Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE OLD AND THE NEW COMPARED. CIIANUKS .11AI >10 IN THK MOW CONSTITUTION. A Kcvtcw of nil the Important Changes In lOaoh Article and the New Point* by the Chiiirninn of the Committee iu Charge. Tho following nro condensed statements of the changes made iu tho Constitution of tho State by the present Convention have been furnished by request to tho Charleston News and Courior. They arc of the highest authority and of special interest. HUFFltAUK. Tho essential difference between tho limitations ,on the suffrage now and tinder tho old Constitution is this: Under tho Constitution of lNfiM every malo person '21 years of age, not laboring under certain disabilities for crime, was a voter: under the reiristrution law he hud to buvo u registration certificate, which had to be changed ?very time ho changed his residence, even in the same township, and the rouewul of certificates was hedged about with many restrictions. Under tho new Constitution the voter must either bp aide to read aud writo or understated uud explain any section of tho Constitut: u submitted to him by tbo rogistre flicer before he is eligible to icgistration. This elastic provision only lasts to the 1st of Juuuary, 1898, aud under it only oue election v/ill bo held, after which tho applicant for registration, and therefore tho voter, must bo able to read and write, or huve $300 worth of property Tho provisions in regard to registration are not at all diflicult or onerous, and every safeguard that exists in almost any Constitution of any other State is thrown arouud the purity of the ballot aud honesty of the count. Tho Constitution of 1S(58 based citizenship upon muiiho-ni, the present Constitution bases it on intelligence, and is a virtual enactment to curry out tho eight-box law, which of itself was an educational qualification. The elastic provision which allows registration for two years to the illiterate who can understand and explain any section of the Constitution was made necessary by tbe existence among us of h large uumber of worthy white and black citizen* who are worthy of tho ballot by reason of their intelligence and property who otherwise would have been disfranchised. B. It. Tillman, Chairman. liBOISIiATIVB AKTICLR. In framing tho article of the constitution known as tho Legislative Department tho convention has kept close to that article in the constitution of 18(58, making such changes as were considered important and adding such sections as were thought to be necessary. The number of sections in the old constitution was thirty-three. The new has thirty-seven. Tho four additional sections are as follows: 1st. Making it unlawful for white persons and negroes or mulattoes to marry where there is one-eighth or more of negro blood. ihl. Making it the duty of the General Assembly to enact laws limiting tho number of acres of land which auy alien or any corporation composed of ..i;,..... ....... *i... si*..*.. /ujrun iiiiij w?i? >>1111111 iur muiiu* :3d. Forbidding the General Assembly to authorize the payment to uny person the salary of a deceased officer beyond the date of ltis death nor to grant pcusious except for military and naval service, nor to retire any officer on pay or part pay. 4th. Not to allow the General Assembly to enact local or special laws on certain subjects and for certain purposes. Ton of these are enumerated and the eleventh subdivision covers all other cases where a general law can be mudo applicable. Under the old constitution each bill before it had the force of law hail to lie read three times in each house and signed in the senate house by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is simplified in the new constitution by omitting "in the Senate house" and by allowing each branch of the General Assembly to make rules to have both the first and third reuding of bills read by their title only. Time is money, especially in legislating for the State, and the time saved by the foregoing provisions will result in the saving of thousands of dollars. The old constitution did not allow any one to hold a seat, in the General Assembly while holding any other office of profit or trust, except oflicers in the militia, magistrates or justices of inferior courts, who received no isulary. The new constitution in dealing w ith She above provision adds to the words "profit and trust" the word "position" and excepts only otlieers in the militia and notaries public. i'crimps the most important changes are made m thy suction grant'ug the homestead excuuofioo One of these makes the title to the homestead to be set oil' and assigned absolute and forever discharges from it all debts then existing, or thereafter contracted. This, of course, docs