The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-12-27
TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT.
A Row About tho Attorney Generals
Extra Clerks

COLUMBIA, S. c., Dec. 20.-Afte
the roll call in the House yesterday Col
Haskell stated that the Attorney Gen
eral, in his communication submitted
the night before, had asked for an inves
tigation. he accordingly offered re
solution providing for the appointment
of committee to ascertain from hin
the number of clerks employed and tht
number dismissed.
Mr.. Duncan, OF Newberry, declared
that the Attorney General had Justified
his act, and then went on to say, HE
admits the mistake he has been lead
into. I think the gentleman is trying tc
make q mares nest out of this thing
If he wishesto make political capital lei
him 60 ahead"
Mr.. Gary, of Abbeville, then read 9
letter from Chief CleI k Covlngton to the
Attorney General, in which Mr.. Coving
ton made the following statement:
"Taking The view that if the Code
should be read in both houses as a bill II
should be enrolled in the engrosslng de.
partment, the number of clerks ap'
pointed would not have been sufficient
TO do that work and the other regular
work of the department."
Mr.. Brice, of Chester, asked what
was the date OF the letter.
Mr.. Gary glanced at the letter again
and said he was compelled to say that
there was no date to it.
On being informed Of this Mr.. Coving.
ton went to Mr.. Gary and stated that he
had Inadvertently omitted the date and
that the letter was written yesterday
morning.
Mr.. Shuman, of Greenville, said that
he did not think the House could afford
to shut off the proposed Investigation,
although he considered the letter sufi.
cient.
Mr.. Skinner, of Barnwell, thought
that the letter was abundantly satisfac.
tory. He declared that the Attorney
General was responsible under the law
for what be dill, but notprimarily to this
House.
Mr.. Magill, of Abbeville, offered as q
substitute to Mr.. Haskell's resolution
another resolution to the effect that "the
explanation of the Attorney General as
to why he had an extra force of clerks in
the enrolling department is satisfactory
to this House,"
Mr.. Johnston, of Fairfield, thought
that the letter wss sufficiently explana
tory and that further investigation would
be humlliating to the Attorney 'Gener
al.
Mr.. Haskell: II declaim any attempt
to humiliate anybody. The custom has
been unbroksn for fifteen years to lei
each solicitor have one clerk, and in the
last hours, on account of the pressure
of work, to employ several extra clerks
III wanted to make political capital
would talk it here, aud let the objectors
90 on record. IF it were the best frien(
had would demand an investigation.
Mr.. Duncan, of Newberry, said there
was nothing hidden, and that further IL
vestigatlon would bring out only reitera
ton, and out of justice to an honorable
man the House sh?uld expressed itsel
as fully aatis6ed.
Mr.. Haskell moved 10 table Mr.
Magill's substitute, which motion wal
lost by the following vote:
Yeas-Auderson, Ashley, Bacot
Breelaud, Brice, Egan, Glover, Gunter
Hamilton, Hardee, Haskell, Hughes
Hydrck, Kelley, Kirkland, Lotion
Lawrance, Manning Moses, Shuman
Sullivan, Tupper, Won Kolnitz, vii
liams-24.
Nays-Barry, Blease, Breazsale
Buist, Carpenter, Cox, Coylngtor
Cooper, Crum Davis. DendY, Dennis
DuBose, j. T. Duncan, T, c. Duncan
Edwards, Elder, Ellis, Estridge, Farley
Fielder, Garris, Gary, Graham, Ham
nett, Hardin, Hardy, Harvey, Roper
Henderson, Jefteries, Johnson, Kuotts
J. q. Kinard, 81. j. Kinard, Lancaster
| Lennon, Love, Magill, Laban Maul
din, W. II. Mauldin, McLaurin, Nc
White, Mshoe, Mitchell, Nettles, Oh,
yer, Parks, Patton, Pearman. Phillips
Rast, Rhodes, Roper, Rogers, Russell
Slngletary, Skinner, A. j. Smith, j. l.
Suith, Stackhouse, Stokes, Sturkle
Suddath, Tatum, Ia ylor, Tlndal, Vaug
han, Waters, Watson, Whitman, Whit
mire, Wilborn, W. G. Wolfe, j. S
Wolff, Woodward, Yeldell, Youmans
50.
Mr.. Haskell offered an amendement
to Mr.. MsgiIl's resolution to the efec'
| that the Attorney General be requested
| to send to the House a list giving the
names of the clerks, the date of employ
ment and the amount of compensation.
Mr.. Kinard inquired whether Mr.. Has
kell was a member OF the ways anc
| means committee.
Mr.. Haskell said he was.
MIR. Kiuard: "Then why don't You
know all about this without getting the
House to see about ii?"
Mr.. Haskell said he had neglected bis
duty, which be cheerfully admitted.
Mr.. Johnston, of Fairfield, said thai
the Attorney General was not to blame
He has employed extra clerks in antici-
patton Of the reading of the Code, anc
wien it was intimated to him that the
| Code would not bs read he dismissed
the extra torce before be knew the mat
ter was coming up.
Mr.. Haskell said it was in the air thai
these clerks were dismissed after atten-
ton had been called ito the unnecessary
numrer IN the Senate.
Mr.. Tupper, Of Charleston, said be
had known the Attorney General foI
years and that he was an honorable
gentlsnan. AS such he felt sure that
the Attorney General was perfectly
willing to have his actions thoroughly
investigated.
MIR, Magill, of Abbevllle, said bis re-