Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION. THE NEXT BIG POLITICAL. EVENT IN THE STATE. Full Text of the Act Provldln/r lor the Election ol* Deleicates?Every VoterJShould Head This Aot. See. 1. That a convention of the Xeople of South Carolina 1? hereby or ained to be assembled In the olty of Columbia on the second Tuesday in September in the year of our Lord 1895 for the purpose of revising, amending or changing tho Constitu tion of tho State. Seo. 2. This said convontion shall consist of a number of Senators and Representatives of which the Genoral Assembly is now composed, who shall be eleeted at an election hold on the third Tuesday in August Anno Domini 1895, as hereinafter provided. Soc. 3. Tho several counties shall be entitlod to eleot and send to tho suld convontion a numbor of delegates equal to tho whole number of Senators and Representatives which said county is now entitled to send to tho Conerul Assembly, and tho dologatos to tho said convention shall bo entitled to tho same freedom from arrest in going to and returning from and while at tend i nd ing said eonvontion as is grant ed the members of the Legislature by existing laws. See. 4. Every male citizen of tho United States and of this Stato of tho age of twonty-one years not laboring under tho disabilities named in the Constitution of this Stato, and duly qualified to vote under tho existing laws of the Stato, and duly registered as now required by law, or who, hav ing been entitled to register us a voter ut the time of the general registration of electors in this Stato, which took place in the year of our Lord 1892, or a tany time subsequent thoroto, failed to register at such time as ruquired by law, or who has beeomo a citizen of this Stute and who will register as hereinafter provided in such cases, shall bdhmtltled to voto for delegates to said convention. Sue. 5. Every porson entitled to voto for delegatos to said convention shall bo eligible to a seat therein. See. G. That on tho first Monday of March, in the year of our Lord 1895, tho Supervisor of Roglstrnt'on of euch county shall, at tho county sent thereof, open his books of registration, and shall hold tho same open for eighteen calendar days thereafter, be tween tho hours of 10 o'clock in the forenoon and 4 o'clock in tho afternoon, etoopt Charleston, Beaufort and Rich land countios, which shall bo from 10 a. m. to 0 p. m., during which timo uny elector tben or theretofore at uny timo entitled to register as a qualified voter, or who has become a citizen of this Stato, and bo, during tho time herein fixed for such regis tration, and also on the days now lixod by law for registration, entitled to reg ister as such as hereinafter provided ; and any elector having boon hereto fore duly registered, or having since changed his rosidence, or having lost his certificate, shall be entitled to have tho samo transferred or renewed as now provided by law. See. 7. Any elector who shall have becu entitled to register at tho general registration in tho year of our Lord 1892, or ut any time subsequent there to, and who failed to register nt such time as required by law, and who shall muke application under oath, in ao-j cerdauce with a printed form to be prepared by the Attorney General, setting forth In each ease tlfo fact, to- ! wit: Tho full name, ago, occupation und residence of the applicant at the ! timo of '.lie. said general registration, { or at any time thereafter when tho said applicant became entitled to reg later, anil the placo or pluces of his residence since tho time whon ho bo- ! came entitlod to register, which ufli- | davit shall bo supported by tho affida- j vita of two reputable citizens, who1 were each of tho age of twentj^oo | voara on tho 30th day of June, Anno j Domino 1892, or at tho timo the said . applicant bocamo entitlod thereafter tO register, or any elector who has be come a citizen of this Stato by moving into the same, aooording to the Con stitution of tho state, and who shall make application under oath, stating tho timo of his moying Into tho Stato and his place, of residence since living in the Stato, which application shall bo supported by tho a ill davit of two reputable cltizons, who were twenty ono years of ago at the timo tho appli cant became a resident of this State ; such applicant shall bo allowed to reg ister as a votor, and to have issuod to him a certificate as a duly qualified elector in tho manner and form now provided by law, and be entittled to voto at said election for dolegates to said convention. Soc. 8. At such election the Super visor of Registration shall furnish tho managers at each precinct with one of the registration books for such pre cinct, for tho caro and custody for which tho managers receiving tho same shall bo responsible, and which they shall return to tho Supervisor of Registration wlthiu threo days after tho closo of i lie election, and no elector shall bo entitled to voto whoso name is not registered as thereinbefore or al ready provided by law, and who does not produco his registration cortilicato at the polls whore ho oilers to vote. Soc. 9. For the purpose of said elec tion It shall be the duty of tho Gover nor, and he Is hereby authorlzod and ompowered, at least thirty days before (di et ion, to appoint for ouch county three commissioners of olection, which commissioners shull assomblo at tho county scat at least two weeks before the date of oloctlon. and organizo thomselves into a board of commission ers by electing one of their numbor as chairman and take tho oath prescribed in Sootlon 30 of Articlo II of the Con stitution and tho oath against duelling, and thoy may elect some suitable por son as clerk, and tho chairman shall administer to him tho oaths aforesaid, and all of said oaths shall be filed in tho ottico of tho Clerk of Court of General Sessions und Common Pleas, and if thoro be no such duly qualified clerk In any county, thon in tho otflco of tho Socretary of Stato. Tho said commissioner shall appoint threo managers of oleetlon for each precinct in his county as now provided by law, and notify them by mall of said ap pointment; and shall also have pub lished a notice of eleotlon and names of managers, as now provided by law for general elections. Tho said com missioners shall make requisition upon tho County Supervisor for one ballot box for each precinct in their county, to be constructed as hereinafter di rected, and tho County Suporvlsor shall furnish tho same, to bo paid for by the County Board of Commissioners out of any County funds not otherwise appropriated. Seo. 10. One o( the managors ap pointed as provided in tho preceding sootlon shall, previous to tho day of election, procure from tho commis sioners of election, tho ballot-box, pa pers and registration book for his pro el net. Tho board of manager