The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-02-22
General AssemblV.

uOh0ldi ASo0lMul
Columbia, Feb Is.-The house
for the FIRST time held an afternoon
session It begins to look now as if
the general assembly may.not adjourn
Tuesday It may, but then the mat
ter is stiIl hanging fire
Fhh house adopted resolution to
appoint an investigating committee
TO examine the affairs of the State
peniten.iary At the afternoon ses-
sion bill wss passed allowing rail-
roads TO obtain charters from the
secretary Of S.ate As the law now
stands each application for charter
nnss come IN the form of a concur
rent resolutions which is adopted by
S viva voce vote, necess:tating loss
Of about 10 MINUTES in the house for
each such resolution After the res
solution is adopted the bill itself is
iAtrodnced
hen the house reassembted yes.
terday, Mr.. Sharpe wanted to recon
slider the vote whereby the bill to
bond the state liquor commissioner
was passed tc third reading. he
said that iifs the bill. were returned to
second reading he would offer an
amendment TO reduce the amount OF
she bond, as . $4,000 surety bond
would cost $500. As the vote to
order the bill to third reading had
been clinched, the house could not
return the bill TO second reading, and
no amendment could be introduced
on third reading without unanimous
coasent
Mr. Stevenson introduced the fol.
lowing resolution as TO the reported
shortage at the penitentiary. The
resolution was adopted The senate
afterwards adde6 an amendment.
Following is the resolution
Whereas there are romors publish
ed in the public print charging irreg
nIarities 10 the management and con.
dition of the state penitentiary and
whereas justice TO the pres
emf superintendent the snperin.
teadent elect, and to the State de-
mands aspeedy and thorough ilayes-
iigations of all the affairs of said
penitentiary;; nov, therefore,
Be it resolved by sEe house of rep
reseniatives, the seaase coDcurring !:
Section That committee of
two oon the part of the senate, to be
appointed by the president of the
senate. and three on the part Of the
house, 80 be s2pointed by the speak
er Of the house, be appointed for the
purpose of investigating the affairs
of said pe1itentiary
Sec. 2 That said committee shall
hsse the right Is employ an expert
lbookkeeper and stenographer. to send
ldtor persons and papers, to swear wit
nesses, TO require the attendance of
any parties whose presence labe
deemed necessary, and tosinEessigate
fully all Transactions concerning the
said penitentiarY and its manage
1nent, andto take festimeDy either
wiihm 81 ishons tbs State and shall
have Tie power I'd take chsTge esof the
hooks and vouchers and other papers
of said institution
Sec 8 That the said committee. at
any time when they ydeem aayisas
bic, may call to their assistance the
attorney general Of this State
zSecsA That the said committee
shall report its findings TO me gov
efnor Of the State, together with she
te.siimony.ts taken by said committee.
aid to be by him transmitted to che
general assembly. after he shall have
taken such action upon the report as
he may deem proper. Said commit
tee may SIT during tine recess of the
sessions OF the general assembly.
One Of the 6sas matters to come
before the senate vas . resolution from
the house providing for joint commit
tee Of the two houses to investigate
the runors and charges eoncersiug the
management of the state penisensisry
Il Was not unexpected, bss provoked
considerable discussion.
Tie claim of shis State against the
general governmens for ioau made 70.
the prosecution Of she var of 1872
came up in the form Of a house
resolution, offered by Mr. N G Evans,
enpowerlng the governor and attorney
general 90 employ so agent or attorney
general to prosecute such claim at fee
noa to exceed Il per cent. Of .he
aDouos involved As the amount il
about $500 600 che fee would be
500. 200.
Mr. Henderson got Mr.. Archer to
withdraw his motion. so that he could
offer the following substitute
- M. =