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^- >a . " ?s:*r'.' - ' - * :A BAD MUDDLE. I That Is What the Penitentiary : Investigation Proves to Be. SOME HIGH OFFICIALS IN IT. It Seems That Perquisites Play- j ed a Prominent Part in the Management of the State's Big Prison. When the penitentiary investigation commit^e met at noon Wednesday, after a recess of nine days, 31r. S. P. J. Garris, one of the directors whose name has been connected with the brick matter, was present and said he desired to make a statement. He did so to explain a card appearing in The State of the ISth iDSt., alleging that he had got a carload of brick from the penitentiary for which he had never paid. ; . Mr. Garris took the stand and said: ''I wish to present for your consideration the correspondence aod editorial appearing in The State of March 18. I ask this investigation I*? justice to myself, to the board of direcun^ndto the public. "7 would state that in '96 that the 1 T ?k penitentiary auu vu-i. -uipatviuu nuc making brick. Daring that year we were called to visit the brickyard to inspect its workings. In looking around I saw quite a pile of brick and bats which seemed to be rejected. That is what I taken them to be; brick that were ruined by the burning. I asked Col. Xeal what they did with them and he said they were worthless. I said to him 1 should like to get 3,000 of them if they were worth nothing to the State. He said I could get them by paying the freight; that I had better take 5,000, as the rate would be cheaper on that number, which would pass as a carload lot. I told him I would take 5,000 if they didn't cost over $1.60 per thousand for the freight. "I w^nt down home on the evening rr uvu jl xcuvavu v**v agent had left the depot and I did not get to see him about the freight. I got Capt. Westfield to find out how much the freight would be. If it was not over $160 he was to ship me 5,000. He was not to send me any brick that the State could sell. "In March i received notice Jrona tne agent that I had a carload of brick and there was $18.50 due for freight. Well, it covered more than I expected to pay by a good deal. I wentovei, paid the freight and unloaded the brick. I never bought any brick from the penitentiary. 1 didn't consider these worth anything, and if I had known anything had been wanted for them I wouldn't have had them shipped." Mr. Garris then ofiered in evidence affidavits from several reputable citi zens of his neighborhood, who had seen the brick, saying they were broken bats and were worthless for building purposes. One or two of the affidavits set forth that Mr. Gams had offered them the brick for the freight charges, but the offer was declined, as they did not consider the brick worth even-that. . . As Mr. Garris was cu the stand the committee decided'to get from him information <ibout the sale of oats from the .State farms last year. The penitentiary report shows a discrepancy and ". toward this the questioning was directed. Mr. Stevenson asked: ''I see in the report of 18'-<- you have as sales so many thousand bushels of --A- T7> 1 m j. ii..! oats, xrom whoiu uiu yuu gei uiai> iuformation?" "From the bills of lading of the man- J agers of the farms." "The only source, then, the directors could get this information from is from the statement of the manager* of these farms?" "Yes; that's the only source I know of." "I wish to invite your attention to this fact: In the report of the directors f liof TTAor H QQQ\ orfi cr\ mor>T7 VI ViMb. JVCkL ?>i.V JV JJLAU.IUJ bushels of oats reported sold, those sales aggregating$4,494.70, while the superintendent reports sales amounting to $1,499.65. "What about the discrepancy of $2,995.05 in these reports?" "I think tlu. bookkeeper had better make a statement about that." "You ste bv this on the face of it that there are $2,995.05 which Col. Neal hasn't turned in as cash; isn't that true?" "Yes; by your figures." Mr. Patton?"These reports of sales of oats are obtained from the farm books?" "Yes, sir." 'The reports as taken from the farm books and incorporated in your report to the general assembly show that S4,494.70 was received in cash for oats sold. Is that correct?" 4iYes, sir; as far as I can see." ''That report you made to legislature also shows that only $1,499,65 was acknowledged to have been received on the penitentiary books. Now, if the first amount as to the oats sold is correct and if the smaller amount charged by Col. Xeal is correct, then the difference, amounting te nearly $3,000, should be put down as assets in your report, should it not?" "Yes; I suppose so." "Then if this amount does not so appear, and if these two statements are both correct, Col. Neal or somebody is responsible for about ?3.000 received for oats??'":'" -"Yes; I would so understand it." at_ t> : 4 .t , j iujl. i^uirisa put uu iiiv biauu IU answer some questions about the oats. After examining the report for 1S93, he said the assets, oats sold but still unpaid for, amounted to $962.29. After deducting this $962.29 from the apparent shortage of $2,995.05 there is left $2,032.76 from the sale of oats yet unaccounted for. Capt. Westfield of the penitentiary guard,s was called to the stand at the afternoon session to testify about the brickbats shipped 3Ir. Garris. He said that Mr. Garris' statement was correct, and added that he perhaps sent hint more than 5,000 brickbats, as it was c-isier to get rid of them by loading into a car than to haul off from the yard and throw away as would otherwise had to n r?