Evening journal., 1901-03-20
Committee VIII Reopen The
Subject on Friday
COURTS ATTORNEY EXPLAINS
Says Feeling on Part Of Old Mem
bCrS Toward The New is Not a
Personal One

Although Isaac C. Elliott and Merritt
N, Willis have been appointed Levy
Court commissioners by Governor
Hunn under recent act Of assembly.
they have not been admitted to the
court and may not be until thc SUI
nrcmc Courts OF the county passes on
the validity Of the new law. This
legal action was prec.pitated this
morning. when the court as IL Is pres
entity constituted voted 20 exclude
Mosrs Elliott and Willis. until
committee composed OF Messrs. Lynn,
Mealey and Megginson could inyesti-
gate. with the assistance of lesal adj
lvisers, the questions OF law involved.
The refusal to admit the two new
members into the court created a pro-
lnounoed stir about the Court iiouse
lduring the morning.
Mr.. Chandler explained that when
lhe voted for Democrats for the posi-
'tions distributed by the court yester-
day afternoon. ne did so under a mis-
apprehension. he believing the men TO
lbe Republicans. When ne subsequent
lly learned that his fellow Republicans
IMIM NlNNM AWI LTAlNiIAAr III NANlAa civ.
lto the men named by him, and agreed
lupon In caucus for election. ne could
lonly answer that he had been deceived
Mr. Megginson explained the sup
lp0rt given by him TO Democrats by
laaylng that he had correspOnded with
/, lmen In those districts Of the courty TO
I (which Democrats have been assigned,
! asking that they name men for the po-
lsitions The Democrats were named
land endorsed by Republicans and
a Democrats. WhCreupon he felt IL his
h duty TO support them.
II At this point Mr.. Chandler made
O some suggestion to caucus nominees.
i lam of whom were Republicans, Mr.Lynn
n replying that no names had been
agreed on in caucus. This remark
n closed the incident.
e Then the question as to the Iight OF
II the new members to De seated was
-lraisei. Messrs Elliott and Willis en-
!. ltered the court room together and
after conversing with Mr. Chandler
took seats within the rail. Mr.. Chand-
Ter moved that the credentials of Mr..
q lEliott be read. After the clerk had
Z compiled. Mr. Chandler motioned that
Z the new member be admitted.
Z You're too fast remarked Mr.
, Lynn.
!, Mr.. Chandler's reply was a cali for
! 1.-THE reading Of the credentials Of Mr..
=, Willis and after the motion was car
lrled into effect. Mr.. Armstrong mo-
}, ltioned that the credentials be referred
). 10 a committee of three. Of which Mr..
4 Lynn was TO be chairman.
p Messrs. Megginson and Mealey were
! named as the other members cf the
~ lcommittee
MR.. KNOWLES EXPLAINS.
Realizing they had been refused
ad lseats in the court, Messrs. Elliott and
IN Willis left the room.
avl In about ten minutes they returned
e- with William S. Hilles and Harry p.
.r- lJcslyn. their counsel. who Immediate
nd ~ went into consultation with Horace
m lG. Knowles, the courts attorney and
us Mr.. Lynn. The result Of the confer
I'm ence Is best explained by the follow
re ing voluntary statement by MI
ty Knowles.
He said. "As attorney for the court
was asked as to the proper course Ia
pursue in order that the court migni
,, lraise in proper and legal way any
N iquestion there may be concerning thl
. validity Of the new seven commits
- sioner law. or rather section Of tha
de law, which authorizes the appointment
m of two additional commissioners "a
of serve until the end of the term of thl
al present Levy Court The court be
lieves the law to be defective in som
respects, and raises the qustion as 3
whether or not it abolishes altogethe
the old five commissioners OF Lev
an- Court. AS the new Levy Court bill. Il
YER take effect 1904 is TO be composed O
A. seven members from seven defined dis
nd tricts the question arises as to the lega
ne status of the intervening court. IN
we'd matter is not a personal one on th
oD- part Of the Levy Court, toward tn
new members. and as any other slmi
lar body would do under like circum
stances. their action is simply TO loo
lrlv into the matter of what the effeC
q would be of seating the two new com
Iich missioners
was The question Of the legal status {
tier the court is raised. and If upon invest
ing cation it is foundthat the new member
sed viii In no way impair the status {
the court, and the validity of its futul
iaCtiols. the new members will /
promptly seated. II. however. the Il
gaiity of the Levy Court would
4 ieopardlzcd then the matter might I
ne submitted to the law court for an opii
are ion
.Ths committee Is going to act wit
~ great promptness and win report on
before next Friday"