The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-08-21
rho Facts I'm relation 10 the Passage
of our Court House BiII.


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To the Editor Of the Comet
Having heard IL intimated several
times prior to the Hazlehurst Congress
sional convention, and reiter-
ated by some since that time
that Jackson was indebted to Col.
Singleton tor the passage OF the Court
House bill through the House last SEES
sion of Congress; / think IL but justice
to our own representative, and to Mr..
Singleton, as well, that the facts should
be made known; and as one acqualnt-
ed with SAID facts, give them TO you
for publication, that justice may be
done and our most excellent Repre-
sentative treated fairly.
It is well known to parliamentar'ans
that in Il legislative body bill cannot
be called up out of its regular order II
there be single objection; and it is
also fact that during the last I'VE
DAYS of Il session Of Congress this rule
does not hold good, but any member,
if he can get the recognition OF the
Speaker, (Which is sometimes very
hard to do,) may call call up for I'M
mediate action, any bill that he may
desire passed.
Now for the facts: During the last
five days of the last session of Con-
press, Col. Hooker was confined to his
bed by fever, and knowing that he
would be unable to attend the sessions
of the House, he wrote note to Col.
Singleton, and sent the "Court House
bill" with it, requesting him that
when his (Hooker's) name was called,
Che having already obtained Mr.. Ran
dall's promise to recognize him. to
present the bill and have it passed; all
opposition to the same having been
silenced by him during the progress of
the session. This Mr.. Singleton did,
as he would have done. no doubt for
any Other of his colleagues, or perhaps
for any other member of Congress. 1t
is also proper to add in this connec-
ton, that Col. Hooker, ut the time he
sent the request with the bill to Col.
Singleton also addressed a note to the
Speaker reminding him of his prom
Use, and notifying him that Col. Sin
gleton would present the bill. These
are the whole facts in the case, and
we see no reason in The world why any
credit whatever should be given any
one besides Col. Hooker, for the pas
sage of this bill. In truth there was
an attempt made to retard the pro-
gress of our bill in the interest of the
Oxford court house bill, but without
success. If it was generally known
Mr.. Editor, that nearly every member
of Congress during last session had
public building bill before the House,
about two hundred in all, including
three from Mississippi and every
working assiduously for his
bill; and that only about three or four
passed the House during the whole
session, including our own, think in
that case our own immediate Repre-
sentative would be free from that cen
sure that some, who are ignorant of
The facts are disposed to bestow upon
him; and instead, would receive at
heir hands the deserved plaudit "Well
lone good and faithful servant"
Before closing this already too eX-
ended letter, | may state that Col.
Singleton has recently written letter
o Il prominent gentleman of Halle
hurst, in reply to inquiries made
lbout this matter, in which he gives
lbout the same version as above, and
claims no credit whatever for the pas
age of the bill.
| may state also in this connection
hat the writer of this was in Wash
ngton during the whole of last ses-
ion of Congress, and being deeply in
crested in the passage of the Jackson
tourt House bill, knows whereof he
peaks. Respectfully,
FAIR PLAY.