not apply to mortgage debts. Another of these amendments prevents a judgment creditor, or any other creditor whose lien does not bind the homestead, from having any rights or equity to force the mortgage creditor to foreclose his mortgage, and after the mortgage is satisfied, to settle his einim, before the homestead can bo set off. I Under the old constitution the homestead in lands was not to exceed one thousand dollars, or live hundred dollars in personal property, leaving it in the power of the Legislature to make both of these amounts less, if it saw proper to do so. In the new constitution this cannot bi done. In the old constitution no provision was lundu for an exemption in personal property for those not b. ing heads of families. In the new, all the necessary wearing apparel and personal property to the amount of throe hundred dollars may be exempted to such persons. It is also further provided that the husband caunot mortgage the homestead without the wife joins hiin in giving the mortgage thereupon. The homestead exemption is not all that a largo minority of the Convention doBired it to be, but ill the opiuion of many it is thought to be superior in many respects to the exemption provided for in the old Constitution. It is to bo hoped that no poor woman uud her childreen iu the State will over bo driven from the home set oil under its provisions. J. A. Sligh. EVBCt'TlVE DEPARTMENT. Iu the old Constitution the buard of managers of each precinct were required to send the returns for the vote of Govoruor to tho Secretary of State, who hiiuded them to tlie Speaker of tho ITohho of Representatives upon tho assembling of that body, whoro the votes were tabulated and tho result declared. In the new, the board of ennvasssrs of each county send their returns of the entire county vote to the Secretary of tho State, who hands it to tho Speaker of the House on tho assembling of that body and the vote is then tabulated and the result declared as before. Tho following new provisions huvo been added: 1. The General Assembly is required to provide for a board of pardons to whom the Governor may refer all pctitious for pardon whose recommendations he may adopt, but in case he does not adopt the suggestions of such board he must give bis reasons therefor to the Genoral Assembly. 2. All boards of public instructions when required by the Governor, shall give him information in writing in regard to their instiutious, including itemized account of receipts and dis huyscmoiits. 3. Whenever the Governor shall bo informed by affidavit that any county .... ..4i i...? ..I,..-.-... ,,r I'l UtUUl VMli^UL ? itu u?n v.mn \/i public or trust funds is probably guilty of embozlement, or of appropriating public funds to privnto use, bo shall direct tbo immediate prosecution of said officer ami, upon true bill found, shall suspend him and appoiut another in his stead until acquitted. If convicted the office shall bo declared vaeunt and tilled as provided by law. I. The Governor is given the right to veto auy section or item of an appropriation bill without vetoing or invalidating the remainder of the bill. C. M. Elird, Chairman of Committee on Executive Department. JUDICIAL. DEPARTMENT, Article 4, as adopted by the Convention, changes that article of the Constitution of 1 HUH in these respects: I. As to the Courts: Those there created were: The Supreme Court, the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of General Sessions, (called Circuit Courts,) Probate Courts, Justice of the Peace, (since denominated trial justices,) and "such municipal and other inferior Courts as may bo deemed necessary," (which the Supremo Court construed to mean Courts with no greater jurisdiction than trial justices or Justices of the Peaco.) The changes are : (a) The Probate Court continues as to Charleston Countv. As to other counties it continues in each until u County Court may l?o established, tipon which ovent it becomes absorbed in the hitter. (b) ".I ustices of the Peace" are sap- J planted by "Magistrates." (e) For "such municipal and other ! inferior Courts as may be deemed necessary" is the following: "The General Assembly may also establish County Courts, municipal Courts and such Courts in any or all of the counties of this State inferior to Circuit Courts as may be deemed necessary, but none of such Courts shall ever be vested with jurisdiction to try cases of murder, manslaughter, I rape or attempt to rape, arson, com - i mon law burglary, bribery or perjury: Provided, before a County Court shall bo'established in any county it must be submitted to tho qualified electors, and a majority of those voting must vote for its establishment. Euch county has the right to secure County Courts by voting for their establishment. The general Assembly lias the power to create any other kinds of Courts, | (below Circuit Courts,) milnicij al or J otherwise, without an election. 