/\ Vv a An a*% a na > (j wtn uuuu. As an employe of the penitentiary for the past 10 years and captain of the guard for the last four years, Mr. "Westfield was in a position to know much of the internal workings of that institution. Hence he was closely interrogated on many questions of domestic ecnovmy, so to speak. His answers were to the point. Mr. Stevenson asked: ''Who has had charge of taking in things at the penitentiary, such as provisions and produce?'' "Since I have been captain of the guard I have been supervising that." "Who had charge ol letting thing go out?" "I have also had supervision of that." "You do all this under directions from the superintendent?" "Yes." "You kept a record of everthing that went in and came out?"' "Yes. sir." "Where is that record?" *"it is at tne commissary. 'Have you a laundry at the penitentiarv. if so, how long and who operates it?" "Yes, there has been a laundry there for two or three years and the work in it is done by convicts."' "Who have their laundering done there?" "The officers and guards, and the convicts, of course.'" "Whom do you mean by the officers'?'' JF JUili lilC SU|^ilub^Uugubuvnu. "You mean the superintendent personally?" "Yes, and his family." "Are there any places of amusement inside the penitentiary, such as a billiard room?" "Yes there is a pool table." "Who uses that table?" "I have, and other members of the guard." "What was the object of such a room?" "The object of p acmg tnat tnere was to furnish some amusement to induce the guards to stay in at night while o& duty." "Where did the pool table come from?" "From the asylum." "Is there a room fixed up for it?" "Well, it's not so well fixed up but it will do to play a game of pool in." "How long has it been operated?" "Three years." "l>oes tnat Deiong to tne penitentiary outfit?" ''Yes. I suppose the penitentiary would claim it now." "I don't see mention of it in the report, as fixtures or anything of the sort," said Mr. Stevenson. Then he asked: "Hav<? you any furniture or cabinet makers?*' j vr l " les, sir; a very goouuue, iMiyviwu. Laval." "How long has he been in the penitentiary?" "Threeor four years." "Does he do anything besides-make furniture?"' "Yes he does lots of carpenter work, such as keeping up the place and making repairs." "When he is up with that work he makes furniture?" "Yes, sir." "What is done with the furniture he makes?" "Well, some of it has been sold. I can't tell just where or to whom." "You can't give us any definite information?" "Mr. Stevenson, if you will tell me what you are driving at or trying to find oat I will tell you all I know." "It has been reported to us that state oScers and prominent men have been given furniture. Now give us the names of as many of tnose men as you Mn "There's Mr. Cugningham, chairman of ihe board of directors, he got a bookcase; Mr. Garris, he got one or two pieces of furniture, a washstand and a bedstead." "Yes, and a bookcase and toolchest," adefed Mr. Garris, "but I have paid for them."' Mr. Tatum?"DidI get anything?'' "Not that I remember." Capt. Westfield continued?"Maj. Tompkins, secretary of state, got something, a bookcase I think. Mr. Hardy got a couple of tables, I think it was, made. I don't believe there is anybody else in here who got anything. "Did Col. Neal get any furniture?" "Yes, I can name a few things he got. He also had a bookcase made, had a bedstead made, and several small tables." Mr. Patton?"When you said these people got these things do you mean they were bought?" "Yes, most of them, but some of them were not paid for, and it was pretty well understood when they went out that they were not to be paid for. There were some things that I didn't much think would be paid for." v> ere inese aracies m every instance charged up?" "No, I might have overlooked charging up certain things." "Who board at the institution outside of the convicts?" "The guards, the clerk and physician eat dinner there, the superintendent occasionally, and the board of directors stay there when they are in session." "Has there been any great iufiux of visitors there from time to time?" "Yes, .there have been more visitors since Col. Neal's administration than before."' "Were there rooms where these people might sleep?" "Yes, the board of directors sleep there." "Does it cost much in the way of supplius to board these visitors?1' ' 'If it was summed up in dollars and cents it wouldn't amount to much." "The fare is sufficiently attractive to induce them to stay?" "Yes, its better than paying hotel bills.'1 "We notice in the reports transactions in wood and coal. Is it customary to deal in them?" "No, but when parties run out of coal sometimes we let them have it. We have supplied the city waterworks at times when they ra*? out, and a few otners. "I notice here Gov. Ellerbe is charged with wood and ccal to the amount af $246.60." "Yes, we have sold the governor his coal and wood."' "Did Col. Neal get his wood and coal from there?"' . "'Yes, it has been customary to furnish the superintendent with his wood and coal since I have been there." "What does that amount to?as much as the governor's. "Yes, sir, about as much." "The matter of supplies for the su pcnntendent s family?has it been the custom for them to have supplies from the penitentiary?" "I don't know about the custom before four years ago, but for the last three years the superintendent has been getting supplies in considerable quantities." ':l)id he pay for them as "an individual?'' "Yes, I charged them to him, but whether he paid for them or not I don't know." ""What were the thing he got?" '*PTnm<; lnr<^ anr? VprnsArip wpt-p largest items." "How about milk and butter and vegetables?" "It has been customary for the superintendent to get them.""The superintendent's compensation depends largely upon the size of his family then," remarked Mr. Stevenson. "Can you give us what it has been customary for the superintendent to get since you have been there?" ,;Milk and butter, green vegetables, coal and wood. "' Well, captain, you said the superintendent had gotten hams from there? wnat disposition nas oeen maae 01 tne hams of the hogo killed on the state farms?" "They were fed to the guards, and the superintendent got some of them. The board of directors have eaten slices of them, too. " "How manv hogs do you usually kill each year?" "About 75." _ "That would give about 150 hams. What wnuld be their average we?ght?" "About 18 or 20 pounds." UTT. _1_. 