The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-13
IF The CAP FITS
JUST WEAR IT"
A LEGISLATORS CHALLENGE
IN TILT OVER CAPITAL INvEsTI-
eating COMMISSIONS REPORT.

Representatives johnson of Fair
field and williams of Lancaster,
s. c., Clashed on the Floor of the
House Representative johnson
Called the Report an Insult TO
South Carolina Representative
williams Denied Any IntimatiOn
in the Report of Collision to Rob
the state Talk About Lies
Brought the Sergeant-at-ArnIs.
Apologies AlI-ArOund Followed.
Columbia, S c., Feb. 12.-There were
! exciting scenes in the hall of the
House of Representatives at last
nights session, and members INDUCED
in language supplementary but
quite expressive of theft overweight
feelings. 1t was the outcome of the
investigation into the manner in which
the state House was completed.
At a meeting of the members of the
commission which had in charge the
work OF completing the Capitol, held
yesterday, it was decided to memorial
ize the General Assembly for the mem
bers of the building commission to be
given a hearing in their own defense.
Was a Heated COIIoquy.
When the memorial was presented at
the night session a colloquy ensued be-
tween Mr.. T. Y. Williams of Lancaster
and Mr.. w. j. Johnson of Fairfield,
which almost resulted in a clash upon
the floor of the House.
Mr.. Johnson, member of the State
House Building Committee, declared
that it had not been his intention to
speak upon the question, for the Ian
guage which he would like to apply
to the report would not be parlia-
mentary.
Mr.. Williams and Mr.. ]. D. Rawlinson
of Richland piled Mr.. Johnson with
questions to find out if the latter had
been denied the privilege of coming
before the commission. The moment
was exciting when Mr.. Rawlinson be-
gan to approach Mr.. johnson, but the
Speaker raped the members to or
der.
Called Report an Insult.
Mr.. Johnson declared the report Of
a commission which had sat behind
closed doors, to have been a damnable
insult to the state of South Carolina.
Replying to a question, Mr.. john
son said that there had been no divis-
ion in the building commission except
for one dissenting member, who had
been permitted to be with the investi-
eating commission. why, not the
other eight?" he said. "They are hon
orable gentlemen, all of them, and
any statement to the contrary is an
infamous falsehood. -
Mr.. Wiliams-Do you mean to apply
that to the members of the commit
tee?
Mr.. Johnson-You have heard what
l have said.
Mr.. Williams-Do you mean to apply
that to me; it is very easy for you
to say.
Mr.. Johnson-If the cap fits wear it;
just wear it,
Mr.. Williams-All right, sir.
Defended Its Report Vigorously.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Johnson's
: remarks, Mr.. Williams very calmly
rising in his seat, and pointed his fin
ger at Mr.. johnson, said with delibera-
ton:
There is absolutely nothing in the
report which even intimates that anv
members of the State House Commits
sion has been in collision with any-
body to rob the state, and ANYBODY
VINO says so is a liar"
M. Johnson-Do you
AT lhls point several members sprang
up expecting to see trouble. and The
sergeant at arms took up a place be-
tween the two members of the Houses
VINO stood glazing at each other.
subsequently Mr.. Williams apoIogiz-
ed to the House, but not to an ir7di-
Nluual Tor the language he had used,
ana later Mr.. Johnson did likewise.