for each Sreelnot shall meet on or before the ay of eleotlon and organizo thom solves into a bo ad of managers by electing one of thoir numbor chairman and Bomo suitable person as clerk. The chairman may then administer the oath prescribed in Article II, Sec tion 30, of the Constitution, and the oath against duelling, to each member of tho board and the clerk, aud tho elork may in timo administer the same oaths to tho chairman. The same oatht may be administered by any other officer authorized to admin ister oatbs, and shall bo filed in the office of tho Clerk of Court of Com mon l'loas and General Sesslous, and If there be no such duly qualified clerk In any county, thon In tho olllce of tho Secretary of State. Sec. 11. The polls shall bo opon at such places'as aro now designated and appointed by law at 7 o'clock In tho forenoon of tho day of olection and closed at 0 o'clok in tho aftornoon of the sumo day, and shall bo kept opon during theso hours without intermis sion or adjournment, aud tho mana gers shall administer to each person otToring to vote an oatli that ho is qualified to voto at this election ac cording to the Constitution und laws of tho Stute, and that ho has not. voted during tho olection. Sec. 12. Tho deputy Stato constables and othor nonco officers of each county shall ut this olection act as now pro vided by law for general elections. Soc. 13. Tho voting Bhall bo by bal lot, which shall be of plaiu whlto pa per, two and a half inches wide by livo inches long, clear and oven cut with out ornament, doscription, mutilation, symbol, or mark of any kind whatso ever uxcopt tho names of the persons voted for, which names shall bo writ ten or printed, or partly written or partly printod, and If printed, in black ink, and such ballot shall bo folded so as to conceal the namo or names thereon, and so folded shall bo doposited in a box, to bo constructed, kept and disposed of as hereinafter provided, and no bullet of any othor description found in any ballot-box shall be counted. Seo. 14. An opening shall he raado in tho lid of each olection box largo enough for a siuglo ballot to be ln.?ort od at ono time, through which open ing each ballot proper to he recoioved shall Ihj inserted by tho person voting, and no othor. Each box shall be pro vided with la sufficient lock and key, and shall bo publicly opened aud in spected to show that It Is empty and t'uuure, and locked before tho opening of tho poll and tho key returned to tho manager of election, and said box shall not bo opened during tho hours for voting. At caeh procinct a spaco or inolosuro such as tho managers doom proper and sufficient, shall bo railed og, or otherwise provided with an en trance of tho voter at ono end or Bide and an opening at tho othor for his exit, as a polling place. But ono voter shall ho allowed to cuter any polling placo at a time and no ono except tho managers shall be allowed ,to speak to tho voter while in tho polling placo casting his voto. Soc. 15. Mach clerk of the poll shall keep a poll list, which sln.ll contain a column headed "Names of Voters,' and tho name of oach elector voting shall bo entered in such column. Sec. 10, At iho eloso of tho election tho managers and clerk shall imme diately proceed publicly to open tho ballot-box and count tho votes therein, and, continue such count, without in terruption or adjournment, until the same is completed, and mako state ment of tho result and siug tho same. If in counting, two or moao like bal lots shall bo found folded together compactly, only ono shall bo counted, and tho others destroyed, but if thoy have dilToront names, all shall be de stroyed and none counted. If moro ballots shall be found in tho box upon Opening it titan there aro names on tho poll list, all 'he ballots shall bo return ed to tho box thoroughly mixed to gether, and one of tho managers or clerk shall, without seoing tho ballots, draw therefrom and Immediately de stroy as many ballots as there aro in excess of tho number of names on tho poll list. Within threo days thereaf ter the chairman of the board of man agers or ono of thorn, or some other suitable person, appointed us messon ger in writing and taking tho oath prescribed for tho managers, shall de liver to tho commissioners of olection the poll list, tho box containing tho ballots and a written statement of the result of tho election in tho precinct. Sec. 17. The commissioners of elec tion shall mcot at the county seat on the Tuesday next following tho olec tion before 1 o'clock in tho aftornoon of that day and shall proceed to orga nize as tho county board of canvassers. They shall organize by electing ono of thoir numbor as chairman. Thoy may uppoint some compotont person to act as sccrotury. Tho chaii man shall then administer tho constitutional oath to oach mombor of tho board of canvas8ors, and to tho soerotary, aud tho secretary shall in turn administer the same to tho chairman. Thoy shall then proceed to canvass tho votes and make statement thereof within ton days from the time of their mooting us a board of county canvassers, and shall trunsmit tho same to the board of Stato canvassers, together with any protests and all papors pertaining to tho olection. Thoy shall ruiiko dupli cate statements and tile tho same in tho olllco of the Clork of Court of Gen eral Sessions and Common Pious of tho county, and if thero bo no such duly qualified clork then with the Secre tary of Stato. Thero shall bo pro pared by tho oanvasrers throe supur ato lists of oach statement, besides the list to bo filled with tho Clerk of Court, and ouch list shall bo certi fied os correct by tho signatures of tho board of county canvassers subscribed to flUOh certificate. Upon tho final adjournment of tho board of county canvassers, and within tho ten days prescribed above, tho chairman of said board shall forward to tho Governor and Secretary of Stato by a mcssonger the returns, poll list and all papers appertaining to tho election. The said messenger to bo paid his actual expenses upon a certi ficate to bo furnished him by tho Sec rotary of Stato out of tho funds pro vided for tho oxponsos of said conven tion. No por diem mileage or othor compensation shall bo paid to tho com missioners of olection, managers of olection, or clorks appointed by thorn. Soc. 18. Tho Secretary of Stato shall appoint a meeting of tho board of State canvassers to be held at his of* Hco or somo convenient placo within ton days next after tho said olection for tho purpose of canvassing tho votos thereof. Seo. 19, Tho Scerotary of State, Cornptrollor Gonoral, Attorney Gouor al, Stato Troosuror, Adjutant and In spector General and the chairman of tue Commltteo of Privileges and Klee tlons of tho Ihm e, of Representatives shall constitute tho Hoard of Stute Canvassers, four of whom thall ho a quorum. If