The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-12-07
News From Columbia.
Ncrs md Courier.


@@CoLUMBIA, Dec. 3.-When the call
for State volunteers was issued Gov
crnor Ellcrbe had no equipment for the
men who were to come to Columbia in
response to the call for volunteers. Ii
took money to bring the men to Colum-
bia and to buy blankets with which to
cover the soldiers, Nineteen hundred
dollars worth of blankets were pur-
chased from firm in Charleston, and
some were bought here. The men had
to be fed until the Government took
charge of the volunteers; tents had to
be hauled and travel had to be paid
for. In all the bills for the very ear
licst movement of the troops, and be-
fore the Government took charge of
them, aggregated $500. These bills
were not taken up by Capt. Fslller,
representing the war department, but
were to be handled through Governor
Ellerbe. He was repeatedly assured
by telegraph and orders that all expen-
ses incident to the mobilization of the
troops would be paid by the Govern
ment. The bills were made out ac-
cording to the form sent from Wash
ington. They were sent back and
fixed up again, exactly as the Wash
ington authorities directed. Now, as
has been stated in the News and Cou-
ricI, the comptroller refuses to pay the
claims from South Carolina, on the
ground that the State owes the Federal
Government about a122,0O0, on some
back claims, incident to the land script
legislation.
1t would appear that the only thing
now to do is to wait until some Repre-
sentative from this State has Il bill
passed, directing the payment Of the
money expended for the mobilization
Of the troops. Senator McLaurin has
taken the matter in hand and promises
to DO whatever is possible.
1t generally takes great deal Of
time to get bill through Congress
carrying an appropriation, and it has
been suggested that the. General AS
sembly Of this State should Immediate
ly upon its assembling, pass a joint
resolution directing the payment OF the
money to those who assisted in the
mobilization of the State troops here,
under the first cell, unless the war de-
partmcnt gets the money for the State
before that time.
The Government paid, of course, Il
great deal more than the amount in
volved for the support Of the troops
while here, and took entire charge Of
the mobilization Of the volunteers un-
der the second call.
ABANDONING ABBEvILLE.
The slicing up Of old counties seems
to be quite the fashion now. Governor
Ellerbe has received petition from
citizens in portion Of Donald's and
Due West townships, of Abbeville
County, asking to go into Anderson
County. The statement is made that
if portions of Cedar Springs, Bordeaux
and Indian Hill townships succeed in
getting into Greenwood, as they have
petitioned to do, it will not interfere
with the plan Of Donald's and Due
West to go into Anderson County.
Certificates are attached to the petition
that the territory involved is 16S square
miles, and that the necessary number
of voters have signel the petition.
There are, however. no certificates to
show that Abbevillc will have the
requisite number of population and
wealth left, as provided for, il the ter
ritory involved leaves Abbevillc Coun-
ty:..,
The papers in the case have been re-
fcrred to the Attorney Generals office,
and the following decision has been
filed with reference to the Incomplete
ness Of the showing:
COLUMBIA. S. c., Dec. g. 1898.
Hon. w. H. Ellcrbc, Governor Of
South Carolina-Dear Sir: The petition
of NJ. l.. Latimerand others, pelitioning
for an election to be held in Donald's
Township, Abbcville County, desiring
to be cut off and incorporated within
the limits Of Anderson County, has
been considered.
The petition and papers Herewith
connected d0 not show that old Able
vile County would still retain the
constitutional number of inhabitants
nor the required amount of taxable
property. TO this extent the petition
is defective, and should be rcmedied
so us to comply with the requirements
Of the Constitution. Yours truly,
u. X. GUNTER, JR.,
Assistant Attorney General.