The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-22
DIGNITY OF SENATE
ALMOST VIOLATED
MARLBORO AND CHESTERFIELD
CAUSE EXCITING MOMENTS.
Senate Votes % to IA to Hay Superin'
tendent of Asylum Salary
of $4,000.
News and Courier.

Columbia, Feb. IA vitriolic de-
bate between Senator Evans of Marl-
boro, and Senator Laney of Chester
field enlivened the senate tonight dur
ing the consideration of the appropria-
ton bill 'Ihe passage at arms be-
tween these two bordered closely on
the personal and diverted attention
from the attack which Senator Evans
mad been making on State Warehouse
Commissioner John L. McLaurin.
Senator Evans, who comes from
Marlboro county, also the home Of
Commissioner McLaurin, had offered
an amendment to the appropriation
for the warehouse system increasing
the item to $4,000 and striking from
The bill the authority given the COM
missioner to use the fees of mis- office
il necessary. The Marlboro Senator
told of his friendship for the system,
but said he had no use politically for
the warehouse commissioner. He
charged that the authority granted
inc commissioner to use the fees re-
ceived from storing cotton was dan
gerous and he wanted this stricken
from the bill. He alleged that Mr.. Nc
Laurin had not conformed to the law
in that he had not deposited the fees
last year in the State treasury, but
had pu. them in private bank to mis-
credit as commissioner. He also re-
ferred to the fact that Commissioner
McLaurin refused to give the names
of the insurance companies which
carry the insurance on cotton stored
in the State warehouses.
No Damage Done.
Senator Laney and Senator Evans
were talking about this matter when
the Chesterfield senajor, in arejoind-
e~, charged the Marlboro senator with
being stepped in prejudice against the
wc~7A house commissioner. Th Marl-
boro scna,or retorted that the Ches-
terfe!d senator was steeped in pre-
jld:ce for the warehouse commission
er, and it was then that they almost
became personal. The threatened trou
bic blew over, however, and the de-
bate was resumed
Senator Banks, of Calhoun, came to
the defence of Commissioner McLau-
rim, and vigorously denied that he had
not complied with the law. He explain
ed that the fund which Mr.. McLaurin
had deposited in private bank was
money sent on by the people to pay
insurance on their cotton and for
which Mr.. McLaurin mailed his per
sonal check to the insurance COM
panies.
In the course of his speech Senator
Evans said that ne was not afraid to
80 back 10 Marlboro and tell his peo-
pie wnat hehad said about Mr.. Nc
Laurin. He also said that he would
tell the people of the State the same
thing during his canvass for State
office this summer.
The appropriation for the ware
house commissioner was passed as
recommended by the finance commit
tee, and Senator Evans's efforts to
change the item failed During the I
afternoon his amendment was laid on
the table by vote of 81 to 2, only |
Senator Hughes voting with him.
Asylcm Item Discussed,
The only other fight during the en-
tire time the Senate considered the
appropriation bill at morning and af- /
ternoon sessions, was on the salary |
for the superintendent of the State
Hospital for the Insane. The finance
committee had recommended that the
salary be fixed at Sc O00 Senator
Sharpe offered an amendment reduc-
ing the salary to $4,000, but this was
tabled by a vote of 33 to 7, the seven
votes being cast by Senators Good
win Harvey, Johnson, A B. Patterson.
Sharpe, Wightman and Williams, Jno.
f.
During the debate on this matter,
which occupied the entire afternoon,
several senators paid tribute to Dr.. c.
Fred williams, the superintendent of
the State Hospital for the Insane.
Senator Hughes of Union, said the
State was fortunate in securing DR..
Williams and this same position was
taken by Senator Evans and others.
Chairman Christensen of the finance
IL. 7 T~5T- fUn