Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-05-03
In THE House, Mr.. Humbert introduced

In THE House, Mr.. Humbert introduced
bill to repeal an act entitled can Act for
the relief of the widows aud orphans of per-
sons killed because of their political opinions" !"
Mr.. Sheppard introduced bill to regulate
the number and pay of officers, attaches and
clerks of the General Assembly, and to pro.
vide the manner of electing and appointing
the same.
Mr.. Holmes introduced bill to make jur-
ors', constables' and witness tickets receiva-
BILE for county taxes.
Mr.. Sheppard introduced bill to repeal
an act to regulate the granting of divorces; !;
also bill to abolish the Office of County Au-
ditor.
Mr.. Orr, on behalf of the joint committee
to whom had been referred the claims of the
members of the late Mackey House, made the
following report, which was adopted:
The committees on privileges and elections and
judiciary, to whom were referred the claims of all
persons alleged to have been elected, and who re-
fused to appear and qualify as members, and
joined themselves to another body calling them
selvesa House Of Representatives, &C., beg leave
sidered the same far rs their time has allowed,
and ask to make the following partial report:
That though the conduct ofthe persons referred
to in the resolutions has been highly reprehensi-
BILE, and in contempt of the authority of this
House, still the committees desire, as far as posi-
ble to carry out the broad, just and liberal policy
of the administration, and prescribe no one, as lar
as they can do so consistently with the dignity Oh
the House of Representatives and the majesty OF
the law. We beg leave to recommend as follows:
That from Beaufort Messrs Hastings Can't,
John Robinson, George A. Reed and 7. E. Miller,
on presenting their credentials and purglng them
selves at the bar of the House of their contempt;
have the oath Of Office administered to them, and
be allowed to take their seats as members.
That from Chester Messrs. Samuel Coleman and
Purvis Alexander be admitted on the same con-
ditions. ,.,.,
HAMPTON Boston be admitted on the same condl-
tions.
and P. K. Kinloch be admitted on the same con-
dtions.
gan, Christian w. Caldwell and Ellis Forrest be
admitted on the same conditions.
That from Richland Messrs. A. w. Curtis, G.
s. Minort, Jas. Wells, r. ]. Palmer and Wm M.
That from Williamsburg Messrs. VIM: Scott,
Jas. F. Peterson and John Evans be admitted on
the same conditions.
The several persons mentioned in the re-
port came forward, apologized for their con-
duct, and asked for pardon, whereupon each
one was duly qualified and seated.
Orr. on behalf of the committee on Privi-
leges and Elections, made report which re-
solves: First, that John Lee, of Chester, is
not entitled to seat, on the ground that ne
held disqualifying office at the time of and
since the election, viz. the office OF postmas-
ter. Second, that J. j. Hemphill, who was
the Democratic candidate, is entitled to the
seat on the ground that he received the next
highest vote to Lee, who was not qualified to
run. The report was made the special order
for tomorrow at p. m. The House then
adjourned. :-
FRIDAY, April q.
In THE SENATE, Mr.. Cochran, from the
Committee on Retrenchments, to whom were
referred the following bills, reported back the
same with the recommendation that they do
pass: Bill to abolish the Office of jury CON-
missioner and devolve the duties thereof upon
the sheriff of each county; bill to reduce
pay of commissioners and managers of elec.
tions and of their clerks; bill to further re-
duce the number and regulate the pay of otti-
GERS, attaches, clerks and aborers of the Cen
eral Assembly, and to provide the manner of
electing, appointing and paying the same;
bill to reduce the pay of county commission
ers and their clerks with amendments.
Mr.. Evans, from the Committee Oh Agrl-
culture to whom was referred bill to author
ize county commissioners to submit to the
qualified electors of their several counties
proposition to alter the fence laws, and to
provide for eRectuating the same, reported
back the same, with the recommendation that
it do pass.
The Committee on Privileges and Elections
asked to be discharged from further consider
alton of the Edge6eld, Abbevile and Lau-
rens contested seats.
Mr.. Gary introduced the following resolu-
tion
Resolved, That it be referred the Judiciary
Committee to inquire and report as to the propri-
ety as to the reducing Of the tax costs OF Attor-
news, Sheriffs, Clerks, Judges OF Probate and
their clerks and of Trial Justices, Coi.'abes and
Coroners
The resolution by Mr.. Cannon, relative to
establishing county courts, was agreed to.
In THE HOUSE, after large amount of
routine business had been disposed Of, the re-
port ,of the committee relative to the contested
election case of j. j. Hemphill VS.. John Lee,
came up for consideration.
Mr. Orr, Chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections, moved that the re-
port be adopted, and stated that the action of
the committee in recommending the unseatlng
of Lee and the seating of Hemphill had been
unanimous He desired, he said, to present
the facts which had governed the committee,
and hoped that the matter would be thorough
" discussed by the members of the House on
both sides They claimed: LIST; he said, that
Lee, who received the certificate and had the
prima facie evidence of election, was postmas-
ter of Chester, and had notoriously held that
position before and subsequent to the election,
and, under the constitution of the United
States and of the State, was disqualified from
holding the position Of representative. End.
That the county of Chester was entitled to
three representatives. Lee, according to the
returns, received the third highest number of
votes cast but these votes, under the circum-
stances, they held, was as Of no more effect or
value than simple pieces of blank paper, in
consequence of his holding disqualifying Of
fee at the time. Mr.. Orr then read af6davits
from T. NJ. Graham, Lees successor as post
master; j. l.. Harris, D. Hemphill, j. G.
Hardin and DIR. Davega, showing, beyond
doubt, that Lee had held the position of post
master before the election, that it was a mat
ter of common notoriety, and that he did not
turn over the office until the 9th of January.
In addition to these af6davits, Mr.. Orr sub
mitted also communication from Lee to his
successor, which was in the nature ola power
of attorney to certain parties in Chester, to
turn over the papers, records, &C., of the Of;
flee, which communication, signed by Lee
himself showed him to be still postmaster in