The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-03-05
BUYING THE STATE EXHIBIT.
Governor Evans Viii Not Have to Pay for the
Sta.e's Display at tho Atlanta Exposition.

Governor Evans Will Not Have to Pay for the
State's Display at tho Atlanta Exposition. n.
The House had under consideration
the appropriation bill, and one Of the
greatest questions Of interest was in
reference to the $4,000 for reirnbursing
tho outlay for tho Atlanta Exposition.
Judge Townsend moved to amend as
follows
"That the sum Of Sc, 600 be appropri-
atcd to pay J. G. Evans for certain
exhibits for the use of the State, tho
same having been placed on exhibition
vt the late exposition at Atlanta"
Mr.. Ildorton offered the following
substitute:
For the purchase OF the exhibit Of
tho resources Of South Carolina, made
ct Atlanta and to be forwarded to the
Cotton States Exposition to be held in
tho city Of Chicago, ILL.,, $4,000, If SO
MIR. Townsend spoke at length on the
matter. Go pictured tho beauties of
The Atlanta Exposition, told OF tho no.
cessity for q State exhibit which caused
Governor Evans to got it up, and said
that the exposition at Atlanta marked
an epoch in the history Of South Caro-
lima. He said that the Attorney Con.
appropriation would be constitutional.
They should take the Attorney Gcnor-
al's opinion.
He then denied that the Governors
action was in usurpation Of the func-
tions Of tho General Assembly. He said
that, having refused to give the State
Fair an appropriation, they would not
be inconsistent in doing this. To give
1t to tho fair would be donation to u
private purpose. This was cxpending
money for purpose other than pri
vate purpose. Mr.. Clark, the chairman
OF the finance committee, had written
a. letter saying it was worth $4,000.
They should look at this matter in a
broad statcsmanlike manner.
Mr.. l.. j. Williams did not expect to
make any speech, but he felt that he
should mako his position plain. The
constitution Of 1868 forbade the mixing
of tho three branches OF the govern
mont. This body alone was given
power to make appropriations. In 1894
| this body refused to make this appro-
| priatiOn-upOn preliminary canvass.
| Now they were under the now consti-
tution, and it forbade the valuation of
a contract invalid under the old consti-
| tuition. We arc now asked to pay out
money not authorized by law. Mr..
Williams said that all his sentiments
in this matter were in favor of giving
this money, but he could not vote for
an executive apprOpriation-for twist
it as they may that was all there was
in it. There had now been about $780,
900 of this kind Of appropriations. He
wanted to have this money paid. He
wanted to pay an individual to buy this
matter. He wanted to have such meas
ures introduced, but no committee
would do 1t. He understood that they
wouldn't because they said it would be
Tho house had been slapped in the
face had been talen by the seat Of the
pants and set over their fence against
their will. The Attorney General had
filed an opinion he would refrain from
discussing that opinion.
Mr.. Ilderton had given the matter
considere Bile thought. 1t was doubt
in his mind whether they could do this
or not. There was no authority for the
executive appropriation. They could
only buy the exhibit for its cash value.
He thought it wise that tho State
, should have such an exhibit. But the
thing had been done-rightly or
wrongly; he thought that they should
mako the purchase for It's actual value.
Tho only way to got out of the muddle
| justice to both parties.
Mr.. Skinner was in favor Of the ap-
preparation. There was no misunder-
! standing between Governor Evans and
| tho Legislature. Last year money was
slack and times hard; hence the ap-
preparation was not made. There wore
no legal or constitutional questions in
volvod.
Mr.. Williams-Why, then, was o
| joint resolution passed to purchase tho
| Wallace property before tho appropri-
tion was made?
Mr.. Skinner--That was to purchase
property.
MIR. Williams-W isn't this pur-
chase Of property you are now trying
to make? (Laushter.)
Mr. Skinner continued to urgo tho
necessity which rested upon the Gov.
ernor IN tho matter, and Of his having
to como to tho rescue Of the State at q
most critical juncture. He made his
tOrical reference to Napoleon at tho
battle of Waterloo.
Mr.. Watson said this was simply q
proposition to pay for the States OK
hibit at the Exposition--someth thing
that the people got the benefit of. 1t
WAS not an appropriation to benefit
John Gary Evans at all. The honor OF
tho State was at stake. In tho past
few weeks men wore coming to tho
State as result Of the exhibit at At
lanta. Ho wanted the appropriation
mado if there was only 800 worth of
exhibits returned to tho State. Mr..
Watson said: "Wo arc tho law-mak-
ing power Of South Carolina, and we
have right to make this appropria-
tion."
Mr.. Thurmond said that tho PROPOSE
tion was clearly constitutional IF they
had passed a preliminary resolution
that would have made no difference, as
they could not give themselves more
power than they already had. He read
an extract from long lcttcr from MIR