1 J . _ XL. nas auyone eise Desiaes me superintendent and guards been getting these hams?'' "Yes, I think the governor has been setting hams for the last six years. " "By 'getting,' do you mean they were bought?" "Yes what went to the governor was expected to be paid for." "By the 75 hogs slaughtered?you refer to those killed at the penitentiary. fPT _ 1 1M 1 U i uere are aisu a uuiuyer tu uug&siaugutered at the state farms each year, are there not?" "Yes, sir, a go)d many.1' "Do they sh;p any of the pork to th ? penitentiary? ' "Yes, year before last seine was sent up." ''"What became of the hams from the farms?" "They were used on the farms, I suppose." On TVwirj^oTT flio Pvominabrtri rvf Capt. Westfield was continued. He said he found that Senator Tillman had got a bookcase, which was shipped to Trenton. Congressman Latimer had also gotten a bookcese. These cases were made by Napolean Loval, a convicts. The following testimony of Westfield is reported verbatim: Mr. Stevenson?"You have your commissary book with you today. Will you turn to the account kept with the governor's mansion. When was that account opened?" "March, '94." "Do vou know anything of an actW time?" "I don't think the governor kept an account before then." "Who was the governor at that time?" "B. R. Tillman." "At the close of that year (189^;1 did that account stand?" "There was due $57.06."' "Read over some of the items." "Most of (hem vere wood and c ?al." "Any hay?" "Yes: a small amount of hay, a little lime, a litcle paint amf a few nails."' "Has that account been paid?'" "So far as I know it has not been paid." "If it was paid, it was turned in to the bookkeeper?'' "Yes; his books should show that.'' "As a matter of fact, his books do not show any such payment,'' said Mr. Stevenson. "For the year, '95, who was governor?'' "Evans." "What is the account of the gover nor s mansion for 1895?" "The total for that year is $206.44."' "What was the account for 1896?" "For 1896 the account would, be $95.55. I don't think all of the '95 account was paid. 1 notice lumber bills to Fowles & Co. and others. This is for repairing." (Later on it was showed that these lumber accounts had been paid, leaving Evans' ration account At $18i still unpaid and now due the State). "How about coal and wood?" "That has not been paid." "What are some other items?" "Corn, peas and horse feed, but the largest item outside 01 lumDer is ior coal and wood." "You said those accounts were transferred to the penitentiary books?" "They should have been; but I don't know. "Take up the account for 1897 and give us the total." "The total for '97 is $268.71." "Was any part of that paid out of any special appropriation?" "Yes: for building a barn, but some of the material was gotten from the penitentiary." "Should there be a credit?" "Yes; $36.65 should be credited." "That would leave whit properly chargeable to the governor's mansion for 1897?" $"232.06.'" "Now for 1898?" "The total is $458.52 for 1897 and '98." "Are there credits on that total?" "Yes; there ought to be a credit of $337.54, including the $36.65 for building material. That leaves a balance of $120.97 still due!" "Has he gotten anythiDg for this year?" "Yes; $33.13 worth of things." "So that leaves the present governor due the penitentiary what?" "$154.11." The books show on October 17,1893, that the governor's account is credited with $60 for hay bought from him by the penitentiary; a check of ?146. GO and cash to the amount of $100. As stated above, this leaves Gov. Ellerbe due the State $154.11. "What about the meat transactions?'1 In reply the witness explained that when Mr. Ellerbe became governor he had a quantity of meat shipped to Columbia from his farm. There was no suitable place to store it at the executive mansion so he spoke to Col. Neal ohrtnf. Vppninor if-, in frTiA np.mtftTit.iarv commissary. Permission was given and the meat was placed there but was kept seperate from the penitentiary meat. When the governor wanted one of his hams he sent for it and it was given him. The witness was quite sure that the governor did not get any of the pemtentiary s nams. "So you merely kept that meat there as an accommodation?" asked Mr. Stevenson. "Yes."' "What year was that?" "1S97." '"How about 1898?" '"He had some meat shipped up and placed there. We bought the tnrat from him and as he needed any he would send and get what he required. This was charged to him at the same price as he sold at and one meat account aboat-balanced the other. This was to save the trouble of keeping the meat separate. I would like to state, continued Capt. Westfield, "that the statement in this morning's paper to the effect that the governor's mansion has been getting hams from the penit.en+iar-p-' for last, SIX VftflrS was a mistake. I said the governor's mansion had been running an account with the penitentiary commissary for the past sis years. ;'I would also like to state that my friend. Mr. Hardy, got his furniture