The Barnwell people-sentinel. (Barnwell, S.C.) 1925-current, September 03, 1925, Image 1
FOR
DEMANDING RESIGNATIONS
Col Edgar A. Brown has made
public the following statement in
reference to his and Senator Patter
son's action in demanding the resig-
Ul
k
Every taxpayer in the county will
.want to know why the row between
the delegation, or a majority thereof,
composed of Senator Patterson, and
myself, and the Board of Directors.
I can answer the question in half-
a-dozen words : that is, *To save Barn
well County from Bankruptcy,
this will not give the people the in
formation they want, and I will have
to go further and say that we are
trying to restore Barnwell County
to its own, and wrest its affairs from
the hands of E. C. Matthews, J. W.
Folk and C. M. Turner, the majority
of the Board of Directors, who ap-
rently have banded # themselves
^together in one of the wildest cam-
"paigns of waste and squander ever
known in this county. In the interest
of the county, Directors J. B. Morris
and W. L. Baxley have tendered their
resignations. Hence, they are out of
the matter. These men have been in
the minority on the Board and are in
nowise responsible for the present
situation.
'* I •
Here is the history of their con
duct for the past three years, since j-;
their appointment on the Board. And
let me say here that I had nothing to
do with the naming of either Mr.
Matthews or Mr. Folk, on the Board,
and only voted for Turner after he
had told me a falsehood, promising
certain things directly opposite to
what he had promised Senator Ken
nedy.
I was elected to the Legislature in
1920 and went to Columbia in Janu
ary, 1921, and that year, we appro
priated for chaingang, roads and
/bridges, 120,000, which was. up to that
nations of the Board of County Direc- time probably the largest appropria
tion ever made for that purpose. The
Board then in office Spent .that year
$28,700,04, or $8,700.04 more than the
Delegation had appropriated. The
Delegation warned them and went
back next year and cut the appro
priation to $15,000, and that year
they spent $25,132.87, or $10,132,87
more than appropriated. We paid
and raised the taxes on the
people. Then in order to see if there
wasnVTelief somewhere, we changed
the law, cut the County into five Dis
tricts of two toWnships each, as fol
lows: No. 1—Barnwell and Great
Cypress Townships; No. 2—Blackville
and Georges Creek Townships;. Ne.
3-»*Williston and Rosejnary Town
ships; No. 4—‘Richland ahd Red Oak
Townships, and No. 6—Four Mile and
Bennett Springs Townships. I lived
in District Nq. I, Senator Kennedy in
No. 3, and Mr. Weissinger(theh on the
Delegation), in No. 2, and we agreed
that I should name a man for my dis
trict, the Senator • in his and Mr.
Weissinger in his. I named J. B.
Morris, because of his experience as
Supervisor for many years; Senator
Kennedy named Mr. Folk and Mr.
Weissinger named Mr. Matthews.
And we agreed on the other two, M’ - .
Turner and Mr. Baxley, and as I say
only after Mr. Turner had, as we say
in politics, "run on both tickets,” and
made Mr. Kennedy the same promises
that he had me, the only difference
being that he kept his promise to
(CONTINUED ON EIGHTH POGE)
i
k
GET-ACQUAINTED TOUR
COMES HERE SEPT. 15TH
54 SAVANNAHIANS TO SPEND
^ NIGHT HERE
Visitors Will Be Guest of City.—Big
Barbecue to Be Served Night of
September 15.
Savannah, Sept. 2.—The Savannah
Automobile Get-Acquainted Tour of
South Carolina will take' place on
September 15 to the 18th, inclusive,
and Barnwell, onh of the scheduled
will be visited by the party at
of the" first day, September
_|Places, u
#P-
W. T. Knight, Jr., of Savannah, and
rannal
pro
general chairman o*. the proposed
tour, is in communicatiqn with the
Barnwell officials and arrangements
are fast being perfected for the re
ception and entertainment of the
Savannah party.
President Solomon Blatt of the
Chamber ef Commerce has notified
the Savannah Committee that he Is
arranging a barbecue and to house
the Savannahians for the night in
homes of Barnwell citizens and at the
hotel. Breakfast will also be served
by the Barnwell Committee.
