important matters acLed
upon during the week just closed has been on
what appears 10 be a very innocent little bill
The bill has now passed both the House and
Senate and only requires a third reading In
the House to become an Act. II establishes
the precedent OF giving to an Industrial enter
prlse the right of condemnation OF lands
necessary TO the completion OF plants fol- the
bers think that such an Act would be uncon.
stitutional, but those wishing such charters
are quite willing 10 take their chances, with
the pres: ige thara legislative expression gives,
There are several other such measures on the
calendar, and thise x pression ofthe Assem- bly,
OF giving The right of condemnation for wa
ter power snd Industrial development is re-
garded as meaning very much. Some people
complain that the "spirit Of commercialism"
Ia being allowed 10 run rampant, but whether
that be 30 or not, the law makers are giving
the widest latitude to such development.
Mr.. Cothran has a dill on the calendar which
seeks 10 give similar rights to water power
and electric companies in general, and Mr.
Nash has a similar bill that *. nds the right
OF condemnation for water sheds and other
private enterprises.
THE TEN-CIRcUITB BILL.
The lawyers of the House got together
with the exception Of those of the 4th circuit,
and passed the ten-circuit bill. Heretofo fore
the balk has always come on the House side.
and now that the measure has goue through
tUG E1Uub0 tuC ecDclhI lIupIebslpu lb IUhl
there will be no difficulty in the bill passing
the Senate. This will give the State two new
circuit Judges. One of these will come from
the lower part OF the State and the second
from either Anderson, GreenVllle, Oconee or
Pickeus counties.
The most marke ed feature Of the discussion
on the ten circuit bill was the universal dis
appointment and disapproval OF the present
system. whereby special Judges are appoint
ed to hold special terms OF Court. The
special Judge system is abolished at the same
time that the ten circuits are established and
many favored the n.circui II bill for no other
reason than TO get rid OF this system OF hav-
ing special Judges who were not elected to
this high and Important position.
BIENNIAL SESSIONS.
Calhoun County and biennial sessions ap.
pear TO be very much in the same fix. They
are both in the last throes, at least, SO far as
the present session is concerned. They may
both be with the lawmakers as radiant and
happy as sunbeams next year, but the 10.
dications are that they are suffering this
year.
Mr.. Beauregard's resolution looking to the
ratification of the biennial session amend
ment has been .unlavoraoly reported. The
disposition seems 10 be 10 await the report OF
the special commission that will submit a
biennial plan OF salvation hat will be all
wool and a yard wide for future lawmakers.
PRIMARIES IMPROVED.
The House has done ONE excellent work In
providing statutes that ought 10 prevent
much OF the mischief and discomfort IN con-
nection with the primary system. If the bill
that passed the House becomes a law and Is
carried out in good faith, a man Of average
means ought To be able to make a race il this
State and the habit OF using money in many
primary election ought to be at sUlutely stop
ped.
THIS WEEKS PROGRAMME.
Two important matters in addition to the
dispensary ought TO come up mex week-the
ten-hour labor bill, and Mr.. Ashley's prOpo-
sition to abolish the department of agricnl-
ture. II The House sticks TO its conservative