2. As to judicial otlicors: (a) The Supreme Court will consist j I i 1, pun \uu,wi.it.> | Justices, instead of two, the additional .Justice to he elected tin* next session ofthe< lenernl Assembly. The term of each of the four is tola; eight years, instead of six. In order to reverse | the derision of theCireuit .Fudge three j must eoueur. If the four Supreme ! (Jourt Justices are ei|iially divided the j decision below stands, unless the Court 1 j (upon request of two of the .1 list ices) j calls in the full Ueneh of Circuit I Judges, (omitting the trial Judge,) j I whereupon the opinion of the majority j of all t he .1 ustiees and J edges prevails. This is very much like the old Court of I'.rrors of 185!). (I?) The Supreme Court is required to sit "at least twice" in each year instead of "at least once." (e) N o Judge or Justice is allowed to sit in a ease in which he may he interested, or where he is connected, by nihility or consanguinity, even with consent of all the parties. t v-r (d) Tho term of tho Supreme OQurt clerk aud Supreme Court reporter is made four yeuru instead of two. (e) A lawyer "of live yours* practice is eligible us Chief Justice or Associate Justice of the Supreme Court or as Circuit Judge when 12<? years of age. Heretofore tho age was JO. (f) Each Circuit J.ulgn is to bo elected by viva voce vote of the General Assembly instead of by ballot, and must be a resident of his circuit when elected. (g) Judges are no longer pormitted to 44Btate the testimony" to tho jury. (h) In those counties whero County Courts may bo established the General Assembly may provide for election of a county solicitor in tho place and stead of the circuit solicitor. / \ A ....H'.oiotG miiolwip />f morrinfrn. \IJ /X DUUlUlOUlf UUUlUVt \/S ??v? * tv? will ho appoiuted for each county l>y tho Governor, by and with tho advice and consent of tho Senato. 3. As to jurisdiction: (a) Tho Uupremo Court, iu addition to its present jurisdiction, will, iu appeals iu cases in chancery, reviow tho findings of fact as well as tho law, except whero tho facts are settled by a jury and tho verdict not set aside. (b) Tho Supremo Court is empowered "to issuo writs or ordors of iujuuetion, inaudumuH, quo warranto, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus and other originul and romediul writs;" instead of "to issuo writs of injunction, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus, and such other original aud remedial writs as may bo necessary to give it a general supervisory control over all other Courts in the Stale." (e) Tho commou Pleas will have jurisdiction in all civil cases and appellate jurisdiction in all cases within tho jurisdiction of inferior Courts, except from those inferior Courts from which tho General Assembly may provide au appeal directly to the Supremo Court. (d) Tho General Sessious will havo jurisdiction in all cases except such offences as the General Assembly may assign to the exclusive jurisdiction of magistrates. It will have appellate jurisdiction in all criminal cases within the jurisdiction of inferior Courts. This enlarges the jurisdiction of tho General Sessions by giviug it concurrent jurisdiction with inferior Courts, except as the Geueral Assembly may otherwise provide; but exclusive juris diction cunnot lie given to the liiicrior Court in eases of riot, assault and battery and larceny. (e) The Probate Court jurisdiction remains unchanged. (f) Magistrates' jurisdiction, civil and criminal, will l>e such as the General Assembly may pescribo; it cannot be greater than the present jurisdiction of trial justices; it may be less. 4. General matters: (a) All persons charged with nn offence are entitled todemundand obtuin a trial by jury. (b) In all Courts inferior to Circuit Courts the jury will consist of six. (c) lu those counties whoro magistrates have separate and exclusive territorial jurisdiction criminal cases must be tried in the district where the offence was committed, subject to the law of change of venue. (d) Whenever an appeal to the Supremo Court involves a question of Constitutional law, or of eoullict between the Constitution and laws of this State and of the United States, or between the duties and obligations of her citizens thereunder and the Court is not agreed upon it, they may ca'l to their assistance the Circuit Judges and the decision of a majority of the Justices and Judges will be final. (e) Circuit Courts and all Courts inferior thereto will have the power to impose sentence of labor upou highways, streets and other public works upon persons by them sentenced to