Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1907-01-23
IN, /. AASEL NOW OUR GOVERNOR.
Continued from Third Page.)
ASSAULT. ETC.

| ASSAULT, ETC.
further wish to call your attention to
another matter which consider of grave
Importance at this particular time in our
history, and that is the enactment of a
law providing the death penalty to any
male person making an assault upon a
female with intent TO ravish, granting the
right to the jury trying the cases to fix
the punishment at life imprisonment in
the State penitentiary II in their judg-
ment the facts warrant punishment less
than death.
In this day when we read of 80 many
assaults of this character being made, it
behooves us to wake up to the situation
and make the penalty so severe that the
women of this State may be protected
from this heinous crime and the perpe-
traitors punished 80 severely that all will
be deferred from committing the same.
I / further recommend that an acG be
passed providing that in all cases of rape
or assault With intent to ravish, tho
female may Do allowed to testify in pri-
vate, before the judge, inSthe presence of
the counsel for the state and defendant
and the defendant himself, aud that the
testimony so taken shall be read, to the
jury as the evidence of the said witnes
on the trial of the case. This is the law
in at least one If not moro of the States
of the Union, and should be the law in
this State.
In this connection, think 1t import
ant also to ask that you pass an act max
ing 1t a misdemeanor to post or display
in any public place or on any street or
highway indecent pictures of females. 1t
is an evil that has been growing in the
last few years, and one that calls for
action on our part. 1t is not necessary
for me to call to your attention the rea
sons why this act should be passed; it is
obvious 10 all right-thinking persons.
respectfully recommend that sys-
tenn of mounted police or patrol for the
rural districts be established. This is no
new idea, but is one that is being carried
out with great success in many vagrants
and idlers roaming about, and there is SO
much work to be done on every side, the
work or move-0n system should be es-
tablished, and that can be carried out
better by such mounted patrol or police
system than by any other plan. Give
them authority to arrest all violators of
the laws of the State and carry them be-
fore the nearest magistrate for trial or
commitment for trial to the Court of
General Sessions.
RAILROADS.
When we hear so much complaint
from so many sources of the neglect or
omission of the railroad companies doing
business in this State, of giving to the
people proper passenger and freight ac-
commOdations and rates and accurate
information of delayed trains it is very
evident to every thinking person that the
railroad commissioners should have
power to correct these things and to give
relief where it is fair and just between
the railroads and the people. The rail-
road corporations should be dealt with
fairly and justly, but at the same time
the peoples rights should be provided
for and respected
| therefore recommend that such addi-
tional powers be given to the railroad
commissioners as will enable them to
compel the railroads to comply with such
reasonable rules and orders as may be
just and proper.
In this connection would recommend
that the act now in force requiring the
salaries of the railroad commissioners to
be paid by the railroads be repealed
The Office of railroad commissioner is q
State Office and the salary ought to be
paid by the State.
/ CONFEDERATE VETERANS.
1t is duty that we owe to ourselves
and to the State that we provide liberal
pensions for our needy Confederate veto
rans-those who for lack of means or
who by reason of age and inf1rmity are
not able to provide for themselves. 1,
therefore, recommend that you make
liberal appropriations for these veterans,
to De paid them under such rules and
regulations as may be just and proper.
| ROADS.
| The road question is one of paramount
Importance and one that should have
our most careful attention. Many of the
counties of the State are now engaged in
the laudable undertaking of building
good roads and others are beginning to
prepare for grading and macadamizing
their principal roads. When we contem-
plate the great good that is done to tho
greatest number of our people by this
work and the benefits to be derived there
from, it behooves us to encourage in
every way possible our people to 60 for
ward with this undertaking. l there
fore recommend that you request our
Senators and members of Congress to
urge the passage of such an act as will
give to our State a liberal appropriation
in money for the carrying on of this
work This money, supplemented with
our convict labor, would soon give us
good roads in every county in the State.
SUPREME COURT.
l desire, gentlemen, to call your atten-
ton also to the matter of the necessity
for better accommodations for our Su-
preme Court. The space allotted in the
State House for the use of the Supreme
Court has all been taken up with the
library and records, except one consulta-
tion room and the court room. | re-
spectfully ask that you look into this
matter and provide for the necessities Of
the court in this regard.
BEAUTIFYING STATE HOUSE GROUNDS.
/ would also urge that some steps be
taken toward beautifying and improving
the grounds that surround this capitol
building. With the expenditure of a
little money a great improvement can be
made and I feel assured that all onr