The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-01-23

form Of re sistration certificate and the
provi0ions OF the statute now of force
regulating the same, expunging such
provisions as conflict with the new
constitution which will readily pre-
sent themselves to you. This, how
ever, IL q matter for your own good
Judgment and wisdom. ANY person
right OF appeal to the court Of common
pleas or any judge thereof, and thence
to the supreme court. 1t Is made your
duty to provide by law for such appeal
and for the correction Of illegal and
fraudulent registration, voting and all
other crimes against the election laws.
would suggest that as little red tape
as possible be placed around this right
OF appeal and that you shall amply
provide against defeating it by techni-
calities. There should be also az little
expense attached to the right as pos
sible. Under the provisions govern
ing this right of appeal to the supreme
court now existing in civil cases fear
would ever reach this stage if the
same wore made applicable. The
persons complaining in such cases must
necessarily be of the poorer and loss
Intelligent classes, but this is q sacred
right under our form Of government
and they are entitled to every test
allowed under the constitution con-
sistent with the rule of intelligence
without unnecessary hardship or ex-
pcnse. The severest punishment
should be prescribed by your honor
able body for frauds in Registration or
voting. There was time when the
ends would seem to justify the means
In this particular, but the necessity no
Of ] 10, hnn
anything but the will OF the intelli-
gent majority freely and honestly OK
pressed at the ballot box cap govern
in South Carolina.
Certain persons convicted Of crime,
the insane, etc, are disqualified from
registering or voting. [ would re-
spectfully recommend that you provide
for a list OF all criminals in each county
to be filed in the office Of the super
visor Of registration and also with the
clerk OF the court in order that they
may be forever barred Of the privilege
OF registering or voting.
It is incumbent upon you to pre-.
cr1be tho manner Of holding elections
and OF ascertaining the results OF the
same. There is no necessity for any
change at this time in our law in thi S
particular. Our people are acoustic m
be no just or valid objection to tho
manner Of obtaining tho results of
elections. We have been served with
notice that this article OF our consti-
tuition would be tested before the
United States supreme court and while
| have no fears as to the result and am
fully convinced Of its cOnstitutionality,
still should another Golf come along
whose "inclinations made it his duty !"
to set aside our registration the day
before election, in such an emergency,
our eight box law would be some pro
lection. l, therefore,o would respect
fully recommend that you leave this
statute as it stands and in future when
our status is thoroughly settled such
action can be taken US may be deemed
expedicnt. The polling precints of
the State must be changed so as to
make every incorporated town q separ-
ate polling precinct. This is neces-
sary for the following reason: Section
II OF Article Ii provides that electors
in municipal elections shall possess
the qualifications and be subject to
the disqualifications herein prescribed.
The production of certificate OF reg-
istration from the registration officers
OF the county as an electOr at pre-
cinct included in the incorporated city
vote is declared q condition requisite
to his obtaining q certificate of regis
tration for municipal elections, etc"
There are many Incorporated towns in
the State that do not include polling
precincts but are included with such
procints. 1t is, therefore, necessary
to have such towns included in such u
precint in order for the electors there
in to vote in municipal elections. You
are also required to provide for the
registration Of electors in municipali-
ties but this should be done in your
general law for such corporations and
as near uniform with that prescribed
for State electors as practicable.
LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT.
The sessions of your honorable body
have been changed to the second
Tuesday in January, with time
limit of forty days. This limitation
does not apply to the first four sessions
under the new constitution. | trust,
however, you will consider the burdens
placed upon the taxpayers by the pro-
longed session of the convention, and
will not attempt to enact all the legis.
lation required by tho constitution at
this session, but only 80 much as may
be urgent and necessary. There 10 a.
great deal that may be continued to
another session OF your honorable
body, but feel that this will impress
itself upon you without further com
mont from me.
Much time may be saved by chang
ing the rule of your body which re-
quires that every bill or joint resolution
shall be read in full on its third read
ing. The present constitution allows
you to read such by their titles on tho
first and third readings.
All elections by your honorable
body arc now required to be viva voce
and the votes entered upon the Journal
of the House to which the members re-
spectively belong.
Yon are expressly forbidden to enact
local or special laws upon the follow
ing subjects:
|. TO change the names of persons
or places.
| would respectfully recommend