imprisonment. Heretofore that power was only in Circuit Courts. (f) Judges are required to lile their decisions within sixty duys from the rising of the last Court ot' the circuit then being held instead of from the last day of the term of Court ut which the causes were heard. (g) The present trial justices are created magistrates and ho continun till their terms as trial justices would hare expired. (h) All matters, civil and criminal, now peudiug in any of the Courts continue therein till disposed of according to law. Stanyarne Wilson. county and county oovkbnmp.nt. The essential differences in the formation of now counties under the old Constitution and the new are aa follows: Under the old Constitution the General Assembly had the power at any time to orginizc new counties by ehuugingthe boundaries of any of the old ones, hut no new county could bo formed of less area than six hundred and twenty-five square miles, nor could any existing county be reduced to a less area than six hundred and twenty-five square miles. Under the new Constitution, onethird of the qualified voters within the area to l?o cut are required to petition the Governor for the creation of a new county netting forth boundaries, etc. The Governor is required to order an election within reasonable time by the qualified voters within the proposed area and at the same time the quest iou of a name and a county seat for such county shall be submitted to the election. If two-thirds of tin* qualified electors voting at such election shall vote yes, then the (leueral Assembly shall establish the new county. No section of the county proposed to be dismembered shall be out off without consent by a two-thirds vote of those voting in such section. An election on the question of forming the same proposed new county shall not be held oftener than once in four years. No new county formed shall have less assessed taxable property than our I and one half millions of dollars, nor less area than four hundred square ! miles. No old county shall be reduc! ed to less area than live hundred I square miles, to less taxable property " ! thaiitwo million dollars, nor to less portion than fifteen thousand inhubWante. No new county shall bo out within eight miles of its Court IIouso building. The Generel Assembly shall have tho power to alter county lines: Provided, that before any existing county line is charged two-thirds of tho voters wijthiu the territory to be taken from : one county aud given to another shall vote for sauie: Provided tho change does not rcdnoo the county from which the territory is taken below the limits -;vY prescribed above. No county seat shall be removed except by a two-thirds vote of the qualified electors of said county voting in an election held of said couuty voting in an election held for that purpose. J. Thomas Austin, Chairman Committee' Counties and Couuty Government. I'KNAIi AND C11ABITAHI.K INSTITUTIONS. The following changes aro mado in the article of the old Constitution: Tin* loimn of (lie Tjiitmlin Awvlnm bus been ohuuge to "State Hospital for the Insane." The rogeuts appoint all the physicians, officers and employees, e.\ee]>t the snpermtondent, who is appointed by t!ie Governor, as formerly. Convicts sentenced to hard labor by auy of the Courts of this Stato may bo employed upon the public works of the State or countiea, nud upon highways. Provision may be made by the General Assembly tor the establishment of a State reformatory for juvenile offenders. Convicts from the Penitentiary, when hired or farmed out, shall he under the direction of officers of the Penitentiary. W. J. Goeding, Chairman. TUB MITjITIA, The articlo ou military, as it will appear in tho new Constitution, has live sections, w hile that of the old Constitution has three sections. The difference consists in the general change of phraseology and condensing of language, besides the addition of Section 2, exempting from arrest the volunteer forces while on duty, mustering, etc. and the further addition also of Section f>, making it mandatory on the General Assembly, at its lirst session after the adoption of tt-.e now Constitution, to muko ample provision by statute to pension disabled :n.l: 1 o ..f. i n! --i nun uiuigulli. t KiliCIII'llllU HOltlierS null tlie widows of Coufederate soldiers. J. W. Floyd, Chairman. IMPEACHMENT. The only chauges iu tho nrtielo on impeachments from tho old Constitution uro: First. Vacancies occasioned pending the impeachment trial "are to be tilled" iu such manner as may be provided by law. Second. Persons under impeacliment shall have the right to l?e heard iu their own defence, "or by counsel, or both." M. R. Cooper, Chairman. FINANCE AN1> TAXATION. The chauges made by tho present Constitution