The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-09-11
PALMETTO STATE POLITICS.
THE PROGRAMME or CHANGES
MAPPED OUT ny GUI. 7ILLI.iN.


-
He Hns mn Owe, whcimin- Mnj,ri'y In the
Incoming Legislature, and the Members
Elected q, HE rtesc, are Pledged to
s,,,, NV ri. Nre,,,r.. or ucr,rr r,.
..-.... ia. 4, 81. nm s,,,,,. IT,
CHARLESTON. Sept. 10.-The Democratic rrl.
mnrics on Aug. 80 settles pretty we'll tho COM
plcxion Of the state Government for the next
two years. Gov. Tillmrua and tho clrss OF poo
rle and tho ideas that he represents will hive
their own sweet way: and IT tho ideas aivo-
Gated by the Governor on tho stump are car
ricd into effect, there will be some
very radical changes in tho condition OF
South Carolina. Tho party represented by
the Governor was very careful In the campaign
lust ended to select members OF tho Legisla-
turc who had been pledged to stand by the
Governor in his measures Of reform. This
was deemed essential for tho reason that the
last General Assembly, which was elected on
the same platform with the Governor. kicked
clean over tho traces. and refused TO pass tho
administration measure recommended By
him. The same primaries which elected Gov.
TiIlmnn on Aug. 80 elected tho members OF
the General Assembly: SO that. as far as tho
state and county Governments arc concerned.
| the election in South Carolina is over.
The General Assembly. which will convene
in November, will DO overwhelmingly TIL.
manic In its politics. The Senate will have 81
Tillmanites and o Conservative Democrats. In
tho lower House tho Tillmanites will number
1n3 members and the Conservatives 81. Gov.
1iliman has mapped out a programme Of re.
forms in tho State. the most radical Of which
are as follows:
/. A Constitutions Convention for the pur-
pose Of changing the fundamental avs OF the
State. so as 10 mike IL cOmplv with the
changed condition Of things brought about by
the Farmers Alliance. An act to carry this
into effect was carried by a large majority at
the last session. but it lacked the necessary
two-thirds vote in tho lower House. Eighty
three votes in the house and twenty-four in
the Senate are necessary to call a Constitu-
tional Convention. Gov. Tillman has these
and to spare in the coming General assembly.
2. A poll tax OF So per capita. with a law
imposing penal servitude for its non pavment
Tho Governor lays great stress on this reform.
and is confident that he can carry 1t with the
new Legislature.
3. Power with the Governor to remove Sher.
IFS at will. This is intended, Gov. Tillman
says. to put an end to lynching in the State.
4. A remodelling OF the county governments
so as to give to the Governor the right to APP
point all the county officers.
5. State regulation OF railroads without re-
s%triction. Railroad Commissioners to be elect
ed bythe people. Under the existing laws the
railroads are under the control OF three Com
missioners. elected by the General Assembly.
who have the right to fix rates. &c. but the
railroads have the right to appeal to the Cir
cult Courts.
d. The questions Of assessment and taxation
Of property have given the Administration .
great deal OF trouble. 1t tried to make an ar
bitrary increase OF the assessments on rail-
rOad and banking DrODarfy laSt vpnr hnr thu
courts interviewed and the question is still I'M
settled. The Governor wants the Administra-
ton to have the right to raise the assessments
Of corporations whenever it sees fit to do SO.
7. The repeal Of the Agricultural Lien law.
This is a law peculiar to South Carolina. by
which a farmer without capital may borrow
funds to plant a cotton crop. giving the factor
. lien on the future crop. tho landowner. in
case the farmer Is a renter. having. OF course.
a prior lien for the rent. The law has been
tinkered within the past six or eight years. ale
ways with a view OF protecting the landowner.
but 1t has enabled thousands OF Door white
men and not a few negroes to go into farming.
and 1t really had u good deal to do with the in.
PRODUCTION into this State OF small farms. Its
repeal. 1t Is thought. will shut out this class OF
farmers entirely. and drive them to hiring out
As farm laborers.
Gov. Tillman has many other reforms In
SSaeN NNaSAe oNAShS " u
control Of the judicial by the executive de-
%partment. tho appointment by the Governor
Of all the public Boards. and others which
cannot now be recalled. 1t is expected that
the new General Assembly will be more
obedient to the Executive than the last. and
will respond willingly and choerfuily to
the crack OF the Executive whip. The
handful OF conservatives in the General
Assembly have not yet decided upon u
| DOlicy. hut thera IA n 0aparal failing that IL
would be good policy for them to fall in line
with the reformers. and help to pass all the
Governors reforms. the idea being to give his
Excellency full swing In the hope that he
would hang himself. 1t Is not unlikely that
this policy Will be pursued. 1t Is even limited
now. BY those who are close to the Adj
ministration. that among the "reformers"
elected to the General Assembly are a NUM-
Der OF conservatives In disguise who managed
~ VAT nIanfan nm fhn tInn tn hIf