Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-10


GOV. TILLMAN's .RErORMs."
Radical Ideas OF the Executive Of South
Carolina.
Correspondence q The Evening STAR
CHARLESTON, s. c., Sept. 8, 1892.
The democratic primaries on the 30sh Of
August settles pretty we'll the complexion of the
state government for the next two years. Gov.
Tillman and the class OF people and the ideas
that he represents will have their own
way. and if the ideas advocated by the governor
on the stump are carried into effect there will
be some very radical changes in the political
economy of South Corolina The party
represented by the governor was very
careful in the campaign just ended to select
members OF the legislature who had been
pledged to stand by the governor in his meas
ures OF reform. This was deemed essential for
the reason that the last general assembly, which
was elected on the same platform with the gov
ernor, kicked clean over the traces and refused
to pass the administrative measures recon-
mended by him. The same primary which
elected Gov Tillman on the Goth ultimo elected
the members Of the general assembly. so that
as far as the state and county governments are
concerned the election in South Carolina is
over
The general assembly, which will convene in
manic in its politics. The senate will have
twenty-seven Tillmanites and nine conserva-
tive democrats. In the lower house the Till
NANTES will number 103 members and con-
servatives twenty-one.
Like most reformers. Gov Tillman has
mapped out an extended work in the way Of
reformation in the state before taking his seat
IN the United States Senate for there il no
concealment of the fact that the governor has
his eve upon the seat Of Senator N. C. Butler,
which becomes vacant in March, 1885,
GOV. TILLMAN's PROPOSED REFORMS.
The most radical of these reforms are Is fol-
lows:
l.. A constitutional convention for the pur-
pose of changing the fundamental laws Of the
state. 20 as to make it comply with the changed
condition Of things brought about by the Farm
ers' Alliance. An act to carry this into effect
was passed by large majority at the last ses-
sion, but it lacked the necessary two-thirds
vote in the lower house. Eighty-three votes in
the house and twenty-five in the senate are
necessary to call constitutional convention.
Gov. Tiilman has these and to spare in the
coming general assembly.
z. poll tax OF 50 per capita with law i'm
posing penal servitude for its non-payment.
The governor lays great stress upon this re-
form and is confident that he can carry 1t with
the new legislature.
8. Power with the governor to remove sheriffs
at will.
This is intended. go Gov. Tillman SAYS, to
put an end to lvnching in the state.
4. A remodeling of the comfy governments
SO a. to give TO the governor the right to ap-
point all the equity officers
8. State regulation Of railroads. Railroad
commissioners to be elected by the people.
Under the existing Laws the railroads are under
the control of three commissioners elected by
the general assembly who have the right to fix
rates. &C.. but the railroads have the right to
appeal to the circuit courts.
&. The question of assessment and taxation
of property has given the administration good
deal of trouble. II tried to make arbitrary in
crease of the assessments on railroad and bank
ing property last year. but the courts inter-
rencd and the question is still unsettled. The
governor wants the administration TO have the
right TO raise the assessments of corporations
whenever it sees at to do So.
Z. The repeal Of the agricultural lien law.
This is a law peculiar to South Carolina. by
which q farmer without capital may borrow
funds to plant cotton crop. giving TO the
factor lien on the future crop. the land owner,
in the farmer is a renter. having. of course
prior lien for the rent. The law has been con-
siderably tinkered with in the past six or eight
years always with view to protecting the land
owner. but it has enabled thousands Of poor
white men and not few negroes to go Into
farming. and it really had good deal to do
with the introduction into this state of small
this class of farmers entirely and drive them 10
hiring out rs farm laborers.
Gov. llliman has good many other reforms
in contemplation. among them q supervisory
control of the judiciary by the executive de-
partment. the appointment By the governor of
all the public boards, and others which cannot
now be recalled.
THE UNITED STATES sENAToRsHIP.
1t is expected that the new general assembly
veil ha OH 70 he tba
last and will respond willingly and cheerfully
The handful of conservatives in the general
assembly have not yet decided on policy. but
there is a general feeling that it would be good
policy for them TO fall ill line with the re-
formers and help to pass all the governors
reforms. the idea being to give him
full swing in the hope that he will hang him.
self. 1t is not unlikely that this policy will be-
pursued. although it is even limited now by
those who are close TO the administration that
among the ''retormers'' elected to the general
assembly are quite number of conservatives
in disguise. who managed to get elected on the
Tillman platform. but with the intention Of op-
posing the Tillnan reforms.
1t has been said that Gov. Tillman has his
eye on Senator Buffers seat III the United
States Senate. 1t is true that Gov. Tillman
would have no trouble in getting Senator But
lers seat If the election of Senator Buffers sue
cessor was the province of the general as
Butler will not give up his seat without fight.
He is not exactly in accord with the dominant
element here but like Congressman Geo. Tillman
he IL fighter. As matter Of law and fact the
present general assembly has nothing whatever
to do with the election of Senator Buffers sue
cessor. The statutes of the state deyolve that
duty upon the general assembly which shall be
elected in 1894, but it is understood to be part
of Gov. Tillman = program of reform to change
the law and get himself ticketed to the United
States Senate by the present legislature, which
raises very delicate and interesting question for
the Senate to decide. So far as the state election
proper, which occurs in November. is concerned
it may be taken for granted there will be no OPP
position to the Tiliman ticket which was elected
at the primaries.
There has been some talk about republican
ticket. but it is mere idle talk. The republican
organization in this state il not in a condition
to enter upon state canvass. nor has it the
registered vote behind it to make fight The
opportunity was offered the negroes two years
ago to take hand in the democratic fight
which then occurred. but they did not avail
themselves OF it. principally. perhaps, because
they were not qualified to vote. The conserva-
tive democrats in the state have accepted their
defeat in good faith. and will make no further
fight against Tillmanism, Mt least for the next
two years.
Junior Order of American Mechanics