Ordered, That the titles be changed to Acts, and ordered enrolled for ratification. The Senate also sent Resolution to authorize and require the Claims Commission to register and file certain claims. On motion, the resolution was concurred in, and ordered to be returned to the Senate. The House proceeded to the consideration of GENERAL ORDERS. A Bill (H. 30) to compel the attendance at public schools of all children between the ages of six and sixteen years was taken up. The Bill was put upon its second reading. On motion of Mr. WHITE, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed until the next session. A Bill (H. 19) to authorize the Governor to fill all vacancies in County offices by appointment was taken up. The Bill was put upon its second reading. On motion of Mr. MINORT, the further consideration of the Bill was postponed until the next session. A Senate Bill (16) to extend the time for officers to qualify was taken up. The Bill was read the second time, and ordered to lie over for a third reading. On motion of Mr. HEARD, at 2 P. M., the House adjourned until tomorrow, at 11 A. M. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1876. Pursuant to adjournment the House met at 11 A. M.. The roll was called and a quorum announced. Prayer by Rev. S. C. Gooseley, of Winnsboro. The Journal of the previous day was read and confirmed. REPORTS FROM COMMITTEES. Mr. MILLER, from the Committee ca Contingent Accounts and Expenses, reported back sundry accourts, and recommended payment. The report was adopted. BILLS, RESOLUTIONS, &c. Mr. ANDREWS introduced the following concurrent resolution, which was adopted, and ordered to be sent to the Senate: Whereas the law requires certain State and County officers to make an annual report to the General Assembly of South Carolina; and Whereas said General Assembly has agreed to adjourn sine die before said officers can make reports; therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring, That the said officers be required to forward their annual reports to the Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the Senate, jointly, and that the said Clerks are hereby directed and required to forward, as early as practicable, a copy of said reports to each member of the General Assembly of South Carolina. Mr. HUMBERT introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue a pay certificate of $300 to W. R. Marshall, as a gratuity for the faithful discharge of his duty as Reading Clerk of this House. Mr. WELLS moved to lay the resolution on the table. Agreed to. Mr. HUMBERT introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the Clerk of the House be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue to Rev. S. C. Gooseley a certificate of $200, gratuity, as Chaplain of the House of Representatives of the regular session of 1875-76. Mr. WELLS moved to lay the resolution on the table. Agreed to. The motion (by Mr. Keith) to reconsider the vote whereby a Bill (H. 34) to charter the Palmetto Phosphate River Mining Company was postponed until the next session, was called up and agreed to. The Bill was put upon its second reading. Mr. HOLLAND moved to strike out the enacting words of the Bill. Mr. KEITH moved to indefinitely postpone the motion to strike out. Agreed to. The Bill was read the second time, and on the question of passing the Bill to a third reading, and ordering it to be engrossed, Mr. HOLLAND demanded the yeas and nays, which were taken, and are as follows: Yeas, 46; nays, 16. Agreed to. Those voting in the affirmative are: Mr. Speaker and Messrs. Wideman, White, Porter, Heard, Pope, James, Jackson, Bennett, Cave, Brabham, Gantt, Robinson, Reed, Miller, Brodie, Smalls, Vanderpool, Lesesne, Ford, Bryan, A. Smith, Lee, Coleman, Milton, Boston, Humbert, Keith, Wines, Gibson, Martin, Bird, Keitt, Thomas, Morgan, Caldwell, Forrest, Curtis, Minort, Wells, R. J. Palmer, Lowman, Johnston, Feriter, Andrews and Evans-46. Those voting in the negative are: Messrs. Holland, Simmons, Glover, Edwards, Prioleau, Lazarus, Capers, Tingman, Alexander, Green, Kinloch, Gaither, Hough, Dibble, Scott and Peterson-16. Mr. MINORT introduced the following resolution, which was adopted: Resolved, That the Clerk of the House be, and he is hereby, directed to transmit to each member of the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States Congress a copy of the report of the Special Committee relative to the organization of this House, and the constitutional validity thereof; and also a copy to the President of the United States and the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives, in order that it may be officially presented to both Houses of Congress. PAPERS FROM THE SENATE. The Senate sent to this House Resolution to extend the time for the annual examination of the books, &c., of the State Treasurer. The resolution was concurred in, and ordered to be returned to the Senate. MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE, No. 10. IN THE SENATE, COLUMBIA, S. C., December 21, 1876. Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: The Senate respectfully informs your honorable body that it has indefinitely postponed the consideration of concurrent resolution from your House relative to the commission of T. H. Cooke as Circuit Judge. Very respectfully, &c., (Signed) R. H. GLEAVES, President of Senate. Also, returned, with concurrence, Resolution relative to annual reports of State and County officers. IN THE SENATE, COLUMBIA, S. C., December 22, 1876. Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives: The Senate respectfully informs your honorable body that it refuses to concur in resolution from your house relative to requesting His Excellency the Governor to arm, equip and station in Aiken County one hundred State Constables. (Signed) Very respectfully, &c., R. H. GLEAVES, President of Senate. The following Bills, which had been ordered to lie over for a third reading, were taken up: A Senate Bill (16) to extend the time for officers to qualify; A Senate Bill (12) to amend Section 37, Chapter XVI, Part I, Title V, of the General Statutes of South Carolina, relative to examination of the bonds of County officers. The Bills were read the third time, passed, their titles changed to Acts, and ordered to be enrolled. A Senate Bill (13) relative to the annual examination of the bonds of the various County officers. The Bill was put upon its third reading. On motion of Mr. CURTIS, the enacting words of the Bill were stricken Mr. THOMAS introduced the following resolution, which was adopted: Whereas this House did, on the 9th day of December, 1876, of the present session, adopt the following preamble and resolution: Whereas this House did, on the 28th day of November, 1876, meet and was duly organized, a constitutional quorum of the members thereof being present and voting; and Whereas the following named persons: H. R. Vandiver, R. W. Simpson, W. C. Brown, J. L. Orr, J. C. Coit, D. T. Redfearn, H. E. Bissell, William Maree, J. N. Cummings, L. E. Parler, Robert Jones, J. W. Gray, J. F. Donald, J. T. Austin, J. L. Westmoreland, L. D. Bryan, J. R. Cooper, J. B. Erwin, J. C. Blackney, G. Leaphart, G. Muller, J. G. Blue, James McRae, R. H. Rodgers, J. P. Davis, P. M. Hamer, T. N. Edons, B. F. Sloan, J. S. Verner, W. H. Reedish, D. F. Bradley, E. H. Bates, W. P. Compton, J. W. Wofford, E. S. Allen, Charles Petty, W. H. Wallace, G. D. Peake, William Jeffries, A. E. Hutchinson, J. A. Deal, W. B. Byers and B. H. Massey were declared duly elected as members of this House, but have neglected and refused to appear and qualify as members, and have further joined themselves. to another body calling themselves the House of Representatives of South Carolina, which said body is wholly without legal or constitutional validity; and Whereas such conduct on the part of said persons is in high contempt and derogation of the authority of this House, as well as an abandonment of their rights as members of this House; therefore, be it Resolved, That, unless said persons shall appear and qualify as members of this House within five days from this the 9th day of December, 1876, this House will proceed to declare the seats of said persons in this House vacant, and to direct the Speaker to issue writs of election in the Counties from which the said persons were elected as Representatives. And whereas the persons named in said preamble and resolution have failed to comply with the terms of the same, and have refused to appear, qualify and take their seats; therefore, be it Resolved, That the seats of the aforesaid persons be, and they are hereby, declared vacant, and, in accordance with Section 29 of Article II of the Constitution of this State, the Speaker of this House is hereby directed to issue writs of election for the purpose of filling the vacancies thereby occasioned for the remainder of the term for which the persons refusing, as aforesaid, were elected to serve. On motion of Mr. KEITH, all matters on the Calendar were postponed until the next session. Mr. MILLER, from the Committee on Enrolled Bills, reported as duly and correctly enrolled, and ready for ratification: An Act to make appropriations for the payment of the salary and mileage of the members of the General Assembly, and the salaries of subordinate officers and employees, and other expenses incidental thereto; An Act to raise supplies for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1876; An Act to make appropriations to meet the ordinary expenses of the State Government for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1876; An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to fix the salaries of certain public officers." Received as information. Mr. LOWMAN introduced the following resolution: Resolved, That the Speaker be, and he is hereby, authorized to issue to W. R. Marshall, Esq., a pay certificate of $100 for the faithful discharge of his duties as Reading Clerk of this House. Mr. WELLS moved to lay the resolution on the table, and on this he demanded the yeas and nays, which were taken and are as follows: Yeas, 31; nays, 28. Agreed to. Those voting in the affirmative are: Messrs. Wideman, White, Porter, Heard, Pope, James, Jackson, Reed, Miller, Smalls, Simmons, Glover, Edwards, Vanderpool, Lesesne, Lazarus, Capers, Ford, A. Smith, Coleman, Alexander, Boston, Humbert, Wines, J. A. Smith, Minort, Wells, Feriter, Scott, Peterson and Evans-31. Those voting in the negative are: Messrs. Holland, F. A. Palmer, Jefferson, Nix, Bennett, Brabham, Robinson, Prioleau, Bryan, Tingman, Milton, Keith, Gibson, Martin, Bird, Green, Kinloch, Gaither, Hough, Dibble, Keitt, Thomas, Morgan, Caldwell, Forrest, Curtis, R. J. Palmer and Lowman-28. The Sergeant-at-Arms announced a Message from His Excellency the Governor, which was presented by Mr. C. J. Babbitt, Private Secretary. The SPEAKER laid before the House the following: MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR, No. 1. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, COLUMBIA, December 22, 1876. Hon. E. W. M. MACKEY, Speaker of the House of Representatives: SIR-I have the honor to inform you that I have this day approved the following Acts: An Act to make appropriation for the payment of salary and mileage of members of the General Assembly, and the salaries of subordinate officers and employees, and other expenses incidental thereto; An Act to raise supplies for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1876; An Act to amend an Act entitled "An Act to fix the salaries of certain public officers;" An Act to make appropriations to meet the ordinary expenses of the State Government for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 1876. Very respectfully, (Signed) D. H. CHAMBERLAIN, Governor S. C. Mr. KEITH moved that a message be sent to the Senate, informing that body that the House has disposed of the business before it, and is ready to adjourn sine die. Agreed to. Mr. KEITH moved that the House do now adjourn. Agreed to. At 5 P. M., the SPEAKER, in accordance with concurrent resolution for the final adjournment of the present session of the General Assembly, declared the House of Representatives for the regular session of 187677, adjourned without day. |