The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-12-05
OUR COLUMBIA LETTER.
The Organization OF tho General Assem-
bly, and Its First Weeks Work.
COLUMBIA, S. c., December 8.

q
certain significance. It probably indi-
Gates that, unlike the sessions of the last
four years, it will not be characterized by
radical or novel leg.clation.
The fact is that little is left for Reform
ers to do. Scarcely one of the multitude
nous measures which they set out to
accomplish has been left undone, and the
feeling appears to prevail that once more
the whole State, politically speaking, is
about to return to humdrum existence.
. Speaker Ira B. Jones of the House was
reelected without opposition. For Clerk
Gen. J. Walter Gray was opposed by
Editor George R. Koester, OF the Colum-
bia Register, and Mr. Gray was reelected
by vote Of ITO to IL. Sergeant-at-arms
Stansell also met with some opposition,
but was overwhelmingly elected on the
first ballot.
In the Senate the familiar form of Lieu
tenant Governor Zimmerman, of Edge
field, once mere casts its Uncle Sam-like
shadow from the rostum. Mr.. John R.
Harrison, of Greenville, was unanimous
ly elected President Pro Tenn. For the
clerkship held for the last four years by
DIR. Sampson Pope there was lively
scramble between e1-Railroad Commits
sioner Sigh, of Newberry, ex-senator R.
R. Hsmphill, Of Abbeville, and Assistant
Clerk R. NJ. McCown, of Florence. The
struggle was really confined to the two
first named, and on the second ballot
General Hemphill received 20 votes to
Sligh's 16, and was abundantly rewarded
for his defeat for reelection as Senator.
Sergeant alarms J. G. Elliott, of Lam
caster, was reelected. Among the minor
appointive Offices in both Houses various
and sundry changes were made.
The membership Of the House Is very
much the same in character that it was
last year. From Beaufort County the
Conservative Of last session is replaced
by Tillmanite. Otherwise the relative
strength of the two factions remains the
same. It is noticeable, though, that the
Tillmanites have lost number of their
strongest and most influential leaders,
not by defeat, but because they have been
promoted to higher stations with better
salaries attached. Jordan, Of Aiken,
Kirkland, Of Kershaw, and others are
now in the Senate. Watts is a Judge, and
Frank, the youngest, is the only remain
ing scion Of the Gary clan on the,foor.
It is evident already that while the re-
formers are not without men Of brains,
they lack leaders of trained ability and
parliamentary skill.
J. Bolton Watson, Of Anderson, appears
to be developing as leader. ]. E. Brea:
zeale, of Anderson, is again chairman of
the, judiciary committee, but there is
strong likelihood that he will inherit
Judge Norton's shoes, though his oppon-
ent, Gen. Earle, of Greenville, is said to
have rs votes already pledged.
Among the new members certain to
have weight in the body are Judge @. P.
Townsend, Of Marlboro Col. McSwee-
ney, Of Hampton; j. Ed. Ellerbe, of
Marion, q brother of the Comptroller;
and Dr. c. T. Wyche, of Newberry.
Frank B. Gary succeeds Yeldell as chair
man of the committee on ways and
means.
In the Senate appears the same absence
of leadership. Senator Stanyarne Will
son, to be sure, is still in his seat, but il is
scarcely to be expected that since his
election to Congress he will 60 out of his
way to exert himself. Senator Finly, of
York, is concededly q strong man of in
domitable energy and will, but he has
shown too much conscientious indepen-
dence and disregard Of partisan afiliation
to bereceived as leader by the admins
tration. His personal strength in the
Senate is great, as he is known to be
reliable and straightforward.
Col. D. z. Norris, of Anderson, a new
Senator, is man who is already an
acknowledged leader. Nearer than any
other he will fill the shoes of W. D.
Evans, who was while Senator looked
upon as the Senator to whom the Alli-
ance Senators always lenta favorable ear.
Among the Conservatives, Sloan of
Richland and Buist Of Charleston are re-
turned, and they will hold the prestige
which long experience and splendid
ability has given. "Joe'' Barnwell has
taken the seat of the brilliant Smythe, of
Charleston, who resigned from i'll health,
and Barnwell is one Of the most gifted
and talented lawyers in The South. He
is man Of remarkable striking pres
ence. classic features, and is an extremely
effective and powerful speaker. It is
predicted that he will become conspic-
uous figure in public life.
This will not be a good year for OK
treme legislation. Neither House will be
controlled absolutely by the Governor.
Governor Evans, without any disparage-
ment Of his ability, cannot be said to
have the strong personality Of Governor
TIllman,. who "made every body keep out
of the road" Heretofore the Reformers
have all been Tillmanites, but it does not
by any means follow that now they will
all be Evansites. It is matter Of COM
mon report that there are numerous Re-
formers who, while disposed to resent
any attack on the Reform Movement,
will be slow to join in any projects which
have distinctly an Evans flavor. Wounds
suffered in the last campaign, skillfully
bandaged and dressed as they were, have
not been healed and it is not assured that
they ever will be.
So far the one event of the session has
been the squelching of DR.. Pope. In the
House the Doctor could find no member
to present his petition asking an official
investigation of the election frauds, and
when the Speaker stated on Thursday
that he had the petition, but was without
authority to read it, Mr.. Earle's motion
that it be heard was voted down. In the
Senate the committee on privileges and
election, to which it had been referred,
reported that the petition had no merit,
and xyitbout q disaapfipo voic., tha rap,rt