The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-02

payment Of tho present lsvy OF taxes and IL tho col
lse:n " s4xos Is aSan snjoinsd by the courts It IL
bta.r. cannot resist tho conviction TINT 1t is i'm
possible forthc State finally to avoid the redemption
will fall Ike an avalanche, on tho treasury and buine
without val,,a after rotemption oy Will practically
't.Jp The or. .inary supplies VI tho SGItc.
aa, therefore, forced to recommend that the atten
on OF the g.lcrl assembly DO directed ~ tho tcvc
"pmrnt of plum by which these obligations may
met without disaster the Stutc. Towards THU
nd apl y: present able u mako but suggestion
il the State should offer to rccoivo these bills nr MI
:aAcs nyw past due, aud for certain fructiun OF n
i2'ure taxes AIN c"nihtcni arrangement might be
r1Ic;.d by which tho redemption Of tho bills nigh,
BE d'strueel OYER term Of Years., Instead OF buins
reception III olc hody. simiur plan was adopted
in tho State VI Tennessee under like circumstances
1865. must earnestly advise that tho matter b,
irkcn In hand by the general assembly without delay
call the attention Of tho general assembly to I'll.
provisions 81 sections ei - ~ and "a Of article
the election by the people of the severn counties o
Justices of tho peace and constabcs These rrovi II.
inry- In the pnce Of III. system thus established by
he constitution, wc have class OF officers called rin
justices, who exercise Jurisdiction similar to thai
:!sen by tho constitution 0f the State tn justices
the peace and who arc further authorized to appoint
-oDttabl.s.
The election by the people of Justices of tho pearc
md edns.ablrs Is without question: constitutions
light OF tho people, and unless tho present systom CHI,
DO nlate moro useful ani satisfactorily. the enforce
."ent Of the constitutional provisions referred I" will
tn, sure, 10 demanded IS tho people. I he general
's.omty is responsible all times for the failure "a
kforle the constitutional rystuiii.
Of the practical results Of the trial justice system
80 heretofore administered, hear but one opinion
.sne!y, that II l, costly inefficient and oppressive
rho whole number Of trial Justices allowed BY law Is
~. Evun this number has, nni inurnled, been rN-
zee led by some process In actual practice.
r.acel that tho number should bo reduced im,n,
.::a:c,y by at leas. "nc-thirl. Tho inoumben's ol
iSeso Offices are to Elcat extent deficient III til,
;'"alitios which make useful magistrate. Ill,
question of the enforcement Of the constitutional sys
'cm with tho general assembly, without ycnturn. un
opinion OF my own. but shnll deem It my duty
vio tho present system reInnins to usu tho noyyur
OF appointment now conferred on tho governor in IL,
hnch way as TO give 70 the people trial us,ices who
will know tho law and viii use their powers to pre-
-:Evo tho rights and protest tho interests of all This
';uty Will be Oner0ns aud difficult, but shall en-.
',eayor 20 discharge It without fear or favor.
:ceuires smann,ent in soms nart;cnars IN risr 70
neeaso lis useful and efficient working Previous to
he present year theC neral State election was hold
.arod tho board Of county meet on the
Tncsday noxt fo"wlng tho election and tn make and
within ton days from tho tno OF their rst meeting.
The secretary Of stnto then required to
'hS board of State canvnsscrs before the enth
n amendment to the constitution tho general elcc
;iona now take placo on tho first Tueslny following
,sc,in no. s anu INC nes or the
borld now be changed go rs to be In harmony with
'ic change In the tino OF the general cectuns. AS
:te law nnw etan,s tho two boards were required to
meet On tho samo day in tho present year. Again,
nc board OF State canvassers originally intended
10 he composed OF seven members, namely. tho
iiytof state, kc0Mptroer-genc attorney general,
state auditor. State treasurer ajuta and Inspector
cj:cra and the chairman Of the committees ON piivi-
and clccti0ns of the house OF representatives
Tao o.ico or State auditor has since been abolished.
and !nasmuch a5, by thu constitution, the VI
general election begin tbs Monday following such
election, there Is pcrson holding the position of
chairman Of tic committee ON privileges and elections
~ the house ut the time the
The
4hns reduced to five members. simply wish to call
attention to this result in order that the general as
>un.bly may consider whether Gny change shall BE-
,cade In the present constitution 0f the board. nlsn
c;!l attention to tho omission Of any specific provs-
u3s " law for tho action of The board Of State can
Ya-crs in Of special elections The power here
toirn exercised IN such rests wholly impli-
cation also ca" attention tn tho present uncertainty
tthc law In respect tu the nature VI tho powers
rrred the board Of State canvassers anl the want
u any provisions for enabling the board hear and
determine Of contested elect 1t Is held BY
nany persons that the powers OF the buard wholly
minietrral II this be s, the requirement that the
toaEd shall decide all under protest
That may arise when the power to do does not by
Lhe constitution, reside in other budy sccns to
IL 0f little fovce ar value.
in addition tu this grave licsi,m -; ;..wcr the
law provides no m"'le in which tho board may oh
:an testtnny. so AS to enable 1t to decide oi
contested elections upDn proper cvi,ienc. uild with
tAracsn to both PARTIES
Eer several inat.cis now pointed omt should re.
eve The attention nf The general assembly.
The constitutions of the State. in section 3 article
YII declares lha, lit Shall be- tho duty Of The gen.
srel assembly {" pr0vts. from time To tine, for the
stratun vi all electors. No registration uf elect
ors has been mad. prnvided for aimee the ndop-
tiCia Of tho constitution recommend that this re-
Gn!remobt "f the constitution bc no longer disre
Ya-dcti. The Obvious Justice Of Il registration oi
electors, aside from the positiv" mandate or the
" tutinii, RENDERS any argument u. its favor needless.
Recent .vcnts have called public attention to the
c.,Wcr c1ilii"a anl exercised by the govcvn,r, not
Gn:y "f appointing, but Of sumniuiily removing the
commissioners ri election. The law requires the
;aSrrn.r Il app"int the commissioners Of election 1T
last sixty days prior to the election. II is difficult
!" believe that IL WAS intended TO render this lri,vis.
'0n 1uEatOry hy allowing the govcrn0r to remove
iLc,n =, will VI amy ti,o before the election. sub.
trthrr coicnt except to say that the wiSrsl mode
ol sppOntnnt uf the commissioners Of ciG~ .iu us
we'll ~ the prler limitation OF the power Of al,-
l1siEtEirnt, nttrrs which demand The careful al.
'ehtisn vi the general assembly.
cal! nttuntn to the prOprirty os 4 revision
zeal oi the present provkions "f law requiring c-
ioh:ts by in|irADce companies Of stnrks bond OF
tie state or United States for the protection of policy
holders within the Stats. Owing to tho condition OF
tc tsl"1 deb. af .:.. State The deposits Ec.eto!a-.
!hade by some companies have become nearly wurth.
'csH. protection To the policy holders Is to be
cIsad by means Of such deposits. tho object IN many
inetahocs is not now reached. Tho unequal effect OF
tne present law upon companies already doing and
those proposing do business in the State Is like
Use aViarent My own judgment inciiics to the
ic!ef that good policy dictates the repeal Of the pres
ir citizens would lo1k only for their security IT, il
r.i:v and cha..sce: If the conpIIiir. In hi, WI
think bottcr results Woud b.. reached tlal, Under
ne present law.
The Sciern! assembly. by an uct approved March
=. AS'2 provided for tan uf one half u mill un thr