The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-07-04
XXI.---NEW SERIES.
CENSUS LEGISLATION.
A REVIEW OF THE ACTION OF THE
STATE SENATE.

SIRle SENATE.
The Senators From Charleston Give n His
tory of tho Proce edings I'm That Body and
In tho House of Representatives.
To the Editor of the News and
Courier: Capt. Tillman has on sew
eral occasions seen fit to denounce
those members of the State Senate
who voted against the census and
reapportionment bills. We have
waited to see whether any one, other
than ourselves, would give thereasons
for such action. We are unwilling
longer to have such reasons unstated,
-s%tack zons. that upright soldier and
gentleman, Judge Izlar, whose po-
sition necessarily forces him to keep
silence.
THE FACTS HIRE AS FOLLOWS.
The General Statutes of the State
contained and now contain the gen
eral provisions for taking the census.
About two or three days before the
close of the session of 1884 a bill
came over from the House to the
Senate, amending in certain particu-
lars the general law, on the subject
OF the census--principally as to the
rate per capita to be paid and in
other minor points. While, however,
is left the duty on the Governor of
having On enumeration made, neither
this bill nor the general law appro-
priated any money to enable him to
have the work done. The bill, there
fore, rs it passed the House, was in
cnyny,1ofo orI would 1o,,o L.
result.
On inquiry it was ascertained that
tho probable expense of II State CEN
,s4s would amount to some $4,000
CfS6O,009. This was the estimate
made by careful men, who were
supposed to be in position to
know.
The majority of the Senators, nearly
oil OF whose counties were unaffected.
by the result, did not feel justified in
putting upon the people this heavy
expense. And as the House, which
WAS the body whose membership was
in question, had not deemed it prop
er to take the responsibility of MAX
ing the appropriation necessary for
the work, these Senator's, acting on
the bill sent them by tho House, re-
jected it.
The counties whose representation
would be affected by the census
were about equally divided. The
very large majority of the Senators
were entirely disinterested. as it did
not affect their counties in any way.
A majority of these disinterested
Senators voted against the bill, and
by their votes it was defeated.
In 1885 the amendment of the
Constitution was proposed allowing
reapportionment on the basis of the
United States census of 1890 and
thereafter. This was adopted by the
vote of every Senator present except
one, MIR. Reynolds, of Beaufort. It
was proposed ,nd passed rs fulfil
ment of the requirement of the Con-
stitution providing for reapportion-
ment, but as saving the taxpayers of
the State the heavy expenses of tax
ing the census by the State.
AT the same session, 1885, the
House again sent over bill for tax
ing the census by the State authori-
ties. But as the amendment to the
to the Constitution had been passed
providing the other method for re-
appOrtionment, rs measure of
economy to the State, the Senate
did not feel called on to pass this
bill.
There was another serious objec-
tion, to wit: Whether an extra ses-
sion of the Legislature could legally
be called to reapportion in time for
the election in the fall of 1886. This
had due consideration. But that
which determined the matter was that
another method of reapportionment
had vbeen provided, by which the
taxpayers were saved some $4,000 or
100000.
The matter then came before the
people of the State at the general
election in 1886, when this amend
ment was submitted for their decis.
ion. It was adopted by IN over
whelming popular vote. The people
of the State thereby ratified and ap-
proved the action of Tho Legislature
i'll substituting this means of reap
portionment, and saving them the
heavy tax and expense of taking the
census by the State. And the peo-
pie themselves having thus acted
on the question, it was settled fin
ally.
During the session of 1886 the bill
to ratify this constitutional amend
ment came before the Senate It was
epassed by the vote of every Senator
kcxcept one.
In 1887 and again in 1888 bills were
introduced into the Senate to reap
portion on the basis of the census of
1880. These were opposed as not
being within the scope of the amend
,nent, which provided that the first
reapportionment should be made un-
der tho census of 1890. There were
also practical difficulties, as for in
stance with Charleston county, which
had been divided since that census
into Charleston and Berkeley. This
prevented any accurate or proper re-
apportionment on tho basis of tho
census of 1880. The Senate, there