The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-18

Bill Will oe Introduced for Land Reg
istration.

Columbia. Jan. IA bill provid-
ing for the adoption of the Torrens
system Of land registration will be in
troduced into the house this morning
by J. Archie Willis. member from
Iaurens county. and the following is
synopsis of the bill:
referee. who shall be appointed
In each county. shall constitute
courts Of land registration. for the
purpose of the settlement. registra-
tion. transfer. and assurances Of titles
70 lands within their respective juris-
dictlon" The Jurisdiction OF the reg
isuttion courts shall be the same
as hat over which the registrar OF
said county shall have Jurisdiction as
clerk of court
Aftor the petition has been made
TO the court for registered title, and
the decree has been granted. a petit
tion for a rehearing may be aled
within one hundred and twenty days
after the granting of said decree.
IL is provided In the bill TO be
introduced that the clerk OF the court
of each county shall bs the registrar
OF the land registration court. The
said registrars and their deputies
shall be authorized and required, un-
der the direction OF their respective
courts. to issue process and to enter
the decree OF the court touching lands
I'm their respective counties OF corpo-
rations. and to enter and issue GER
uhcates OF title. as provided herein,
to afiix the seal OF the court to such
certificates and their dupiicates@'ss..
and generally to perform such other
acts and duties as the court may
prescribe"
The clerks OF the court when ap-
pointed registrars Of the land courts
shall qualify and give bond for the
faithful performance of their duties.
Two OF moro lawyers of the county
In which the court has jurisdiction
shall be appointed as examiners of
titles. and these may also be appointed
referees Ia The cases Aied.
IL shall be their duty TO search the
rec0rds and 10 investigate all facts
stated In petitions for registered tides.
Petitions for registration OF any
land or lands may be made by the
person or persons claiming. singly
or collectively. to own or to have
the power of appointing or disposing
Of an estate in fee simple in any land,
whether subject to liens or not"
The petition Is filed under the ,ro-
vision OF the bill in the registrars
office. after which the court shall
cause notice OF same to be sent to
"ali whom II may concern" same
being sent by registered mail. and
certificates OF these notices shall be
fled with the petition. and shall be
conclusive proof OF service. Any per-
sons having an interest In or claim
against the land for which the petit
tion as been filed. may answer the
petition before the final decree has
been given. The court may have the
land I'm question surveyed. IL Il thinks
II necessary.
With the exception OF executors and
adminisn ators who are winding up
estates. o. IL left purely optional with
all landowners as to whether they
shall have their land registered. but
IL Is believed by many that. should
the bill pass and become a law, the
majority OF landowners will want
their titles registered as soon as they
can have them registered.
The decree OF registration Is final,
quiets the title. and binds against
all the world. subject to appeal, as
provided by the bill.
When a tract OF land has been reg
istered an origina! certificate Is kept
In the ONCE OF the registrar, and a
duplicate certificate Is given .he hold
er Of the land registered. The original
and duplicate each sho~ al the in
cumbrances. II there are any, against
tho land registered. and any one may
tell at any time the exact condition
Of the title. All membranes placed
on the land after registration must
be recorded on both the original and
duplicate certificates Of title.
Under the provision OF the bin,
the land when once examined by
the examining attorneys and regis
tered In the court of land registra-
tion shall be guaranteed to the holder
OF the title. the State making the
guarantee. An assurance fund of one