The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-15

SSU. -
enough to come along and give him fifty
thousand dollars to resign he mad q right 10
except in name. The advisory board had had
the power to overrule him and had done It.
He had never had In his possession one dollar
of the bonds of the land commission, although
he had had the right to have-them. When
appointed he had selected Respectable
agents in all The counties; had made
the various senators his agents in their hsi
ator from Marion (HaJne) had made
all the purchases in that county, the senator
| from Richand tNash) in his county, swalls In
Williamsburg County, &c. If anything had
been made, those senators would tell the Sen
ate that they had made 1t, and not he; but be
didn't believe there had been anything made.
In Sumter there had been four tracts bought.
he had once been asked to endorse an appt-
cation for the purchase OF certain land in that
county, but had refused unless the whole dele.
CATION from Sumter County signed 1t trst.
Then it came back with the names OF all ex.
cept Captain Gardner, Son. OF the IN members emf er
of the special joint committee,l and ne Still! re-
fused 10 endorse it Until Captain Gardner had
put his name to it. By that transaction the
Sumter delegation had cleared seven hundred
dollars. The whole truth of the matter was
that the Office was one-half political and one.
half something else, and he ought not to be
held responsible for the shortcomings OF the
Office; y
Previous to this little diversiou, the Senate
accomplished considerable amount Of work.
Mr. Nash introduced joint resolution au-
thorizing the employment of legal counsel for
the prosecution of persons engaged IN land
the preamble to this resolution recites that.
1t is distinctly charged, In the report OF the
al r
tee, that ''great swlndles have peen perpetrat-
ed" in connection with the land commission;
'sthat corrupt means have been used, and al
lances formed; that the money OF the State,
and the bonds Issued, have not been disposed
of as directed;n that lands have been purchas-
ed, in the name OF the State, at prices greatly
In excess of their fair market value, and
others for which no valid titles have beer
given; and, whereas, these charges are OF I!
Character which demand the most rigid ard
thorough investigation, for the protection of
the Interests of the State; and, whereas, i, ia
inexpedient that the encouragement o. the
State should be employed for the purposes
hereinafter named, by reason of his connection
with said land commission, In the character OF
a member OF its advisory board; and provides
that the Hon. A. G. Magrath, of the bar of
bar of Columbia, be, and they are hereby,
authorized to institute proceedings, civil or
criminal, or both, as the nature OF the case
NAV demand, In the nsme Of the State Of South
Carolina, against all parties implicated In the
alleged frauds and malpractices, and to re-
cover, by legal process, all sums OF money
which may have been unlawfully paid out of
The treasury Of the State for the purchase OF
lands; and that, for the purpose OF compen-
sating the attorneys herein authorized to be
employed, for their services, and for defray-
ing the expenses Of the prosecution contem-
plated by the preceding resolution, the sum
of FIVE thousand dollars, If 80 much be neces-
sary, shall be paid out Of any moneys In the
treasury not ot1srwse appropria.eui anu ~ tne
celve q commission of five per cent. upon all
moneys that may be recovered by them for
the use of the State.
Mr.. Maxwell introduced bill to regulate
the granting of licenses TO retail spirituous
LIQUORS, prohibiting their issue TO any person
or persons except the keepers of taverns duly
licensed BY law. Also, q bill to regulate the
nav of members Of the General Assembly,
which provides that after the next general
election each member shall receive an annual
salary of $500, which sum shall constitute the
entire compensation of members OF The Gene
raj Assembly for all services performed as
such.
In the House, this morning, In addition TO 10
the calendar business already reported By
were introduced:
By Mr. Cain, resolution, that on and afer
to-day the rule requiring one day to be given
be, and the same is hereby, resctnded.
By Mr.. Humberti resolution, that the speak
or of the House be, and he Is hereby, re-
uuested, within three days from the passage
Of this resolution, to reorganize the various
standing committees of the House, and to an
nounce such reorganization to the. House.
MIR. Hrley introduced resolution to au-
therlze the employment Of counsel to prose-
cute the land swindles, similar to the one
above mentioned as being introduced In the
Senate. This provoked lively little squab-
BILE, aud was finally sent to the committee on
public lands, with instructions to report on
Tuesday next.
Mr.. Crlltendan introduced bill to reduce
the salaries of county treasurers end county
auditors aud give the election OF said officers
to the people, which provides that from aud
after the passage Of the act the annual salaries
of county treasurersshall not exceed the sum
of fifteen hundred dollars, except In Charles
ton County, where it shall not exceed two
thousand dollars; and the salaries OF county
auditors of counties outside Of Charleston snail
not exceed five hundred dollars and 10 Charles
ton one thousand dollars per annum- II also
provides that these officers shall be elected
hereafter at the general election for mem
bers OF the General Assembly, shalls hold
their offices for two years from the date OF
qualification, and shall be ineligible for elec-
ton after serving four years until at least one
full term shall have.intervened, and empowers
the Governor to fill vacancies by appointments
to continue In force until the next electlon.
PICKET.