The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-18
SENATOR TILLMkN TALKS.
Must he No Hitch In Providing site
for Naval station at Charleston,
He

Washington, Jan. 17.-Senator Tillman,
after a conference with Secretary Long,
relative to the new naval station at
Charleston, says that not one cent will
be spent upon the establishment of the
new station until the state has ceded TO
the government all the rand necessary to
carry out the recommendations of the
Rodgers board 1T is important. there
fore' said the Senator. that there should
be no hitch or delay by the people of
Charleston who are interested in the
various pieces of property required for
the site. They should proceed at once
to agree upon terms so that the Legisia-
ture now in session should pass the nee
essary legislation ceding the prop
erty to the government. am
informed that not one dollar
of the money available will be expended
until a clear title for all the property
required is in the hands of the Attorney
General. 1t win be unfortunate IL condem-
nation proceedings have to be resorted
TO, for any unnecessary delay now will
retard the progress of the work. There
is no probability of any opposition by the
people of Port Royal or elsewhere pre-
venting the establishment of the naval
station at Charleston. providing the peo-
pie of Charleston do their duty promptly
and effectively. The matter has been
fully considered. che board Of officers has
made a favorable recommendation, and
the Secretary of the Navy has authorized
the beginning of proceedings looking to
the title to property needed by the gov
eminent If there is any hitch or inter
ruption OF negotiations it will be In Char
lesion and not here. for everything has
been done that is calculated to promote
and encourage the beginning of work on
the new naval establishment. There is
no occasion for any additional legislation
on the subject. Congress and the navy
department have done their part. and II
only remains for the people OF Charleston
to make terms with the government at
once
so anxious is the Legislature OF South
Carolina to have me remain In the Sem
ate that they have actually elected me
week ahead of the time appointed by
law for them to act" This Is the way
Senator Tillman commented, good-natur-
edly upon the premature action Of the
State Legislature In passing upon his eIec-
tion last Tuesday when according 10 law
the formality should not have taken place
until next Tuesday.
Il SUPPOSE" added Senator TiIman,
our State Legislature, which is natural
ly Democratic, was so eager to carry out
the verdict of the people expressed in the
primaries last summer, that the lawyers
OF that body neglected 10 consult the con-
stitution, which provides that the election
of senators shall be held the second Tues
day after the Legislature meets and or
ganizes 1t met and organized the first
Tuesday OF this month. 1t should have
! allowed another Tuesday to intervene be-
fore proceeding with the senat torial cleo
ton. The result is they will have to have
another election next Tuesday to make my
election valid. I suppose that the MEM
bers OF the Legislature were afraid that
something might happen to prevent them
from carrying out the desires of the peo-
pie OF the state. so they concluded to give
me my commission for another term a
week ahead"