The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-11-24

may be amended so that it shall
be as effective in securing honest
and economical government after
the next election as any organic
law in the United States. In this
view I may, without any undue
presumption, cite some of the
changes which our peculiar con-
ditlon needs and recent reforms in
other states naturally suggest to
every thoughtful man. These
changes should be constitutional
and substantially as follows:
l. Fix constitutionally the pub
lie debt as it is now fixed by legis-
tative euactm ent. [ can see no.
ching to prevent future legislation
on this matter, which might in
volve the state for six millions or
more Of bonds which are now al
legged to have. been issued fraudu-
lently.
| 2. Restrict the powers of the
legislature for levying taxes and
making appropriations, and re-
quire all such levies and appropri-
ations to be specific, and not to
exceed a given amount for any
fiscal year.
8. Make the legislative sessions
biennial, and change the day Of
meeting to the second Tuesday
in january. Make the pay of
legislators $500 for a session Of
thirty days, 500 for a session Of
forty days, $500 for a session
of sixty days, and $500 if protract-
ed for longer period. We have
too much legislation and the peo-
pie cannot too sternly discourage
long sessions. t..
4. Restrict the court to two terms
for each county annually, reserv-
ing to the judges the right to call
special terms for sessions business
only. We have altogether too.
much litigation. Also provide
that court should be held at sea-
sons reasonably convenient for
the people. For instance, in the
eighth circuit in such months as
July, August, December and Jan
uary.
5. The right of suffrage should
be adequately protected. Provide
that each county shall be represen-
ted in proportion to the ratio Of
votes actually polled at its elec-
tions; but in no case should repre-
sentation be allowed for any num-
ber of votes in excess Of that
shown by its census to be qualified
to vote. Then if from intimida-
tion or other cause, the people
shall fail to exercise their duty or
right to vote, the county will lose
representation, and unjust repre-
sentation will be impossible.
6. The constitution should pro-
vide that no governor, state officer
or Judge shall be absent from his
post; except in very few and
special cases, or by leave Of the
legislature.
Z. Obtaining one Office for the
purpose Of commanding the ap-
proach to the other should be dis
couraged. 1t should be provided
that no person holding Office shall
be eligible for any other Office
during the term for which he was
elected.
8. Provide that the governor
may veto certain sections of any
bill for the expenditure of money
or the creation of a debt, without
prejudice to the rest.
9. Prevent the general assem-
bly, from passing any local Or spe~
cial law, or from granting any
power or privileges, that can be
provided for by general law, or
whore the. courts can be made
competent to grant the relief ask
ed for.
10. Require that taxes shall be
uniform upon the same class Of
property or subject, but allow the
legislature to authorize tax by
license on peddless, auctioneers,
brokers, merchants, professions,
showmen, liquor dealers, toll |
bridges and ferries, insurance COM
panies, telegraph and express Of
fees, railroad interest or business,
travelling agents or venders, and
all persons or corporations owning
or using franchises etc. This is
one way to carry out that part
of the republican platform which
pledges lis to do all in ourpow-
er to relieve and protect agricul-