The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-30


counties and county government
The matter pending was Senator Till
mans amendment to make the taxa
BILE property in any proposed new
county one and one.half million,
which was an amendment to Mr..
Princes amendment to make it three
million, the committees report recon-
mendlng two million. This was the
matter under discussion the previous
day.
I Mr.. Parler, favored this amendment
whilst Messrs. Howell and Behre op-
posed it. There was quite a lively hit
between the former and Senator Till
man.
Mr.. Talbert said all these matters
should be left to the Legislature, with
due consideration for the will of the
people and their convenience.
Mr.. jeremiah Smith of Horny fav-
ored new counties, but thought
there should be limitations.
Mr.. D. S. Henderson then called the
previous question on the amendment
of Senator Tillman.
Senator Tillman said he was willing
to let the matter come to a vote. He
did not care to have any more talk
about it.
Mr.. Prince said that when he offer
ed his three million dollar amend
ment he did not know all that had
been brought out in the debate. He
wished 10 say that if Senator Tillman's
amendment was tabled he would with
draw his and let the committees re-
commendation of two million stand.
Mr.. Bellinger moved to table the
Tillman amendment. which was done
on a division vote of "a to 81.
A CHANGE OF HEART.
| Senator Tillnan insisted on having
the roll call on this matter, and it was
allowed, resulting in a vote directly
the opposite, the convention refusing
to tab1e-thus by vote of rs nays to
68 yeas.
The amendments offered by Senator
Tillman and Mr.. Prince were then
adopted.
Mr.. w. B. Wilson offered this
amendment:
Resolved, That when there is en-
braced within the limit OF the propos-
ed new county a city having the pop
ulation of 5000 inhabitants or more.
then such new county shall be formed
with all area of not less than 300
square miles"
Mr.. J. s. Brice moved to table.
Before this could be put, Mr.. Rags
dale got the floor and stated that un-
less something like this was done,
Rock Hill would become the county
seat of York county any way. 1t
would vote itself so in the course OF
time.
The amendment was tabled by a
vote of 81 to-''no further count de-
manded."
Mr.. E.J. Kennedy moved to amend
by making the minimum territory 500
instead of 400 square miles. Lost
nays 80, yeas So.
Mr.. McWhite moved to make the
limit 45O square miles. Lost-nays
"a, yeas So.
Mr.. George Johnstone offered an
amendment to make it $50 square
miles, but withdrew it after some talk
had been indulged in.
Section 8 was then adopted as a
whole as follows:
SECTION 8. No new county hereafter
formed shall contain less than one
sixteenth part of the whole number OF
the inhabitants of the State, nor shall
| it have less assessed taxable property
than one and one half millions of dol
| lars as shown by the last tax return,
nor shall it contain less area than 400
square miles.
Section Q was then taken up in its
crazy-quilt shape. Several amend.
ments being forthcoming, it was found
that it was so patched up already that
Lit could not bestraightened by amend
gment. Consequently the section was
passed over to be taken up at the
night session.
SECTION FOUR
| was then called up and read as fol-
lows:
SECTION 4. No old county shall be
reduced to less area than 500 square
miles. to less taxable property than
81, 600, 900, nor to smaller population
than Is, 900 inhabitants.
Mr.. Johnstone moved to amend so
as to make old counties certain to have
at least $50 square miles. He said
this was a safe figure and would pre-
serve the status of these counties in
the house and senate.
Senator Tilman said that he did
not want too much discrimination in
favor of old counties.
Mr.. Prince moved to table. This
prevailed by a vote of 81 to A. .
The section was then adopted as it
stood.
SECTION FIVE.
Mr.. Patterson tried to have section
5 passed over until 8 p. M, as it was
late in the day and was very lmpor-
tant matter they were about to take
up. The convention declined to do
this.
Mr.. w. D. Evans stated that if the
gentlemen desired to attend the circus,
be move that he be excused.
The president rushed this sugges'
ton through as a motion, and the
laugh was on Mr.. Patterson.
The section was then taken up read
ing thus:
Sec. 5. No new county lines shall
be run nearer to an established court
house than 10 miles: Provided that
this section shall not apply to court,
houses located in counties not propos,
ed to be dismembered.
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