The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-11-06
TO PAY AS WE GO.
THE PROVISION TOPUT COUNTIES
ONACASH BASIS.

ONA CASH BASIS.
The Scheme of Mr.. Henderson, Of Aiken,
for Making Up for the "Lost Year."
What the Convention Did About 1t.
COLUMBIA, Oct. 2S.-Special: Mr..
Henderson's proposed ordinance, look
ing to scheme to put the counties on
cash basis, came UP in the conven-
ton this morning. 1t called forth
quite an animated debate.
Before reaching that subject, how
ever, the convention handled few
other matters very rapidly but very
satisfactorily. The anti-lynching Sec
ton, offered by Mr.. Bellinger, was
then passed, without discussion, as
follows:
Sec. 6. In the case of any prisoner
lawfully in the charge, custody or
control of any officer, State, county or
municipal, being seized and taken
from said officer, either by force or
strategy by mob or other unlawful
assemblage of persons, and at their
hands suffering bodily violence or
death, the said officer shall be deemed
guilty of a misdemeanor and upon
true bill found shall be deposed from
his Office pending his trial and upon
his conviction shall forfeit his office
and unless pardoned by the governor
shall be Ineligible to hold any office
of trust or profit within this State. It
shall be the duty of the prosecuting
attorney within whose district or
county the ofense may be committed
to forthwith institute prosecution
against said officer, who shall be in
dicted and tried in such county other
than the one in which the offense was
committed as the attorney general
may elect. The fees and mileage of
all material witnesses both for the
State and for the defense shall be paid
by the State treasurer in such manner
as may be provided by law.
The section as to change of venue
caused short discussion, but the
whole article was passed to its third
reading.
Mr.. Henderson's ordinance to au-
thorize the issue of State bonds to the
extent of about half million dollars,
to enable the counties of the State to
do business on cash basis, was then
taken up. It had been unfavorably
reported by the committee on finance
and taxation.
Mr.. Ira B. Jones moved to indefi-
nitely postpone the ordinance so as to
hear something about it.
Mr.. Henderson said this was plan
to remedy great evil in this State.
There were not five counties now rum
ming on a cash basis. The legislature
had started the matter by extending
the time for the payment of taxes. In
consequence, in a great many counties
they were running one whole year be-
hind. School teachers had to work in
November and December of each year
and wait until a year had passed to get
their money or else shave their paper
at 10 or Is per cent. off to get the
cash. This was an unbusiness like
manner of doing business. This was
one of the worstevils in the State.
Does this ordinance meet this trou-
BILE and remedy it2 Can we pass lta
Ought we to pass it2 This ordinance
allowed the issuing of bonds to be
turned, into the county treasurers'
hands. He threw around them every
safeguard.
Mr.. Clayton asked him had the con
vention the power to pass this ordi-
nance, because the old Constitution
and the one they were adopting had
provision which did not permit the
public debt to be increased without a
vote by the people.
Mr.. Henderson said that his answer
was that this convention was the peo-
pie. They were the representatives of
the people. The Mississippi convention
had passed such an ordinance and the
people had sustained the convention.
The people wanted this relief. If the
convention failed to give it, it would
defeat one of the greatest desires of
the people of the State. The amount
would be about a half million dollars
and the relief would 60 to about 80
counties. They could float these bonds
at Al per cent. and great good would
come to the people Of the State. You
can't blame the banks or the money
lenders. This ordinance can't effect
the counties now on cash basis.
There is provision in the ordinance
which requires the several counties
who receive the benefits to pay the
money back to the State. He had been
asked why it had not been provided
that the counties should issue the
bonds instead of the State. The diff
ference would be in the interest re-
quired to float the bonds. If the re-
port of the committee was tabled, then
he proposed to amend his ordinance
in several particulars. He said that he
would be glad to meet and answer
questions. He did not think that it
was matter to be lightly considered.
1t was very serious matter and some
thing that meant a great deal to the
people. He had not introduced it
merely TO be introducing something.
Mr.. Connor said he was in favor of
the general purpose but he thought
each county could do as Orangeburg
had been doing. The legislature could
allow each county to act on the Or
angeburg plan.
Mr.. Henderson said if the legislature
|'had done this it would be all right,
but they could do it right now at one
stroke. He placed this ordinance on a