Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1895-11-15
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
TUESDAY.

The day was taken up i'll the conSid-
eralion of the article on corporations,
and with numerous amendments, the
article was passed to a third reading.
There were two important changes
from the present constitution, one re-
lating TO injuries to railroad employees,
and the other to the liability of the
stock holders of insolvent corporations.
The first section mentioned puts the
employees of railroads on the same
plane as passengers in regard to inju-
ries sustained by negligence or other
wise. 1t provides that no contract en-
tered into by an employe not to sue
for damages, in case Of injury, shall be
binding.
The other section referred to provides
that it shall be the duty of the legisla-
ture to enact a law fixing upon the
stockholders of insolvent corporations,
certain amount of liability for all
debts contracted.
Another very important section
provides that hereafter it will be un-
lawful for any common carrier to en-
ter into a contract by which it is to be
released from responsibility in case of
loss or damage to the goods transpor-
ted. There was a spirited fight on the
section. The opponents of it argued
that now more than half of the freight
is shipped released" and at about
one-half the price that would be charg-
ed otherwise. The section will nec-
essarily operate to raise the price Of
freight charges, and it will all be at
the expense of the shippers and con.
sumerS.
The committee on rules, which had
been instructed to agree on a day for
adjournment, reported that in the pres
ent condition of the business to fix the
day would be impossible. 1t recon-
mended, however, that the previous
question be abolished, that articles be
considered continuously until dispos-
I'd of, and that speeches be limited to
10 minutes except on special consent
of the convention.
Mr.. Otis had the article on counties
and county governments taken up to
permit proposed amendments on the
third reading to be sent in and printed.
Among the proposed amendments was
the following:
Amend section 8 by adding thereto
the following: "Provided that a new
county, which shall embrace within
its limits the city of Rock Hill may be
formed with an area of not less than
300 square miles and having a popula-
ton of not less than $4,000 inhabitants,
and property assessed for taxation at
not less than $2,500,000, and which
shall approach not less than 8 miles
to any court house, and the city or
town selected as the county seat of
such new county shall defray the ex-
penses of building county court
house and jail"
On motion of Mr.. MCGOWAN, the de-
bate on this motion was adjourned un-
til Thursday at noon.
WEDNESDAY.
All of Wednesday was consumed in
the consideration of the report on edu-
cation, and considerable progress was
made. The most striking change from
the old article on the subject, is the
making of the Office of school commits
sioner legislative instead of a consti.
tutional one. Hereafter if the general
assembly shall see fit to abolish the Of
flee of school commissioner, it can do
so at anytime. AS yet, no decision
has been reached as to the amount of
either the property or poll tax that
will be levied for the benefit ofschools.