with the intention of paying for it and it was charged to him on the peniten tiary books and so appears in the report." Mr. it. K. Burriss, the bookkeeper, was put on the stand as the first witness after dinner and a bill from th? Stewa/t Stone Co., for 400 feet of granite curbing for S220 under date of !n,.r -> .I QOQ TTo that the granite had been ordered by Governor Tillman for use at the executive mansion and that the pay for it had been deducted from Mr. Stewart's account for convict hire. This granite he understood had never been used and Mr. Stewart told him under the contract for it he was only to prepare it and not deliver it. The granite was still at the quarry and could be gotten when sent for. Governor Tillman had promised to get a special appropriaton passed to pay for it but had not done so. Another bill of $31 of the date of March 12, 1896, was shown Mr. Burriss. He said it was for furniture for the executive mansion brought by Goveruor Evans There was no fund to pay O . .1 1 ior it tne governor naa saia ana ne asked that it be paid by the penitentiary also saying he would get it paid for by appropriation. There was also claim of $87 against the executive mansion for putting in a sewerage system. "Here is a bookcase which Senator Tillman got?was that charged to him?" '"Xo, sir. I only heard that he got a bookcase." Was -the bookcase Congressman Latimer got charged to him or ever paid for?" ';No, sir. It was never turned in to me." About two wardrobes which, ex-Secretary of State Tompkins got from the penitentiary, Mr. Burrisssaid: ''I understood from Capt. AlleD that he was to make him a present of one wardrobe. I didn't know he got two." ''Well, was there any charge against Capt. Allen?" "No, sir." Tti onctrfi? fn /"inAcfinnc J~ j-l ftUiJtlVl \*vj VJUWWVUU witness said there were no charges made by him against Col. Neal for furniture. Mr. Burriss stated that his books showed that Governor Tillman had settled his account with the penitentiary up to Oct. 31, 1893. About the additional account contracted after that time of $57.06 he knew nothing. It had never been turned over to him. "About Governor Evans' account I ! 'vould state that my understanding was that Col. Neal had told Capt. "Westfield to let it stand and he would see about collecting it. The account w-uj never turned over to me and if anything was collected on it I don't know. I don't know what the amount of it was." Governor Ellerbe's account, the witness said, had had payments made on -V --J 1- - J T l--. J Jl aiiu juuu ueeu piwpeny iepuii/cu iu him. About Col. Neal's account Mr. Burriss said that no bill against him had ever been given to him. He knew Col. Xeal had been furnished with his account by Capt. Westfield, but if he ever paid it he knew nothing of it. Capt. Westfield was recalled to the witness stand. In answer to questions he said that Gov. Tillman had worked eight or ten acres of rented land in and near Columbia while governor. The work was done by convicts and with penitentiary stock. Xo charge for either convict hire or the mules were made against him on any of the penitentiary books. The governor paid for the fertilizers used. This same thing was done by Gov. Evans, and is now being done by Gov. Ellerbe. No other governors prior to Gov. Tillman had ever done such a thing. The pea vine hay with which Gov. Ellerbe is credited on his account to che amount of $60, he said, was made on this small Columbia farm of his. Capt. "Westfiela corroborated the statement of Mr. Burris that Col. 2seal had said just to let the account of Gov. Evans stand open and he would see oKrmf if. Haiti <r r>5id. Turning1 to that U.UVSU* ""'"O r- O -- account he showed where credits to it should have been given for lumber so as to reduce it to $181. That was the amount Col. Xeal had said to let go over and he would see to its being paid. The Use of School Funds. The Columbia Record says the superintendent of education, in pursuit of his investigation of the purchase of charts, finds that almost incredible sums have been spent for them in some instances, leaving practically nothing with which to run the schools, come trustees even went so far as to anticipate the school tax for a year , in advance and made arrangements 'to pay cash for the charts. The attorney general has been requested to give his opinion as to the right of trustees to purchase supplies after this fashion. The opinion is not ready just yet, but generally speaking it will hold that trustees have no such right. When the maps and charts have thus been purchased there is no doubt but thatT they should be paid for. But that is a question for the agent and the trustees to settle amongst themselves. It may be, however, that it will be legal to enter into an arrangement to purchase now. and the supplies to be paid for when next year's taxes are available. Trustees throughout the state are much, interested m the subject and many letters are being received by Mr. 3IcMahan in reference thereto. There does not appear to be any objection to the supplies themselves, many teachers believing them first class aids in the school room, but it is a question whether such luxuries should be indulged in when the school fund is already too small. A Narrow Escape. A soldier of the Fifteenth Minnesota Regiment now stationed at Augusta, Ga., had a narrow escape from death at Branchville last Friday while going to Charleston on an excursion train from Ausrusta. The following account of . n w the accident we take from the Augusta Chronicle: There was a tremendous crowd on the train, and some of the soldiers who went along decided that they would ride on top of the