Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1913-02-05
LIQUOR ADVOCATES PREVAIL.
Two-Dollar Road Tax for Oconee-
Glaze Won't Accept.

1
| passed away and there has not been
very much work accomplished. 1t
is annoying to me to see SO many of
| the members, especially the old ones,
wanting to adjourn so much, and Tor
a long time at that Last night, af-
ter wrangling over an hour on the
question of adjournment over Sun
day, the House finally decided to ad-
journ until sos p. m. Tuesday, the
4th. At all times ] vote to meet and
work as often as possible, but there
is generally majority against my
wishes. But | shall endeavor to be
contented with what comes ex-
pect to spend to-day, Monday and
Tuesday working on matters pertain
ing to the interest and welfare Of
Oconee.
Mr.. Shirley has introduced a bill
making the communication, or road
tax, in Oconee county, two dollars,
or, in lieu thereof, four days work
upon the roads of the county. This
bill has been read two times and or
dered to third reading. 1t will no
doubt pass both the House and SEN
ate. This change from one dolIar to
two dollars commutation tax will
take effect October Is, 1913; that is,
this road tax will have to be paid
some time between October 10, 1913,
and March 15, 1914, and SO on each
year, or If 1t is not SO paid the per-
son liable to road duty will have 20
work the roads four days, some time
after the 18th of March each year.
Nearly every county in the State re-
quires two or more dollars for road
tax, and If 1t is not paid there is a
penalty that subjects those liable to
fine in case they refuse to work.
That is, the law in those counties
does not give them the optional right
to work instead of paying. Some
wanted Us to require all to pay In
our county, but we thought that this
would work a hardship on some.
The delegation has recommended
the following men for rural police
men for Oconee county, to wit: For
the district of Walhalla, Jesse Lay;
Westminster district, James H. Ma
son, and for Seneca, VIM. M. Alexan-.
der. ] don't know whether or not
the Governor has commissioned these
gentlemen, but 1 understand he has
promised to do so.
1 understand that the magistrates
for the various places have been rec
commended by Mr.. Werner, but have
not the names of them before me.
This can be learned from the Sena-
tor.
l have introduced a bill to "give
the jury the right TO consider, in
cases of assault, or assault and bat
terry, any opprobrious words or abu-
sfve language as sufficient to bring
on a difficulty" / intend to intro
duce bill next week to separate the
Court of General Sessions from the
Court of Common Pelas for Oconee
County, and provide one week for
criminal court and two weeks for
civil matters. The Walhalla Bar has
unanimously requested this, and say
1t is essential.
Mr.. Epps, a member OF the House
from Sumter; and myself, will intro
duce bill the ensuing week to "give
magistrates jurisdiction In all cases
in violation of the dispensary law"
1T Is doubtful whether or not this
bill will become a law, but we are
going to make a desperate fight to
make it so.
Several OF the counties, by their
Representatives, tried to get special
act through the Legislature to give
to them the right to hold special cleo
t1ons for the purpose of voting back
disp pensaries. Am glad to report that
at failed to pass the House. Another
liquor bill that caused more discus
Juan dly otuSE was "A Dill
give cities of more than fifty thou
sand inhabitants, which means Char
lesion alone, the right to license any
citizen for the purpose Of selling IL
quor. lit abolishes the dispensary In
that county, and any person can sell
| Wh1skeH by procuring license in the
sum OF one thousand dollars, two
Thousand dollars and three thousand
dollars, in the respective particular
cases" The advocates Of this bill
claim that 1t Is the only satisfactory
way for the solution OF the whiskey
question in Charleston. AS for my
self, am opposed to the sale of Ii
quor In any case, and did all could
to prevent the passage of this bill,
but We could not muster enough
votes to kill 1t. 1t passed the He use
by vote of 60 to So. 1t Is certain
to pass the Senate, for the majority
of the members in that branch of tie
General Assembly favor the sale of
liquor.
The General Assembly last night
| received a communication from tie
Hon. w. l.. Glaze, who was recently
elected Judge of the First Judicial
Circuit, stating that, because OF iii
health, he could not accept the Judge
ship. All were very sorry to learn
that he could not accept, for he was
no doubt the most able man we could
get for the vacancy. An election will
be held by the joint assembly next
Wednesday for the purpose of filing
the vacancy Senator Dennis is
very promising candidate. He ran
Mr. Glyaze close race for 1t the flrst
time. Others are also being talked