Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-15
ELECTION NEXT FRIDAY.

An election OH the question of surren-
deri ne the present charter of the town of
Yorkville, and accepting incorporation
under the general incorporation act, has
been ordered Ivy the town council to he
held at the council chamber, in the court
house, next Friday. The polls will be
one ned 8 o'clock a. NJ, and closed at 4
O'Clock p. nl., and the only people entitled
to vote will be the legally qualified voters
of the town Of Yorkville.
The material differences between the
present charter and the proposed new
charter, are: The present charter limits
the tax levy for ordinary town pur-
poses, to 20 cents OIL the 500, while under
the proposed new charter, the limit is eX-
tended to Sl.00 on the 500. The present
charter provides that intendant and war
dens must serve without compensation,
while under the new charter, intendant
and wardens may vote themselves such
salaries as they may think proper. The
present charter provides for term OF Of
flee of one year only, and the proposed
new charter provides for term OF office
of two years. Under the present charter,
government is under the administration
of all intendant and four wardens, while
under the new charter, it will be under
the administration Of mayor and six
aldermen. Under the present charter,
mayor and aldermen are to be selected
from any portion of town, while under
the new charter, the town council, if it
desires, may divide the town into six
wards and require the election OF one
warden from each ward. These wardens,
however, are not to be elected by the
voters of the respective wards; but by
the voters of the town at large just, as will
be the mayor. And the dividing lines OF
the wards will be subject to change at the
pleasure of the town council, every two
years. just previous to the next succeeding
election.
The matter of wards, number of coun-
cilmen, term Of Office, etc., are OF very
little Importance. The only points OF
difference that are worth real consldera-
lion, are the features of the new charter
which increases the limit of the tax to 10
mills, and which allows mayor and alder
men to decide what portion of the annual
income of the town they are entitled 10
as compensation for their services.
Now, no matter how much twisting and
turning there may be by interested par
ties, the foregoing covers, and covers cor
rectly, all the material differences between
the present charter and the proposed new
charter. 1t is a fact, also, that the present
charter expires in the year 1900, and when
it does expire, the general incorporation
act will become the fundamental law OF
the town. But there will be no necessity
for all election. Pursuant to law, the
government will just drift from the pres
ent charter to the general incorporation
act. 1t is not likely, however, that the
general incorporation act will bethe same
then as it is now. 1t has already under
gone considerable improvement since its
original passage, and before two years
will no doubt be improved still further.
For instance, as originally passed, the
tax levy for ordinary purposes was limit
cd to 81 on the 500. AS the result OF
amendment this is now 81 on the SlOO,
which is still All extraordinarily high
limit. All amendments which have been
made, or which may hereafter he made,
will apply with equal force to the town OF