coaches, just as they have frequently ridden to the city from Camp Mackenzie. There wasn't any mishap until the train was leaving Branchville. At this point f.omc of the excursionists made a raid on lunch ^tund-* and a "man on the ground was pitching articles to the men on the top of one of the coaches. One of the soldiers, while attempting to catch a box of cigars, did not noticethat the train was approaching a coal chute. He was struck in the head, turned a complete somersault and rolled in between two coaches. His body fell down upon the railing of the platforms. Fortunately for the soldier Mr. Frank Lowe of Augusta, happened to be standing on one of the platforms and seeing the man h? threw out his arms and caught him just as he was about to fall in between the platform to the track below, where he would undoubtedly have been ground to death. C The tatal deaths in the army since the outbreak of the war with Spain down to March 1 has "been 5.731. t . * THE INSURANCE LAW | The Most Important Act Passed ! at the Late Session. 1 KNOCKS OUT THE TRUSTS, i it Prohibits Insurance Companies i Doing Business in this State Combining to Control Rates. The Legislative Acts, which has re- 1 xl ^i.1 ceivea more mtenuou uaii uli,> utuer, is that intended to drive the South eastern Tariff Association out of business in this State. The Act, which has been approved by the Governor: reads as follows: An Act to prevent fire insurance companies, associations or partnerships doing business in this State, or the ' agents of said companies associations or partnerships from entering into combi- . nations to make or control rates i'or fire insurance on property in this State, aud ' providing a punishment for violation of ; this Act. Section 1. Be it enacted by the Gen- ; eral Assembly of the State of South ' Carolina that it shall be unlawful for ' any fire insurance company, association or partnership doing a fire insurance 1 Dusmess in tins otate 10 enter into any compact or combination with other ' fire insurance companies, associa- , tions or partnership, or to require or allow their agents to enter into any compact or combination with other ' insurance agents, companies, associa- : tions or partnership, or to require or ] allow their agents to enter into any com- 1 pact "or combination with other insur- j ance agents, companies or associations or partnerships for the purpose of gov- ' erning or controlling the rates charged ' for fire insurance, charged on any pro- ' perty in this State; Provided thatnoth ' ing herein shall prohibit one or more of such companies from employing a common agent or agents to supervise and advise of defective structures or suggest improvements to lessen fire hazard. Section 2. That all * fire insurance companies, associations or partnerships doing a fire insurance business in this State shall cause to be filed on the 1st day of March, 1900, and in each year thereafter, with the Comptroller Gen eral of this State, the affidavit of some ( imiuer ur ageiit ui saiu uuiupauy, assuciation or partnership, who - resides in this State, setting forth the fact that that the company of which he is an officer or agent has not in the twelve months previous to the date of the said affidavit entered into any trust, combination or association for the purpose of preventing competition in insurance rates in this State. The said affidavit shall be made before some officer of this State authorized to administer oaths, and any false statement made in said affidavit shall be deemed perjury, and punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than one ; thousand dollars, and by confinement ] in the Penitentiary for one year, or, in the discretion of the Court by confine- ! ment in jail for a period of not less ! than thirty days nor more than twelve i montns: Provided, further, that any attempt to evade this Act by agreeing upon any one person, or number of pernors for the purpose of making rates for all such insurance companies, associations or partnerships, or by buying < rate books made by any person or per- 1 sons, shall be deemed a violation of this Act, and shall be punished as herein provided. Section 3. The Comptroller General or omer omciai to wnom saia company < association or partnership are annually required to report to this State, shall forthwith revoke and recall the license or authority of such company, or companies, association or associations, partnership or partnerships to do or to transact business in this State for any < violation 01 tins Act, ana no renewal or : authority shall be granted to do it for three years after such official revocation Notice of such revocation to be duly published for one consecutive week in three or more daily papers published in this State and for a violation of any of the provisions of this Act by any such company, or companies, association or associations, partnership or partnerships, they shall, on conviction thereof, mv a fine nf Tint less than five hundred r? > ? ~ - "? dollars. Scction 4. It shall be the duty of the Attorney General or the solicitor, upon his request, to cause the provisions of this Act to be enforced. Section 5. It shall also be the duty of the Comptroller General or other official, now charged, or to be charged, with the enforcement of the insurance laws of this State, to require every fire insurance company, association or partnership doing a fire insurance business within this State, to file with the annual statement made to him a statement duly sworn to by the manager or T O ^ president 01 eacn company, associauon partnership, legally admitted in this State, that it has not in the year intervening between the issue of its last license and that applied for violated the condition of this Act. ! Section 6. This Act shall be in force . from the 1st day of March. 