The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1895-10-02
OUR CITIES AND TOWNS.
HOW THEY ARE TO BE ORGANIZED
=:
AND REGULATED.

HOW THEY ARE TO BE ORGANIZED
AND REGULATED.
Animated and Interesting Debate on thi
Import tant ,Ia&ter in the Constitutions
Convention.--sonne New Provisions.
COLUMBIA, Sept. 27.-Special: Or,
of the most interesting. debates We
heard IN the Constitutional Conven
vention began on Wednesday-morn
ing. 1t was called forth in the cen
sideration OF tae proposed article OF
municipal corporations and polio,
regulations. This article. deals witt
! the powers, duties and responsibilitie:
tof. cities and towns The ordinary
I laws on the subject are generally IN
derstood, and these We're accepted BY
the. Convention with but immateria
alterations. It was chiefly in new
features that the article called fortt
discussion. The first section rof. this
ordinance read as follows;
The Legislature shall provide BY
general lawsfer the organization anc
classification of municipal corpora
tons. The powers OF each class shall
be defined, by. general laws, SO that. nc
such corporation shall have any powe,
or be subject to any restrictions other
thanSall corporations of the same class.
Cities and towns now existing under
special charters may abandon the
same and reorganize underline general
laws OF the. State
Mr.. Barker, of Charleston. moved
to amend by striking out after the
words charters may" the words
Sabandon the same and reorganize
under the general laws of the State, y
and substitute the following words:
May reorganize under the general
laws o.: the State, and when SO orga-
nizea,their special charters shall cease
anddetermips ",....e
Mr.. Barkers. explained that this
amendment was intended:t to provide
EFfer preventing the possible hiatus be,
tween the surrendering of the special
fcharters and the reorganization under
the general laws. The amendment was
fadopted.
The third section was adopted as the
Second had been, without opposition,
the two being as follows: ,,.. :. ,.
Sec.;2, No city,or town shall be or
gaqSed without the consent of the
majority of electors residing and en-
titled By slaw to vote within the dis
trict proposed to be incorporated such
consent to be ascertained in the man
ner and under such regulations as may
be prescribed by law.
Sec. 3. The Legislature shall restrict
the powers of cities and towns to levy
taxes and assessments to- borrow
money or to contract debts; and no.tax
or assessment shall be levied or debt
contracted except in pursuance Of law
for public purposes specified by law.
RIGHTS oF.RAILRoADs.:a :
SECTION / readst this way as reported
by the COMMITTED:
Sec: T., Nc. law shall be passed by
the general assembly granting the
right to construct and operate a street
or, other railway, telegraph, telephone
or electric plant or to erect water: or
gas works for public. uses and -to lay
mains for any purpose, withoutstirst
obtaining the consent of the local au-
thorities in control Of the streets or
public places proposed to be occupied
for any such or like purpose.
Mr.. Stanyarne Wilson moved to
strike out. 4or. other" so as to exempt
railways from the power given by tbs
section to municipalities. Adopted:
Mr.. Patton moved to reconsider the
vote or this motion. This was agreed
to, and there was further discussion
participated in by Messrs. Patton,
Cooper. Wilson ahd Meares,.
Mr.. Barker suggested and offered an
amendment requiring the grantee Of
fsuch right to obtain previously the
consent of the town or city interested.
.Ihis was generally accepted and was
adopted. :. .,.:
Mr.. Patterson moved to Indefinitely
postpone the entire section. Lost. The
section as amended. Vas teen Adopted.
TAXES FOR IMPROVEMENTS: -
Mr.. John T. Sloan moved to strike
out Section 5: =: :;
The general assembly may vest the
authorities. Of ci!ies and towns with
power to make local i'd ipsopeme ~
special assessment or by special TAXA
ton of property benefited. " =.
:. The section was struck out on dvis.
|ien, 81 to 49,.
WATER AND LIGHTS.
. Mr.. Haynsworth moved TO strike
out section 6, reading thus: ;, =
''Cities and towns may acquire by
construction or purchase and may op-
crate water. works systems and plants
for furnishing lights, and may furnish
water. and: ig hts to individuals, firms
ard private corporations for reasona-
bic compensation" :.
:. Mr.. Haynsworth motion TO strike
out was defeated.
Mr.. G.. G.-Wel1s offered an amend
mentproviding thatno such enterprise
be. undertaken by municipal corpo-
ration except by vote of the majority
sof the electors qualified to vote on the
creation of q bonded debt. Mr.. Wells
spoke: strongly in support OF his h
amendment.
;, This amendment was adopted and
the section, as thus amended, was
passed.
TRIAL By Jury.
Section !7.was then, taken up. On
motion of Mr.. Psineeit was amended
so as to read:
Whenever any municipal court is
authorized and empowered to punish
.yiolators of city or town ordinantes
by a term of Imprisonment, it shall be
competent fer. SAID: .eourt to couple
with said imprisonment hard labor
upon tine streets or public werks-of
said city or town, to- oeperformed un-
der such supervision and regulation
as may, prescribed by:ogd!nance: F,
Mr.. George yohnstone moved to
amend by. adding after the word
court" where it occurs the second
time the words provided that trial has