The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-03
ONE DOLLAR A YEAR.

designate the towns through which il
J would run. The very necessity tor
protection demands the passage Of the
section as 1t was reported.
Mr.. Barker, of Charleston, had an
amendment which he thought would
straighten out the matter. He wanted
the provision requiring "frst obtain
Ing consent of the local authorities"
changed SO as to read, ''reQuiring the
grantee Of such right to obtain the con-
sent OF tho local authorities" etc.
| Major Barker again settled a trouble
some question and tho section was, af-
ter little further dobate, adopted to
the satisfaction Of all in the following
shape: l" No law shall be passed by the
General Assembly granting the right
to conduct and operate street railway,
telegraph, telephone or electric plant,
or To erect water or gas works for pub
TIC uses, and to lay mains for any pur-
pose without requiring the grantee of
such right to obtain the consent OF the
local authorities in control Of the
streets or public places to be occupied
Tor any such or like purpose"
Mr.. Sloan, of Iichlard, moved to
strike out the whole of Section S, which
read as follows:
Section S. The General Assembly
may invest the authorities Of cities and
towns with power to mako local i'm
provements by special assessment or by
special taxation Cf property benefited.
Col. Sloan argued that this section
was unjust because it allowed the au-
thoritics Of towns and cities to levy
special taxes for the improvement Of
certain parts OF the municipality, when
the residents of that section did not de-
sire tho improvements.
Mr.. Henderson, of Aiken, for the
committee, said that the committee
had framed the section because it de-
sired to give tho local authorities DOW
er TO mako improvements and to levy
n special assessment for the purpose
This power did not now exis t in tho
Constitution, as had been decided in
tho case OF Mauldin vs. Greenvillo
MIR. Buist, Of Grecnville, offered an
amendment to strike out the words
Especial assessment or by special"
Ihe amendment was laid on the table
MIR. l@gsdale, Of Fairfield, said that
the whole spirit Of the section was
wrong and that it should he left to the
property owners interested to ask for
the special levy with which to mako
the improvements, and the authorities
OF the municipalities should not have
tho power to levy tho special assess
mont without consulting the property
owners. lie moved to strike out the
section and the motion was carried by
a vote of 81 to 46.
MIR. laynsworth, OF Grcenville,
thought that the powers conferred in
Section u were vicious and moved to
strike out the section. The section
reads: Cities and towns NAV acquire
by construction or purchase and may
operate watcrworks systems an(
plants for furnishing lights, and ma,
furnish water and lights to individuals
, firms and private corporations fol
reasonable compensation"
Mr.. Henderson. of Aiken, thought
that the municipalities should be
allowed to exercise the powers con
fcrrcd in order to protect themselves
from outrageous charges by privat.
corporations.
MIR. Wells, OF Grcenvillc, offered al
amendment, which road ''Provided
that no such construction or purchase
shall be made except upon the vote O.
the majority Of the qualified electors
of said town or city" Mr.. Wells
argued that the section contained q
dangerous principle and that the
powers conferred should be limited
and carefully guarded.
| The amendment was adopted.