Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-11-26
POWERS OF THE TOWN COUNCIL.

In consequence of difference of opinion IN ref
erence to the powers at present vested the Town
Council Of Yorkville that body, at late meeting,
determined to solicit the opinion of Messrs. G. w.
Williams & Sons, Attorneys at Law, on the sub
iect and publish the same for the information Of
persons interested. The reply is presented below,
and it will be seen that it is the opinion Of these
gentlemen that the Town Council is now invested
with all the powers it at any time possessed:
To the To,1n Council of HorkDale, 8. c.:
In lS49 the Town Of Yorkville was incorporated
BY Act of the Legislature, and certain powers
therein given to the Intendant and Wardens. This
act was to continue of force for seven years. The
Intendant and Wardens were to continue in office
one year. and were empowered to ordain and es.
tablish all such rules by laws and ordinances re-
specting the streets, ways, alleys markets and po
lice of said town. as should appear proper tor the
security welfare and convenience Of said town, and
for preserving health, peace and order and good
government; to fix fines not to exceed fifty dol
lars, and appropria late the same TO the use OF the
Corporation to abate and remove nuisances ; to
keep roads, streets, &C.. in GOOD ORDER and for
said purpose were invested with all the powers
given to Commissioners of Roads to compound
with persons liable TO work on roads and streets,
and receive money in place of labor to tax real es
tate not exceeding one-fourth Of one per cent; to
grant licenses to retail on same terms as Commits
soners of Roads were authorized; and to collect
til. taxes from all persons representing within their
corporate limits, for gain or reward, any plays or
shows. ..
In 1853, the Council we're authorized, al their
discretion, to issue einterestbearng Bonds, binding
on the Corporation; the amount Of said Bonds not
to exceed five thousand dollars; the Council not to
be authorized to appropriate proceeds Of Bonds
issued, except to purposes within the scope OF the
corporate powers before conferred on said oopora-
ton or thereafter conferred by law. And in and
by said Act, the Intendant and Wardens were au-
tho. lied to appoint three. Commissioners, with
power to assess the value of real estate within the
corporate limits Of said town.
In 1855 the said act was amended by the grant
of additional powers. Under this act the Council
were authorized to impose lines tor violation OF
and the mode of trial Of offence is pointed out; to
REQUIRE all persons owning lots on Congress or Lib
erty Streets, to make and keep in good repair side
walks to regulate the prices of licenses to be paid
by persons representing within the corporate lin
it's for gain or reward, any plays or shows to I'M.
pose tax on ten-pn alleys or other pin alleys and
billiard tables; and, to grant or refuse licenses for
the same; to imposes tax on tinerant auctioneers
on all hacks, omnibuses, drays carts, wagons or We
hlceS kept tor hire an annual tax not eXceedng Ten
dollars; an annual tax not exceeding ffty cents on
each white male inhabitaut of said town, over the
aye of twenty one years, and that no person should
be permitted to vote for Intendant and Wardens
who had not paid such tax.
In 1861 an act was passed entitled IAN act to In
corporate certain Towns and Villages and to renew
and amend certain charters heretofore granted. :"
The 18th, l9th 20th 2lst and 22d sections of said
act refer to the town Of Yorkvile, and therein
power is given to the Town Council to impose a
tax on stocks stock in trade, pleasure carriages,
carriages, buggies, rockaways, and other vehicles
drawn by one horse and kept for pleasure, and on
dogs; to make contracts for lighting the streets
| with gas; to use the Jail for the confinement of
prisoners committed by them; to try offenders a.
eainst their ordinances and bylaws. And therein
It was declared that said act should continue of
force for fourteen years.
In 1866, in an act entitled San act to amend the
charter of the town of Yorkville, the Town Coun-
Gil are authorized to let out the working Of public
roads and streets of said town, by CONTRACT to the
lowest bidder, and impose commutation tax on
the citizens of the town. liable to road duty, suf-
cient to pay the same -
In 1868, in an act entitled "aAn act to provide
for the election of the officers Of the Incorporated
Cities and Towns in the State of South Carolina, !"
the Governor is required to order an election on