Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-02-19

vldlng for the appointment by the speaker,
of a committee Of FIVE, with instructions to in
quire and report if it be competent for the
House to resume the consideration OF: the
unfinished business of the last session. The
speaker appointed the following gentlemen {:
Messrs. Smonton, Johnstone, Gaillard, Muir
roy and Blue.
"WEDNESDAY, February H.,
In THE SENATE, bill to authorize the
consolidation of the Augusta, Knoxville and
Greenwood Railroad Company and the Au-
gusta and Knoxville Railroad Company and
q joint resolution to authorize the county
commissioners of Union county to apply to
the payment of the ordinary expenses of the
county the proceeds Of a special fence tax,
under suspension of the rules, passed
second reading.
The following concurrent resolution, intro
duced by Mr.. Witherspoon, was considered
Immediately and adopted:
Whereas efforts are being made to have ma"
ry .f' Of the battle Of Kings Mountain on the 7th
day of October, 1880 and whereas it Is deemed
a proper occasion for the American people to
coinmemorate their appreciation ofthe privileges
memorable struggle therefore, be IL
Resolved by the Senate of South Carolina, the
House Of Representatives concurring, That the
Senators and members OF theHouse Of Represen-
tatives from South Carolina in Congress be, and
ence to procure from Congress, at its present
session, an appropriation in aid of the proposed
centennial celebration Of the battle OF Kings
Mountain.
Resolved, further, That the Secretary of State
do furnish the Senators and members Of the
Honse Of Representatives from South Carolina
in Congress- with certified copies ofthe concurrent
resolution as early as practicable.
Senator Tafts concurrent resolution to
require the special joint committee on cruelty
to convicts to report on Friday, February 13,
was taken up, and spirited discussion ensued,
upon motion made by Senator Todd to in
definitely postpone the consideration Of the
resolution.
Senator Taft said that so much had been
said about the convict question last session, it
was not necessary to cali attention again to
the subject. The other side had said that an
investigation would be had, and the results of
the investigation made public, and it has
not been done. He had charged then that it
would be smothered, and he would repeat
that charge now. He demanded that the
committee appointed at the last session should
make some report now. Three weeks was
long enough time to find out if anybody is
guilty. If this matter goes over until the
next session, nothing will be done. He thought
they had taken sufficient evidence to make
their report now. He then demanded the
reading Of the report of the superintendent
of the Penitentiary as part of his speech.
The report was read. I.
Senator Wylie said the committee was re.
quired to report to the next Legislature and not
to the next session, and no one dreamed of any
thing else. The committee had, besides their
own convictions in the matter, the opinion Of
the attorney. general in reference to their pow
er under the resolution of the House. They
were not required to 60 prying about the
streets and the country, questioning every
one they might meet as to what they had
heard about cruelty to convicts. He denied
the charge of attempting to smother any
thing concerning the matter. Advertisements
had been inserted in the dailies of the State
inviting every one who was in possession of
any facts relating to the investigation, to come
forward and give their testimony.
Senator Maxwell said he had asked Senator
Taft to come to Greenwood and investigate
these charges, and now he asked him again. j
Senator Taft replied that perhapshe would
be there before they wanted him. s
Senator Wylie said he desired to make a
report which would not whitewash anybody.
but one containing the full evidence on both
sides concerning these grave charges. He
had no doubt it would suit the senator from
Charleston very we'll to have the testimony
on his side of the case published without pub.
fishing the other at the same time. The
committee proposed to hear the other side
before making their report.
Senator Taft, replying, said he had made
no aspersons upon the Senator's committee.
His charges were made against the General
Assembly. 1t was in the power of the
committee to get evidence right here in Go.
lumbia of convict having been killed
while shackled, and it can be proven by two
eye.witnesses, merely by asking for their testi-
mony. The other side was arrayed against
him because he had dared to start this inquiry.
Good had come Of it already, and he intend
ed to keep it up, and did not propose to be
shifted of: rr
The roll was then called on Senator Todd's
motion to indefinitely postpone, and resulted
ayes %, noes 5-those voting in the negative
being Senators Taft, Duncan, Williams, Col
lins and Bird.
A message was received from the Governor
forwarding the correspondence with the Gov:
ernor of Tennessee regarding the Kings
Mountain Centennial. 1t was referred to
special committee consisting Of Senators
Witherspoon, Croft, and Seigling.
In THE HOUSE, Mr.. Simonton, from the
special committee appointed to inquire as to
whether the House could take up its un6n:
ished business, submitted carefully prepared
and elaborate report, taking the ground that
the House could not resume the consideration
of its unfinished business. The report was
adopted and ordered to be spread upon the
journal.
A resolution, introduced by Mr.. Aldricb,
fixing the time for adjournment on Monday,
10Th instant, was taken up and supported by
that gentleman in brief speech, in which he
disclaimed any intention of hampering legis.
lation or causing wild hurry. But the body
had been convened to meet one certain ex-
traordnary emergency, and the time allowed
in his resolution was sufficient tor that. De
desired to test the sense Of the House on the
question whether or not other business should
be- considered. The majority of the bills in.
troduced thus far were those defeated at the
last session by the procrastination of their
introducers, and were either of not sufficient
Importance to justify the extension of the sit.
ting of this House, or else having unworthy"
written across their faces.
Mr.. Haskell replied. He called attention
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