The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-10-03
Constitutional Convention,
THE WORK BEGUN IN EARNEST.
The Executive Department Under Re-
view.
thirteenth Day.

work this morning in the consideration
OF matters connected with the eXecu-
tive department, relating to the cstab.
lishment of u pardOning board and the
power Of removal from public office by
the Governor. A little by-play began
tho session in an effort to unlock the
wheels of the committee on county gov
ernments.
LIVELY TIMES IN a SPLIT COMMITTEE.
Mr.. Otis rose to q question of high
privilege immediately after the cor
rection of the journal has been COM
Pleted and offered the following reso-
luton:
Whereas, the committee on counties
and county government has been in
creased from III to IL membcrs-an
even number-by orde.' of this conven-
tlon, which has frequently caused a
deadlock and now q permanent dead
lock therefore, be it resolved, that the
Hon. J.W. Floyd, of kcrsbaw, be added
to the committee on counties and cOun.
ty government.
Mr.. Austin, of Greenville, had risen
az soon Us he saw Mr.. Otis on the floor.
The latter declined to yield and pro-
ceeded to speak, urging and beseech-
ing the convention to give the cnmmit-
tee an odd number to break the dead
lock.
Mr.. Austin offered the following sub
stitute
whereas, the committee on counties
ana county government Is composed of
twelve members, ard whereas, with
this number the committee is unable to
agree; therefore, be it resolved, that
the president of this convention be au-
thoTized to add one additional member
to said committee.
NJ, .,;1 l. -,
ing to leave the selection OF the odd
man to the chairman of the convention.
He thought it preposterous and pre-
sumptuous for q membOr Of one OF the
two sides in the committee to try to
name the odd man.
Mr.. johnson concurred in this view.
Mr.. Moore thought the fairest way
would be to withdraw the last man aD-
pointed.
George D. Tillman moved to table
Mr. ,Austin's substitute and gravely and
pathetically gave an account Of the sit
nation In his committee, which elicited
roars Of laughter. He suggested that
thirteen ia an uplucky number. The
committee had been going on smoothly
with six members for new counties and
five for the old system Of monopoly in
court houses when this newcomer, who
favors the old county system, came
in and created a deadlock in which the
committee had continued ever since.
If the debate on the report was half
as exciting, fierce and bitter US it had
been in committee he could promise
that it would be u very interesting oc-
casiOn.
The chair asked leave to mako a
statement. The name of the gentleman
who was made the twelfth member of
!, hul
the newspaper roll used in making up
the committees. When the mistake
was discovered, as IA matter of courtesy
to the gentleman he was allowed to se-
lect his own committees. AS he chose
that On counties it was necessary to OBJ
tain permission from the convention to
add one to the number Of that commit
tee, which had been done.
Mr. Prince, of Anderson, favored Mr..
Aust!n's substitute. He was willing to
leave the appointment Of the odd man
to the president or to the convention,
but he did not think one of the con
testing halves Of the committee should
name the man or decide the point at
issue.
Mr.. BreazeaIe offered q substitute in
structing the two halves of the commit
tee to make two reports and allow the
question to be fought out on the floor
of the convention.
Mr.. George ID. Tillman said tho com
mittee could not agree on anything,
not even on its points of Disagreement
(Laughter).
Mr.. OTIS proposed that each half of
the committee put up a man and let
the convention elect one of them to I'LL
out the committee.
Mr. Stanyarne Wilson objected to
this on the ground that it would force
the convention to n test vote before it
was informed of the merits OF the cues
tiOn.
Mr.. Otis moved to table Mr. Brea.
zeale's substitute. Lost
Mr. Breazcales substitute WAS then
adopted.
THE BOARD OF PARDONS.
The report on tho executive depart
ment was taken up, and the pending
question was on Mr.. Derham's amend
ment as follows:
"Amend section | , line g. by strik-
ing out all after the word 'pardOns,
down to and including the word 'pcni-
tentiary,' and insert in lieu thereof 'to
be provided by the General Assem-
bly,"
Mr.. Efird opposed tho amendment.
He thought the members of tho pro.
posed board should be persons who
live In Columbia and who are elected
by and responsible to the people. He
wanted the composition fixed in the
Constitution, and not left to any future
possible vagaries Of the General AS
sembly.
Mr.. Derham, in supporting his
amendment, said it to be- an assump-
tion that the governor Is worked to
death, while the other State officers
mad nothing to do, and should there
tore be required to help him in his
work. AS O. matter of fact, the State
oificers are harassed to death by their
membership on boards. Members
shonld remember that the action taken
neref%ould be final. If the General
Asse1~aly made mistake in com.
posing the board it could be easily
corrected. u experiments were to be-
Srlea they should not be put in the
Mr.; w. J. Montgomery offered q
substitute that the board of directors
OF the State penitentiary constitnte
the board OF pardons, and proceeded to to
speak In its favor. w
" Mr.. IL r. Tfllmap on "a ~ ..... =.