Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-01-15
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Session Opens Auspieiously W.T.

YORK mompeF8 Woii 70 TITO ''S"
;orrsspcndsnes The YorkviIs Enquirer
Columbia, January 1.-THE list
session Of the general assembly OF
South Carolina met in the state CAPT.
tol Tuesday. Perhaps a little more
interest was observable in the meet
ing Of the body this year than has
been the case for several years
more interest at least among those
who live in or near the capital and
are therefore in position to attend the
opening days sessions without tncon-
venience. There were many visitors
in the galleries and elsewhere about
the legislative chambers when the
bodies were called to order, and there
was, of course the usual amount OF
handshaking and many pleasant
greetings among the members about
to take their seats. There has been a
big turnover in South Carolina poll.
tics since the last regular session OF
the legislature met year ago. Tnis
change Of course Is more noticeable
in the house than in the senate, the
membership Of the former body being
almost three times as large as the
latter. Many who were prominent as
legislators q short time ago, have
walked the plank and some Of them
will not, perhaps, be seen again In
public life. OF the total house MEM
bership of 1874, less than 80 OF the
members today served In the last gen.
eral assembly or have hitherto had
legislative experience. Nothing like
a proportionate change occurred In
the personnel Of the senate, where
half the membership held over and
a number Of old senators were re-
elected. One thing which is notice.
able in the house Is the unusual num-
ages Of % and 40 years-occupying
seats There are at least three MEM
bers of the house who are just with
ing the dead line-21 years. Cherokee
county, York's neighbor to the west,
by the way, sends to the house very
young man in B. T. Ramseur. An
derson sends the baby, however, In
Representative FAINT, who II 1t be
worth noting, did q rather unusual
thing in the house Tuesday, by nomi-
mating one candidate for clerk, ana
Immediately gave his vote to another
candidate.
Everything seemed to be more or
less cut and dried, in advance or
course. for the opening day OF the
session of the senate. Monday night
the hold -over senators met, as Is the
custom, and agreed on the commit
tee assignments. Their action was
ratified in open session the next day.
There were no contests for the elect
i've places, and it therefore took the
body only a short time to get down 10
business.
york county's senator. Mr.. Beam
guard, Jared unusually well IN com
mittee assignments. Besides lanolns
on the very important finance COM
mittee, he was also assigned 10 tne
committees on agriculture, claims ano
grievances, engrossed bills, commerce
and manufactures, retrenchments,
privileges and elections, and is chair
man of the committee on county OF
fees and county officers. Senator
Beamguard is in position to DO erect
i've work at the present session.
Practically the entire opening days
session of the house was consumed In
the election Of officers. For the
speakership there was no contest
Representative Hoyt Of Richland. be-
ing the unanimous choice OF the pody
for presiding officer. Not 80 with the
clerkship, for which there were SIX
nominees The choice finally ieil up
on ]. Wilson Gibbes OF Columbia
who won on the ninth ballot. Foilow-
ing the election Of Mr.. Gippes, tne
next business in order was the seiec-
tion of a reading clerk. Representa-.
tive Graydon of Abbeville, nominated
Mr.. 8. Meg. Simkins Of Edgefield, and
Representative Bradford Of York,
nominated Mr.. A. e. Hutchinson OF
Rock Hill. The contest was rather
one-sided, Mr.. Hutchinson winning 70
to 80. II was remarked that only
two of York's four members support,
ed Mr.. Hutchison, Messrs. Bradford
and Num-, while Messrs. Cherry ana
Leslie voted for Mr.. Simkins. Mr. !.
8. Wilson was reelected sergeant-at-
arms, and the Rev: J. Z; KNOX an a.
r. P. minister Of Columbia, who for
merly had O charge in York county,
was reelected chaplain. Some little
time was then devoted to the consid-
Grafton of proposed changes in the
rules, with the result that the only
important change adopted has for its
purpose the elimination OF the hlipus-
ter.
The house and senate have agreed
to accept the invitation OF President
johnson to visit Winthrop college. ana
the trip will be made on next Wednes-
day.
been talked about as Of unusual state
vide interest have yet been taken up
in either house. The prediction Is
made that both bodies will loaf along
and do little until Governor Manning Is
inaugurated next Tuesday. With the
advent of the new governor the legls.
latiye mill Is expected to turn out
considerable grist. But 1t Is certain
that there isn't going to be easy sled
ding for any Of the numerous piils
which are heralded as panaceas ior
many Of the ills, some alleged ana
others real, that beset the common
wealth. Meanwhile 1t might De re-
marked that there Is the prospect OF
an interesting session. to say the least,
whether anything substantial Is ac-
complished or not.
York countys delegation probably
will not have a great many Dills 10 IN
troduce.
The committee assignments for the
house of representatives. were an
nounced by Speaker Hoyt late Thurs
day afternoon, and York county seems
TO have Jared we'll at the hands OF the
presiding officer. With Senator Beam
guard on the most important ana a
number Of other important senate
committees, York Is perhaps second 10
no county in the state In TINS lmport-
ant respect. There Is an ampitlon
among most members Of the house to
serve on the ways and means commit
tee and it Is said that more than one
member Of the York delegation was
not ayerse to going on the committee.
Representative Bradford, however,
was selected for the honor. He Is one
Of the few new members assigned to
ways and means.
Representative Cherry goes on the
important judiciary committee, ana
neither he nor Mr.. Bradford, there
fore, under the house rules, are as
signed to any other committees MI.
Num- is to serve on the following COM
mittees: Commerce and manuiac-
lures, claims, and engrossed Dils;
while Mr.. Leslie was assigned to
roads, bridges and ferries; fish. game
and forestry, and penitentiary. The
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee is DR.. Dick OF sumter. Repre
sentative Boyd of Spartanburg, Is
chairman Of the judiciary committee.