The Savannah morning news., 1902-02-24
A SCANDAL AT COLUMBIA.
UGLY CHARGES AIRED AS TO RE-
CENT LEGISLATION.

Chicanery Charged In the MnnipuIa-
ton of Local BilI-MeRsure APP
peared in Entirely Different Form
In the Final Rush-Changed Terms
of Beer Dispensers From One to
Four Years and Placed Their Ap-
pointment in Hands of state
Bonrd-Senator uderton Charged
Lieut.. Gov. TilIman with Unfair
ness.
Columbia, S. c., Feb, 2S-There were
unusual proceedings in the Legislature
just before its adjournment Their
like has not been known before. South
Carolina seems to be suffering in both
the state and nationa! legislative
branches. The local story is a long
one. 1t cannot all be told now because
a committee of grave senators and
representatives has been appointed to
investigate. The result will be damag-
ing TO perhaps more than one represen-
tative.
In brief, it seems that the provisions
of bill introduced by Senator Ray
sor as to some local Orangeberg mat
ter were incorporated in a general bill.
When Raysor's bill reached the House
1t was proposed to kill it. A couple OF
eaentatives objected, and
offered amendments. These were adopt
ed. The Senate refused to agree and a
contnlttee OF conference was
appointed. The committee was gotten
by the aforesaid young men in the
House to disagree. A free confer
ence committee came next. MIR. Ray
sor told the senators ne had no fur
ther interest in the bill: to kill it. The
free conference committee never met,
but the members signed a report pre-
pared by one of the young men of the
House who was upon the committee.
In the last hours OF the Legislature
there is a tremendous rush, and those
not in the secret accepted the state
ments of the young members of the
House and signed the free conference
report. This report was read in the
House. which was in disorder and with
few present, but before It was adopted
someone recognized the fact that it
presented a bill as substitute that
was entirely new matter and had new
er been considered in the body
Title and body of the bill had been
changed. While the bill for which the
free conference was appointed had re-
lated to a local county matter in
Orangeburg, the bill presented provided
for taking the appointment of beer dis
pensers out of the hands of county
boards, to put them in the hands of
the state board and to make their
terms of office four, instead of one
year.
Those senators who claimed they
were ouped are exceedingly angry. but
the House refused to let their state
ments go upon the journal. Mr. Domi-
mex or Greenwood, denies that he de-
ceived the members of the committee
but admits the substitution, saying
such things have been done before
Senator Barnwell declared it had been
done only by the radicals. There are
several others implicated. and a com
mittee has been appointed to make a
rigid investigation.
Lieutenant Governor Attacked
On the same line is Senator Ilder-
tons charge against Lieut.. Gov. Till
man, made in heated speech upon The
floor of the Senate. Both gentlemen
are OF the same political faith. Mr..
llderton has been pressing oil all the
session to give employees in the "re
lief departments" of railroads more lib
erty. This bill passed the Senate but
was amended in the House. 1t finally
reached free conference and was killed
Senator Ilderton made a written
statement protesting against the per-
sonnel of the Committee of Confer
ence. 1T is an outrage against hon
est legislation and contrary to the
rules of the Senate he said. Continu-
ing, he said his bill had passed both
Senate and House; he wished to ac-
cede to the House amendments, but
opponents of the bill would not per-
nit The chair, in appointing confer
ence and free conference committees.
named all the members from those SEN
ators opposed to the bill. The Lieu
tenant Governor denied partiality. Az
ter Mr. Ilderton left the chamber his
remarks were expunged from the jour
nal.