< • The Savannah party will consist of
one hundred representative Savannah
ians who will leave in motorcade from
lina has a three-fold purpose, as an
nounced by its general chairman,
namely to give an opportunity to re
presentative Savannahians to become
better aquainted with their neighbors
across the Savannah River; t6 dis*-
cuss the problem of considerable mut
ual interest, that js, good roans; and
last and third to invite South Caro
lina people to attend the formal open
ing 'ceremonies of the Savannah
River Bridge which will take place
on October 7th at Savannah.
rclock on the morning of the 15th
and at Ridgeland the party will di
vide i nhalf, fifty .men in automobiles
going, by way of Beaufort, Charleston
other half of the party going by way
of Fairfax, BarnweH, Aiken and Ed
gefield to Columbia. In the Cppi-
g/ tal city the tv^o sections of the
party will join, staying there for
'the night and returning to Savan-
-nah via St Matthews, Orangeburg,
Banberg and Ridgeland. _
A .complete itinerary and ac-
tour has been eom-
To Conduct Services
at Episcopal Church
The Rev. Howard Cady, rector of
the Church of the Holy Apostles, has
repuested The People-Sentinel to
make the following announcement:
"Services for the Thirteenth Sun
day after Trinity will be held as fol
lows at the Church of the Holy Apos
tles in Barnwell: Church School at
10:15 a. m.; Holy Communion and
sermon at 11:15 a. m.; Evening Prayej
and address at 8;30 p. m. At the
morning services will be the dedica
tion of the new organ with appropri
ate music. All are cordially welcome
to vtorship with us.”
Kg ••. ;v .■
LETTERS AND RESOLUTIONS
IN PRESENT CONTROVERSY
Last week, Senator A. B. Patter
son and Representative Edgar A.
Brown addressed letters to the mem
bers of the Board of County Direc
tors, requesting their resignations
for the reasons stated in the letter.
If the ^resignations were not forth
coming by. Sept. 1st, Messrs. Patter-
sqn and Brown advised the Board
that the chaingang would be commit
ted to the penitentiary and future
roadbuiMing done by contract. A
copy of this letter and subsequent
communications between the delega
tion and the county board furnished
to The Peope-Sentinel for publica
tion and are as follows:
EXHIBIT "A”.
Barnwell, S. C., Aug. 26, 1925
Mr. E. C. Matthews, Chairman,
Mr. J. B. Morris,
Mr. J. W. Folk,
Mr. C. M. Turner,
Mr. W. L. Baxley, Members Barn
weH County Board of Directors.
Gentlemen:-
This letter is written yjj in the
interest of Baniwoll County. It is
intended at the same time t) put you
gentlemen in possession of our de
termination with reference to the
future policy of the County in so far
as the Delegation is concerned. *
It is unnecessary to discuss the
lack Of co-operation between mem
bers of the Delegation and-the Board
the Board, all of which is reflecting
discredit upon the County and in our
opinion costing the County much in
a financial way. Barnwell has for
several years been a leader among'
the counties of the State in the mat
ter of road construction, and has re
ceived much consideration at the
hands of the State Highway Depart
ment. This leadership is being re
stricted by the lack of co-operation
among those charged with the re
sponsibility of leadership, and the.
many misunderstandings between
members of the Board and between
the Board and the Delegation is
Widening the breach between the
State Highway Department and the
County authorities, which will even
tually do the Countv much harm.
The County Treasurer advise that
with the payment claims on the
first day of Sept., tne appropriation,
though we thought it large and
quite sufficient for chaingang, roads
and bridges, will be exhausted, and
it will be necessary for the Delega
tion to make provision for additional
funds if the chaingang is to continue
its work.
t *
As a majority of d the Legislative
Delegation, charged with the respon
sibility of levying taves to meet the
expenses of the various Departments
of the County Government, we are
unwilling to make provision for ad
ditional funds for road^ and chain
gang purposes to be expended by
tne present members of the Board ot
County Directors. There is one of
two alternatives: 1st. LeF us have
your resignations on >-r before Sept.
1st. 2nd. Failing in this, on that
date we will make provision to have
the chaingang committed to the
State Penitentiary, and whatever
road-building is done in the future,
as long as you gentlemen hold o^,
will be done .by contract, under the
supervision and with the approval ot
the Delegation.
Your co-operation in this '.ratter
will be appreciated. v-
Yours very truly,. .
A. B. PATTERSON,
Senator^
EDGAR A. BRuWN,
Member House cf Rep.
EXHIBIT "B”.
Hon. A. B. Patterson, Senator. '
Hon. E. A. Brown, Representative.
Hon. W. D. Heckle, Representative*
After paying August claims we
fine} that we have on hand a balance
of Nineteen Hundred and sixty-eight
and 59-100 ($1968.59) Dollars to
meet chain gang and road claims for
and° ^twMrr n dWdu.i”m™y« oft , !’' 1 b “ 1 * nC ' 0 ' th f ^ W *
that we borrowed last year abaut
appropriation for roads and bridges,
and we believe that we will need, ap
proximately this amount for the sarife
purpose this year.
We, therefore, request that you
make some arrangements by which
we can get this money by the first
Tuesday in October so that there may
be no delay in paying these claims
as they come in.
E. C. MATTHEWS,
Chairman.
J. W. FOLK,
Member.
~ C. M. TURNER,
~; Member.
Board of County Directors
for Barnwell County.
