The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-02-27
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Friday Morning. February 81, 1874.

Those who have kept the run of affairs
in the Legislature may remember the
introduction of favorable report, on
the 18th inst, by Mr.. Whittemore, from
the Finance Committee, on q bill to
make appropriation to pay claims held
in trust, to the amount of $215, 900, by
J.. Woodruff and A. o. Jones, against
the State. The bill provides that they
shall be paid out of the taxes to be
levied aid collected for the fiscal year
commencing November l, 1874. The
report was accompanied by no speoifi-
cations whatever, al to, persons to
whom the claims are due, the conaidera-
tion. the amount. the date, or any other
particular concerning them. There
was great surprise felt and expressed at
this doubtful mode OF proceeding. The
bill coming up subsequently as special
order. il was reoommitted, with instruc-
sions TO bring in list of the Claims,
with all necessary specifications. It
came up. yesterday, as part Of the un-
finished business of the day before, ac-
oompanied by the following meagre
statement:
LIST OF CLAIMS PRESENTED. IL
to 783. House of Representatives, $ll5,-.
001. 18; Nos. to 45, Special Joint Com
mittee, $l5.718; Nos. =. Senate. $42.-
1876. 08; bills payable. $41, 945.74. Total,
S2l5, 900.
Mr.. Donaldson characterized it as an
insult to the intelligence of the Senate,
and moved to strike out the enacting
clause Of the bill. Smalls was not in
favor of striking out. but coald not vote
for the bill as now presented. 1t looked
decidedly fshy. There was no certainty
that there were not included in it claims
which had been already paid, and it was
put out Of the power of any one to de-
tect it, if suoh was the case. The pre-
sentation Of suoh O paper from the
Finance Committee, if that was the one
from which it came, was cause sufficient
TO discharge it, as unfit for its duties.
He had claims himself included in the
bill, and was not afraid to have them
seen. Nash said he knew that pay Ger.
.ificates, running from IL to 1888, could
not be due; some Of them must have
been paid. Jeter was for striking out
tho enacting clause. The whole matter
is uncertain, and smacks of fraud. It
10 a stop which we are oalled upon to
take in the dark. Cain considered it o
home matter, as had been said by the
member from Georgetown, when it was
first introduced. He said that he held
no claim Of his own, but had some in
charge which ought to be paid. Gail
lard argued that the Republican Print
ing Company had got frightened at the
hue and cry against them, and hnd con-
cluded to cut matters short. Besides,
they had been hurried, anu nuu uo. nat,
time. The Legislature took recess Of
several days, and persons interested
were absent. He was ready to pay the
claims now, and against striking out the
enacting clause.
MIR. Duncan urged that the Senate
has, by large majority, ordered these
claims to be minutely specified, anu
this is the poor answer. It had been
said that there are thousands of fraudu-
lent bills payable. They arc hawked
about the streets. It was necessary that
every Senator should see what was pre-
sented, and guard himself against impo.
sition. Who knows that they are genu-
inc? He would not charge that there
was any thing wrong, but this bit of
paper is enough to arouse suspicion.
The excuse of the Senator from Charles.
ton, as to lack of time and opportunity
for the committee to get and submit full
information, was of piece with the
list itself. There had been no urgency,
no hurry in the matter. This paper is
tnntamount to u refusal Of information.
The plain English Of it is, that those
who are interested do not mean to fur
nieh it. He could not understand why
any Senator, with legitimate claim,
should want u trustee, and if trustee
is employed, he ought to be compelled
to make the same showing that the
1zI