The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-07-24


Special Committee.
To the Town Council, St. Matthews,
S. C.
Gentlemen: In regard to the mat
ter of the Town Of St. Mat
thews, creating a valid bonded in
debtedness to the amount of $2O,-
100000 for the purpose of erecting
county court house and jail, we
are prepared to say: The town OF
Greenwood was authorized by the
Legislature Of this state to bond for
the purpose of erecting court house
and jail; and so with the town OF
Bamberg, for that county. Other
new counties have been authorized to
accept gifts in the nature of bonds,
real estate, or money from private
individuals and municipal corpora
tions for these purposes. Therefore,
so far as the Legislature is concern
ed, they have set the precedent of
permitting the municipality being
benefited by the erection of such
buildings to aid in their erection.
The Constitution of the State is
silent on this point. In the articles
treating of bonding by municipali-
ties the creation of an Indebtedness
for such purposes as is proposed in
this letter is not touched upon.
Therefore it is not prohibited. 1t is
open, therefore, to an extension,
along LAat line.
Of course, as you know, in order
to raise $2O,0OOO0 in bonds in ad-
dition to the already existing in
debtedness Of the town, it will be
necessary to go beyond the 8 per
cent. limitation allowed for ordin-
ary Indebtedness. In order to do
this, the Constitution will have to be
amended. This will have to be done
in the manner prescribed by that
instrument. We would suggest that
when the amendment allowing the
increase beyond the per cent. lin
itation Is submitted, that it contain
provision for the application OF
$4,000 for the purposes desired. II
there should be any doubt as to
bonds being raised by municipality
for building a court house and jail,
it would be removed, Sc far as the
town of St. Matthews. Is concerned,
by being made part CT the organic
law, that we have this especial per-
mission.
The following Is a suggestion as to
he form of constitutional amendment
that will haY. to be made:
Section 1. Be it resolved by the
General Assembly of the State OF
South Carolina, That the following
amendment to Section Z, article VIII,
of the Constitution be agreed to:
Add at the end thereof the follow
ing words: Provided, further, That
the limitations imposed in this sec
tion and by section 5, Article K OF
this Constitution, shall not apply to
the bonded Indebtedness incurred by
the Town of st. Matthews, but said
Town of st. Matthews may increase
its bonded Indebtedness in the man
ner provided in said section Of said
Article, to an amount not exceeding
fifteen per cent. of the value OF the
taxable property therein, where the
proceeds of said bonds to the amount
of $4,000 may Cor shalD be turned
over by the authorities OF the said
town Of st. Matthews, to j. S. Wan
namaker. NJ. D. Keller, John j. Null
Ter, G.. w. Fairey, G. A. Baxter, G.
B. Holman, T. A. Amaker, John A.
Peterkin and P. T. Spigener, and
their successors in Office as Commits
sioners of the County OF Calhoun to
he used by them in the erection ana
building of court house and Jail
COR public buildings) for the said
County OF Calhoun.
Section .. But the question of
adopting this amendment shall be
submitted at the next general cleo
ton to the electors as follows: Those
in favor Of the amendment snail de-
posit ballot with the following
words plainly printed or written
thereon:
Constitutional amendment to sec
ton seven, of Article eight of the
Constitution relating to munlclpal
corporations and police regulations.
YES.
Those opposed to said amendment
shall cast ballot with the following
words plainly written or printed