The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-02-16
THE WORK 0E THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
LIVELY SCENES IN THE HOUSE
- OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Discussion Incident To Report of
State House Investigating Com
rlittee-Other Matters.

in the legislative session for the past
several days has centred in the dis
cussion incident to the report OF the
joint committee to inspect the work
OF the completion Of the State House
and the action.to be taken by the gen
eral assembly with reference to that
report. There were lively scenes in
the lower house following the pre-
sentation of a memorial from the old
commission for the completion OF
The State House, asking for hearing,
and during heated discussion the lie
was passed by two members.
To Enter Suit.
The two houses have agreed on a
concurrent resolution ordering that
appropriate legal steps be taken to re-
cover from Frank P. Milburn, the
architect, and McIlwain, Uukefer &
Co., the contractors, "as much as pos
sible Of the damages the State has
suffered through their misconduct and
breach OF contract, and such other
legal redress as may seem to them to
be advisable:" The resolution pro-
vides for the appointment of one SEN
ator and one representative to direct
said litigation, with power to employ
counsel, provided that the compensa-
ton of such counsel shall not exceed
e5 per cent of the amount received in
said suits.
Why Special Counsel.
1t was urged in the senate, where
the resolution originated, that the at
torney general was the proper officer
to take charge of the suit, but Sena-
tor Manning, while expressing the
greatest confidence in the present at
torney general, mentioned the fact
that he was the assistant attorney
general 20 Mr.. Bellinger, who was
member of the State House commis-
sion, and that it would be best for
all concerned should other counsel
be employed.
The two houses have not yet agreed
on the manner of giving the commls-
sion for the completion OF the State
House the hearing which they de-
manded Immediately after the report
of the Legislative committee was made.
The house has agreed to have any
statement which the commission de-
sires to make printed and placed on
the desks of the members, while the
senate has adopted resolution pro-
y;due that committee of hve, two
senators and three representatives,
be appointed to hear the commission
and to take testimony. The two
houses may get together on the mat
ter today.
The members of the old commission
held a meeting in Columbia on Thurs
day morning and adopted memorial
to the general assembly stating that
they had been done a manifest injus-
tice by the legislative committee, as
it willingly or unwittingly or unfairly
condemns our acts and the work ap-
proved by us without giving US an
opportunity to be heard and even re-
fusine to allow us hearing. Many
of the allegatives of error and IN
competency are easily explained. Ger
tain conclusions could not and would
not have been drawn had available
evidence been heard. Above all, we
feel that an impression. that must
necessarily result from the tenor and
terms of the report, would not exist
ii we were allowed the opportunity to
be heard.' Wherefore, the commits
sion prayed that they be given hear
ING and that their evidence and reply
to the report OF the committee become
2 permanent record Of the general
assembly.
The memorial was presented IN the
house by Mr.. Aull and in the senate
bv Senator Talbird, who also present.
ed resolutions providing for a JOINT
committee to hear the commission