The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1911-01-31
SAYS LEGISLATORS
ARE VIOLATING LAW

GOVERNOR BLEASE on LEGISLA-
TORS WHO ARE TRUSTEES.
, In Plain Violation OF the Constitution
Which Prohibits Holding OF Two
Offices.
Columbia Record
Charging that the supreme court it.
self is careless of obedience to the con-
stitution, and declaring that many
members of the legislature violate the
constitution by holding their seats and
at the same time serving as trustees OF
State institutions, Governor Blease
sent to the general assembly Saturday
afternoon a special message (Message
No. y, suggesting appointment of
Joint committee to ascertain what per-
sons, in THE legislature or holding 9TH
er official positions, are also trustees
of State institutions.
Owing to the fact that few trustees
take the trouble to take out commits
sions as such, the records in the Of
flee of the secretary of State do not
show just who are trustees OF State
institutions, and so are of little help
in determining just what persons are
referred to by the governors message.
The records do show, however, that
State Land Agent D. W. McLaurin is
also g. trustee of Winthrop. Judge
Robert Aldrich, commissioned in 1906
as trustee of Clemson, is still carried
on these records as a trustee, but IN
fact he was succeeded on the Clemson
board by Mr.. Rawl, of Batesburg: Rail-
road Commissioner John G. Richards,
Jr, is also a trustee of Clemson, though
not so commissioned. Another Glenn
son trustee not commissioned is Sena-
tor Alan Johnstone, of Newberry. Still
another member Of the Clemson board
who is without a commission is Sena-
tor B. R. Tillman.
The text of the message is as fol-
lows:
Message No. Z.
To the Honorable the General Assem-
bly, of the State of South Carolina.
Gentlemen: We hear and read much
these days of the obedience to the
constitution and laws Of our State;
also much as to the enforcement of the
laws of our State.
# would seem to me eminently pro-
Der that these doctrines should Re
carried into effect as far as it is pos
sible by all the officers and citizens
of our State. Beginning, however, at
the top, it would seem to me that
those who are in power and authority
should first, themselves, be obedlent
and endeavor to carry into effect and
to uphold the constitution and the
laws of our State, in order that prop
er example may be set to the others
of our citizens. ~
It is intimated by some that our su-
crame court extends one of its ses-
sions, or terms, into or up to the very
day of the beginning of the next, in
order that they may hold their decl-
sions and hand them down when it is
convenient, without any interference
from a constitutional or statutory pro-
vision.
Sitting in each of your bodies, there
are those violating not only the spirit,
but the wording of the constitution, IN
nv opinion, by holding, two official Of
Rces at one and the same time. L can
call the names of each, and name the
positions which they hold, but this
might be considered personal matter
and I leave that entirely for your in
vestigation.
Article 3, section "a, os the consti-
ton of 1895, reads as follows:
mo person shall be eligible to a
!seat in the general assembly while ne
holds any office or position of profit or
trust under this State, the United
States Of America, or any of them, OF
:. under any other power, except ofhcers
in the militia, and notaries public, ano
if any member shall accept Or exercise
any of the sad disqualifying Offices OF
positions, he shall vacate his seat
: Should Resign.
Members Of the board of trustees 0]
all our colleges, members of the board
in control Of the State reformatory
and members of all other State boards
in my opinion, are officers, and when
members are sworn INTO your body