The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-06
STORMY SCENES MARK CLOSE
SENATE FOLLOWS HOUSE AND
ADJOURNS SINE DIE.
Nest Remarkable Session of General
Assembly in Many Years Finally
Ends--Blcase Ignores Senate's Re-
: quest for Information About Ap-
pointments - Governor Arraigned
and Impeachment Hinted at in
Speech of Senator Waller-Execu-
y tive Session Held.

y tive Session Held.
Columbia Feb. 29-The Senate at
4.32 p. NJ. today adjourned sine die,
thus bringing to an end the most un-
usual session the General Assembly
has held in many years. The House
adjourned sine die at 3.05 P. M.
while IT, Senate was taking recess.
Adjournment Of the Senate followed
q stormy end bitter session, during
which for five hours the Blease ana
anti-Blease forces fought, the anti
Bleaseites having the majority and
forcing through their programme
not, however, until the friends OF TIE
Governor had exhausted every parl-
amentary device. Roll calls were
forced on almost every motion.
The session was featured by
strong arraignment and denunciation
Of the position Governor Blease took
in ignoring the Senate's resolution
asking for the list of appointees to
various county positions. The speech
es were warm in terms and ranked all
the way from mild objection to talk
of impeachment.
The Senate remembered last year
and used ali the known means IN
their lower to force the hands of the
Governor and so tic him up that he
either must appoint those recommend
ed by the various county delegations
or appoint no one; and that is what
was done.
The Senate, led by Senator Clifton,
had rescinded their agreement tc the
firal adjournment idea for today, and
exhausted by five hours of bitter
wrersling had agreed to truce for
dinner and were to reassemble at
4.3O to. fight it out" but the House
blocked this by adjourning sine die.
When the Senate reassembled there
was nothing else for them TO do but
follow suit and, accordingly, without
a contest. they adopted the sine die
resolution and dispersed.
There were no signs Of the morn
ing's conflict in the closing moments
in what was the most remarkable
day OF the most remarkable session
Of the Legislature "a many a year.
1t was a history making day and a
hitting climax to the session.
The programme of the Senate ma
jority was to take a recess and come
back the latter part Of March, but
the House leaders refused to agree to
this programme. Partly because
they were worn out and wanted to
go home, and partly because Of the
refusal of the Senate to concur in the
House resolution for a recess until
May, which passed the lower body
some two weeks ago. The House
thought eight weeks was enough and
broke up the Senate's plans by
promptly adjourning and going
home leaving the upper body moth
ing to do but to follow suit"
Senator Clifton lead the fight for
resembling Of tie final adjournment.
and was assisted by Senators Alan
Johnstone, Carlisle, Hardin and 9TH
ers. Senator Appelt lead determin-
ed fight against the programme, and
In a speech filled with political Bit
terness charged unfair treatment and
that something was going on which
he knew nothing about. He used
every effort to block the movement
to rescind the final adjournment reso-
luton and forced roll call after roll
call. However, the majority had their
programme we'll in hand and forced
IL through without a change. After
resembling their agreement to adjourn
sine die today they adopted a motion
by Senator Clifton that the Senate
and House recede from business until
March 19. only after several roll calls.
There was considerable bitterness dis
played and parliamentary tactics were
exhausted by Senator Appelt and his
followers in an effort 10 get final ad-
journment.
Several executive sessions of the
Senate were held. so strained was the
situation. The fight arose over the
refusal Of the Governor to send
to the Senate the list Of appointments
TO positions to various counties. as
called for in a resolution yesterday.
He disregarded the matter entirely
and this ansered the Senate to such
an extent that they refused 20 ad-