in Article 9 of the Constitution of 1878 are as follows: In addition to tho power given to tho General Assembly to provide for u uniform and cqnal rato of assessment and taxation and to prescribe such regulations as shall scoitro a just valuation for taxation of all property, real, personal aud possessory, except mines and mining oluims, the proceeds of which alone shall bo taxed, and ulso excepting snch proporty ns may bo exempted by law for municipal, educational, literary, sciontiiio. relierious or charitable purposes, tho articlo provides that the General Assemble may impose a capitation tax upou such domestic auiiuals ns, from their nature aud habits, are destructive of othor property, and also for a tax npon incomes and occupations. The poll tax remains tho same as heretofore; tho two-mill tax for educational purposes lias bjen increased to three mills. The General Assembly is prohibited from pledging or loaning the credit of the State to any individual, company, association or corporation or becoming a joint owner or stockholder in any uuijijmujr ur corjiunitiou, iior tsiiuu it have the power to uuthorizo any county or township to levy a tax for any purpose except for education purposes, to build and repair public roads, buildin {?? and bridges, to maintain and support prisoners, pay jurors, county officers and for litigation, quarantine and expenses of Courts, to support paupers and pay past indebtedness, nor issue bonds in aid of building railroads. A uniform valuation of property for taxation is provided for, and assessments for county, school district and municipal purposes must be levied upon tho basis of the Stute assessment. W. J). Evans, Chairman Committee on Finance and Taxation. JPIltSrUt'DBNCE. Section 1, relative to the uppoitrt, 'merit of arbitrators, is taken from the Constitution of 18(?S. Section 11, in addition to the provisi ions of the old Constitution as to j "change of venue," reads: "The State shall have the same right to m ?ve for I a change of venue that a defendant lias for such oll'euses as the General Assembly may prescribe. Unless a change of venue lias been had under the provisions of this article, the defendant shall be tried in the county where the oll'enee was committed: Provided, however, that no change of venue shall he granted in criminal eases until after a true bill has been found by the Krand jury: And provided further, tlmt if u chiinoo lie ordered it shall lie to a county in the mime judicial circuit. Section 21 retains the old provision for the "uniform mode of pleading without distinction between law and equity." Section 4, new, makes all statutes public laws, unless otherwise declared in the statute itself. This is uu eu* / tirely new provision, anil is intended to remedy the existing evil of haviug, in suits, to specially plead and prove statutes whioh were not of such n general character as to require tho Courts to take judicial coguizance of. Section 5, new, provides for a commissioner whoso duties shall bo generally to index the Acts of each session before being published yearly, (which has heretofore been done bv a special appoiuteo for S'J&O per milium:) to collect tho Acts of each year aud revise the same systematically anil prepare them for tho inspection of a committee of the General Assembly, whose office it shall be to report the progress of hie work at each session; to prepare from all the Acts so passed cud collected "a systematic code, iucluding the Code of Civil Procedure," and report tho same to the General Assembly on tho first day of the session for the year l'JOO, which report ahull remaiu in tho hands of the members until tho next sossion, when it shall be considered nnd adopted. 1 IllHMlUil DO UOUO UgUlll 111 IUO 0U(1 OI every subsequent period of ten years. This code shall contain all tbo general statutory law of the State, except that passed at the session of its adoption. The section guards carefully against additions or alterations under the guise of amendments without the formalities of a bill. The section further provides that, tho comnensatiou of the commissioner shall not exceed $.">00 per annum. (The work heretofore has cost at the rate of over $1,100 per auuiiui.) The section in tho old constitution looked ouly to a collection of the (general Statutes, liaviug no higher v due than a collection made as a privato enterprise. Section (> is known as tho anti-lynching section, and is the first attempt over made to pnnish tho officer in charge of the prisoner lynched and to require fhe county to pay damages. This was not reported in the original article, but was offered by Mr. Bellinger as an amendment, tho committee declining to recommend it. The article in the old constitution consisted of three