The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-03-09

OCSIS dI 'OSc VI w LEU CAAS SNAA
eral incorporation act means we
reproduce those sections which
enlarge the powers
THE MAYOR NAY SUMMON TO MEET IN
COUNCIL AND GRANT FRANCHISES.
Section 10. The Mayor shall have
authority to summon the Aldermen TO
meet in Council for the transaction OF
business pertaining to the corporation
whenever in his Judgment it may be
necessary. The said town shall have
and keep a common seal which shall
be affixed to all ordinances passed by
Mayor and Aldermen thereof. BY us
corporate name it may sue and be sued,
plead and be impleaded, in any Court
of law or equity IN this State: and may
purchase, hold, enjoy and possess 1or
the use of said town. in pepetulty or
for term OF years, any estate, either
real or persona or mixed, ana sell,
alien and convey the same at Will.
CERTAIN LICENSE TAXES MAY BE IN
POSED.
Section - That Council may, am
they are hereby, authorized annual;
TO REQUIRE by ordinance the payment of
such reasonable sums OF money as 4
license tax by any person or pe"eO1s.
corporation or corporations, engaged
or Intending to engage in any calling,
business, occupation or profession, IN
whole or in part, within the limits OF
said towns, except those engaged IN
the calling or profession of teachers or
ministers of the gospel. They shall
have power to collect license or taxes
from all persons representing publicly
within the limits of said town, for gain
or reward. any plays or shows OF what
ever nature or kind soever; and salo
Town Council are hereby authorized
and empowered to pass such ordinances
as are necessary to give full force and
effect to this Section, and TO punish
delinauents Hereunder.
POWERS OF TAXATION.
Section l3. Said Council shall have
power to impose by ordinance, publish
ed at least twenty days, an annual tax,
not exceeding one per cent OF the as
sessed value thereof. on all real estate
living within the corporate limits Of
said town and all personal property
owned or held within the same, lucluo-
inc bonds and stocks of banks and IN
surance companies and other corpora
tions, the real estate of churches and
school associations from which such
churches and school associations draw
revenue or which are intended to be
rented out for such purpose. Such tax
shall be levied by the town authorities
-en the property within the corporate
limits as assessed for taxation. for
County and State purposes. The taxes
SC levied shall constitute a lien upon
the property upon which it IS LEVIED
paramount to all other liens except the
lien for County and State taxes and for
the purpose of collecting the same.
MAY BORROW MONEY.
Section Is. Said Town
Council shall have power to borrow
money for corporate purposes, ard to
issue from time to time as occasion may
REQUIRE the bonds of the corporation
for the payment OF the principal, OF
which said town shall be at all times
liable: Provided, The property OF the
inhabitants of said town shall be bound
for the redemption OF said sum so bor-
rowed, and the interest thereon. IN no
other way than by the imposition OF an
annual tax: Provided, further, That no
such bonded debt shall in any instance
exceed the maximum limit prescribed
in the Constitution of this State, and
that no bonded debt shall be issued eX-
ceps upon the vote OF the citizens Of the
Municipality as provided in the Con-
stitution.
DAMAGES FROM DEFECT IN STREET OR
BRIDGE.
Section u. Any person who shall re-
ceive bodily injury or damages IN his
person or property through defect IN
any street, causeway, bridge or public
way, or by reason of defect or nisman-
asenent of anything under the control
OF the corporation within the limits Of
such town, may recover, IN an acton
against the same, the amount OF actual
damages sustained by him by reason
thereof. If any such defect in street,
causewav or bridge existed before such
injury or damage occurred, such damage
Shall not be recovered by the person so
Injured if his load exceeded the ordi-
nary weight: Provided, That said cor
poration Shall not be liable unless said
defect was occasioned by its neglect or
misma aragement: Provided, further,
Such person has not ip any way brought
about such injury Or damage by his or
her own negligent act or neglgertly
contributed thereto.
It will be seen from the Sec
tions quoted that if the voters
tomorrow decide in favor Of sur
rendering the charter, council
will have power to put in various
improvements. We regret that
council did not have the incor.
poration act published so the vot-
ers would have had time to give
due consideration to a matter OF
grave importance to them, as 1t
is,very few understand the mean
ing Of the act.
Under our present charter
there is no power to increase
taxes on property. nor has coun-
Gil the right to impose license
upon trades, professions. or 9th
er vocations, neither has it the
power to grant any special priv
ilege-exclusive permits to oper
ate a business; council has no
power to sell, lease or convey
any property belonging to the
town, and its revenue is confined
to a tax not exceeding two mills,
a commutation tax, fines, and
the proceeds from the dispensary.
which in all we estimate gives
the town an annual income OF
$500, thus it will be seen the
powers Of council are confined to