The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-12-14
NEW COUNTY LAW.
There Will be a Change Of sys.
tenn by February 1.
A SYNOPSIS OF THE ACT.
Why The Law For the Change
OF System Is Not Yet
on the Statute
Books.

1t may not be generally remembered
that the State will have practically
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 publish
ed. This happened in this way: The
General Assembly at its last session
passed the new county government bill
and provided that it should go into ef.
feet in several counties shortly after its
adoption. Representations were made
to Governor Ellerbe that it would not
be well for the new system to 60 into
effect during last spring and last sum-
mer in the counties indicated, because
of certain work then in progress, which
might be jeopardized by change Of
officers. The Act was ''held-up" and it
does not so into effect until after the
assembling of the General Assembly.
1t has neither been approved nor dis
approved by Governor Ellerbe, but
simply goes into effect by the operations
Of the Constitution, three days after
the session Of the General Assembly
begins. The Act will no doubt 60 into
effect on the 1ss Of February, when the
new commissioners are to begin their
term of Office, under the provisions Of
the bill. 1t may be that the machinery
can be started before that time. The
Act provides:
Section l provides That the Office Of
county supervisor, as now provided by
law, shall continue, and the successors
Of the present supervisors shall be elect
ed by the people at the next general
election, with term of Office for two
years, and until their successors shall
be elected and qualified.
Section2 provides "That the Cover
nor shall before the first day Of Februa-
ry, 1899, by and with the advice and
consent Of the Senate, and before the
first day Of February of each succeed
ing two years, appoint upon the recon-
mendation Of the members Of 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 board to be
known as the board Of county commits
sioners.' The supervisor shall be the
chairman Of the board Of county COM
missioners SO to be constituted"
Section3 3 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 upon
the appointive boards of county and
township commissioners are hereby de-
volved upon the board Of county COM
missioners herein provided for, to con.
sist Of county supervisor and two COM
missioners."
Section 4. ;'The. board Of county
commissioners and township commits
sioners now appointed by the Governor
after the appointment and qualification
of the commissioners provided for in
this Act, shall continue in Office as
county boards Of equalization and town
ship boards Of assessors until their sue
cessors shall be appointed, and the
Governor Of this State is hereby au-
thorized and empowered, on the recon-
mendation Of a majority Of the mem
bers Of the General Assembly of the
respective counties, every two years to
appoint such county boards Of equaliza-
tion and township boards of assessors
as are now provided by law for the ap-
pointment of county commissioners and
township commissioners.
Section 5. ''That Sections and 2 Of
an. Act approved March 9, 1896, enti-
tied An Act to amend Sections 2,375,
2376 and 2402, Revised Statutes of 1892
be, and the same are hereby, repealed"
Section s. The county boards Of
commissioners shall have the same
rights and duties with reference to the
preparation Of jury lists as are now de-
volved by law upon the present, county
board Of commissioners"
Section I. That all Actsand parts Of
Acts inconsistent with this Act be, end
the same are hereby, repealed"
Section s. The provisions Of this
Act snail not apply to Bamberg, Barn
well, Chester, Fairfield, Hampton,
Spartanburg, Kershaw, Charleston and
Cherokee counties"
A Medal For Miss Gould.
Gen. Wheeler, Of Alabama, intro