Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-02-20
MR.. STEVENSON EXPLAINS.
House Leader Rises to Personal Priv.
ileae and Tells How il Was.

iege and Tells How II Was.
Mr.. Stevenson spoke on question
Of personal privilege last night to re-
sent, for himself and other members,
the statement that he controlled the
house and had been playing politics.
Following Mr.. Stevenson's speech, Mr..
Rembert took occasion to speak on
question of personal privilege and to
declare his loyalty to Governor Blease.
Speaking on a question Of personal
privilege, Mr.. Stevenson said:
The Yorkville Enquirer Of Febru-
lary 16, 1912, saws Of me. AS well as
could Judge, the house is pretty well
under the domination Of Representa-
tive Stevenson. He is smart, shrewd.
and all things to all men, except Mr..
Blease, whom he hates as the devil
hates holy water. was impressed
with the confidence and veneration
with which members looked up to this
Mr.. Stevenson. I gathered that when
a man had pet bill that he wanted
to get through he applied to Steven
son. and. IL Stevenson promised his
help 1t was all right. gathered. also,
that Stevenson was pretty liberal with
his promises. and ! gathered sus-
lpicion that he was not particular about
what he promised, so the beneficiary
turn the favor by helping to fight back
at Blease.
"T am not 80 sure about this Mr..
Stevenson. He had my sympathy all
along until information developed
about that $4,000 fee as the attorney
for the winding-up commission. But
after that my opinicn began to change
'@This is q reflection on the house
and myself. The house has been inde-
pendent, and while have helped many
members with less experience, have
done so from no such motive as that
attributed, and have never asked or
desired any return favors. That the
house has agreed with my position as
Ito many important matters is result
Of my being right on those matters
In the Judgment of the house.
"As to nv fees in the dispensary
winding-up the statement Is untrue.
For services from February IS, 1907.
to the end of the old commission I'm
1911, the commission paid me In fees
$12,750, and spent part Of every week
and sometimes weeks at time In Co
lumbia, and paid my own expenses.
and represented them In the suits In
the state supreme court, the United
States circuit court, the United States
circuit court Of appeals and the United
States supreme court and before the
internal revenue collector at Washing
ly $4,000 was charged to the liquor
houses. which pressed the litigation,
and the fees therefor for four years
work, including the defeating OF an
internal revenue claim Of $4,000, was
about s2,750. In addition to this. my
actual expenses In attending two terms
|of United States court at Asheville.
two trips to supreme court at Wash
ington and two trips to. circuit court
|of appeals at Richmond, and one hear
ing before the United States commits
sioner Of internal revenue at Wash
ington and one trip to Charleston and
printing of arguments In the circuit
court Of appeals and United States SUI
preme court were $500.1S; Of this. $500
In round numbers was for printing ar
|guments paid out by me and paid back.
The whole amount, therefore, as shown
by the report and voucher for fees and
expenses was $13,25018. Deduct $10.-t
000-collected out of liquor houses, and
we have >3,250.1S paid by state. The
$4,000 charged Is not true. and could.
have been seen II the editor had simply
asked about 1t, as every voucher Is on
file"
Speaking on a question Of personal
privilege, Mr.. Rembert said that Mr..
Stevenson and himself were about as
far apart politically as the two poles.
He said that he had opposed some Of
Mr.. Stevenson's measures strenuously.
He said that he did not criticise Mr..
Steyenson's fees He said that he
frankly admitted that he was q sup
porter OF Governor Blease, but that Mr..
Stevenson had always been personally
courteous to him. Mr.. Rembert said
that he did not approve OF the course
of this general assembly. which had
tried to play political game. instead
Of enacting constructive legislation.
Mr.. Rembert then discussed the
coming campaign for governor, declar-
ing his allegiance to Governor Blease.
Mr.. Rembert said that II Richland
county went for Governor Blease, he
would be returned TO the house, and
IL his county did not go for Governor
Blease, then he did not care whether
he was returned to the legislature or
not. The rest of Mr.. Rembert's speech
was along the same line.
Twice while Mr.. Rembert was speak
ing there was applause In the CALLER
les and on the floor of the house.
which Mr.. Mower, acting speaker. did
not try to stop.
Speaking on question Of personal
privilege, Mr.. Gasque said that he re-
gretted the prominence which had been
given the statement in a newspaper
that one man controlled the legtsla-
ture. He said further that he was sor-
ry that political differences had been
aired on the floor Of the house.-Co-
lumbia State, Sunday.