1900, and all Acts or parts of Acts inconsistent ( with this Act are hereby repealed. Will Pay for It. Gov. Ellerbe Thursday gave out the ' following statement in regard to his name being brought into the penitentiary scandal: "In the testimony of 1 Capt. Westfield the public would think 1 I have been getting my laundering Gone 1 free at the penitentiary. Some time ago our washwoman left the city and we. could not get one to do our work satis- j factorily. I told Col. Xeal about the i matter and he told me he had a good i laundry at the penitentiary and that he 1 could do my laundering for me. I sent i a part of it only, and am to pay $3 per ' month. About a month ago I succeeded j in getting a washwoman and have not ] had any laundering dono at tne peni- j tentiary since/' Where Are the Guns. j Gen. Floyd is preparing to get after ] some of the former militia companies ] with a sharp stick. There has been. ] much negligence in collecting and re- j turning arms from disbanded military < companies. Gen. Floyd is looking < into the matter. He finds guns scat- ] tered all over the State, and has notified several former company commanders that they will be held personally \ responsible unless the guns are collect- ' ed and turned in. Most of these guns 1 belonged to companies in rural com-- ? munities.?State. j Explosion on a Cruiser. t The British firstclass cruiser Terri- ' ble from Malta reports that a boiler ex- t plosion on board of her Monday killed t a stoker, fatally injured another man t and badly scalded several others. ? ( Seeing the Banger. The scales are beginning to fall from the eyes of some of the Republican leaders and newspapers, and they begin to see great danger to the country in the formation of so many gigantic trusts. The Chicago Tribune has for many y-iars oecn an exponent ot tfepublicanism. In a L recent length} editorial that paper strongly showed the great menace to the .people of the United States in the appalling number of great trusts formed in almost every conceiveable line of human industry. These trusts constitute great monopolies. They now control all lines of human supplies. There are certain things which mankind must have?light, heat, food, clothing, transportatioa. And to snnnlv thfiSfi nfwssnrv \rnnt-c nmnvin dustries have been established in the United States. Under a high protective or prohibitory tariff the vast market in which nearly one hundred millions of people are buyers is closed against outside competition, and the millers and factory men, quick to see this opportunity, have formed trusts to prevent competition, and reduce expenses. Under these combines mills and factories are locked "up, men are thrown our. of Amnlnvmont. anrl tion is prevented. A trust employs t'ew or no drummers. It uses no more laborers than are absolutely necessary. It throws the vrork, formerly done by many factories, giving employment and support to thousands of people, upon a Pew factories. It absolutely controls the market for its product, at both ends, iixing the price of the raw material and Df the finished product. For instance, the castor oil trusts shuts up oil mills, md throws many employees out of v>uifv. JL t UAUO tiic iJiiw vi v;aotui beans, paying the farmer just enough to iaduce him to raise the beans. It ilso fixes the prices of castor oil, to ;uit its own ideas of profit. The workings of a trust are exemplified in the Standard Oil monopoly, which has made Rockefeller the richest man in the world, at the expense of thousands )f honest men, that the Standard Oil JUUipitU,) iliiS iuiueu. HCVCi ILL tliC Illstory of the world has there been such in appalling growth of trusts, as we tiaye seen since the election of Mark Hanna and McKinley. The Chicago rribune says the people must act. rhere are^laws against trusts. Yet the Attorney General of the United States has not moved a muscle to enforce these laws. The Tribune says the people must vote against the men in favor }f trusts. This means vote against the Republican party, for that party is Dwned and controlled and run bv the trusts. We agree with the Tribune. Vote against this monstrous trust evil jvery time the ballot box is open. The Democratic party has denounced trusts md combines, one of the greatest evils jf modern times. It is the only great party that stands squarely against them, rrusts will have a hard time with William J. Bryan in the White House, md they know this, and'fcr this reason ;hey fight him. For this reason, if for 30 other, the people should be solidly tor Bryan. The War Taxes. The act levying special war taxes (vent into effect June 13, 1898, and the receipts therefrom up to the end of the pear were as follows: Documentary and proprietary stamps $22,348,367.16 Soecial taxes 4.500.06S.75 Excise tax oil gross re2eipts 280,537.65 Legacies 134,S99.63 Mixed flour. 5,ISO.95 Barrel tax on beer 18.102.569.85 Snuff 330^639.^0 Tobacco 6,468,194.88 Cigars 1,443,339.73 Cigarettes :... 