The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-15
[FRoN OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.
COLUMBIA, January 13.

ASoTuER BURDEN FOR THE TAXPAYERS.
Yesterday the Senate passed House bill
providing that the Gact to organize townships
and t6defne their powers and provisions" ex-
cepting thai portion Of it fixing the number,
names and boundaries Of the respective town.
ships OF the respective counties be repealed there
by saving to the State over one million Of dollars
per year. or course, this action Of the Legisla-
ture was not taken because it would relieve the
taxpayers of grieyous burden, but only for the
reason that Democrats were securing oil the Of
fees provided for by the Township act;yet the pso-
pie generally throughout the State are delighted
at the action Of the General Assembly. How
ever, If the final action Of the Senate
yesterday relieved, in measure, the tax
payers, its initiatory action to-day tends
u imposing an additional burden upon
them. short time ago. Cain introduced
bill "to authorize an appropriation Of one million
of State bonds for the purchase of lands in this
State for homesteads." 1t was then referred to
the Finance Committee, which to-day reported
recommending the passage OF the bill, doing
so sin view OF the importance Of the land
commission in securing homesteads for the poor
and deserving, and thereby developing much OF
the latent resources Of the State that are now
lying dormant and neglected, thus depriving the
state of a large amount Of taxable property that
could be made available in lquidating the liabili-
ties Of the State, and in accordance with the re-
commendation Of his Excelency set forth In his
last message advising that an additional appro-
prlstion for this purpose be made" The report
was laid over under the rules.
The report OF the committee will most probably
be adopted and the bill passed. 1t is thought that
the House will amend 1t, and that an appropria-
ton oSonly five hundred thousand dollars shall
be made.
TowSsHIPs-PRoTEsTS OF SENATOR'S.
Yesterday, as before stated, Corbin, Jillson and
Wright gave notice OF their Intention to record,
ON the journal OF the Senate the reasons for their
vote on uiil to repeal an act entitled an act to
organize townships, and to define their powers
and privileges" and today the statement Game
ia the form nj protest signed by all three Of
them. The protest is as follows:
The undersigned enter solemn protest against
the repeal OF the act to organize townships, and
to define their powers and privileges, and state
their reasons therefor, as follows:
l. Because the 9th section OF Article IN OF the
constitution expressly declares that the General
Assembly shall provide for the Incorporation and
organization OF cities and towns. The Sth section
OF Artlcle lA expressly provinces lHlL 'tue CuIpo'
rate authorities OF counties. townships, schools.
districts cities, towns and villages may be vested
with power to assess and collect taxes for corpo-
rate purposes" The Sd section OF Article y re-
oures 1.-THE General Assembly + to make
provision for the division OF the ateinto suitable
school districts"
The provisions OF the constitution which all
have sworn to support, impose duty on tie
General Assembly which is utterly ignored and
disregarded by the repeal OF this act.
9. Because the township act was adopted with
great unan:mity only about year ago, and tens
OF thousands Of dollars have been expended to
divide up the counties. run and establish the
town lines and now, before the organizations
are completed and put into practical operation
60 that their value can be known, this act des-
troys them. .,.-
5 Because the experience OF about ni1e-tenths
of the States In the Union has proven the great
value Of these two organizations, in regulating
lhe local affairs Of the people to.wit: Making and
repait4eg highways and bridges, and MAINTAIN
inr a system OF public schools. The responsible
ty of these matters being in the hands OF the peo
pie, through town organizations, pubic spirit ana