Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-07-28
Friday, July %, 1905.
SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.

SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS.
The somewhat notable suit of Will
liam E. Lucas, president Of the Lau-
rens Cotton mills. against S. NJ. MILL
ken, has been decided against Lucas
in the Federal court, at Charleston
The presiding Judge refused to remand
the case and dissolved the injunction.
Columbia Record: At the next ses-
sion of the legislature a bill will be
introduced asking for the creation of
the Office of county judge. If not In all
counties, at least in Richland county.
The matter has been under considera-
ton for some time and 1t Is practically
certain that the bill will pass, although
there will have to be some changes In
the present law regulating courts. The
idea is to have a county judge or mag
istrate with the power to hear suits
I'D to $1,000 and to try all criminal
cases outside of those involving capital
punishment or over ten years In the
penitentiary. This court would sit al
most any time and the county solici-
tor would take the place of the coroner.
There will probably be some objection
to the proposed change, but 1t Is
thought that II will finally become
law.
There Is demand for the in
Vestigation of the books or Saluda
county, and It Is probable that the
matter will be looked into soon. The
grand jury has the matter under con-
Ir III
comptroller general called attention
to the many counties that needed in
vestigating. either on account Of bad
bookkeeping or shortages. There were
nine altogether as follows: In Abbe-
Vile county II was necessary to en-
ploy an expert at a cost or $6OO TO
straighten out the books. In Barn
we'll county there was shortage
which finally resulted in settlement
with the bonding company for over
$1,000. In Greenwood county an
expert fixed matters at a cost of $500
to the county. In Greenville county
the recent development Of graft
justified the last report OF the comp
troller general. A shortage OF over
$4,000 in Horny county Is now In the
courts. A balance of over $500 due
by the treasurer Of Laurens county
has never been paid and the grand
jury has taken no action. In Rich
land county there is an investigation
now going on. In Williamsburg
county a shortage of several thousand
has been settled, although this was due
10 bad bookkeeping. In addition to
this there are two or three other
counties now under investigation.
Greenviile special of July 25, to
News and Courier: The special COM
mission which is investigating the fl
nanoes Of Greenville county took
recess to-day until the middle Of Sep
tember and Avery Patton, who has
been examining the witnesses, many
of whom have been very unwilling, ex-
pected to leave this morning for Ash
VILE for q brief rest. No warrants were
sworn out yesterday. but some addi-
tional affidavits may be made by MEM
bers of the commission today for those
against whom proceedings have already
begun It Is understood that there
is sufficient evidence in possession OF
the commission to justify the arrest OF
a number Of others alleged to have
taken an interest in grating the
county, but whether any arrests will
be attempted before the commission
renews it's work is not known. The
greater part Of the taking Of test-
mony has been completed, and, after
some finishing touches in this direction
have been put on, the commission Will
begin to prepare its report to the gov
ernor. 1t is estimated that the total
indebtedness of the county Is about
100000, half Of which Is in floating
claims. Many of these will be de-
clared Illegal, and will doubtless be
repudiated. Since they have been pur-
chased In times past by banks and In
nocent parties, the loss may touch per-
sons In nowise responsible for the graft.
and this Is likely to stir up additional
criminal prosecutions. So far three
warrants have been issued and one
arrest has been made, that OF Arthur
Speegle, who Is out under $1,000 bond.
Warrants for former Supervisor j. +.
Speegle and his son, ]. o. Speegle, who
are in North Carolina, have not yet
been served. ....-.......-. ,.....,.- u.
- The cotton growers OF Clarendon
county had a big rally at Manning
yesterday, and they were addressed by
Messrs, F. II. Weston, F. H. Hyatt, +.
D. Smith and John L. McLaurin. Mr..
McLaurin made the principal speech
of the occasion. Speaking Of 1t, the
correspondent Of the Columbia State
says: Mr.. McLaurin sprung a new
idea today, an idea that he does not
claim to be entirely original; but which
Is destined to mean great things Tor
the Southern Cotton association II put
into execution. After the meeting to-
day Mr.. McLaulin and President E. d.
Smith discussed the matter fully ana
Mr.. Smith Is In full accord with the
scheme outlined by Mr.. McLaurln
Mr.. McLaurin was discussing the mem
ace Of the Chinese boycott, the threat
ened closing of the Chinese market TO
cotton goods. American goods, on &C
count of the stringent enforcement OF
the Chinese exclusion laws. He told
Of the guilds of China, their perfect
organization through which they are
enabled to control the consumption or
cotton goods by the Chinese people,
and he suggested that In the end the
interest of the Chinese consumer or
cotton goods and the interest OF the
southern producer Of the raw material
are the same, and that this Is reason
for sending to China an authorized
representative Of the Southern Cotton
association to make peace, as II were
with the Chinese guilds and induce
them to lift the boycott on American
goods. II Is very probable that TINS
idea will be taken up offtclally py tne
organization and that representative
will be sent to China on this mission.
II Is easy to see that this would, as
few things could, strengthen the
Southern Cotton association not only
at home but abroad.