Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1882-07-13
New Counties.

New Counties.
The Legislature at the extra session adopted
joint resolution proposing an amendment to
Section 3, Article II Of the Constitution Of the
State, rclating TO the forming of new counties.
The amendment so proposed will be submitted
to tho qualified electors Of the State at the next
general election. 1t reads as follows:
Strike out in Section 3, Article lr, Of the
constitution tho words "but no new county
shall DO hereafter formed Of less extent than
six hundred and twenty-five square miles,
nor shall any existing counties be reduced
10 less extent than six hundred nnd twenty
five square miles," and insert in lieu thereof
the following: "Provided That no new county
shall be formed which has population Of less
lbah one one hundred and twenty. fourth patt Of
the whole number Of inhabitants of the State.
anu IN area less than four hundred square
miles, nor shall any existing counties be reduced
to less area than four hundred snuare miles"
The amendment proposed Is less Objectionable
in lis present shape than if there were no
Limitation to tho size of the counties. Tho
present limitation is one based on area alone.
while the proposed Limitation Is based on both
area and population. Notwithstanding this we
oppose the amendment. It will increase the
number Of Senators, and thereby, to some ex-
the number Of county ofIicials in tho State and
thereby The county taxes, and further, will
draw men from pu, u,suits of industry TO office
holding, and thus, 10 some extent, lessen the
general wealth.
Our county taxes are now and have been since
1876 larger than the levy for running the State
Government. Ii tho number of counties be
doubled, the number of county officials will tc
doubled, and the ratio per cent. necessary to
run the machinery Of these counties will be
largely increased, though not actually doubled.
Wise legislation consists not only in good laws
properly administered, but in giving these
blessings to the people at as little cost as they
can be consistent with The reasonable convcn-
icncc OF the people.
If counties are reduced, as proposed, will not
The pay of public officers be TOO small 10 afford
them competent living, and if 60, will they
not be compelled to add to their Offices other
pursuits? If So while men may save fcw
miles in reaching the court houses by small
counties, they may lose them in not finding
either competent officers or Of having 10 hunt
them up, or to avoid this fees must be SO in
creased as to give the officers living from their
Offices. Our county contains over six hundred
and twenty-five square miles and We think it
small enough when VIC have county taxes to
pay.
Again, far rs rcmolcncss from The cour
house is concerned, what benefit will result to
The people unless nl the court houses and
county lines OF tho Slate bo wiped out and
South Carolina be resurveycd into counties Of
four hundred square miles and new public
buildings bc.crcced rs near their ccnters rs
possible. Charleston would no longer have a
court house, nor would Grcenvilc, which is but
five miles from the Pickens line, nor perhaps
would any Of the present county seats continue
SUCH Take our own section as an illustration,
(but We will say we know of no such desire or
purpose,) and if parts Of Ocohcc, Pickens and
Anderson were cut off and new county formed,
would that bring the people above Walhalla (the
farthcst of Of any ut prcscnt) any nearer to the
court house ut Waalln? The same would, in
most cases we fear, be true, and the argument
of convenience TO the people fills to the ground.
We may be mistaken, and if so, are open to
convictions; but rs yet VIC can see only heavier
taxes, an increased number of officers, who will
be poorly paid for their time and service, unless
costs and fees tc increased, and really no
general benefit to the people BY way Of convcn-
encc. We will more at our leisure consider
this matter, but our preset ncnalicns are
against the amendment proposed.