a majority of those ollicors shall bo unable to attend, tho President of tho Sonato, bolng notflod by tho Secretary of the State, shall attend without dolay, and with the officers at tending shall f'>rm tho board of Stato of canvassers. Tho board whon thus formed and organized shall opon the certified returns of the boards of county canvassers, proceed to make a statement of the whole number of votes cast at such election, and for each of the persons voted for thereat. They shall certify such stato mont to be correct, and subscribe the same with their proper names and tllo the samo in tho ohlo of the Seerotary of Stato. Seo. 20. Tho Secretary of Stato shall thoreupon issue to oaoh porsou oleetod a dologate to suoh convention a certi ficate of such election under his official seal. Sec. 21. Evory person who shall voto at Bald olection, who is not enti tled to voto, and evory person who shall by forco, Intimidation, deception, fraud, bribery or unduo influence cou trol the voto of any eleetor to bo cast for any candiduto ether than as is in tended or designed by such- eleetor, or who shall violate any of tho forogoing provision in regard to elections shall bo punished by a fluo not exceeding $1,000, or by imprisonment in jail not exceediug twelve months, x,or both, in tho discretion of tho court. Soc. 22. Evory person, who boing un pointed a eommisslonor or manager of elootion, or clerk, to cither tho board of managors or of commissioners, shall refuBO or fail to act as such, without lawful oxcuse, or who, acting as such, shall fail to open a poll at tho timo and placo required of them by this Act, or to keep tho same opou as hero in required, or shall make or aid In making any falso count or return of votes cast, or shall cotnmitt any fraud in tho manngemcnt of said election shall bo punished as provided in tho preceding section. Soc. 23, In case any ono of tho per sons duly appointed manager of tho election shall fail to uppeur and act as ma' agor at tho timo and polling place appointed for holding said olection, tho othor two managers are hereby authorized and required to appoint from bystanders some competent por son to act as managor in tho placo and stead of the person so failing to act, and shall administer to him tho oaths aforesaid. In case any two of tho per sons duly appointed to act as managers at any polling placo shall fall to ap pear and act at tho timo and placo ap pointed for holding such poll, tho one duly appointed manager who shall ap pear and act is hereby authorized and required to appoint from tho bystanders two competent persons to act us mana gers in the placo and stoad of tho ab sent managers, and shall administer to them the oaths aforesaid. Sec. 21. That said convontion shall assemble in tho city of Columbia in the Hall of the house of Representa tives on tho second Tuesday in Sep tember, Anno Domini 1895, ?at 12 o'clock noon, and shall be called to or der by tUe Secretary of State, See. 25. That tho members of Haid convention shall rccoivo ao compensa tion $2.00 per diem and 5 cents per mile coming to and returning from tho samo. That should any vacancy or Vacancios occur in the representation in any county by death, resignation or otherwise, tho same shall be filled by olection by order of the Secretary of Stato, in tho same manner as vacan cios in tho House of Representatives aro now filled, except that the notice of said election shall bo ten days, which said election shall ho conduotod by tho name commissioners and by managers to be appointed by tlioni and under tho same rulos and regulations above provided for tho first eloction. Soc. 20. That the sum of $30.000, if so much bo necessary, bo, and tho samo is hereby, appropriated to do fi ay tho expenses of said convention including the per diom and mileage of tho delegugcs. Sec. 27. The Stato Librarian is hereby authorized and required to puruhuso for the use of tho delegates to tho convontion horoinboforo pro vided for, eighty (80) sets of tho "American Constitution:" by George A. Glynn, N. Y., tho cost of samo to come out of and be paid for from tho $30,000 herein provided for in Section 20 of this Act. Tho cost of same not to exceed the sum of $400. Sec. 28. That tho State Librarian is hereby required to distribute and for ward *.o tho Clerk of Court of each county, for the use of the delegates, as soon as elected, its pro rata share of tho above booKs. Sue. 20. That upon the adjournment of said convontion tho delegates shall return to tho Stato Librarian tho said books, taking his receipt for the samo, and tho Librarian shall deposit two copies of said looks with earn of tho following educational.institutions, to wit: Clemsoa College, tho Winthrop Normal industrial College tho South Carolina College, tho Clallin Univer sity and tho Citadel Academy, and six copies in tho Stato Library. Sec. SO. That tho remaining copies shall bo sold by tho S^ito Librarian at such prices as may bo fixed by tho Governor, tho Attorney General and tho Stato Librarian, the proceeds of such sales to bo turned over to tho State Troasury. METROPOLITAN P0LI0E LAW. KU 1,1, TEXT Ol'' A FAMOUS ACT. The State Hoard is Authorized to Ap point. Public Commissioners ill < il ies of One Thousand Inhabitttiitu. Section 1. That on and after the pus sugo of this act, whenever tho Govern or, tho Seerotary of State and tho Comptroller General shall doom it ad visablo or necessary for tho hotter and more perfect government of any city and incorporate! town in this State of moro than 1,000 inhabitants, a board composed of tho Govornor, Seerotary of Stato and tho Comptroller General shall appoint a Hoard of Police Com missioners, to consist of throe members, for suoh olty or incorporated town. Such commissioners shall havo boon qualified electors and freeholders of such city at lo.