The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-17
A BOLD BURLESQUE.
COUNT FOSCO And MAJOR JOE BAG
STOCK.
Ten Thousand Dollars for the MINORS
"EmtnenI Servlcesn

Ten Thousand Dollars for the Mn tor's
"EmtnenI Services"
[FRoM DUB SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBIA, February Is.
The Legislative machine ls almost at stand
still, the House having indulgad itself with
recess until Monday evening, which means
Tuesday morning, and the Senate having
lapsed into stage of intermlnable and incon-
sequentlal debate.
BOLD BURLEsQUE
was perpetrated yesterday, by the corpulent
senator from Darlington, upon Major Merrill.
The latter gentleman has been industriously
engaged for some time In lobbying bill to
appropriate thirty-fve thousand dollars 10 the
Ku.Kux catchers, and he has succeeded In
getting that measure through the House and
into the Senate. There it was sent TO The
committee on finance, and Senator White
more, who is nominally one.6fth and practl-
cally nine.tenths of that committee, has re-
ported back a bill as substitute for Major
Merrill's vague appropriation bill, which goes
to the plth OF the matter, and proposes 10 ac-
complish, iI direct and cheaper manner,
inst what the other bill was meant to accom-
plish-the rewarding of Major Merrill. sena-
tor Whiltemcre and Major Merrill are now at
swords points, but as the result OF the quarrel
is likely to he the defeat of the whole meas
ure, the taxpayers will probably bs better off.
The following ia the text of Mr.. Whittemore's
burlesque:
A BILL approprlating gratuty to Major
Louis Merrill lor his eminent services in the
State Of South Carolina.
Whereae. II ls the belief of the General As
sembly OF this State that the ferreling out,
discovering the secrets. breaking up the or
panizalions known as the Ku-KluX Klans In
this State, and causing the arrest and punish
ment of the members of the said KIana, whose
acts of violence In the past have 30 much dis
turoed the peace and good order of certain
sections of this State, depriving the citizens
thereof OF their liberties, privileges and lives,
guaranteed to them by the constitution OF this
State and the United States, is due TO the emf
nent services Of Major Louis Merrill, of the
United States army; and
Whereas. All arrests and punishments of the
members OF the said Klans and the breaking
up of their organizations, whoever may have
had subordinate part in the same could not
have been successfully accomplished except
through the plans perfected, aud the means
devised by the said Major Louis Merrill and
Whereas, The Slate of South Carolina, rec.
ognizlng him as the chief and real agent of
the ends accomplished, is anxious 10 reward
his distinguished services, IN manner that
will not be regarded as the payment OF
claim existing against the State, but as
gratuity To one who has faithfully labored to
bring peace ont or disorder; safety and Sc
CURLY IRON fear and violence, as we'll as q
Sand Of disguised, oath-bonnd and organized
criminals TO Justice In this State therefore.
Be Menacted, That the sum of sl0,0 be,
and the same is hereby, appropriated for the
purpose OF gratuity 10 Major Louis Merrill,
of the United States army, for services rem
dered, as set forth In the preamble 10 this act,
In the ferreting out and breaking up the Or
ganizations known as the Kn.Klux Klans In
this State, and arresting and causing the pun
Ishment of iLs members.
SEC 2. That the State treasurer shall, upon
the receipt In full of payment for all services
rendered by Major Lonis Merrill TO the Slate
In making arrests under the proclamation oil
the Governor OF July 2s,;ls7l, pay as grstu-
ity to Major Louis Merrill the amount appro-
priated In this act. PICKET.