The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-20
THE TOWNSHIP BONDS BILL.
Full Text of the Bill as it Passed to Third
Reading in the Senate.


The committee bill providing for the
valuation of township bonds caused a
stubborn discussion. Senate. Wilson
was the chief opponent and his speech
was strong and scathIng. Aiter losing
several amendments he moved that the
townships in York county that had
subscribed to the bonds of the Three
C's road be exempt from the provisions
Of the bill. He said the company had
deceived the people of the county by
assuring them that they had SlU,WIO, ,0oO
with which to c"'upletc the road to its
northern terminus. and had violated
other pledges He earnestly protested
against his county being included in
the bill.
Senator McMasier repudlated the
statement Of Senator Wilson and said
that if the citizens Of York wished to
rid themselves Of the Obligations they
had assumed they would go counter TO
the character they had hitherto borne.
He moved to table the amendment,
which w;ls done by Il vote Of nineteen
to eleven.
The bill passed its second reading
after being Subjected to various amend
neutS The following is the full text:
\ bill TO recognize and confirm the in
corpo'3.io ion OF the several townships
herein described, and to authorize a
subscription by them to railroad cor
p0rati0us constructed or being con
slructeG within tl.eir limits. and 10
validate acts heretofore done ior their
benefit.
Whereas. the legal voters in several
| townships Of this stat. have under
| taken 10 subscribe 10 railroad corpora
t;onS cons rUcting or being about TO
cons! ruct lines OF railroad through OF
in their respective townships, being
spCc:ally authorized so to do by the
terms OF several acts of tie General
Assembly of this state, and said sub
ScriptionS having been made III coH-
fUrmity to the said several acts OF the
genera! assembly; and whereas, III con-
sideratiou of said subscriptions, the
said lines of railroad have been wholly
or partly constructed through the said
townships, the said railroad CORPORA
tions relying upon the validity of the
said ac:s of assembly and the faith q. i
the credit of those portions of the State
included within the territorial limits OF
said townships, pledged by the acts OF
assembly purporting to authorize such
subscriptions; and whereas bonds, and
cher securities issued in the name OF
said townships are now in the hands OF
said railroad corporations and bona-tlde
purchasers for value Of the same, and
the persons within the limits Of said
township have received or may here
after receive the benefits which acc"ue
to themselves AID to their property by
reason of improved hlghwa" facilities
over the lines of said railroads; and
whereas it is proper that all tow nShlp
bonds so used or pledged should be
honestly paid; and whereas, The said
seve: al townships may more fully per-
fo.m their obligations and carry out
ether proper corporate purposes by be-
Jug duly incorporated; therefore.
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives of the State
of South Carolina, now met and sit
ting in General Assembly, and by the
authority of the same.
Section l. That all townships in the
several counties of this state which
have heretofore issued, executed OF
contracted to execute and deliver bonds
or other securities in the name Of the:l
respective townships are hereby recog'
niZed as and declared to be bodies poll
tic ald corporate, under tDcir several
name, as now fixed; the inhabitants
within the territorial limits of the said
several townships respectively being
members of the several townships
hereby recognized as aud declared &c
De Incorporated. The said corporations
by their corporate name, may sue anG
be sned, impleAd and be impIeaded
and prosecute and defend any prope.
action or suit at law or in equity.
Sec. ,. The said several tow nship ps
may hold real estate for ;he use of the
Inhabitants, and may convey the same
by deed of their agent, upon vote of 4
majority of the inhabitants at an elec.
ton ordered by the county commits
sionerS upon the written petition of a
majority OF the fteeholders resident
therein; may hold personal estate for
The public use Of the jnhabitants and
alielaie and dispose OF the same by
voue at an election 10 be held upon like
order and petition a. Aforesaid; may
hold real and personal estate in trust
for the support Of schools add for the
promotion OF education within tne
limits of the township: may make con-
iacls necessary for the exercise Of heil
corporate powers, and may make orders
for the disposal or use of their corporate
properly as they may judge necessary
aad eXpedient for the interest OF the
inhabitants, and may with the apnro-
val of the county commissioners a0d
OF the Cenetai Assembly, lay out, build,
a',er and ,epair highway, and such
powe. may he exercised by said tow u
ships not only by virtue OF their in
co poratiOn. but also as tel irllorial sub
divisions OF the county.
Sec. 3. Said townships may, at legal
meetings, grant and vo'e such sums of
money as they may judge necessary for
the following purpose: Provided Spec
ial authori. Y so to do shall be hereafter
first granted by act of the general as
sembv except as to The elections pro-
vided for in section hereof. l. For the
support of town schools. 2. Laying out,
building, alte,ing and repairing high
| way vi lllS SNoISlSuSlIolIO VI
ways. 3. For all necessary charges and
liabilities arising therein. +. For paying
at maturity such obligations as have
been contracted pursuant to law. 5.
For burial grounds.
Sec. 4. Township meetings shall be
held al such times and places as the
Board Of County Commissioners may
order, after one months public notice
At such meeting the chairman of the
board of county commissioners shall
preside, and the meeting shall elect a
clerk. A majority of the qualified
electors Of the township shall consti-
tute quocum for the transaction of
business. and a majority of the quail
fled electors Of the township shall be
necessary TO decision: Provided, That
no debt shall be CONTACTED or obliga-
ton incurred or tax assessed except by
Il vote by ballot. and except under and
by virtue Of q previous act of the gen.
| eral assembly hereafter to be enacted