The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-11-14
'as tabled by vote of 81 to 20, as fol


Yeas Alexander, Anderson, Ashe,
Bowen, Breazeale, j. S. Brice, Bryan,
Buist, Carver, DELAY, Dennis Doug
lass, Doyle Efrd, Field, Fitch, Fraser,
Gary, j. l.. Glenn, Gunter, Hamel,
Harris, Harrison, ID. S. Henderson,
VIM. Henderson, Houser, Hutson, II.
r. Johnson, George tombstone, Keitt,
4. j. Kennedy, McGowan, McNlakin,
McWhite, Matthews, Mitchell, Morri-
son, Mower, Murray, Otis, Prince, l.
II. Reed, Rosborough, Rowland, Rus
sell, Sheppard, Jeremiah Smith, Tai
bert, Waters, a. II. White, Stanyarne
Wilson, w. b. Wilson.
Nays-Gov. Jno. Gary Evans, Presi-
dent Atkinson, II. w. Brice, Cunning
ham, Derham, Dudley, w. D. Evans,
Floyd, Cage, Gooding, Hay, Hemphill,
McCaslan, McMahan, Meares, Miller,
Moore, Parler, Shuler, "A. }. Smith,
Taylor, 3. II. Tiilman, S. E. White,
Wfgg.
Mr.. Gage moved to insert the word
counties - wherever "cities" or
Clowns occurred. He said that his
idea was to protect the counties as
we'll as townships, SO that when coun-
ties voted for bonds only the voters
owning $500 worth of property should
be entitled to ballot. The amond-
ment was adopted.
Mr.. jeremiah Smith moved to strike
out all the words providing that any
voter must own 5000 worth Of pro
perty. IT was unfair. AS amended
now it means that no man except the
one owning 1900 worth of property can
vote on increasing the State or county
Indebtedness.
Mr.. McCaslan said great many
men had transferred most Of their
property to their wives and they
would be in q bad fix as neither can
vote.
Mr.. Bryan said there was great
necessity for such a provision. 1t was
going too far to say that one who had
no interest in tho matter should be
to vote on the matter OF bonds.
MIR. Prince said that he saw no JUS
tice in compelling man who owned
5000 worth of property to submit to
taxation without voice in it,
Mr.. ID. S. Henderson said that if Mr..
Princes motion prevailed every cleo
tor, white or colorcd, could vote in
such an election and add to the debt of
the town. Many towns in the State
have q colored majority, who own no
but may be able to read and
write and who would thus be able to
saddle large debt on such munich
palities. MIR. Prince withdrew his
amendment.
The ayes and noes were demanded
on MIR. Jeremiah Smiths amendment,
which strikes out tn ; property 9ualif-
cationa in the section. MIR. ID. S. Hon
dcrson moved to lay on the table.
When the voto was announced there
was no quorum present and tho cuh-
vention bad to adjourn.
The pending question at the opening
was the amendment proposed by Mr..
Jeremiah Smith on Tuesday night,
striking out from section 1:} tho pro-
vision requiring electors to have 1900
worth of property in order to vote on
the question Of issuing bonds by coun-
ties. cities or towns, but section ..
which was passed over, was taken up.
Mr.. Stanyurne Wilson offered the
following as Il substitute to the section {:
" The General Assembly shall provide
for the establishment Of polling pre-
cincts in the several counties of the
State, and those now existing shall 80
continue until abolished or changed.
Each elector shall be required to vote
at his own precinct, but provision snail
be made for his transfer to another
precinct upon his change Of resi-
dencc."
This was adopted, aud tho section as
a whole was adopted.
Section II relative to registration
books were next taken up. Mr.. Bryan
offered the following amendment:
The registration officers of each
county shall twenty days before any
election held in the county or any city
or town in the county, make, certify
court of common pleas of the county
copies Of the registration books Of,
showing separately, the registered
voters for each polling district in said
county, and the same shall remain on
file as public records of said Office, and
open to public inspection"
Mr.. Sheppard withdrew his amend
ment on the same subject introduced
the night prey ious.
Mr.. Bryan said that after ten days
the otiicai copy must be filed with the
clerk Of court for the inspection of the
public, but at the same time the books
would be kept in Coo official custody Of
the clerk.
S ,nator Tillmun asked why not put
the books in tho Office CT tho clerk
rather than Il copy. After the officer
had regis:ert Il the voters he has no
further use for the books.
Mr.. Bryan hold that he might need
them for the purpose Of registering
those who may become Of age, and if
the books were in the clcrk'S office
they would be in the custody of the
people and not OF the officer.
Mr.. Johnst0nc asked whether Mr.
Bryan contended that tho registration
books were his private memoranda as
long as they were in his possession,
and that the public had no right to in
spect them;
MIR. Bryan he'd that tho Individual
had 81 right ut all times to inspect the
books, but this is dealing with the
public At largo who may want to
inspect tho names OF the voters at
large.
Mr.. John,tone said that there could
bo no higher question than that the
pubic has Il right at all times to in
spect public records, and tho gentle
man could not confuse the issue with q
bucket full of words. He moved tt
further amend by adding that the
books OF tho registration officer shall
always be open for tho inspection o
the public"