Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-01-25
MATTERS IN THE STATE SENATE.
Election for Two Judges To.morow-The
States Finances Make Members Think.

Columbia. January ,A.-Editors Cou-
rier: The principal part of the time of
has been taken up in the read
ing of local and special bills. The
number of bills appearing on the cal
eudar to-day is ia. The greater num-
Der is yet in the hands of the committees.
1t is safe to say that not moro than a
general application throughout the State.
The bill which l had introduced to
amend the vagrancy law was killed yes.
terday. The member of the judiciary
committee took the position that it would
be holding out an inducement to people
who wanted hands to prosecute that
class and then step up and make bond
for them, and thus create system of
peonage. There was no such purpose
intended, but the Legislators were loath
t. permit any innovation of law on this
line.
Senator Brooks, of Greenwood county,
has introduced bill 70 establish State
Confederate infirmary. The practical
effect of this measure is to establish a
home at some central point, and appro-
pirates $4,000 for its establishment, this
being the amount that was returned to
the State of the last appropriation.
The condition of the States finances is
such that the members of the General
Assembly are very slow to pass any kind
of a measure that calls for more money.
A bill passed the Senate to-day raising
the salary of the Justices of tho Su-
preme Court from $3.50 to $1,000, but
there are goodly number of us that
hope that the House will kill it.
Charters are going through permitting
the building of dams on Savannah river
down in Abbeville county. have sue
ceeded in amending all such so as to re-
quire the foreby and tail race to be pro-
tected by wire gauze of not larger than
one half inch meshes, so that fish cannot
go into the water wheels.
There are several bills pending looking
to more restrictions in the primary cleo
tions. There is general complain of the
abuses that have recently sprung up and
it is probable that some strong legisla-
tion will result.
There are great many bills affecting
railroads and other corporations pending
and upon each of them the representa-
tives of the various interests have to be
heard. Before the committee last week
there were a number of advocates and
lobbyists for the great corporal wealth,
but not one on behalf of the masses of
the people. This demonstrates the neces-
sity of having the General Assembly com
posed of men not too easily inclined to
such interests as are against the public
good. The committees sit for hours and
listen to their tale of woe, that they
can't live if thus and so becomes law,
but when it is passed we hear nothing
more from them.
The Inauguration exercises will be
held tomorrow, when the Governor and
all the other State officers will enter
upon their new terms. Very little else
will be done, as the ceremonies are quite
lengthy.
On Thursday, the Goth instant, the joint
Assembly will elect the two Judges,
Superintendent of the Penitentary and
some other minor officers.
| have visited all of the State institu-
tions and have seen those who are from
Oconee county. Nearly all of these in
stitutions are asking for an increase of
the allowance for this year. The South
Carolina College is asking for an addi-
tional ten thousand dollars this year.
The Oconee delegation is solid for
economy, with drawn knife ready to cut
of every unnecessary item.
am on the special committee to report
on the question of the States manufac-
turing fertilizer for the farmers of the
state. We have been patiently hearing
all interests for several days. We eexpect
to present our report the last of this
week, which will likely make very spicy
reading. 1t will be an eye opener.
We have received invitations to an
''at homo" by Gov. and MRS. Hayward
night. Respectfully,
j. r. Earle.