The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-09-27
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
Six Propositions to be Voted on in
General Election.

Columbia, Sept. 22-SiN proposed
constitutional amendments will be vot-
ed on in the general election. At the
meeting of the State Democratic eX-
ecutive committee Tuesday afternoon.
Chairman Willie Jones announced that
the Secretary of State would have the
amendments printed and sent out for
the general election in November.
Two of the proposed amendments
are of Statewide interest, the one pro-
posing to increase the supreme court
to five members, and the one with ref
erence to municipal bonded indebted
ness, a general amendment. There are
two other local amendments proposed
on this subject.
One of the proposed amendments has
special reference to the cities of Co.
lumbia, Greenville and Spartanburg
and the town of Manning, it being pro-
,,osed to allow these places to assess
abutting property for permanent i'm
provements.
It is proposed to add to the end of
section of article of the State con-
stitution, the following:
"Provided, that the limitations pro-
posed by this section and by section 5,
of article 10, of the constitution, shall
not apply to bonded Indebtedness in
Cured in the towns Of Aiken, Camden,
Cheraw, Clinton, Edgefeld, st. Mat
theWs, when the proceeds of said bonds
are applied solely and exclusively for
the building, erecting, establishing and
maintaining of Waterworks, electric
light plants, sewerage system or
streets, and where the question of in
curing such Indebtedness is submit
ted to the qualified electors OF said
municipality as provided in the consti-
tuition upon the question of bonded
indebtedness.
A Joint resolution was passed, max
ing the provision that the limitations
of section 7, of article s, be not applied
when the proceeds are used for sucn
permanent improvements are n@" II
above, was also passed. This is the
Statewide proposed amendment.
As to Aiken county, there was spe-
cial resolution with reference to sec-
ton that the limitations shall not
apply provided the amount does not
exceed Is per cent of the value OF the
taxable property therein for the pur-
pose of establishing improvements.
For St. Matthews the same sort OF
amendment is proposed, allowing that
town to build $4,000 court house.
To increase the supreme court from
four to five members is the object OF a
Joint resolution proposing to amend
article 5 in section IL. The supreme
court at present consists of the fol-
lowing:
Chief Justice-Ira B. Jones, Lancas-
ter.
Associate Justices-Eugene B. Gary,
Abbeville; c. A. Woods, Marion; d. Z.
Hydrick, Spartanburg.
It is proposed to change the constl-
tuition so that there shall be i've In
stead of four justices. 1t is argued by
the legal fraternity that much more
work will be accomplished and that the
question of a divided court will not
come up to cause the calling OF en-
banc sessions of the circuit judges on
constitutional questions.
Now, when the supreme court is di-
7ided and there is not an en- banc ses-
sion, the verdict of the lower court is
affirmed. This has happened twice
within the last two days cn important
cases.
Of course the circuit judges may be
called in, even when there is not a
divided court, as at present.
Another amendment is to be submit
ted to the people with regard to the
term of office Of the justices. That Sec
ton of the constitution is proposed to
be amended so that any three of the
five justices would constitute quor-
um, and that the judges shall be elect
ed for term of ten instead of eight
years, each of them to go out Of office
every two years.