Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1897-09-11
ever, kept the captain so busy at his gin
that he was unable to get out tn enjoy any
part of the fun.
CHARTER STUDY.

CHARTER STUDY.
Pursuant to the call of the town coun-
Gil of Yorkville, about 80 voters assem-
bled in the courthouse last Tuesday even
ing to discuss, and hear discussed, the
merits of the general Incorporation act,
for which it is proposed to surrender the
present charter of the town:
The meeting was called to order by
Intendant Lowry, upon whose motion
DIR. j. F. Lindsay was called to the chair,
after which Intendant Lowry proceeded
to make statement. Among other
things he said that when the present
council came into Office, it found debt
of $l,4SO, and it has been the policy of the
council to pay of that Indebtedness be-
fore making any Improvements. 1t had
paid all but $3.50, and had in the bank
some 5000, so that at this time the town is
practically free of debt. If this debt was
paid, then there would be nothing left
with which to do necessary work on the
streets. The council had picked up q
good bargain in rockcrusbing outfit;
but had no money with which to operate
it. "If we can get the money, we are IN
position to do work on the streets
which will increase the value Of your
property 20 per cent. Under the old
charter we find that it is impossible
to borrow $1,000 in installments OF S5OO
each. Under the new charter, we are
advised by our attorney-and it is my
opinion also-that we can borrow all
the money we need. 1t is not the in
tention of the present council to increase
the tax levy one dollar" He went on to
say that during the year and half that
he had been intendant, 1t had been his
experience that the town had about 81 600
annually to use for improvements. Some
$500 of this it was necessary to pay out for
bridges, and there was left for work on
the streets, only the remainder augmen-
ted as it might be by fines, etc. NOW,
we wish to do such work as is necessary
all at once, and we want the power to
borrow between $500 to $3,0O0, to be
paid back out of the regular two mill
levy" Continuing, Intendant Lowry
read section Is Of the general incorpora-
ton act relating to the power tc borrow
money, and construed the same to mean
that money could be borrowed under it
upon motion of the town council without
the necessity of submitting the matter to
a vote of the people. Then he went on
to mention as another objection that had
been raised against the new charter, the
allegation that the mayor could receive
salary. There could be no selfishness
charged against him on this score, how
ever; because it had been shown that there
would have to be new election in the
event the new charter was adopted, and
he did no. expect to be mayor again. He
could, however, by having Office hours
and giving two hours day to the matter,
employ another policeman and more than
pay the salary of mayor and policemen.
Intendant Lowry also said that in the
event of the adoption Of the new charter,
it was not the intention Of the council to
surrender the present charter until No.
yenlber or December.
Mr.. j. 8. Brice, attorney for the town,
was the next speaker. He also read Sec
ton Is of the general incorporation act,
and fairly and impartially discussed the
merits of the new charter, especially the
features in which it differs from the char
ter under which the council is now sup
posed to be operating.
Mr.. Brice said that while he remember
ed having been asked questions as to the
money-borrowing powers conferred ny
the general incorporation act, be had not
said that the council would have any
more power to borrow money under this
general act than under the present act, for
it is fact that such is not the case. tie
tn ought that the council would have the
same power to borrow money in anticipa-
ton of taxes that it has now; but it could
not legally borrow for any one year any
more than the amount of the special tax
levy pledged. A larger amount than the
tax levy could only be borrowed upon
corporate bonds, issued upon a vote Of
the people in accordance with the require
ments Of the constitution. In an
swer to a question, he said that if the
council could borrow $1,000 on its own
motion, it could borrow $4,000 in the
same manner.
That the town council would have the
right, under the new charter, to vote sal
aries for its members he did not think
there was any question; but he did not
think that there was anything wrong in
paving for such services. 1t was also
true that under the new charter, the coun-
Gil would, on its own motion, have au-
thority to levy tax of ten mills on the
dollar; but that it would do 80 he did not
think was probable. He also stated that
the general incorporation act provides for
two year terms, the division of the town
into six wards, and the election of one al
derman from each ward. He said also
that when the present town council breaks
loose from the present charter, it will have
to go out of office, and there will have to he
new election. Hesuggested that the gen
eral incorporation act might be amended
so as to limit the levy to two or three
mills, or that the question of tax levy
might be made an issue in each election
for municipal officers. Taken all in all,
he could not see that there was any spe-
cial reason why the town should surren-
der its present charter and take incorpora-
ton under the general act.
Major Jas. F. Hart appeared, presum-