<st one year next prior tothoir appointment. The official term of such commisslont .a shall bo co-tor minal with that of tho said State board appointing them, and until their suc cessors bo appointed and qualified, but suoh commissioners, or any ono of them, may bo removed and tho vacancy or vacancies tilled by tho said Stato board at any timo they may doom such re moval expedient or necessary to pro mote tho object of the original appoint ment, and so long as it may be doomed necessary or oxpodiont by said Stato board or their successors to continue Bald State board shall make n now ap pointmeut of tho samo or othor com missioners for tho succooding term, to-wlt: co-tomlnal with tho torm of such said Stato bourd and until tliolr successors bo appointed und quulillod, if suoh enforcement of the laws of this State in any olty or incorporated town under police regulation no contlnuod under this act. Hoforo ontering upon their duties, such commissioners shall each tako and subscribe and cause to bo filed In tho ollico of the Seerotary of State an oath of ofilco for tho faithful discharge of their duties and tho usual constitutional oaths required of public officors, and if tho appointoo shall, for ton days aftor notification of appoint merit, fail to cause suoh oaths to bo filod as aforesaid, his appointment shall bo revoked and a new appointmont shall be made by said Stato board; and the said State board shall have. powor to fill any vaoanoy in said board at any time, whether eaused by death, re moval, resignation or any othor oauso, or may, in their disorotion, remove any member or members of said board if in their opinion he or they fail to per form any duty according to tho intent of this act. One of the said board sbatl bo designated by tho said Stato board to bo president aud another as Boerotary of said board. Tho anuual salary of said commissioners shall bo not less than fifty dollars nor moro than threo hundred dollars, to bo fixed by tho said State' board within these limits in proportion to tho population of the particular olty in question. But tho Boerotary may bo allowed a sum not oxcoedlng fifty dollars in addition to his salary as a commissioner. Said salaries shall bo puid out of the town or olty treasury In llko manner as tho salaries of/town or city officers. Sec 2. Such Board of Polico Com missioners shall immediately uppoint a murshal, who shall bo chief of police, and tho necessary commissioned offi cers, who shall give bond In an amount equal to that required on -tho 18th day of Docombor, 1804, of similar officors under tho ordinances of such cities and towns, Bubject to tho ordors of tho board, and as many policomon as may bo doomed necessary by tho board, not exceeding ono for evory ono thousand inhabitants, and who shall havo boon residents of such city or town at least six months prior to their appolutmont. The marshal and policemen Bhall hold thoir rospectlvo oHIoob eo-tormin ally with tho board appointing thorn, subject, however, to removal at any time by a majority voto of the Board of Police Commissioners. Tho mar shal and policomon so appointed shall havo exclusive power, and it shall bo thoir duty, to servo all process issued by tho mayor, iutondant or uity ro cordor, and all notices and papers is sued by tho Board of Polico Commis sinnors. Thoy, tho said marshal and policemen, shall have and exorcise all tho common law and statutory powor of constables within such city, oxcopt for the service of civil process, and they shall also havo all tho powers now hud and oxoreibqd by policemen undor tho laws of the Stato and tho ordinances of such city. Provided, that no eity or town suall bo liable in damages for any of tho acts of tho mar shals or policemen or officials appoint ed under tho provisions of this act. Sec. .'i. Tho Board of Police Com mlsslonerSiShall keep und maintain an otlico at tho council chamber, polico court room or Borne station house or other convenient placo, and shall moot in regular session every month, and in spoeial session at any othor timo upon writton request of any member to each othor member who is iu the city. Any regular session may bo adjourned for a period not exceeding four days. Two members shall constitute a quorum at any regul?rer adjourned session, or at any special session properly called and notified. Tho concurrence of two mom bo rs sntill bo sufficient to decide any question properly coming before tho board. It shall bo tho duty of the Board of Police Commissioners to fill all vacancies in tho offices of marshal aud policemen. Toe Board of Police Commissioners shall have entire con trol of tho polico force of such city, its organization, government and disci pline, and entire control of all station nouses, city prisons, patrol wagons, bocks, records, equipments and all othor property belonging to the polico department, and Bhall audit all claims against said department and certify tho same to tho mayor and council for payment when correct: and it shall be the duty of said mayor and council to pay all of such claims when so credit ed, certified and presented. And it bhall bo tho further duty of said mayor and council to levy and collect annually a tax sufficient to pay tho salaries and all expenses of tho Board of Polico Commissioners, marshals and police men, and of all the expenses for tho operation and maintenance of said po lico department, and a writ of manda mus or proper process shall bo at tho suit of tho Board of Polico Commis sioners against tho municipal authori ties of such city to compel the levy and collection of such annual tax ami tho payment of such expenses by them. It shall bo the duty of tho Board of Polico Commissioners to make general and special rules for its own government and for the government and regulation of tho polico department, and to make and promulgate proper ordors to the polico force through the marshal. Soc. 4. Tho board may, on tho ap plication of any person or persons show ing sufficient cause therefor, in tho discretion of the board, appoiut any numbor of policemen, not exceeding in all tho regular number of policemen at any one time, to do duty at designated placo or places in tho city, at tho ox penso of tho person or persons by whom such application shall bo made, and the eity shall not pay any such special policomon so appointed, and such special policemen shall not bo re quired to do duty at any other than tho designated place or places, but in all other respects they shall obey all rules and regulations of tho board aud all orders from tho marshal. Tho board may also, with tho consent of tho said I State hoard, appoint such numbor of special policemen for general duty in tho city as may bo doomed advisable, but such special policomon shall not sorvo longor than two successive days without new appointments being made In like manner, and they shall not be paid at a rate exceeding that of tho re gular policemen. Soc. 5. It shall bo tho duty of tho mayor and council of any such city to provide at its expense all necessary accommodations for tho sessions of tho board, and to provide a polico court room, station houses and prisons, and to furnish, warm and light the samo ; to furnish food for prisoners; to pro vide for tho monthly payment of the marshal and policomon, on tho certi ficate of the board as to the, amount duo oach ; also for such office oxpensos, re cords, books, stationery, printing, tele graphing, badges, (dubs and the repair and cloaning of police buildings, us may bo necessary?It being tho true intent and moaning of this act that all tho necessary expenses of tho polico department shall bo borne by tho city out of its general revenue fund, not withstanding tho government of such department is vested exclusively in said hoard. i Soc. 6. Neither tho mayor nor the council, nor any officer appointed by them, shall