The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-01-11
THE LAW MILL AT WORK.

ono Class matter.
THE LAW MILL AT WORK.
The Legislature convened yes
terday, and of course, there has
been nothing done as yet, nor
will there be much done this
week, as it will take about all of
this week to get into working
shape. The Clarendon delega-
ton hit the city of Columbia on
Monday, which gives them an
opportunity to seek homes and
E to become acquainted with the
members from all over the State,
and also. if any of them desire,
to get-ln with the element that
fix things" and secure desirable
committee appointments.
We know Of no county legisla-
ton our delegation will be called
upon to do unless it be the max
ing of a provision for the build
ING Of a new court thouse. Wheth-
er there will be such an attempt
at this session, we do not know,
but should there be, we are as
sured by two members Of the
delegation that it Will be opposed
on the ground Of not having been
discussed before the people and
it would be taking the people by
surprise to force upon them ad-
ditional taxation without giving
them a voice in the matter.
The delegation will hardly re-
duce the county levy, because
with the recent additional pur-
chases, it will take about all the
present levy will bring to meet
the county expenses. There was
more money turned into the
county treasury from the dispen-
sary than ever before, and as
very little of 1T is being applied
to the schools itmust go towards
meeting the county debts. which
includes the jail, the purchase
of the poor farm, a traction
engine, the building Of a road to
Salem, and numerous matters
which will eat away the county
fund, hence. we say, that unless
the balance in the county. treas
ury is. more than we think it is,
the delegation will hardly reduce
the levy.
1T has been suggested that
Clarendon may be put in line
with the other conntiesin regard
to the traffic in seed cotton, but
we have not had an expression
from those who viii represent
us, and therefore do notiknow,
and then again, since cotton has
hit the bottom and seems stuck
in the mud, it makes very little
difference what becomes of the
action of.the legislature with re-
card to the traffic in seed cotton.
The lien law will not be inter
fered with, so far as some Of our
delegation is concerned. In a
conversation with one of these
gentlemen we found that he was
opposed to the repeal Of the lien
law unless the homestead exemp
tion went with it. He did not
when a candidate. express such
views, possibly because the ques-.
lion was not raised, but it is his
opinion that no relief can come
from the repeal Of the lien law,
unless the homestead exemption
is wiped out also. This gentle
man contends that if the lien law
is repealed it viii take away the
poor mans credit, but if the
homestead is released, credit
will be based upon that which
a man has. We do not agree
with our Representative; we con-
tend that if the lien law is re-
pealed, credit will be given
where it is merited, and the
amount based with homestead
exemptions in the calculation.
To take away the homestead
would leave the poor man in a
fearful plight; we would soon
have a condition. Of slavery,
worse than that which existed
prior to 1868, and this would be
followed by jailing for debt.
It is our opinion that the lien
law has served its purpose, and
it's continuance is injurious, in
that it demoralizes labor, and it
lowers the standard Of business
integrity There is one thing
plainly evident, and that is the
need Of something which will
make our labor system more
stable, whether this can be done
by the abolition Of the lien law,
we cannot say, but if there is
any remedy to be had in legisla-
ton, we hopes Clarendon's dele
cation will discover it.
It shall be our purpose to keep
an eye upon the doings of the
Legislature and keep our readers
posted, and especially will We
keep tao on the doings Of those
we sent to represent US, in order
that their constituents may
know what is being done to, and