sections; the uew article is composed of six. G. DirNCAN Iir.r.MXCKi;, Chairman. TIIK FIFTY-FOURTH <!ON<?ItKSH. A Synopsis of tlio Proceedings of ISoth Houses. TIIK SKNATK. The Fifty-fourth Congress began its session nt noon Mondny with crowded galleries and many other manifestations of ncutn interest in its proceedings including, of course, the inevitable Moral decorations. There were 15 new faces among the Senators, not counting Chilton, of Texas, who re-occupies I.CCIZN" BAKF.R. nORACK cmi.TOff. (New Senators from Kansas and Texas.) a seat he once held before by appointment, and there were in addition 13 re-elected Senators to be sworn in bv Vice-President Nto vonson us their own successors. Of the hold-over Senutors whoso terms will expire two years from now, sumo of the most prominent, including ltluekhurn, Iiriee, Hill, Voorhees, Vest ami 1'ofTer. Among the new Senators sworn in were Lucien Baker, of Kansas, Leo Mantle and T. II. Carter, of Montana. v l.T.% MAKTI.R. x. IT. CAJlTEll. fNow Senators from Montana.) v ' Half the time the Senate was in session on Tuesday was consumed in tho reading of the President's mmsngo. Tho duties of the United States in relation to alTairs transpiring in other countries were the theme of various hills, resolutions and memorials presented to the Senate. Various annual reports and departmental communications were laid l>efore the Senate und laid on the table. Two hundred and seventy-two hills and eleven joint resolutions were introduced aini referred. Many of these wore inherited from previous Congresses. On Wednesday immediately after the reading of the journal Mr. Mitchell, Kepuhliean, I Oregon, presented the elaiin of Henry A. Dnpont to he admitted .as a Senator from tin* Slate of lMnware under an election by the Ijcgislat iir?* on the ytli of Mnv, 1H95. and it wan referred to committee ou privileges and elect lone. Mr. ('handler presented petitions from various counties in Alabama aliening the eommission of election frauds and asking that Congress shall secure to thill State i republican form of government;and they wer > referred to the eollilllittee on privileges an I elections. Mr. Sherman present -da petition from the citizens "| Ohio for recognition ot the independence of Cuba. Keferred to eotna ittee on foreign relations. Idle petiti .ns were presented from Florida by .Mr. fall. Mr. Hoar offered the following resolution which was referred to the eomrnittee on forcigh relations lb-solved, That the Senate will support tl ? President hi the most vigorous action le* may deem lit to take for the proteetioii and secut. ity of Aaieriean eiti/ensin Turkey and to obtain redross for injuries eonimilted upon Slicli eit i/.en- tliere. Resolved, That the President be desired to make known to ihe government of Turkey the strong feeling oi egret and indignation w it ii which (lie people of America lin\ e heard of tlie injuries intlieted upon persons of tin Christian luitli in 1'nrkey, an 1 Hint the American people cannot be expected to view with indifference any repetition or outiuu anoo of such wrongs'. Mr. lloar also offered a resolution. which was agreed to, requesting tho President to, communlcato to tho Senate nil information: rwelvod by >.iin or tho State Dopartment in1 reference to injuries inflicted on tho itorsons or eroperty of American citizens in Turkey, auu in reference to tho ooudition of affairs there, ns to oppression or cruelties practiced on the Armenia!! subjects of tho Turkish government. Also to inform the Senate whether all tho American consuls in the Turkish Etnpiroaro at their posts of duty; and, if not, to state any circumstances that have iutorlorred with the performance of their duties. Mr. Allen, of Nebraska, then addressed tho Senate in behalf of the Cuban Belligerents. In the Senate on Thursday hills were introduced to provide for the coiuugo of tho silver in tho Treasury; by Jar. Chandler to provide, in connection with other nations, for tho unlimited coinage of gold and silver nta ratio of 1 to a resolution was Introduced by Mr. Ualhtiger, of New Hampshire, doclaring it to he "unwise and iuexpodlout to retire the greenbacks." Mr. Call, of Florida, addressed the Senate in behalf of iho Cubans. 