havo any government of tho polico force , and tho city trcasuror shall not pay any of tho polico force except upon tho certificate of said board. Any person or persons who shall In any manner intorfero with or Interrupt suld board, or tho polico, judge, marshal or policemen so ap pointed, whllo inthologal porformanoo of duty, shall, upon conviction thereof baforo tho Court of (ionoral Sessions of tho county wnoroin uuch city is lo cated, bo adjudged guilty of u mlsdo meanor, and Bhul! bo Hnod in any sum not loss than one hundred dollars nor more than oue thousand dollars, or may bo imprlsonod in tho county jail not less than ten days nor more than ninety days, for eaoh offense. Sec. 7. Every police judge, marshal and policeman appointed under this act shall be a qualified elector of suoh olty, and before enteriug upon tho dis cburgo of his official duties shall take and subscribe and cause to be filed with the board an official constitution al oath und for tho faithful discharge of duty. Sec. 8. Tho annual salaries of tho following named officers shall be fixed by ordor of tho board within tho fol lowing limits, namely: The marshal, not less than two hundred dollars nor more than two thousand dollars por annum, and tho policemen each not loss than ton dollars nor more than -sixty dollars per month. See. 9. All fines and forfeitures col lected by the mayor, intendent or city recorder upon charges for the violation of the laws of this Stato shall bo by him paid into tho county treasury of tho county in which eaeh eity is located, for the use of tho common school fund of such county. All linos and forfei tures collected by the mayor, inteudant or city recorder upoi charges for tho violation of city ordinances, and all foes of officers collected by tho mayor, intondunt or city recoraor under any act of the Legislature or city ordin ance, for services shall bo by him paid Into tho eity treasury for tho use of the genoral rovonuo fund of suoh eity. See. 10. During the timo that tho po lice government of any city is admin istered under this act, all acts of the Legislature and all ordinances of such city in 60 far as the samo are in con flict or inconsistent with this uct Bhall be suspended and shall remain inopera tive. See. II. When tho government of suoh city under this uct shall cease, tbo board shall turn over to tho city clork all tho records and papers of tho board, and thereafter they shall bo doomed records and papers of the eity clerk's office. Soc. 12. Whenever tbo said Stato board shall deem it no longer neces sary to continue the government of any such city in tho inannor provided for by this act, the said State board shall issue and cause to bo publisnod in a daily paper published at the State capi tal thoir proclamation to that olToct. and thereupon the mayor and council shall reassumo tbo government of the polico of such city, under tho ordin ances and laws thereof as oxisting prior to this aet, appointing such offi cers as may bo appointed aud provid ing for tho election of such officer or officers as may bo olcetlve; and to that end, if thoro bo a vacancy in such con tingency in any elective office, tho mayor and council bhall havo power and authority to till such vacancy by appointment until an olection may bo hold ; and the functions and salary of tho marshal and tho policemon and of tho Board of Polico Commissioners shall cease and determine upon tho ap pointment and qualification of a police force by tho mayor and council after such proclamation. That nothing in this act contained shall bo so construed as to disqualify any member of any previous police force of any city from holding appointment under tho Board of Polieo Commissioners, at their dis cretion, nor to disqualify any member of a polieo force appointed by such board from holding appointmont under tho mayor and council afterwards. And nothing in this act shall bo con strued to prevent the said State board from again appointing another Board of Pol' u Commissioners for tho same city, whenever thoy may deem it advis able or i uccssary for tho bettor or more perfect government of such city, in which event and as often us such event may so occur, this act as to such city shall again bo of full force and ef fect. See. 12. This act shall take elTeet immediately upon its approval. Sec. 18. Whenever tho word "eity is used in this aet tho samo shall be construed to mean ?"oity" or "town." Sec. 14. All acts and parts of acts which aro inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed. MURDERS ?ND ROBBERIES. THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. Curious Stories of Crime and its Con sequences? Peculiar Fouturcs in Some Cases. There is a great doal said from time to time by those who havo appoarontly small information on tho subject in regard to tho peculiar hoiuousness and frequency of murders nowadays. Tho impression is inavariably conveyed by those who speak In this way that the days of tho pioneors were much better than these, and that tho world is really getting a great deal worse as time passes. As a matter of fact, of course, thoro aro a groat many more crimes commit ted now than thero wore in the same locality fifty or sixty years ago. But it should be borne in mind that there are a groat many more people, and it would take careful calculation to posi tively ascertain whether or not there aro as many crimes committed now to tho thousand population as formerly or not. Certain it isthat in "thegood old days " thoro wore somo of tho most calculating and cold-bloodod murders committed that havo over boon ro cordod in tho annals of orimo. Those crimes wore usually committed for tho solo purpose of robbery, and not in the heat of passion. I was particularly improsscd with th\) truth of this observation tho other day in passing down over the Clovoland and Marietta Kail road when tho station of Postboy was reached. This point is closo to the boundary of Tuscarawas and Guernsey couties in Ohio, among tho hills of a peculiarly picturesque region. A fellow passengor related the following Interesting story as tho ori gin of the name: In tho early days of the settlement of the region tho mail facilities wore very crude. Boys rodo tl:rough about onco a month on horsobaok. Such things as nowspapors wcroutmost unknown. Tho lottor postage was from 20 to 50 cents, according to the distance, and it was invariably collected of the person who received tho lottor. Sometimes letters remained in tho office for considerable timo while, tho porson addressed raised tho money nocessary to rcdoem them. Tho route of the postboy lay right by tho presont railroad station. Ilocamo down between tho hills and crossed tho valley right tlie.ro, through what was thon the dense forest. One day the usual monthly trip was being made by a young man, who blow his horn as he