The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-12-12
DELEGATION UNITED
ON DISTRICT BILL
REPRESENTATIVES OF THIS
STATE HOLD CAUCUS.
Capt. Capers Will Stand Aside-lt
He Is an Impedirnent to the
Measures Succes-Senator
Tillman's Attitude.


por,dent of the State, writes that pa
per under date of 9Th:
The South Carolina delegation in
the house of representatives held a
car~us this morning and agreed upon
a bill for new federal district. Rep
resentative Johnston was delegated to
draft and introduce billsfor the
western federal district, with federal
court houses at Greenville, Green
wood, Spartanburg and Rock Hill.
This is practically the same bill
that passed the house last year after
the amendment putting in Greenwood.
Senator Latimet has introduced in
the senate the same bill that passed
the senate, putting the federal court
house at Chester. If. both bills pass
a conference will have to be held and
the situation will be the same as last
spring when the house would not yield
Rock Hill and the senate would not
yield Chester. The South Carolina
delegation all were willing to put
in both places, but Senator Nelson,
chairman of the senate committee,
would not consent to that and said
that rather than have any child's play
the whole business would have to be
killed and it was killed.
The seven representatives in the
causcus today were harmonious and
unanimous. Mr.. Finley says they
were that way last year and that the
South Carolina papers exaggerated
the disagreements and dissensions
among them.
Senator Latirner when seen tonight
said that since he had come up here
this time he has had over 20 letters
from representative men at Chester,
requesting that Chester be put in the
bill for court house. Asked if he
had had any letters from Rock Hill,
he said: <'Not one"
Asked if he had any preference for
Chester, he replied: eyes, or I would
not have put Chester in the bill, but
Of course if Mr.. Finley prefers Rock
Hill shall not raise any objections.
It will be up to him to decide be-
tween Chester and Rock Hill.'
Richland county is not included in
the new district. Representative Lever
was petitioned last summer by the
Richland Bar association to have
Richland included in the western dis
trict and he recommended. this to the
delegation. They all agreed that to
do this would jeopardize the bill, hav-
ing in it too many federal court
houses. All the delegation, however,
pledged themselves to support spe-
cial bill, which Mr.. Lever says he will
Introduce after the new district bill
passes, transferring Richland to it.
Jno. G. Capers may figure in this
thing. If he is candidate for dis
trlct judge it is likely the bill will be
held up in the senate, as Senator Till
man IS unalterably opposed to his be-
ing made judge, but Mr.. Capers talk
ing to me tonight insists chat he is
not a candidate for Judge. 'I can't
be candidate for judge of district
that has never been formed" he said.
i want new district down there,
for | believe the people, and especially
che bar of the state, deserve to have
it, and if I am in the least an inpedi-
ment to the establishment of che dis
trict, either myself personally or my
friendship with the president, I will
get clear out of the way. 1t shall not
be blocked because of me-"
It has been rumored that some one
was making a fight, or would make
a fight, upon Mr.. Caper's confirma-
tion if he shall be reapointed district
attorney. He says he knows Of no
such opposition and that he IS in
Washington solely on official business
with the commissioner of internal
revenue.
Senator Tillr1an told me today that
he would raise no onosition ii the