The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-01-29
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY
CAPITOL CORRESPONDENCE

out any radical legislation, and
in fact very little legislation of
any kind, which to my mind is a
good omen, if the entire session
could pass away without chang
ing the laws or without making
any new ones it would perhaps
be better. So far very few bills
of q general character have been
introduced, the most important
one being the cotton warehouse
bill of which the Hon. John l..
McLaurin is the author. and it
was to secure legislation IN be-
half of the farmers of this State
that Mr.. McLaurin gave his con-
sent to have his name enrolled
as a member of the senate. Al
ready the influence of this dis
tinguished gentleman and states
man is being felt in that body,
he is not treated as a new mem
Der, but looked upon as a coun
sellor and a guide for the other
members.
The inauguration took place
last Tuesday and the writer had
the honor of being the chairman
of the Inauguration committee,
which, by virtue of this. distinc
ton placed him at the head of
the procession with the Gov.
ernor- elect on his arm.
I have introduced a bill to
amend the present law to increase
the membership on the board of
county commissioners from two
to four, believing that with the
county being represented from
the several sections it will be
economy and for the betterment
of the county service.
I have also introduced a bill
which has not as get been re-
ported from the judiciary com
mistee, but if it does become a
law it will have the effect of put
ting a crimp to a demoralizing
practice in this and other coun-
ties. Irefer to a bill to prohibit
magistrates from consenting to
the compromise of cases after
warrants have been issued thus
using the criminal machinery to
collect debts and to levy black.
mail upon neighbors The Gov
ernor in his inaugural address
alluded to this practice, and he
told the writer that be would
not hesitate to remove any mag.
istrate who abuses his authority
by permitting the law abused in
this manner. He called atten-
ton of the general assembly to
the floating agents and to the
class of people who take mort
cages and then rely upon getting
their money by standing in with
magistrates who consent to COM
promise, and give to the magis-
trates. a "rake off. " He says
the legislature should stop the
practice by making the law plain
and prchibitive with a severe
penalty if ignored.
At the request of the trustees
of the Paxville High School l
have introduced a bill to author
ize the collection of a contingent
fee to aid in defraying the ex-
pense of thatschool. There will
be some Of the patrons who will
object to paying this fee, but if
they want to run a full term the
trustees must have money and
and the taxation does not yield
enough funds therefore it is nec-
essary to supplement the fund as
is done in nearly all of our grad
ed schools.
The rural police bill for Clar-
endon was the first bill this ses'
sion to get through the senate
and go over to the House. AT
the request of Mr.. Mitchum it
was referred to the Clarendon
delegation and there it remains
SO far without being reported
back. I asked Mr.. Mitchum why
he did not take the matter up
with his colleagues, he told me
that he had been unwell and
would attend to it Monday. If
the bill goes through as I intro
duced it, there will be no use for
those wanting to be policemen
to write to me on the subject, as
I nor the delegation will have
anything whatever to do with
the selection of policemen.
Mr.. White is contemplating
the introduction of bill to pre-
vent appeals from the courts.
but I doubt very much if it will
pay him to do so. The right of
appeal is a fundamental prlnci-
pie that no legislature can fail
to recognize and respect, and
should Mr.. White attempt to
stop the exercise of this right
be viii have another think com
ing to him.
The only thing that has come
before the general assembly
which I regard as unfortunate is
the letter of Senator Tillman
purporting to be a reply to Gov
ernor Blease, and it is made up
largely of abuse and wholesale
charge of venality on the part of
the legislators and a railroad
attorney. Colonel >Abney. [ have