descended tho hill and as ho roachod the bot tom a rifle ball whizzed through his heart and ho fell from his horse to the ground doad. A mnn who was at work not far away hoard th,i nostboy's born followed by tho rille shot, and ho hastened to tho spot, mistrusting that somothing wrong bad happonod. Ho was horrified to behold the lifeless form of tho postboy and a man with his arms bare above tho elbows bending over him rilling tho mail pouch. Tho approach of a third porson frightonod the murdorer and thief und, solzlnghis rifle, he hastilv retreated into tho forest. The man who had so nearly wltnossod tho murder and who had provented the robbery gave tho alarm and oxplaiued tho part he had taken in the affair. His statemont of tho case was at first accepted withont question, as he was a man of good reputation and ono against whom no suspicion had ever fastened Itself. But at length some overahrewd persons began to whlspor that It was very strange that this man know so much about tho cuso while uo one else know anything olso about it. It was finally concluded that ho must bo guiltfy, and on suspicion ho was ar rested and tried for murdor. Thoro was nothing positivo against him ; but circumstantial evidence, which in those days passed for a great deal, was suffi cient to convict him before a '"jury of his poors, " and ho was condemned to bo bangod. Tho prisoner, howovor, stuok consist ently to his original story, and as a linul and desperate resort ho, besought tho sheriff to eall all the malo inhabitants of tbo county togothor by proclamation on a certain day. Tho roason for this action wu8 carofully concoalod, but tho fuct was that tho prisoner had explain ed to the sheriff that by means of a certain scar on tho arm of tho porson who had committed tho orimo he would bo nblo to idontlfy tho murdoror. Tho object of this coming togothor was carefully concoalod, but tho Im pression was ingeniously convoyed that suspicion would bo cortain to attach to any ono who failed to como and that process to fetch 6uch porson would im mediately bo issuod. On tho day and hour Oxed a largo crowd for thoso pioneer days assembled at the Court House. Suddouly tho sheriff with tho prisoner in chargo emerged from tho jail and passed through the assmeblngc. ' With his vision mudo abnormally acuto by his impending doom tho condemned nn.n clasoly scrutinized tho faces of all as he passed. Finally his eyes settled upon the countenance of a burly bluckwoodsmau who at first shrank away, but soon ro oovo"cd himself. Arrest that man. " ho said to the shoriff. il Ho is tho murderer of tho postboy." And then addressing tho accused ho remarked : " You havo a big year on your right arm. You shot tho post boy. I saw you while you were rilling tho mailbag. " Tho new accused man denied tho charge stoutly, but showed his guilt by refusing to permit un examination of his arm. Tho examination was duly made, however, and tho scar found as had been described. He was thrown into jail and within a week confessed all tho details of tho crime. Tho guiltless man, of course, was dis charged. Numerous cases in pioneer times are related of persons having mysteriously disappeared and never buing heard of more. Ono of tho most singular and starting of these occurred more than forty-live years ago in Noblo jounty in the south-eastern portion of Ohio. Tho following wonderful narrative was given to me by scrverul persons of integrity who resides in Noblo county : Ono .July ovening in 181!) a drover by tho name of Young who lived in Wheeling aed who was in tho county gathering up stock, started to ride on horseback from Summerliold, a little hamlet in tho hills, to Sarahvtlle, another hamlet of tho same county only a few miles away. As ho left the first placo darkness was just setting in. Uo was never hoard of more. His friends in Wheeling did not expect him home for several weeks. Being a bachelor and having no near relatives, it was not thought strange that no let ter was received from him. finally, after several weeks had elapsed, in quiry and search were made, but noth ing was ever discovered further than that ho rode out into the darkness on that .Inly evening. He was known to have had some monoy with which he was paying for cattlo, and it was finally concluded that he had probably been mysteriously murdered, with tho motive of robbery. Even and anon the story was repeated by the peoplo of the neighborhood and it finally passed into history. About twenty years after the disap pearenco, the daughter of a prominent und wealthy citizen in the vicinity had a singular dream. It seemed to her that she was in a familiar portion of tho road leading from her home to Summorfiold. It was night, and a storm was threatening. The inky darkness was ever and anon illuminat od by vivid flashes of lightening. She became strongly Impressed with tho idea that she was oxpocted to watch attentively what was about to transpire. She had not long to wait. Presently ono of tho Hashes revealed a lone horse man wending his way slowly up the hill. In another moment a second Hush revealed a man stealthily ap proaching tho horseman from the rear. Tho next Hash revealed the horseman lying upon tho ground and the othor man, whom she had seen before ap proaching, was holding the horse by the bridle aud rilling tho dead man's pocket. Becoming intensely interested she closely watched tho movements of the murdoror and robber. The darkness seemed to clear up to a cortain extent and she saw him go to a familiar stump and carefully deposit the saddle, bridle and Huddlobags of the murdered man in a largo hollow place, within ?lust us this work was fin. hed the . murderer turned Blipponly upon her, and she recognized the features of her own father. Half dead with fright she. | woke with a start and did not close hor oyes again that night. Bright and early tho next morning slio visited the spot where tho vision was located und a sharp stick dug in tho decayed rub bish of tho old stump. She was so thoroughly impressed with the truth of what she seen that she W08 impelled to do this. What was her horror on excavating only a few inches beneath the surface to liml a rusty stirrup and several buckles. Tho poor girl kept her tor* riblo suspicion to hersolf, but it weighed so heavy upon lior mind that her constitution was underminded. She was thrown into quick consump tion and at tho ago of of 10 she died. Before passing away she related her dream, however, and remarked that sonooono must ho punished for the ter rible crime and that she could uo 'ongcr livo with the suspicion resting upon her that her fathor wns a murderer. Of courso nothing was over dune in regard to tho matter in the way of logs' proceedings. Tho " respected oltfzon " was thrown under a cloud and that was all. An Incident Of pionoor times some what similiar to