74S.315.S9 Total $54,362,122.39 TVi nnorVt fVio wn :* rvn nf wllirtVl these taxes were laid has been over several months the war taxes are still with as and there is not the slightest prospect that they will be abolished, at least for a long time to come. We are in no condition to talk about doing away with them now. i^ach passing month shows a huge gap between receipts and expenditures ana the deficit for the fiscal year to end June 30 will be at least $150,000,000. We will have the war taxes with us long enough to become very familiar with them, even if we do not become reconciled to them. Those who dapce must pay the fiddler. Will be Electrocuted. Several women have suffered the law's death penalty in 2sew York but not one since the electric chair was substituted for the callows. This week, howeyer. Mrs. Martha Place will be electrocuted, all efio)ts to obtain a commutation of her sentence having failed. The last appeal was to Governor Roosevelt and he has refused it in a very emphatic manner. He declares that the lawmakes no distinction between men and women in prescribing punishment for crime ana that he can find no warrant for interference in this case. The crime for which Mrs. Place is to pay the penalty was a most atrocious one. She de? ' < -i? -i 3 ii- - j i noerateiy pianneu me muruiu- ui ue* step daughter and carried out her design in a peculiarly cruel manner. After blinding her victim with' acid Mrs. Place strangled her. She then waited in the house nearly all day and at dark when her husband returned, tried to kill him with an axe. Mrs. Place was defended with great energy and skill. The plea of insanity was urged in her behalf and that failing every possible effort was made to obtain commutation of the death sentence. One of the attempts to save her life was made in the form of a bill to abolish capital punishment in .New York, but it was defeated in the assembly last Monday by i vote of 47 to 78. Mrs. Place's last :hance of life is gone and according to the New York form of sentence she trill be executed "during the week begining Monday, March 20. 1S99." Tiie Benton Standard notices with ilarm that an astronomer has discovered i short tailed comet. This is calcula ? M xi. _ i_ .r? it. : tea to spoil me narmoay ox me uuirerse. A comet wiih a docked tail has qo right to career around in the sky. [t is not comely. Where is the soc:ety for the cruelty to animals? This comet must rearrested and put in limbo un^il its tail grows rtut to a suitable length. We can't stai'.a this kind of business, [t will take an the gauze and fuzz we iave to'spare for ten years to cover our aaked fellow citizcns in the Philippines and nan't furnish tail stuff. :'or bobbed comets. Neither can we afford to have these hobtailed celestials jbscening our sky. That comet will iither have to put on petticoats or tarry at Jericho until its tail be giown. The attempt of the trusts to bribe .he attorney-general of Ohio to render i decision in their favor trust methods, another evidence of the utter disregard of law by these combinations. Trusts which are pronounced unlawful Dy legislatures and courts cannot main;ain themselves without corruption. This bribery case will open men's eyes ;o the truth about these combines. Af;er such revelations nobody can deny ;hat they are a menace to liberty and iubversive of government itself. t i ! REUNION FACTS. General Waiker Issues a Circular of General information. I TO THE OLD VETERANS. . j Ail Old Confederate Soldiers Urged to Attend in Uniform. Headquarters in Charleston. General Walker lias issued the fol| lowing circular letter giving some facts and information relative to the Confederate reunion: I. The ninth annual reunion of the United Confederate Veterans will be held in the ''Cradle of Secession," Charleston, S. C.. commencing on the morning of May 10th. 1899. The headquarters of the division, daring the reunion, will be at Market Hall, Meeting and Market streets. Comrades will please register there and during their stay make it their general assembling place. II. While the comrades of the division will be the guests of Charles ton, (.and indeed ot the people ot the state of South Carolina) none the less they must play the part of hosts, and be prepared to share their blankets, and the contents of their haversacks and canteens with the visiting comrades from the other divisions, and with all Confederate veterans who may join us in commemerating the memories so dear to us. III. In order to take part in the proceedings and have the right to vote, camps must pay their dues of 10 cents per capita to the U. C. VM organization, either direct to Major-Geaeral George Moorman, A. G. and C. of S., U. C. V., Xew Orleans, La., or the division adjutant general. Dues of 5 cents per capita to the division, to be paid to the divisiou, adjutant eeneral, with arrears for those camps that have not done their part heretofore in sustaining the division; all must be paid before April 1,1899. IV. Camps and comrades are urged to briDg with them any Confederate battle flags they may have, as well as their [ camp colors for the parade, especially as they will be wanted in the ceremonial of Memorial day, May 10th, (the anniversary of. Stonewall Jackson's 1 *3ao4-V?\ in a pif.r u^abuy cuv vtcujr vvuvirvui The Ladies' Memorial association having invited the U. C. V. organization to join them, and General Gordon having accepted the invitation of the association to preside. V. Miss Mary Carwile, of Edgefield, daughter of Brigadier-General T. W. Carwile, commanding 2<f brigade, is announced as division spcnsorfor the current year, and Miss Lula Cassels Lake, daughter of Col. George B. Lake, as maid of honor. The honorary maids of honor (for the Charleston reunion) will be Miss Minnie Agatha Wright, of Gainesville, Texas, and. Miss Lulie Wagener, grandnieee of the late Gen. John A. Wagener, of Charleston. The comrades of the diyison are to be congratulated upon having as sponsor and maids of honor four young ladies who will worthily represent names that appear upon the honor rolls of tKe Confederacy, and they will vie with, .each other in honoring .them. To Miss Wright the thanks of the comrades are due for her modest but effective efforts to influence the vote of the Texas delegation at Atlanta in favor of f!har1<?sfr.nn nnr? fi^r ?