The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-09-16
FRAMING A CONSTITUTION.
ABSENCE or POLITICAL OR FAC
TIONAL FEELING AT COLUMBIA.

First Five Days Work OF the Session
Accomplished in Remarkable Har-
mOny-An Important Feature of the
Proceedings Thus Far Is the Re
fuSal OF the Convention 10 Allow
the Carving Out Of More New
COunties-PrObabIe. Measures of
the New Organic Law-Opinions of
Leading south CaroIininns on the
Action OF the Convention.
Columbia, S. c.. Sept. 15.-The end of
the first week Of the session of the con-
stitutional convention has come. Five
days work has been done in complete har-
mony and with absolute freedom from ut
terances Of political SAVIOR. 1t is in
deed remarkable that 100 South Carolina
political leaders should be together in the
same han for a whole week, discussing
all kinds Of political matters without let
ting politics come into the proceedings in
any way. If this alone be all that Will be
accomplished by the convention in this di-
rection it will be more than any one had
any reason to expect. judging things in
the light Of the events of the past five or
six years in South Carolina.
The first week has been a pretty busy
one and a good deal has been accomplish
ed in the way of shaping out the work.
Enough ordinances and resolutions have
been presented to permit One-fourth Of
them to be incorporated in the new con-
stitution and even then have the document
a perfect book. The most important sin
gle matter that the convention has thus
far acted upon was the refusal to permit
the formation of any more new counties.
This means that there win be a great saw
ing in time of the convention. The length
Of the session viii thereby be greatly re-
duced, while there can be no doubt that
a general ordinance providing for the for
nation of new counties will pass, making
the maximum area not over 500 miles,
which ordinance will give the legislature
ali the power it needs and will result IN
the formation Of many new counties at
the coming session of the general assem-
bly,.
The printing matter is also out Of the
way now, and the body is thoroughly or
ganized and In working shape. The en-
crossing department will be ready for
work tomorrow and this week things Will
move along swimmingly.
The work Of the four weeks just closed
seems to indicate that the following mat
ters in one shape or another are pretty
certain to be contained IN the new con-
stitution:
l. An ordinance providing for a general
reduction of the area of counties, with a
maximum of scarcely more than five hun
dred square miles and a maximum popu-
lation.
2. An ordinance providing for biennial
sessions of the legislature.
3. An ordinance providing for the cleo
ton Of all state and county officers every
fourth instead Of every second year.
4. An ordinance in one shape or another
providing for the establishment OF county
courts, presided over by county Judges.
5. An ordinance regulating the payment
of the school tax 50 that the taxpayer
shall have the right to designate to which
of the public schools II shall be applied,
and providing for separate schools for the
races.
6. Such a regulation Of the liquor traf-
ic and manufacture as has been pro-
posed by Mr.. Ehrd, which allows the
state to license and regulate under its
police power.
z. A general provision for the char
tering Of corporations.
8. A provision for the establishment OF
a state board Of pardons
8. That judges of all state and county
courts be elected by the people.
10. The establishment of a state bureau
of labor statistics and a state labor com
missioner.
There are some other things about the
first weeks results which impress an on
locker. The convention has been absolute
~ unable to start out upon the econom-
ical basis upon which 1t was thought II
could be run. 1t has been strange con-
dition Of affairs so far, but 1t is true,
nevertheless, that nearly all the debate
that has been INDUCED in has been be-
tween the conservative members of the
convention Mr.. Johnstone and ex-Gov
Sheppard have done more talking than any
other four men in the convention.
Most Of the new resolutions and ordi-
uances have come from unexpected quar-
ters, from men who have been heard of
but little In the presentation of ideas
for the formation Of the new constitu-
tion
Senator Tillman has had but little to
say so far, though several times he has
displayed his stump speaking ability
His brother, Representative Tillman,
has been pretty much alive to things for
the past two days. His speech on Sat
urday has been by long odds the great
est speech of the session.
1t was eloquent, ana II had all the
more force for one could not but realize
that the snow-locked sage of Edgefield
was speaking straight from the heart
His voice had a ring Of sincerity in it
that was really refreshing.
Woman's suffrage has made no further
advance than the Introduction Of bill
providing for it in municipal elections.
The suffrage plan that Senator Tillman
has frequently outlined has not yet made
it's appearance except in a shape that
is destined to disfranchise the negro. No
end Of homestead exemption ordinances
have been introduced they being very
similar, differing only as to the amounts.
Among the curios that have made their
appearance IS Mr.. Stokes scheme of abol-
ishing the state supreme court, Mr. Nc
Gowns plan to engraft the dispensary law
in the constitution and the resolution af-
fecting the right Of the press TO publish
reports of certain trials.
Representative Talbert in talking about
the situation tonight and about the
weeks work and the outlook stated that
there was really very little that could be
said as yet as 10 the work of the con
vention. He withdrew from the race for
President to insure harmony and he is
gratified he says. to see that the sessions
of the body have been perfectly harmon
fot,a "a TsroY11 the ooYuroefffCy. oe A.