The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-10-17
PLAIN STATEMENT
TO THE PEOPLE.
Constituational Amendment
That Is to Be Voted On.
From The State, OCT 10Th.

State
City Council Chamber.
Columbis, 8. g.. Oct 9. 1900.
To the Editor Of
Dear Sir The constitutional COO
yentiop of 1895 wss composed of as
representative body of men IS ever
assembled ID the State capitol. Braios,
progress aud profound deliberasion
marked the confederation of each sub
;ecs Is it arese. The debates arising
upop the varioa, provisions adopted by
tina. august body will 60 down in his.
tory repless with wisdom aod fore
thought. To none Of che provisions Of
the constitution thea adopted can more
lost endorsement be give thso to the
proposed amendment Of section Of
Article VIII qualifying the Limitation
as 70 municipal bonded iodebsedness as
contained in section 5 of Article Nv.
thereof. To many Of the people OF the
State this proposed amendment is nov
es, aud so il 10 here inserted for the
purposs Of informing the public gener-
orally, and of encouraging (particularly
on the part OF the members of the
general assembly, discussion of it's
merits in the county papers throughout
South Carolina, to the end that 1t can
be lneelligensly voted upon in the en-
suing general election.
The proposed amendment is ss fol-
lows Add to the end of Section I,
Arsicle VIII this proviso Provided
.has the limitation imposed BY this
section and Section S. Article ~. of
this constitution shall Dot apply to
bonded Indebtedness incurred by the
cities of Colnmbi.. Rock Hill, Charles
too sad Florence, where the proceeds of
said bonds are applied solely for the
purchase, establishment. maintenance
sr increase Of water works plsnts, sewer.
age syssens, gas and electric light
plssss (.here she entire reveuue arising
frop the operation Of such plants or
syssens shall be devoted eolely sod
exclusively to the usisseosnce and
spsrasioa OF the same. and where the
question Of iueurriog sush Indebtedness
is sabmitted to the freeholders and
ousli6ed voters Of such municipality.
% provided 10 the constitution opon the
Question es other bounded indebted
ness"
THE proposed amendment TO the eon-
s.itu,iop is Of vital Importance to the
city of Columbia whose population
comes from almost every county In the
State. Craving With rapidisy that
is without psrellel in the statistics OF
.hi. State. her seemirg ssree's aud
busy mar;s arc tbs wonder aud admi-
easien OF all. The State at large shares
wisb her citizens io the pride eugeoder-
ed by che growth aud promise OF the
oapi.sl of South Carolina. There are
sa. two ,hiogs visally essential to the
encouragement and fostering of this
wonderful growth sewerage system
and waterworks plaos which together.
it is estimated, will cost our municipal
Ity a halt million of dollars.
To raise that cum. 80 necessary to
sbe veil being of all the people. we
mus: appeal to she Intelligent voters OF
this eusire State to vote soliaiy FOR this
proposed amendment. for the reason
that Columbia IS already encuuheTed
with deb. far 10 excess of the constl
s0,iopal dets-;imis Hence upon fail
ure to carry the proposed amendment
at the polls, our only recourse to pre-
serve aud foster the magnificent oo-
ward march of our cisy viii be to place
these systems 10 the hands CT private
parties. and that course ls condemned
By every economic authority. based
upoo the closest study of results.
If the people Of the state drive as to
this alternative, we nuet accept it even
at the risk Of its becoming disastrous TO
our we'll being and advancement; for
Columbia cannot keep pace with Der
growth and the increased density Of her
population, so as to properly guard her
health aad cou for:, without The build
ing and development of these systems
q r r. Al. 4 .S