that one above oc curred in I .orrain county in northorn Ohio, many years ago. A peddler who was known to have considerable money disappeared as comploteiy as though tho ground bad opened and swallowed him up. His horse was found running at largo and taken in chargo by tho shoriff, who afterward sold it. When last soon this man was nonr a waysido tavorn of the day and It was supposed that ho stopped thoro. News travolled very slowly thoso days and people wroto but fow letters. Tho peddler was not oxpected homo for a long time and nothing was thought of his not being hoard from. Finally, months after, his friends in tho east made an effort to trace him, but to no satisfac tory offeot. lie was followed without mueh diitioulty to the vicinity of tho tavern in question and tho fact that his horse was found runuing at largo tho othor side of tho tavorn was elicited and that was loally.all. Suspicion pointed quite strongly to tho tavorn keeper, but no evldoneo suilieiont to cause uu urrest could bo brought out. THE KU-KLUX PI,AN. What an Old Farmer 'i nioKs About the Proposed Boycott of. Oof ton, Greenville Mountaineer: \ Tho writer has soon an article form ulating a plat to raise tho price of cotton to 10 v,onts per pound. Tho plan in a nutshell is this: By a Ku Klux liat to order evory farmer and planter in this country'to plant but a half crop this coining season, and to "boycott" and use mob violence on any ono that was so bold as to over step the half limit in plant in/. If Stuto government uro so weak and lm? beeile as to fail to protect a man in the planting of Iiis own lauds what soemoth to lilm lit and proper, likely tho strong arm of tbo Fodorul govern ment can and will protect him in it. As low as cotton is everything points to an avorago of one or two couts less tho coming fall. Tho farmor who is losing monoy on cotton bad hotter quit tho planting of it. Those who either make a profit or comfortable living at it will doubtless keep on and in tho race as by natural laws tho fit test will survive. Thero aro many thrifty whito fanners that and will make cotton, and who will not only live comfortably, but even make money by maklug At. Colored labor under many circum stances can make it down to half tho present price, and will do it. The weak point in low prices is making all cotton. To make it all at ruling prices the farm must bo self-sustaining, not only in " hog and hominy," but in all other necessaries which can and were formerly made at homo. Five-cent cotton won't purchase buggies, orgnnsj pianos, carriages, china and luxuries, either of food or line raiment, but in 1837, "IS and '30 the people who were then living made money on it and lived. 1. Cotton will be lowor ,next year. Why? This crop will certainly carry a largo surplus. 2. Our low prices havo blockaded India's cotton, put ours to 0 cents, and next year India lias two crops for the world's markets. 3. Southeastern Uussia has began to ox port cotton. 4. Some of tho South American countries havo on to red the world's mar kets with their cotton. ?. Fgypt now makes three million bales, and by extra irrigations from tho uppcr'Nile, promises to triple bor crop. Wo import Egyptian cottons 14 to 10 cents per pound. Why, wo can't make tho samo staple, so we havo ri vals. Now, our Ku-Klux friend may ac cept a fow suggestions, as what this volcanic section makes counts littlo in the world's markets. 1st. lio may havo tho Mississippi River damned up and Hooded all of the valley in the great cotton producing country and thus keep them out of the markets as long as he can hold his water. 2d. The Czar of all Kussia may be notified to stop his pauper labor from making cotton. 3d. .lohn Bull contrails Egypt, lie may notify Mrs. Hull to have Egypt ian cotton raising stopped and further that she shall burn and destroy all ac cumulated cotton In her Indian pos sessions. 4th. Ho might send a committee to havo tho same stopped in those miser able South American States, very pro ductive cotton countries. 5th. Ho might havo tho fertilizer mills all burned. Fertilizers not only increase the crops, but cheapens pro duction of same. In conclusion, the farmer who makes everything at home and buys little on nothing abroad may safely plant more or less cotton, und tho unthrifty man who wants to make nothing hut cotton and buy everything he wants with Ithud better go at some other calling, lie is in the wrong pow for these times. The consuming world will buy its cot ton from tho cheapest producer. AN Ohli FA UM tilt. WHAT IS THELLOYDS? Fire Insurance ut u Smaller Cost Than the Ohl Lilie Companies. From Tho (Iroonv'llo Mountaineer. ? Tho entrance of Lloyds Firo Insur ance Into this State has created finite a ripple of excitement in insurance cir cles. As their success means decrease premiums for the hoard companies, a hitter light is being made against them. All BOI'tS of rumors are current, and very few people being familiar with this system many ridiculous and ab surd stories are told. Tho light is on in this city, and tho agency established her 0 by Messrs. Thaokston & Monteith is going right along aud receiving substantial en couragement. The following extract from the New York World gives a complete history of this system of insuranco, and shows how insurance can be safely and suc cessfully written at lower rates than are charged by thoold line companies ! '? Inusurance and mercantile circles In this city are greately interested in a discussion of tin; merits of the Lloyds system of insurance, which has been successfully extended during the past few years from purely marine to com mercial Insurance, and which has been repeatedly made the subject of attack by tht! "old line" companies, wllOSOal leged expensive management and auto cratic rule havo been threatened by tho new departure. " As nearly everybody knows, tho Lloyds system of insurance originated in England, but few are awaro that it was begun as far back as His-i. Another surprising fact is that up to the present time no Lloyds insurance association, either In England or this country, has failed. As a matter of fact, a company of this kind cannot fail, because evory dollar of the assets of the members is available to pay a loss and not merely the premium alone. "From tho little seed dropped by Lldward Lloyd in London in 1088 has grown a gigantic Lloyds, whoso Inan cial responsibility is never quest, ned throughout tho whole World, and whoso annual premium income is ?? ward of $26,000,000. in transplanting tho bystom to the United States it lias mot with some alterations. Under the modernized plan thoso who wish to enter upon individual underwriting do so by appointing an attorney or attor neys to act and sign for them, thus re lieving them of tho incidental work and placing their interests in the hands of those more experienced in