Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1905-01-18
MATTsas N Tag srArs srNAre.
interesting Letter from Senator J. n. Earle.
Heavy Work In Store for Session.

Columbia, January 17.--Editors Cou.
rier: The General Assembly, as is the
case generally, has not settled down to
legislative work. There are always q
large number of reports from tho differ.
ent departments of the State government
that engage the attention of the mem
bers for the first few days. but the pres
ent General Assembly has before 1t more
work than any of it's predecessors, for
the same length of time. The Engross-
ing Department., where the proposed
measures are all prepared. has been very
much crowded With work. The mem
bers are all on some committees and are
kept constantly at work, though the ses-
| sions of the two Houses are very short
each day. Most of the legislation is vir-
tually enacted in the committee rooms.
There have been two bills introduced
looking to system of compulsory edu-
cation-that is, to mako it misdemea-
nor for parent or guardian of child
between the age of eight or twelve not
to send the child to school at least twelve
weeks in each year. 1t only lacks a pro-
vision for furnishing suitable clothing,
books and transportation. of being a per-
feet paternal measure.
have introduced a joint resolution to
amend the constitution 80 as to allow
/ the General Assembly to provide Board
of Pardons that would be effective. The
present constitution clothes the Governor
with absolute power to grant reprieves,
combinations and pardons, as he thinks
best, but he may refer such to Board of
Pardons, and he may or may not adopt
the boards recommendations. This
change seeks to lodge the power to act in
q board instead of the Governor. The
present Governor says that he favors
this change and hopes that it will be
made.
| have also introduced bill to amend
our vagrancy law 80 as to allow person
who is convicted, upon the payment OF
accrued costs, to enter into bond in the
sum of 5000, for his good and industri-
Gus conduct for a period of one year
whereupon the sentence of tho court
shall be suspended during good behav
ior. This will enable the vagrant to
choose between working for his living
for one year or for the county thirty
days.
The most serious problem presented
seems to be how best to get the assess
ment of property on an equitable basis
for taxation. Correspondence is pour
ing In upon the members suggesting
plans and asking for some relief. The
inequality of the present tax valuations
is 80 glaring that it would be worse to
raise the levy than to raise the valua-
tions. There are many instances at
present where one property of the same
market value as another is returned at
one-half. To increase the levy increases
the injustice in such instances.
desire to say to the people that am
glad to have letters and suggestions from
all and will in due time answer, but as
we are not furnished clerks the answers
may be very much delayed.
There will be hard fight to kill the
i'm migration bureau, but it may not be
successful. There are some who believe
that labor and the products of labor are
too cheap in this State now.
Respectfully, j. r. Earle.