Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-11-28
THE NEW LEGISLATURES.

The Legislature will meet tomorrow at
noon, with the probabilities of an unusually
full house for the first day of the session. Large
numbers of members are already in the city,
while the trains of to-day and tomorrow will
doubtless bring in all those who live on the
immediate lines of road. The first business
in the House will doubtless be the choice of
Speaker, and as this contest virtually lies
between but two men, it is not likely to be
either long or spirited. The only candidates
now in the field who stand any chance of sue
cess are S. j. Lee, of Aiken, and Timothy
Hurley, of Charleston. Mr.. Lee will proba.
bly, be elected on the first ballot.
The position of Clerk is sought after by
several persons, but Mr.. A. G. Jones, the Of:
6cient and obliging Clerk of the last House,
is not likely to meet with very serious oppo-
sition. We have seen no reason to change
the opinion expressed several days since, that
Mr.. Jones is the most efficient man who could
be found for the position he has already filled
80 we'll, and one who will reflect credit upon
the body which secures his services. He de-
serves to be reelected unanimously.
Only two candidates are now in the field for
Sergeant-at-arms, Messrs. Williams, of Edge
field, and Singleton, of Sumter. The former
filled this position in the last House, while
the latter represented Sumter county. The
contest is an animated one, with chances about
evenly divided. Both gentlemen are abun-
dainty able to discharge the duties Of the po-
sition, and both are confident of success. Mr..
Williams made good, efficient officer Of the
last House, and Mr.. Singleton was a very
creditable Representative.
AS the Senate is a permanently organized
body, there will be but little delay in getting
in working order. The election of subordinate
officers will probably take place Immediately
upon assembling, when the present Clerk, Mr..
Josephus Woodruff, will doubtless be reelected
unanimously, and possibly all the old officers
of the last Senate. Mr.. Woodruff has served
the Senate faithfully and we'll, being always
at his post, no matter how long the sessions
were, or how much work there was to be done,
and has, by his kind, courteous treatment of
all those with whom he has been thrown in
business contact, won host of friends from
both parties. The Senate Chamber without
"Joe Woodruff as he is Familiarity called
at the Clerks desk, would seem like strange
place indeed.
There seems to be disposition manifest
among most of the members to make the ses:
sion as short as possible. This is right, and
we trust the General Assembly will adhere to
this plan throughout. There seems to us to
be no good reason for session to extend be-
yond the middle of January at the very far
thest. There can be no inducement for men,
bers to remain here three or four months in
the year at heavy expense to themselves,
when they can draw precisely the same amount
for services if they only remain FIVE or six
weeks. The pay of members is fixed by law
at six hundred dollars per annum, and this
amount they can get whether the session lasts
through only one week or even one day, or
whether it extends through the entire year.
Nor can they get any more than that sum !;
for the constitution prohibits the General AS
sembly from increasing the pay of its own
members during their terms of service.-Co-
Lun,6ia Union, 25th instant.