The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-10-23
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Special Correspondence efMe 1n.euiyencer.

its recess OF ten days, has settled ooWn
to hard work. The members realize that
it will take hard and persistent work to
finish with the making of the Constitu-
ton before the time for the convening OF
the Gensral Assembly, and it is the in
tention to finish before that time, il such
be possible. The Convention is now
working about seven hours daily, and
later on 1t may be decided to hold after
noon sessions.
The work of the past week, taken in
connection with what has been hereto
fore done and said, goes very far to show
that the Convention has avoided factioral
lines, and that the members are working,
as far as they. know how, for the common
interest of the people of the State. Mem
bers are speaking and voting apparently
without regard to factional or partisan
lines, and stranger would have extreme
difficulty in locating the politics of the
various members either through what
they are saying or the attitude taken In
votes. The members all seem to be graft
fed at this liberal spirit, and from all
indications there has been a complete
Reputation OF "bossism," if such thing
has ever existed. Things for the past
two weeks of the session have gone very
much against what many expected, and
the merits of questions and debates seem
to have their inning at this time, and
there is further every indication that
such spirit will continue.
\ The much talked of suffrage plan has
been made the special order for Tuesday
al noon. and Senator Tillman insists that
he will call for the consideration OF the
suffrage matter at that time. There has
been 80 much qCiet talking about what Is
likely to be done and the whole matter is
40 complex and difficult Of acceptable
settlement that there is no telling what
will be done. 1t would be unsafe to
make any predictions. just at this time
the plan as reported by the committee
has The natural advantage Of all other
propositions in that 1t has the support OF
she committee, and that 1t is the result OF
the careful consideration Of the many
plans that were presented the committee
and boiled down by members OF both
factions. The strength Of the element
that will oppose any educational or
property qualification has not yet been
tested. II that attack on the report falls
and the report in these features stands
y.hen 1t is likely that an effort will be
made to make the temporary arrange
ment for the registration Of the s'illiter-
ates" be Of force for just as short time
as possible. The coIored members are
loading their guns to the hilt-mostly for
outside consumption. :,
Some idea of the condition OF the work
of the Convention and the chances tor
early adjournment may be had from the
make up the Constitution:
Completed articles: Executive, I'M
peachment, Penal and Charitable Institu-
lions, Municipal Corporations and Police
Regulations, Amendments and Miscel-
laneous matters.
s Almost finished: Declaration of Rights,
Z Legislation, Finance and Taxation.
Not considered: judicial, Jurispru-
dence, Right Of Suffrage, Education,
Militia, Eminent Domain, Corporations.
Thebig fight, the all important strng-.
gle of the week, was on the homestead
law. 1t was an, all round contest, In
which the factions divided on the issue.
The main point at issue was the right OF
mortgaging the homestead. Many Of the
delegates wished that the head of the
family, once getting in debt, should first
|. be made to set aside the homestead before
mortgaging his property. The majority
of the Convention, however, thought that
If the head Of the family wished to mort
gage and the wife was willing to sign her
dover that the party should not be made
to go to the courts to secure permission
to sell property. The section Is now un-
derstood to stand In the same shape as
the present law as construed by the Su-
preme Court. The section, which has not
yet been finally agreed upon stands as
ssSection %. The General Assembly
shall enact such laws as will exempt
+ from attachment and sale under any
mesne or final process issued from any
7 Court, to the head Of any family residing
|! in this State homestead in lands,
whether held in fee or any lesser estate,
not TO exceed in value one thousand dol
lars, with the yearly products thereof;
and every head of family residing in
this State, whether having homestead
exemption in lands or not, personal
property not to exceed in value, the sum
of five hundred dollars. The title to the
homestead to be set off and assigned
shall be held absolutely and be forever
discharged from all debts Of said debtor,
then existing or thereafter contracted, as
hereinafter provided: Provided, that In
case any woman having separate
estate shall be married to the head Of a
family who has not of his own sufficient
property to constitute homestead, as
hereinbefore provided, said married wo-
man shall be entitled to like exemption
as provided for the head of family:
Provided further, there shall not be an
allowance of more than one thousand
dollars worth Of real estate and more
than five hundred dollars worth Of per-
sonal property to the husband and wife
Jointly: Provided, that no property shall
be exempted FROM attachment, levy or
sale for taxes, or for payment Of obliga-
tions contracted for the purchase of said
homestead or the erection Of improve
ments thereon: Provided, further, that
the yearly products Of said homestead
shall not be exempt from attachment,
levy or sale for the payment OF obligations
contracted in the production Of the same:
Provided, further, that no waiver shall
defeat the right Of homestead, except 1t
be by deed or mortgage and against the
or other creditor, whose lien does not bind
the homestead, shall have any right or
equity to require lien which embraces
the homestead"
Senator Tillman made vigorous fight
to make more stringent homestead, but
failed in the effort 30 to do.
Perhaps the next important matter de-
cided upon by the Convention was the
adoption of q section by which the General
Assembly Is denied the rightofpermitting
townships or counties from issuing bonds.
except for educational purposes. The
argument used in support of this position
was that the counties and townships of
the State had already become sufficiently
involved In the building of roads, and
that the railroad companies and business
interests, If they wanted railroads, should
pay for them. Cities are left at liberty to
issue bonds, provided they do not run
oyer the per cent. maximum limit, and
comply with the conditions as to elections.
Provision was made in the article on
Finance and Taxation for the exemption
of municipal and township property, ex-
cept where revenue is derived from 1t.
Exemptions were made Of the properly
belonging to educational, charitable and
religious bodies, but it was provided,
with view ofkeeping such organizations
from getting an accumulation of real
estate that only such real estate as was in
actual use should be exempted from tax
alton. The exemptions of this class are
to 20 into immediate effect, upon the
adoption Of the Constitution.