The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-12-21
New County Government
Law.

1t may not be generally remember
ed that the state will have practically
a new county government system
next year. The law providing for
the change of system is not in the
statute books. 1t will not be printed
in the statutes until the acts for next
year are published. This happened
in this way !: The general assembly.
at it's last session, passed the new
county government bill, and provided
that it should go into effect in several
COUNTIES shortly after It's adoption.
Representations were made to Gov
ernor EIlerbe that it would not be
we'll for the new system to go into
effect during last spring and last
summer in the counties indicated,
because of certain work then in
progress, which might be jeopardized
by change of officers The act
was "heId up" and it does not go
into effect until after the assembling
of the general assembly. 1t has
neither been approved nor disapprov.
ed by Governor Ellerbe (; but simply
goes ito effect by the operations of
the constitution, three days after the
session of the general assembly
begins The act will no doubt go
into effect on the Let of February,
when the new commissioners are to
begin their term of Office, under the
provisions oc the bill 1t may be
that the machinery can be started
before that time. The act provides !:
Section provides "That the office
of county supervisor, as now pro
vided by law, shall continue, and the
successors of the present supervisors
shall be elected by the people at the
next general election, with term of
office for two years, and until their
successors shalI be elected and
qualified
Section 2 provides That the gov
ernor shall, before the Grst day of
February, 1899, by and with the
advice and consent of the senate,
and before the first day OF February
of each succeeding two years.
appoint, upon the recommendation of
the members of the general assembly
from the several counties or majority
of them, two persons from each
county who shall be known as the
commissioners of the county, and
who shall act with the supervisor in
the governmental matters of the
county, the said supervisors and
commissioners together to constitute
a board to be known as tine board of
county commissioners , The super
visor shall be chairman of the board
of county commissioners so to be
constituted"
Section 8 provides "That on the
first day of February, A.D. 1899, the
Office of county commissioners and
township commissioners, as now
provided to be appointed by the
governor, shall be abolished, and the
jurisdiction, duties and powers now
devolved by law npon the appointive
boards of county and township COM
missioners, are hereby deyolved upon
the board of county commissioners
herein provided for. to consist of a
county supervisor and two commits.
sioners."
Section "The board of county
commissioners and township commits
sioners now appointed by the gov.
ernor after the appointment and
qualification of the commissioners
provided for in this act, shall continue
in office as county boards OF equaliza'
ton and township boards Of assessors
until their successors shall be ap-
pointed, and the governor of this
state is hereby authorized and en-
powered, on the recommendation OF
majority OF the members oi Tie
general assembly of the respective
counties, every two years, to appoint
such county boards of equalization
and township boards Of assessors as
are now provided by law for the
appointment of county commission
ers and township commissioners.
Section 5. "Tbat sections | and 2
of an act approved March 9. 1896,
entitled 'An act to amend sections
1915, 2,376 and 2,4O2, revised
statutes of 1892 be, and the same
are hereby. repealed
Section 6 "The county boards OF
commissioners shall have the same
right aud duties with reference to the
preparation of jury lists as are now
devolved by law upon the present
county board of commissio 81