Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1871-03-17
Proceedings Of the Legislature.
LAST DAY


CoLuMBA, March 8, 1871 .-~Both Houses
of the General Assembly met at 10 A. NJ.
yesterday, and although they adj ourned ear.
licr than usual, to meet again in the evening,
q large amount9 business y % done, oonsis,
ting principally IN the passa,| |,.C irat fcatto.
Iof bills and aots. I!
No long dobatc, wero indulgcd in, tie ION;
gest in tho Seaatesbeing rppn t;ls amend,
mcnts offered by Mr.FWhitamorc, In acccr-
dEcc with previous notice, to the Sterling
Funding debt, and upon the joint resolution
to authorize the Secretary of State to con-.
tract with the Southern Gas Light Companyss
for lighting the State Blouse.
The amendments offered by Mr.. White
more, were quickly disposed Of, after the dc
bate ended; the first one being to submit the
whole proJeot to a vote Of the people, ,was
indefinitely postponed, by a vote of 81 tdsS,
the second by II vote Of 23 to 8, and the thirl
amendment was not seconded. The bill was
then passed by u vote of 2l to
The debate upon the gas arrangement was
participated i'll by Messrs Leslie, Corbin,,
Nash and others, the first named Senator
charactcrizing the whole arrangement yam
kce swindle, and being supported to some
extent by Mr. Nash, who thought it of the
same style of invention as the lIuntoon soap
speculation, with which he had some expcr,
cncc. Mr. Corbin, and NIcssrs Cardozo and
Rose testified to the worth of the invention
as regarding the saving i'll expense of light.
ing, being several hundred percent lover
than the price asked by the City Gas Compa,
ny. The joint resolution was finally adopted.
There were large number Of visitors in
the Senate Chamber, among whom we motto.
ed, his Honor Judge Rutland who embraced
the opportunity OF viewing the law makers,
one of whom improved the opportunity to
embrace him.
In the House, the Committee appointed to
visit Washington, made their report, which
was received as information, and resolution
was adopted calling upon the President for
troops, as WAS also resolution to pay the
Committees expenses, $500
Many bills were also passed, and Other mat.
ters of no great moment disposed Of
a communications was received from the
Governor, stating els reasons for signing the
bill to provide for the consolidation of the
Columbia, Grccnviie and Blue Ridge Rail
road Companies, which will be found in an.
other column of tins paper.
At an early hour, tho House tool, a recess
till =. NJ, but there being no quorum at
that hour, further recess was taken.
In the evening session, the bill making ap.
preparation for tho payment of the per diem
and mileage of the members, was returned
by the Governor, without his signature, on
the ground that it contained certain appro
pratlons which did not meet his approval.
There seemed to be some misunderstanding
regarding as to when and how the bill had
passed the Seuatc which was explained by
the statement of the Chair, that the bill soon
after it's introduction, was made the special or.
der for about two days hence, from the time
Of introduction, and was passed without
dissenting vote
Mr., Leslie thought there was n dilemma,
and that the Governor was not obliged TO sign
checks for such expenses as were not correct
Mr.. Corbin thought it wrong; and that
while it placed some pcrsous in bad fix, who
had per dir.n and ,n;;!,c@oo, due them, lie could
not vote aga.hst the veto.
Mr.. Smalls, also, took the same ground.
Mr.. llaync, also, did not remember the
passage of the bill by the Senate, but after.
wards referred to the Journal, and sustained
the passage.
Mr.. Nash thought it his duty to sustain
the veto, on the ground Of uncertainty as to
how the bill came up in such shape
Mr.. Maxwell agreed to the ground taken
by Mr.. Leslie, but said thero was a bound be.
yond which the Senate could not 60, without
bankrupting the State, and he believed this
was QUO of those occasions.
Mr.. johnson thought the State was better
able to losso Sl25, 900 than he was to lose
SO, but while he was not willing for tho State
to los that amo ut, ho would DO obliged to
vote against the veto.
Mr.. Swails thought as ho was tho introdu.
Ger of the bill, he stood iu vcry peculiar
position.
Mr. Leslie interrupted, saying that ho
thought his position was rather peculiar, as
ho had endorsed about 81, 900 pay certificates,
which of course, he would be obliged to foot
if the bill did not pass over the Veto
Mr.. Whittemore figured out tho expenses
altogether and came to the conclusion hat at
least 800 900 must have been included above
this amount for some purpose or other.
The veto was sustained by a vote Of ayes
81, nays 8.
The veto of the Governor was also sustain
ed, by tho Senate, on the act to compel Coun
ty Treasurcrs to receive county checks and
warrants in payment of county taxes.
MIR. Whittemore's resolution, following on
the end of tho decisive vote sustaining the
veto of the Governor, on tho per diem and
mileage appropriation, to extend tho session
to tho llth, was indefinitely postponed
In the House the night was spent in tho
passage Of few bills of minor Importance
and the consideration Of tho veto of the Gov.
ornnr and strocoli, 'cbatc on other subic.ts