The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-12-04
THE CONSTITUTION MADE.
THE LAST SECTION OF THE LAST
ARTICLE FINISHED.
The Close of tho Session Marked With
Some Very Rapid Work--The Different
Provisions Passed.

Some Very Rapid Work-The Different
Provisions Passed.
COLUMBIA, Nov. 25.-Special: The
first matter taken up today was the
ordinance to create Seabrook county
which came up on its second reading.
The committee recommended that this
county scheme be exempted from the
operations of the fifth section, which
related to the eight-mile limitation.
Mr.. w. B. Wilson then offered the
following amendment to be added to
the end Of the section:
"Nor shall anything contained In
section 8 of said article on counties
and county government apply to pre-
vent the formation of a new county
embracing within its limits the city OF
Rock Hill, with an area of not less
than 300 square miles, and having a
population of not less than 16, 1000 In
habitants, and property assessed for
taxation at not less than $4,000, ,OOO,
and the county seato such new coun-
ty shall defray the cost OF building a
new court house and Jail.
Mr.. Bellinger questioned the rele-
vancy of the amendment.
Mr.. Geo. D. Tillman then offered
the following:
Amend the amendment by adding:
provided, The general assembly may
in its discretion create any new coun-
ty with an area of not less than 800
square miles, whenever it is shown
that an area of 400 square miles cannot
be obtained, and upon such new coun
ty complying with all other manda-
tory requirements of this article"
After a short discussion this amend
ment was killed.
Mr.. R. F. Smith then offered the
following amendment to the amend
ment, which was voted down:
"Nor shall anything in section 3,
articles on counties and county gov
ernment, prevent the formation OF the
new county of Williamson with 300
square miles: Provided, That the
same has population of not less than
$4,000 and property of the assessed
value of not less than 100000.
Mr.. MCGOWAN moved to table MIR.
Wilson's amendment. An aye and
nay vote resulted as follows: Yeas IS,
nays 81. SO the amendment was
killed.
After some debate the ordinance to
create Seabrook county was lost by
tie yote-55 to IS.
THE CASH BASIS.
Mr.. Connor's ordinance to raise a
sinking fund to put the counties on
cash basis next came up. That gen.
tleman moved to make the annual
levy one mill instead of half mill.
Tabled-67 to SO.
Mr.. Meares moved to indefinitely
postpone the ordinance. Lost 45 to 56.
Mr.. Meares moved to strike out
"shall" and insert may" in the first
line. This was adopted. The ordi-
nance, as thus amended, was then Or
dered to third reading, as follows:
Section /. That the general assem-
bly, may provide for an annual tax
levy not to exceed one-half of one
mill in each county not now on a
cash basis; the proceeds of all such
levies shall be used as sinking fund
for each and every county in which it
is levied and collected, and shall be in
vested as the general assembly shall
direct until an amount shall have
been collected to put such counties on
a cash basis, then such annual levies
shall cease.
. COURT EXPENSES.
When the article on finance and
taxation was taken up Mr.. jeremiah
Smith moved to amend by providing
that court expenses in the several
counties be paid from the State treas
ury, and not from the several county
treasures, as is now provided.
After forty minutes debate, the
amendment was tabled-75 to 36.
THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.
Mr.. Bates offered the following
amendment to section which he said
would take 80 minutes to discuss:
Amend section 5 by adding at the
end of the section: 'And there shall
further be exempt from taxation prop
erty of the assessed value of $500 to
every widow who has family de-
pendent upon her for support, and for
every Confederate soldier who lost a
limb or is disabled by injuries received
while serving in the late war, provid-
ed such widow or soldier does not own
property exceeding in assessed value
of 81 900.
The convention then took a recess
till 4 p. m.
At the afternoon session the vote
whereby section 5, which Mr.. Bates
really wanted to amend, was adopted,
was reconsidered, and Mr.. Bates again
put in his amendment.
Mr.. Breazeale oferedan amendment
to double tax all bachelors of over 80
years of age, and member offered to
amend the amendment by including
old maids. This amendment was killed
viva voce, amid laughter.
An aye and nay vote on the adop-
ton of Mr.. Bates amendment then
being taken, the result was as follows:
Yeas 3S, nays 62.
TAKING STOCK.
Mr.. Bellinger offered the following
amendment to section s:
Add after the word same" on line
4 the words:
"All shares of the stockholders in
any bank or banking association To-
Gated in this State. whether now or
hereafter incorporated or organized
under the laws of this State or the
United States, shall be listed at their
true value in money, and taxed for
municipal purposes in the city, ward,
town or incorporated village where