The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-10-30
Limiting New Counties.
The Question Practically Set
tied By the Convention.

Sumed the week, mas Deen practlcally
agreed upon as to the creation OF new
counties, and the township matter
relative to the government is now un
der consideration. The article as it
now stands fully covers the provis-
ions that are likely to be made as to
the creation Of new counties. 1t Is
as follows
Section l. The General Aassem-
bly, may. from time, establish new
counties in the following manner:
Whether one-,hird of the qualified
voters within the area Of each section
of an old county proposed to be cut
off into new county shall petition
the Governor for the creation of
new county, setting forth the boun
daries and showing compliance with
the requirements of this article, the
Governor shall order an election
within "a reasonable time thereafter
bv the qualified voters within the
proposed area. in which election they
shall vote "ses" or mo upon the
question Of creating said new county,
and at the same election the question
of name and county seat fol such
county shalt be submitted to tie cleo
tors
Section 2 If two thiid, of the
cnal;f;ed electors voting in such cleo
ton within each of the several parts
of all counties proposed to be formed
into new county shall sepa
ratel yvote ..yes" upon such ,ques-
ton then the General Assembly shall
establish such new county at the
next session: Provided. all prece.
dent conditions prescribed by this
article have been complied with.
If any of the parts Of old counties
thus voting shall refuse to enter the
proposed new county such part
shall not be incorporated therein. and
such new county not be formed un-
less it otherwise conform to the re.
ouirements of this article An elec-
ton upon the question of forming
the same proposed new county shall
not be ordered oftener than once in
four years.
Section 8 No new county here
after formed shall contain less than
one hundred and twenty fourth part
of the whole number Of the iphsbi-
tants of the State, nor shall it have
less assessed taxable property than
two millions of dollars, as shown by
the last tax returns, nor shall it con-
tais less than four hundred square
miles.
Section No old county shall be
reduced to less area than Eve huu-
dred square miles, to less assessed
taxable property than two million
dollars. nor to a smaller population
than fifteen thousand inhabitants
Section 5. In the formation of new
counties no old county shall be cut
within eight miles of lis county seat
Section 6 All new counties here
after formed shall bear a just appor-
tionment of the valid Indebtedness Of
the old county or counties from
which they have been formed
Section I. The General Assembly
shall have the power to alter county
lines at any time: Provided, that be
fore any existing county line is alter
ed the question shall be first sub
mitted to the qualified voters of the
territory proposed to be taken from
one county and given to another and
shall have received two-thirds Of the
votes cast: Provided, further, that
the change shall not reduce the
county from which the territory is
taken below the limits prescribed in
Section and 4 of this article: Pro
vided. that the proper proportions Of
the existing county indebtness ofthe
section so transferred shall be assum-
ed by the county to which the terri
tory is SO transferred
Sections 8. No county seat shall be
removed except by vote of two
thirds of the quilted electors of said
county in an election held for that
purpose. but such election shall not
be held in any county oftener than
once in FIVE years.
Section 8 That each county shall
constitute an election district.
Sections TO- The General Assem-
bly, may provide for the consolidation
of two Or more existing counties if
majority of the qualified electors of
such counties, voting at an election
held for that purpose, should vote
separately therefor, but such election
shall not be hled oftener than once in
-, tho cono oor,uf1oc