1V*? u>i vu ^iviiu*a \v:irf'4.ri? i?4 ilitti;rii(>Hflit "It is mereilras unci in disregard of ago, sox and condition. Spain and Eupland recognized tlio Confederacy as a belligerent power, uud why should not tlio United States recognize llio Cut?nns as ejditied to the rights of struggling patriots?" The Senate thou adjourned until Monday. The Senate held a session of a few minutes Saturday, hut the House did not meet. Many uioiiiIk'ik ot both bodies went home to stay until Monday. When the 8 n n'o dt? i led to adjourn to Monday it was wttu the understanding that t ho House could do likewise. The House refused to adjourn at first, hut, after learning of the Senate's a< tion, reconsidered the motion. The Senate also reconsidered ami decided to meet when the news that tlio house would l o ia session was received. Neither body learned of the final decision of the other until the adjournment for the day was tuken. tub houhk. In tbo House of Representatives tho changes were still more marked. One of the features which provoked comment from the galleries was tho youthful nppearanco of many of tho new members. Several States lmvo sent as representatives men who are still in their twenties. Probably two seoro of others are under forty. In point of ago, tbo present Houso is the youngest known to the history of American legislation. These boyish appearing members, bright faced, intelligent looking, well groomed, well mannered and well dressed, college men most of them, presented a striking contract in their youthful appearaueo to their veteran ussoeiatep such as Orosvcnorof Ohio, whoso flowing white heard gives hint a venerable appearance disproportionate to his age; to exBpeaker Oalusha Grow, of Pa., hale, hearty mid vigorous, despite his seventy and odd years; to Culberson, of Texas, now entering upon his eleventh term and other of tho Hor.bo veterans, whoso political prospects wore not temporarily subin-rged in the November elections of '04. Mr. Held, of Maine, i:i pursuance to tho unanimous decision of tho Republican caucus, was elected Bpoaker by a voto of 234 against 95 for Mr. Crisp, of Georgia. The rules of tho Fiftv-lirst Con greas?popularly known as the lined ruleswore adoj tod for the government iu the House for the present. Iu tho House on Tuesday no business was transacted except tho reading of tho President's message nnd tho referring of it to tho committee of tho wliolo. Tho House adjourned until Friday. In the House on Friday Speaker U-ed announced iho following committee on Mileage: Messrs. A. It. Wright, of Mnssiiieiusciis, chairman; J. H. Uuiiam, of ('uiuoruia; Orlando lJurrell, of Jiiiuois, nnd George U. Pendleton, Domoerat,of Texas. Quite u ut 111ber of bills and resolutions?one calling upon 'the Secretary of Agriculture to report to tho House his action in regard to tho expenditure of the appropriation made in tho agricultural act for tho purehasonnd distribution of seeds and tho printing and publication of farmers' bulletins; and one signifying American indignation over Turkish oppression of American citizens in Armenia?wore introduced and referred to tho proper committees. There was a coloquy between the Speukor and the Ex-speaker. THK SU1MIKMK COURT. Order of Huslness In tho Sixth Judicial Circuit. Tho (sixt.li Circuit came up in tho Supremo Court ou Tuesday. Tho following is a list of tho cases and tho ord?r in which thoy appoar on tho docket: i 1. A. A. Pollock vs. Nancy Dump? soy. ! 2. Win. S. Cherry vs. J. W. Fowcll, mayor, etal. i a ............. w u.-ai. ?. u 1* (/ 4i.U^UO(<un TT UUllbU Y O, KJ}JL niv Machine company. 4. W. 11. Doty & Co. vs. J. VV. Boyd. 5. Glenn W. I tugs dale vs the Wiunsboro National Bank. f>. Ella SSclman ot al., vs. Will mm Robertson. 7. General Electrio company vh. Blucksburg Laud Improvement company. 8. Jones A Williama vh. J. IT. Fitzpatrick. 1). Joaepbino Little, administratrix, vh. the Georgia,Carolina and Northern railroad company. 10. Cyrus W. Hunter vs. Fletcher Ruff. 11. O. W. Buchanan and H. A. Gilliard vh. A. Fletcher Ruff. 12. W. 1*. Carpenter, et al., vh. American Accidont company. 13. .Jane O. McKeuzie vs. Stanhoj?o A. Si fford, et al. 14. Vorhiea, Miller A Co., in re. Hurst. Purnell & Co. vs. W. C. Latimer, et al. lf>. Heath, Springs & Co.. vs. J. E. W. Hailo. Hi. R. M. Kirk vs. W. Dureu an.l Ernest Moore. 17. The SState vh. John May. 18. The Durham Fertilizer company vs. J. J. H? in)>hill. et al. 10. Allison?and Addison vs. J. J. HciLiiLill et al. TILLMAN ON TIIK MKSSAfiK. lie See's in l( No KckiihI for the People's Welfare. Senator TiDtnim says of the message: ' I see nothing in the message that indieatea statesmanship or a regard for the general welfare of the jieople. The question that suggests itself to my mir.d is, if he retires the greenbacks, what will lie substituted therefor as currency? If national hank notes aro to he issued upon the bonds issue*! to retire the greenhaeka, why not save tho interest that will accrue upon theso bonds.' I loth the bonds and the greenbacks arc the promises of the government to pay. The only dilVerenec is th it the bonds will draw interest and the greenbacks not. Why, then, Middle this additional interest upon a suffering people? Tho policy of Mi. Cleveland is surely leading to plutociuey instead of democracy."