Year: 1878

In the House on Tuesday, 18th instant, the
special order-Mr. Hoods resolution-came
up as unfinished business. A motion was
made to strike out the third section of the
bill. Mr. Simonton offered an amendment,
which he proposed, in place of all and 80
much of the original resolution as followed
the enacting clause His substitute is as fol-
lows:


"Section l. That special Court, to be
known as the Court Of Claims, be, and the
same is hereby, established, to consist of three
of the Circuit Jud ges of this State now in
commission, who shall be selected by the
Joint vote of the General Assembly, any two
of whom shall constitute quorum; which
said Court shall have jurisdiction to hear and
determine any case or cases made up, or
brought to test the validity Of any of the con.
solidated bonds, coupons and certificates of
stock, or of any of the various classes of them
mentioned in the said report Of the Bond
Commission, as resting on vouchers not issued
in accordance with law, and authorized to be
consolidated by the act of the General AS
sembly, approved December %, 1873. entitled
An act to reduce the volume of the public
debt and provide for the payment of the
same and also as not issued in accordance
with law, and further designated and describ-
ed in Schedule 6 of the said report.


"Sec. 2. That there shall be the same right
of appeal in every respect from the said spe'
ca Court to the Supreme Court of this State,
as now exists from the Circuit Cour. to the
Supreme Court, to be in accordance with and
be governed by the same rules and regula-
tins now existing in appeals from the said
Circuit Courts to the Supreme Court, with
right of appeal, by writ of error or otherwise,
as provided by law, to the Supreme Court of
the United States.


"Sec. 8. That the pleadings and practice
in the cases made, and suits brought in said
special Court, shall conform to and be govern
ed bv the same laws, rules and regulations
governing the Circuit Courts of this State.


"Sec 4. That the said special Courts shall
have the same right to enter judgment, issue
execution, punish for contempt and enforce
its mandates, as is now possessed by the Cir
cult Courts of this State.


"Sec. 5. That the clerk of the court of
Richland county, and the sheriff of the said
county. shall be the clerk and the sheriff of
the said special court


"Sec. 6. That the said special court shall
convene in the city Of Columbia on the first
Monday in May next, and shall hold its ses-
sons at such times as the said court shall de.
termine, with full power to adjourn from time
to time, as to said court may seem proper.


"Sec. 7. That in the case Of the death,
resiunation or Inability from any cause to
serve on said court of any one or more of the
judges selected as aforesaid, the Governor of
the State, upon the recommendation of the
court, shall appoint, from among the other
Circuit Judges in commission, one or more
Judges in lieu and stead of the judge or
Judges that have so died, resigned or been dis
abed to serve.


"Sec. 8. That this State shall be repre-
sented in the said special Court by the attor.
ney general and two associate counsel, learned
in the laws, to he selected by the joint vote
of the General Assembly and in the prepara'