The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-01-21

4
sible. Under tho provisions govern
ing this right of appeal to the suprem
court now existing In civil cases / fea
very few cases of denied registratio
would ever reach this stage IL tn
same were made applicable. Th
persons complaining in such cases mus
necessarily he of the poorer and les
intelligent classes, but this is o sacre,
right under our form of governmen
and they are entitled to every tes
allowed under the constitution con
sistent with the rule of intelligenc,
without unnecessary hardship or ex
pense. The severest punishment
should be prescribed by your honor
able body for frauds in registration OF
voting. There was o time when the
ends would seem to justify the mean.
In this particular but the necessity nc
longer exists an the day is past wher
anything but the will of the intelli
gent majority freely and honestly ex
pressed at the ballot box can 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.
1t Is incumbent upon you to pre-.
cribe the manner of holding elections
and of asoertaining the results o! the
same. There is no necessity for any
change at this time in our law In this
particular. Our people are accustom-
ed to the eight box law and there can
be no just or valid objection to the
manner Of obtaining the results of
elections. We have been served with
notice that this article OF our consti-
tuition would be tested before tho
United States supreme court and while
have no fears as to the result and am
fully convinced Of its constitutionality,
still should another Goff 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-
Lo.tion. l, therefore, would respect
fully recommend that you leave this
statute as it stands and In future when
our status ls thoroughly settled such
action can be taken as may be deemed
expedient. The polling precints OF
the State must be changed so as to
make every Incorporated town separ-
ate polling precinct. This is neces-
sary for the following reason: Section
IL Of Article III provides that electors
in municipal elections shall possess
the qualifications and be subject to
the disq Qualifications herein prescribed.
The production of, a certificate OF reg
lstration from the registration officers
OF the county rs an elector at a pre-
cinct included in the Incorporated city
or town in which the voter desires to
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
precints. 1t is, therefore, necessary
to have such towns included In such q
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-
lies but this should be done in your
general law for such corporations and
as near uniform with that prescribed
Tor 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 the constitution at
this. session, but only so much as may
be urgent and necessary. There is 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
ment 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 it's 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 are now required to be viva vOce
and the votes entered upon the Journal
Of the House to which the members re-
spectively belong.
You are expressly forbidden to enact
local or special laws upon the follow
ing subjects:
1. TO change the names of persons
or places.
| would respectfully recommend
that this power be vested in the court
Of common pleas, to be- done upon
petition OF the person or persons in
terested.
2. To lay out, open or work roads or
highways.
This power is now vested in the
county board OF commissioners, and no
additional Legislation Is required.
3. To incorporate cities, towns, viii
lagos, or change, amend or extend the
charters thereof.
A. To incorporate educational, reli-
gious, charitable, social, manufacture
ing or banking institutions not under
the control of the State to amend Or
extend the charters thereof.
These are all covered by statutes,
with the possible exception OF bank
ing institutions. With slight amend
ment~to the general banking act re-
quiring the secretary Of State to Issue
charters upon the same terms as to
other Industrial corporations the law
will be complete.
5. To incorporate district schools.
This is covered by statute.
6. To authorize the adoption or
legitimation of children.
This power should be vested in the
probate Judge, who is the public guar.
dian.
7. To provide for the protection Of
game.
This 10 covered by general statute.
8. TO provide for the age at which
citizens shall be subject to road OF
public duty.
This Ia fully covered nv atatute.