The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1874-12-05
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
-. FRIDAY. DECEMBER 4, 1874.
SENATE.

10y HSAAsfo AASSS oti4< m
a HOUSE concurrent resolution to
meet iu Joint Assem- oly Friday. Decem-
Der IL. at P. NJ. to elect u Circuit
Judge Tor the First Circuit, was agreed
to.
Mr.. Gaillard presented petition of
President aud Directors Planters and
Mechanics Bank OF Charleston, pray
lug an amendment Of tho charter Of
said bank.
Mr.. Donaldson introduced bill to
amend Section 81 of uu Act entitled
IAN Act to reduce all Acts and parts
Of Acts pro gillng for assessment and
taxation OF property into one ACT, and
to amend the -ame."
Mr.. Hope-BiII to exempt certain
personal property from taxation.
Mr Kuith-Blll to regulate the pay
of County Treasurers.
MIR. Gaillard-Billt to repeal all Acts
aud parts OF Acts reqniring deposits by
INSURANCE compuniss Cf stocks or bonds
OF this State or of the United States
Tor the protection Of policy holders
within :he State.
Mr.. Whittemore-Joint resolution
proposing nn amendment to the Con
stltution OF the State of South Caro-
'lna. relative to the jurisdiction of JUS
tices OF tho Peace; hi't to rnJeuI Sec.
tlon 2. Chapter CXXNVITI, Revised
Statutes
Mr.. Johnston--B Bill to amend an Act
entitled IAN ACT III graut, renew nnd
amend charters OF certain towns aud
villages therein mentioned" Ed far as
| relates to the town of Sumter
Mr.. Hayne-Dill tn fix the salaries
aud reduce expenses in the offices OF
the Executive Department of this
State
Mr. WhittcuO-p Introduced roso.
luton, which. alter debate by Mcssrs
Nash. Duup, Whittenore aud Calu,
Was agreed to, tha. til" "nnm,ttee ap-
pointed on the Part oi two Honses.
1T last session OF the General Assem- biy.
10 ASCERTAIN what boads of the State
were pledged by the Financial Agent
As collateral security for State bonds.
aud to report their numb bers, color and
denominations. HI we'll as the amounts
tor which they we're pledged, to the
| Slate treasurer. be Instructed to re,
port to the General Assem- bly,. within
teu days, the result Of their investiga-
tion. aud also the expense incurred by
such Investigation, as welt as the
| source from which such expense. if
any, was paid.
After consideration Of General Or
ders, Senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES..
The Houso met J a. Nj.
Speaker Elliott addressed the House
on question Of privilege. aud read
extracts from Char lesion Daily Ne,os
and Courier. of December l and 9.
relative to the appointment OF Chair
! man OF the Committee on Privileges
aud Elections. he said he regretted
the necessity which compelled him TO
oconpy the time OF the House; that it
had always been his rule to avoid "A
controversy with newspapers. except
| when his personal character and honor
we're attacked. In this instance it was
not only his action as presiding officer,
but 1t was "a matter rejecting upon the
House. AS to the alleged custom Of
appointing to the craftsmanship of the
Com mmittee on Privileges and Elections
the person from Charleston receiving
the highest humber of votes, he would
state he knew nothing of such cus-
tom; be regarded only the settled
principle of parliamentary law. Such
| might have been the custom in this
Snte. in former days, wien bat one
political party held sway It wss pro-
nubiy then done us 4 matter Of conr-
| tesy; but there was no instance on
record in the United States Congress
q! giving the Craftsmanship Of any im-
portant committee, much less the
Craftsmanship Of the first committee of
the House. to political opponent. 1t
was always reserved for the friends Of
tue dominant party. Tho custom has
prevailed to appoint the eldest
continuous member to the chair
manship Of tho Ways and Means Com.
mittee when it couId be done with
out infringing on party rIes. He said
u good aud valid reason for not APP
pointing Mr.. Mcichers, of Charleston,
the Chairman cs Committee on Priv
lcges aud Elections, was the fact Of his
seat beng contested, and to appoint
him would place him IN IL position to
Il. in judgment npon his own case;
this would .qnnlly apply TO member
from any other County. whose seat was
contested. The charge that Mr.. Mel.
chers had not been appointed because
Of his nativity, was certainly Srului.
tous-an Insult both TO the House aud
| tho people of Char lesion. Mr.. Mel.