thobusiness. " A " Lloyds " is not a corportion nor a copartnership, nor is ono individual member of tho Lloyds rosponslblo with or to any of tho others, hut simply und solely hhnsolf agrees to idomnify the loser by tiro for a certain named proportion of his loss, if the Lloydt is composed of twenty inowbors the only association between thorn is that each gives a full powor of attorney empowering ono person or lirm to do tho business for thorn, und also up points a committee from thoir number to safely care for the money received aud to counsel, watch over and adv** thoir attorney. '"If their attorney issuos a policy for $5,000 each member of the Lloyd is re sponsible for $250 only, tho same as if the attorney had writton anddolivorod twenty di tie rout pollclos for $250 each. The question may be asked. "Sup pose one or more of tho subscribers fails or is unable to pay hissharo of tho loss, who pays his $250?" whioh Is easily answered by asking "Suppose ttO insurer insures in twonty stook com puniBtaJind one fails, who pays for that ba-.krupfcfc^u^hiuy ?" " The case;, ^-^l exactly, si.-}, {fat*. It isH a question of orotjil,* Out with tho ud?B vantage on tho side of tho l.loyda^^H this way : If ono of tho members faWH bis attorney iiutuediatoly ceases issue policies in bis name and may prfifl euro another subscriber, who, for '^jflB privileges of Membership in a proW table Inn ?, will assume all of tlv^H liabilities past, present and future ojB the faded member, and t.j>o all of hijK rights to profits in tho business ^ Another ready question is, " How<^^E t'ne Lloyds do a profitable business less oxponse than a stock company 1^B| it knows exactly what its expenses ajH tobe. It has r otlico rent to pay, nflH does it pay any salaries. All Midi rl penscs aro paid by its attorney out\H a stipulated percentage on tho h'JB mlums received. If tho business ? large or small it oniy paystjjp '^jfl proportion. The reastjj of many stock Companys nuH in the fact that theiroxorbltfl ses havo eaten them up, rtM larger amount of premiums Vj peases than they were ab'o Another important point h, Wj uro of protection given byW guarantee us compared witty company. In a stock com pan' VH ital paid in is the only g U There, is no individual rospt yH ?g0jty&/?no one would inv?. ,H Bu'rancVr^h^J^Jfexperieuce n M thaf^Hh^Uutns paidffi more than equal th<^Hil4"\unHI ses and give a fair murgiir^W^B In a I loyds the security consfstS?^^B the strength and credit of tlio insurooH together with the amount, of deposit^M he has paid in and the further sum heflj is liable to be d for. This ->njH9 is usually about (i,io for each *upH scribcr which means *ld(?,(i0() if ihortjH are twenty underwriters on the policyfl Now il each $5,000 policy makes :fl| liability of only $250 to each underH writer, after all premium receipts an^H exhausted, it can be seen that uolhinfH inii real conllagration like t h<jH Chicago lire can bankrupt a LlovdsH und stud) a lire would be equally dclH struotlvo to a stock company. A table compiled from the sworn )4^H ports made by the stock fire inHunffiWH companies to the insurance! dopart^H meats of all tho States in tho Unj^H shows that the average loss ratlov&HH premium reeoips for ten years cndiiuH in was .V.l.Ill per cent., and "JH average expenses ratio to prcnt'.^SB receipts during tho same pejidcW'*^ per cent. This leaving ^' 7"1<m*?riH 2.40 per cent., and seems to showc^H olusively that the evil of tire insuruocH underwriting by stock' companies dooH not exist in the loss ratio, hut in thH unnecessary extravagantexponso ratirH Durm/ D.i."! the pu!die paid tho oljH line companies *H>.>.(>h().(ioo. Tho diH ferencc bet we* n the stet k companiiH l*<.:?:i per cent, ex pen ,e account and titH Lloyds per cent, expense aceoui^B [25 per Cent, being allowed the atto,H ney or attorneys lor all expens^^B would show a balance in favor SH Lloyds of $21,045,000. Ninny of the largesl eorporatiuJB and firms in the United States are^H sured in one or other of tho I.loydH and MID of the mibt, reputable, relifl| ble, und n - p insible business """j^jfl country, whose names may bo <v^| am ed of any oi the Lloyds, have <?^H mined to denio.'st rate /.^^ the infl H ance hu-iness oqn fo'o, 4fJl^tuctod reasonable cxpens^, and ha .7 .mmH H vlduals conferred their powor^H torney to underwrite in their ikuj. ^ffi thirty Lloyd. H Among tin- subscribeis and undoHJ writers in the various Lloyds sSI Drexel, Morgan ,v Co., Levi 1'. Mo^K ton. Flint ,V Co.. A drum I sei in, HjHH <). Ilavemyor, (Jeorge Ulis;,, Hobt. Ct^^B gate. I). Appjoton vV Co., Olivor Ildl .nan. Samuel Untermeyor, Corn^^HH N. lloagland, Darwin K. .lames, DatH S. Brown, C!ia-. \\. Drab. A ! fred ]hB9 Scott, Frank lllseoek, , WilliacnB Cogswells, .1. II. Flaglor,' ilof/^rjH B MeCurdv. I! D. Uai. l-NsJH Campbell, William II. Laker, UuuH \- Wnitiag, Fred. Valentine, F-'J| Mliss, F. I'. Cle.e on, lion. Ldwan^H V. Loew. W. McCarthy i :tUgl McAnorny, Francis A. Pit hE M. Bolding, Oeorgo P. .!< wB Its B, .Marvin. ex-Seereta , V v. Fairchiid, I'M ward .f. Bor( j *'-^B Cammack, William IJ. ( Brandon. Joshua Pi/.a, I m ley, Weld KstatO, Lie1 A4 nett, and Vornon II. ' /; The S f which overrules all '. -,-''^r*??^B antees the individual insurer in wk right to do s<> datoHH the Union. Lloyds are not under tH supcrvisi depart monlaHH mm . ? . mm Tin: Condition < s.'I'atk^^H The Charleston N'ews aud Cou^H publishes a general review of tho I H dustrial condition of the' Stato. It lH received rcpln thirty t .dree. KHBj its correspondents, jn-aetically cOtH iug the touchi^H| generally upon the condition of JH farmers, morchanl nu 1; | |UI^HB ami working people, as compared wfl thoir condition in previous yours ; Ij^^H the people generally have met thH indebtedness ofyhe elo ytutr, tfl^Sj what credit tnoy*wj\l he able to ob^H in I-a,, how the vtduind of tr.r'jitAlS stores has com par od with former y^B and what policy the farmers will a^H as to the cultivation of cotton and rl vision crops in the new year. Jfl replies vary very much as to do iM and the reports in several in U^H arc evidently colored by the pessimiH Ot'optimistic sentiments of the Wi'lhHj but there Is a general ' ' " fi| opinion thatmonoy is very seurC,::^B labor is (dieap i I p il, an L home raised hog and hominy arW H abundant than in many years. ( -fl mills, with very few cxccptlons,H reported as nourishing, having HI their annual dividons. H tt i'; Clear from this report. thuH acreage in cotton vory H rodu-ed*; that provision crops plllf led extensively, and that I WIU; he much less commercial H liztrs bought this year. AltbfH the outlook is not us blue; as stH H the croakers would make it app.-H --~mmm> * *-? ?' ' ? bH " You havo a bad cold, " he saH havo," she replied, huskily, "-^n M so hoarse that if you attempt I couldn't oven scream. " ^H