The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-01-18
THE LOWER HOUSE.
Full Story of the First Meeting of
the Representatives.
SPEAKER GARY REELECTED.
Harer Beats Gray for Clerk. A
Sword for Victor Blue. The
Members Get Down to
Business at Once.
Business at Once.

Business at Once.
The house Of representatives was call
ed to order Tuesday morning of last
week at noon. As the clerk. Gen. J.
Walter Gray, struck the gavel upon the
speakers desk and called the house to
order, the sergeant at arms swung the
mace into its official place, on the
speakers stand, and the house Of rep
resentative had begun its session.
Clerk Gray announced that the first
business of the session would be to
elect temporary chairman.
Mr.. Mccullough of Greenyille nomi-
mated 'one who has long been useful
| member of this body" Mr.. D. H. Ma
sill of Greenwood. Mr. Magill was
duly elected by acclamation.
Clerk Gray then administered to Mr.
Magill the oath subscribed to by mem
Der Of the general assembly.
The clerk called the roll of counties,
three at a time, and the members-elect
presented themselves before the bar of
the house, where the oath was read by
Chairman Magill, administered by the
sergeant at arms, and repeated by the
members, who then signed the roll Of
the house.
D. E. Keels, representative-elect
from the county Of Lee, presented him
self and was duly qualified. He after
wards took his seat and no challenge was
made.
SPEAKER GARY.
When the members had presented
themselves and had been sworn in Mr..
Bacot, out Of regard for the interests Of
the state, and for the dispatch Of bust
ness, and for his own personal grati6-
cation, asked to be permitted to nomi-
nate F.ank B. Gary of Abbeville for
reelection as speaker of the house,
Mr.. Sturkie of Orangeburg, Winkler
of Kershaw, Ashley of Anderson,
Blythe of Greenville, Stevenson of
Chesterfield all seconded the nomina-
ton on behalf of their delegation. Mr..
Stevenson moved that the nominations
be closed. This was carried, and the
election of speaker by the roll call show
ed that of ia votes cast Hon. F. B.
Gary received the entire number. He
was duly declared elected speaker.
Mr.. Patton moved that committee
of three be appointed to wait upon the
speaker and to present him to the house
Messrs Patton, Patterson and Mauldin
were appointed They retired and ac-
companied Mr.. Gary to the speakers
stand, when he assumed the speakers
purple robe.
Before taking the speakers chair,
Mr.. Gary said: In assuming the duties
of the Office to which you have elected
me, permit me to thank you for the
high compliment viii ;h you have paid
me.
Having been elected three times to
preside over the deliberations of this
honorable body, can but feel that my
election now is an endorsement of my
course heretofore. This is indeed graft
flying to me.
In the discharge of my duties as
speaker, it will be my constant endeavor
to do my part towards keeping the as
semhly up to that high standard Of ex-
cellence that has long characterized it,
and to promote that harmony and good
feeling which is so essential to wise
legislation. l feel assured that to this
end will have Your hearty cooperation
and that your deliberations will
result in lasting good to the people Of
this State. At this time shall ven
ture but one suggestion, which [ hope
will not be regarded as OUT Of place.
It has been said that the committee
are the eyes; ears, hands, and, often
times, The brains Of the assembly. This
being the case, I would suggest that the
committees, to be hereinafter appointed
scrutinize every bill that comes up be
fore them, with view to seeing vbeth.
er or not they are in contradiction OF
of the constitution of 1895. Some of
the acts ofrecent legislation have been
held by the courts to be unconstitution-
al. and there are others which, in my
judgment, will be whenever they are
put to the test, 1t seems to me that it
would be a saving of time and expense
to prevent such acts from cumbering
our statute books.
again thanking you for the honor
conferred upon me, and trusting that
your work may be benediction to
South Carolina, I declare the house
ready to proceed to the transaction OF
business.
Speaker Gary announced that the
next step in organization would be to
elect clerk.
J. \. Mccullough of Greenville
nominated Gen. Walter Gray of Green
vile, gallant boy soldier, faithful
and competent clerk for former sessions
of the general assembly.
T. T. Rogers of Marlboro nominated
T. C. Hamer of Marlboro, young man
who, by his own industry, had received
collegiate and legal education and
was now the support Of aged parents,
J. ". Ragsdale of Florence nominated
r. NJ. McCown of Florence, who was
man Of sterling worth, man OF
strength in the Democratic party in his
own county, and man whose ability
to transact the duties Of clerk hai been
proven by his connection with the
clerical work of the senate:
C.L. Winkler of Kershaw seconded
the nomination OF McCown.
Geo. L. Prince of Anderson second
ed the nomination of Gen Gray
Frank Manning seconded the noml-
dation of T. G. Hamer.
Mr.. Henderson moved thatthe nomi
nations close. This was carried, and
Winkler, Williams and Ragsdale were
appointed tellers.
The first ballot resulted in 113 votes
being cast. Of this number Grey re-
ceived 80, Hamer 35 and McCown y.