The record-union., 1895-09-23
SOUTH CAROLINA POLITICS.
SUMMARY OF THE WORK OF THE
CONSTTEUTIONAL CONGRESS.
Governor Evans Expresses His Opinion
of What Has and Should be Done
by the Convention.

COLUMBIA Is. C.), Sept. 22.-Goyernor
Evans. when asked last night for an inter-
view giving a summary OF the work of the
Constitutional Congress to date, spoke as
follows, and what he says, in view of his
relations to the majority side, is of course
q matter of widespread interest:
1.-The work of the convention so far has
been preliminary and in committee, but
judging from the reports of the commit
tees filed up to this time, l am satisfied
that there will be very little Wrangling,
and that the work will be harmOniously
completed. | believe that it will be the
best Constitution ever gotten up for any
State. There is some little tendency to-
ward legislating too much, but believe
that will be expunged by the convention
as a whole, and that the body will be gov
erned by the general principles OF gov
ernment, and not by matters OF legIsla-
ton.
1.-The com mittee reports will necessarily
have great force, and they seem to have
been framed with very great care, and
the chances are that they will be passed
with but very few changes. The most
important committees are agreed unani-
mously, l am informed, including the
suffrage committee, and the articles upon
which we expected most debate bid fair
to be adopted with but very little change
from the committee reports.
~ see no reason why the convention
should not continue in session longer
than October 9TH. As to the suffrage
plan, there is but one door open Tor US,
and that will be the unanimous report of
the suffrage committee. l believe that
the vast majority OF the members are
ready TO accept it now, but, OF course,
there will be some debate by some OF the
members who have pet schemes. What
i mean is The Mississippi plan, with a
very few notifications. That is, that we
will provide that any person aggrieved
shall have remedy by direct appeal to
the courts, leaving the Legislature to pro-
vide the manner of holding and conduct
ing elections.
Il am sorry to see that majority of
the Committee on Executive Depart
ments refuse to join in recommending
giving to the Governor power to remove
defauiting officers. | am satisfied, how
ever, that the good sonse OF the majority
of the Convention will prevail, and that
the minority report will be adopted in
this particular. IL is ridiculous to say
that the Governor shall see the laws prop
erly enforced, and give him dishonest
and incompetent officials to enforce with
no power to remove or suspend.
II think it a wise proposition to recog
nlZe the divorces 9ranteu III olher States;
that 1t is one calculated TO preserve NOR
ality.
II believe that corporations should be
controlled under general laws, with no
special privileges, and with proper pro-
visions to prevent consolidation and in
justice to operatives, and whenever a re-
ceiver was appointed the charter should
be revoked and the affairs wound up.
II believe that the term OF State officers
should be four years, and that of the
Legislature two years, and that seemed
to be the will OF the people in the last
campaign.
..Ihe convention will have legitimate
work to occupy it night and day, and
there will be 10 time tor discussing any
thing outside of legitimate work, and |
shall endeavor to push the work to COM
pletion, but, of course, allowing full and
free discussion"