The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-18
ARTICLE VIII
!. 1.UNIcIPA1 CORPORATIONS AND POLICE
REGULATIONS.

u1c1pal COZ pO] A.1OuS. iN0 PO">-o W
each class shall be defined SO that no
such corporations shall nave ally pow
crs or be subject to any restrictions
other than all corporations OF the same
class. Cities and towns DOW existing
under special charters may re-organlze
under the general laws of the State.
and when Sc recognized their SPECIAL
charters shall cease and determine.
Sec. 9. No city or town SHALL he or
ganized without the consent OF the
majority OF the electors residing and
entitled by law to vote within the dis
trict proposed to beincorporated; such
consent to be ascertained III the man
ner and under such regulations as may
be prescribed by law.
Sec. 3. The general assembly shall
restrict the powers Of cities and towns
to levy taxes and assessments, to bor-
row money and to contract debts, and
no tex or assessment shall be levied or
debt contra ted except IN pursuance OF
law, for public purposes specified by
law
Sec. 4. No 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 use or to lay mains
for any purpose, without first obtain
ino the consent of tn. local authorities
in control OF the streets or public
places proposed to be occupied for any
such or like purposes.
Sec. 5. Cities and towns may ac-
quire, by construction OF purchase,
aud may operate water works systems
and plants for furnishing lights, and
may furnish water and lights to indi-
viduals, firms and private corporations
for reasonable compensation: Provld-
ed, that no such construction or pur-
chase shall he made except upon ma
jority vote of the electors III said cities
or towns who are qualified to vote on
the bonded Indebtedness of said cities
or towns.
Sec. 6. The corporate authorities
of cities and towns III this State shsll
be vested with power to assess and
collect taxes for corporate purposes,
said taxes to be uniform In respect to
persons and property within the juris-
auction OF the body composing the
same; and all the property except such
rs is exempt by law, within the limits OF
cities and towns shall be taxed for the
payment OF debts contracted under au-
luorlty Of law. License r privileged
taxes imposed shall be graduated SO
as to secure just imposition OF such
tax upon the classes subject thereto.
Sec. Z. No CITY Or town In this State
shall hereafter incur any bonded debt,
which, including existing bonded in
debtedness, shall exceed s per centum
Of the assessed value Of the taxable
property therein, and no such debt
shall be created without submitting the
question as to the creation thereof to
tne qualified electors Of such clty or
town, as provided i'll this Constitution
for such special elections; and unless a
majority of such electors voting on the
question shall be In favor of creating
such further bonded debt, none shall
be created; Provided, that this section
shall not be construed to prevent the
issulny Of certificates OF Indebtedness
IL antlci patton OF the collection of
taxes for amounts actually contained
or to be conta,ued Ill the taxes for the
year when such certificates are Issued
and payable out Of such taxes: And
provided, further, that sach cities and
towns shall on the issuing of such
bonds create a sinking iund for the re-
demptlon thereof at maturity. Moth
lug herein contained shall prevent the
Issuing Of bonds to an amount sufficient
to re1uud bonded Indebtedness exist
Ing at the time OF the adoption OF this
Constitution.
sec. s. Cities and towns may exempt
from taxation, i'y general or special
ordinance, except Tor school purposes,
manufactures established withiu their
limits for five successive years from the
time Of the establishment of such man
utuctories: PROVIDED, that such ordi-
nance STALL be first ratified by ma
jorlty Of such qualified electors OF such
city or town as shaH vote ut an cleo
uon held for that purpose.
Sec. 9. No armed police force or
representatives OF a detective agency
shall ever be brought into this State
Tor the suppression OF dom, site vio-
lence; nor any other armed or un&rmed
body Of men he brouyhs i'll for that
purpose, except upon the application
vi Ine general assembly Or of tie ex-
ecutlve of this State When the gcner-
al assembly is not III session. as pro
vlded IN the Constitution OF the United
States. The general assembly shall
provide proper penalties for the eu-
iorcement OF the PROVISIONS OF this
section.