<?f>.fir>tanee of the sponsor's invitation to serve as one of the honorary maids of honor is another pleasing evidence of her gracious consideration for the Confederate veterans of our state. VI. The camps of the division are earnestly called upon to put themselves in position to exert the full influence this division is entitled to. as the representative of the first state to assert it self for states rights in the sixties, and all Confederate veterans in the state, not now members, are fraternally invited and urged to join one of the division or to f?rm new camps. ' VII. The commanding general of the division suggests that as many of the camps as can do so uniform their members in a simple and inexpensive suit, or sack only, of Confederate gray, with a dark hat. This seems to be the sentiment and custom of many camps in other divisons of the U. C. V. Each reunion shows more uniformed camps, and the South Carolina division should keep pace with the growing sentiment. By order Major-General C. Irvine Walker. James G. Holmes. a j:..*?* n??i XXUJUUIUL VJCUGiai, VI wtau. Information for Veterans. Charleston will open her homes, as well as her boarding houses and hotels for the comfortable and pleasant accommodation of all of the visitors who will attend the Confederate reunion. May 10 to 13 nest. The following information as to rates of board and lodging is officially given out: Private homes and boarding houses, lodging 50 cents to 31 a day: single meals, 25 cents to 50 cents; board and lodging, $1 to $2. TT.i-1. T 2 - - 3 I.J AO J xiotexs, Doara ana xoaging 94 auu upwards. Restaurants, meals 25 cents and upwards. Dormitories for ladies 50 cents and upwards; also reocaurants under the control of King's Daughters, Daughters of the Confederacy and Revolution and church societies of all denominations will be established. Dormitories for men with abundant accommodations will be opened at 50 cents. Visitors are urged to make all arrangements for board and lodging in advance and all information can be obtained and quarters engaged by addressing Mr. Robert P. Evans, chairman committee on information. Charleston, S. C. . Another Gunboat Saved. The navy department is gratified to 1 nAnvAeflnfflfirAC TTII A IjOVfi itJiUU LUAL 1UJ nuv u?f ., been working for some time in the vicinity of Santiago and Guantaname huve succeeded in adding another vessel to the American navy in the gunboat Baracoa, which was reported to have been towed into Santiago yesterday. The Baracoa was one of the Spanis h gunboats sunk near Guantanamo. She is a uselui type ot vessel ior patrol work and is about 50 per cent larger than the gunboats Sandoval and Alvarado now at Washington navy yard. She carries one Hontoria gun of 3.5 inch calbre and two machine guns. Never loo Old. John D. Clews, aged 102 years, was married at Franklin, Pa., recently to Sarah Jennings, 100 years old, who at one time was a member f Abraham Lincoln's household. Despite their advanced years, Mr. and-Mrs. Clews are still sprightly and active.^ _.~3i 11 I - . : % - ' wm - ^ - Tf- : ?: yr-^6 Gharieston. South Carolina. ?THE? 1 i/nnlm? nccicy Institute, Corner Vanderharst & Smith Sts. ^ a Uharieston, SouthCarolina :;? THE ONLY KEELEY INSTITUTE IN THE STATE. > ^ From Maker Direct to Purchaser ?|$ p A CfoocI ? ; I Piano ? g!WCUBUlJLLJ^.LJa^WP ?N M win last a ?j irtU??sl? fi Iff^rT s 3 Matboshck 1 % Is always Good, always KellaM* wH SC always Satisfactory, always Last* o| ?S lag. Yoa lake no ciwnces in Duy- m 7;: 3? -ft costs somewhat _<ore than ft 9 Sgjjj cheap, poor piano, but Is much tho a-*' 385 cheapest in the end- * Noother High GradePlanosoldao BH --4 heh reasonable. Factory prices to retail 9? 5?? buyers. Easy payments. Write**. 2H ?| * LUODEN & BATES. ? f ggg StTaiiBAlif t^ and New York Gtf* rwli9tr*1<y f *9!i9ti9}f9lSMBmSK' f' A.ddress: D. A. PRBSSLifltf, A?eat^ COLUMBIA, S. C. Write Quick d *> " > t-TO THfc' ; ' : | COLUMBIA, S. C? I for catalogue. Free scholarships on easy conditions to those who write soon. Rail-. ~ >i road fare paid. Cheap board. J* Notes accepted. Can pay partP-^d of expenses by working: in the college office. Address, men- -m tioning course desired, . jfl W. H NEWBERRY, Prest ' || We are State Agents for and make SPECIALTY of equipping improvec modern ginneries with, the celebrated? Murray Ginning System, the simplest and best. Cotton ginned J on this system commands a higher market price than any other, and the ma- | chinery itself is a marvel of simplicity ' . ~v We control for this State the improved Mnrrav Cleaning Feeder, which is unquestionably the best gin feeder eve yet invented. Parties contemplating a pnrcfiase of machinery of this kind are invited to correspond with us-. Machinery and Mill Supplies op all kinds at lowest manufacturers prices. Now is the time to place your order for a threshing machine; buy tbe best, we sell it?the FARQQtfAit. W. H. GIBBES & CO., COLUMBIA, S. C. State Agents for:?Liddell Co., Eagle C/OttonGinC^A^ Flour Mill . - " |p r * .* Machinery. ' ''A CONTRACTS TAKEN TO FURNISH COM ?PLETE EQUIP3IENT FOE? Roller Floor Mills^jS ?REPRESENTING THE? d Richmond City Mill Work^H One of t'15 lirjjss a 11 if t;:x re^ Flour Mill Mi3hiajf/ in th.5 oaol and having experieual I am prepared to build _i tue most iuipiuvyu pi^a prices to compete witfl in the trade. W|H the products, of ow equal the grades^ Western mill* placing yojH write LH I also handle a cofl Working Machine* gines and Boilei^B chinery in gen^f Having beeis here for sixtefl my trade class of mafl position eustom^H