COUNTY DIRECTORS GIVE
- *T
**-
Barnwell, S. C., Sept. 1, 1925/
'To the Tax Payers of Barnwell Coun
ty:
In view of the fact that some fric
tion has arisen between the County
Board of Directors And the Legisla
tive Delegation as to the conduct of
the affairs of the County and the ex
penditure of County funda, resulting
in a demand by Senator A. B. Pat-
vterson and- Representative E. A.
Brown that the County Board - ef j ^
Directors forthwith resign under
threat of criminal prosecution if
resignations are not submitted by
six o'clock today, the Board of
County Directors being in regular ses
sion today. -
It is therefore deemed advisable
that the voters and taxpayers of the
County should be apprised of the
^condition of the County's affairs and
finances.
On August 26, 1925, the following
letter was addressed to the members
of the County Board of Directors:
k~-fSee letter dated Aug. 26th and
marked Exhibit "A”.)
At the regular meeting of the
Board of County Directors in session
today, the following request in
writing was delivered to the Legisla
tive Delegation then in meeting in
Barnwell. -«-» ..j. - _ .. \
— _—m . |
(See Request to Delegation, mark
ed Exhibit "B”.)
i
The Legislative Delegation by Sen.
A. B. Patterson And Representative
this time $15,000.00 in addition to the E. A. Brown adopted and served cn
the County * Board of Directors the
following resolutions, which they
stated were in response to the re
quest for assistance »n borrowing
$15,000 as above stated. /
(See Resolutiona, marked Exhibit
“C”.) I
^ In response to the charge of squan
dering the County's money, etc., the
following figures show expeniturea far
chain ganfr and roads and bridges tor
the year and in the amounts given.
(See comparative statement, mark
ed Exhibit “D”.)
In explanation of the expenditures
Hot 1925, the unprecedented rainfall
Feb. and March of this
year necessitated rebuHffiag and re
pairing of-numerous bridges through
out the County at w higher omt tor
bridge building material for the
reason .that heavier material is re
quired to take cars of heavier traffic.
When the present Board of County
Directors went into office, the
equipment 'consisted of 16
few dump carts and picks
Since being in office the
has been increased to St
wheelers, a tractor, and
sary equipment for good road budd
ing. We have more than doubled
our mileage in road building, have
built permanent roads and this ad
ditional work and construction has
been done* at practically tha same
cost as that of.former years.
The offiqe of the Board of County
Directors* is open every day in tile
week, and the books of the office
showing all receipts and disburse
ments are open to public inspection.
In addition'to the foregoing, more
than $1,000 has been expended for
borrow pits, rights of way aad dam
ages to crops in connection with the
32 miles of highway that has bem
constructed in thf County this year.
E. C.
Chairman, Board
m
K- i*L>;
+ , <
BARNWELL TO BE HOST
TO SAVANNAH VISITORS
v
In Spite of Drought
Club Market Thrives
EXHIBIT “C”.
RESOLUTION.
At a meeting of the Barnwell Coun
ty Legislative Delegation here Sep
tember 1,1925, to consider the ques
tion of finances of Barnwell County
It appears that $80,00.00 which was
appropriated to maintain the County
(CONTINUED ON FOURtH PAGE)
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
ORGANIZED IN BARNWELL
The tour schedule calls for a stop
new SaVannh River Bridge at 8 in Barnwell from 6 p. m. until 7:80
a, m. for supper and breakfast, fol
lowing which the .party will proceed
to Blackville. ■
It is expected that within ten days
and Holly Hill to Columbia end the a Hat of the personnel of the Sav-
•annah party will be read]) for public
announcement. Only the towns from
Columbia down to Savannah via Bam
berg and Walterboro will be visited
by the entire hundred men.
It is expected that Mayor R. M.
Shill of Savannah, several Alderman,
TWO MEETINGS .HELD .DURING
THE PAST WEEK.
the
Officera Elected Monday Night aad
t
Drive to Re Made for Large
Number of Members.
Two meetings of local business men
have been held daring the past week
for the purpose of organizing a local
/Chamber of Oolhmerce. The first
gathering met in the law offices of
Harley and Blatt Friday afternoon,
at which time the matter was discuss
ed informally. Another meeting was
called for Monday at The Best Phar
macy, at which time the organization
.was perfected and officers were elect
ed. The feasibility of securing the
services of a paid secretary was dis
cussed but it was TinaUsL. decided
of Chatham county that the amount necessary for the
commissioners and president P. G.
Pierpont, of -the Savannah board
trade, grill head the party.
dajril schedule calls for
right sort ef man is not available
of ['this time. The officers elected Mon-
aifht are as follows: President,
Vice president, Teria
Ministers and public school teachers
•v * £, |
will be asked to become honorary
nembers of the organization.
Various matters ■ were discussed
Monday night, ^Among therm being
the visit qf Savannah business men
on the night of September 15th and
the Virginia-Carolina Field Trial As-^
sociation meeting in November. The
details of these and other matters
must necessarily be attended to by
the new organization.
A substitute plan for the piad sec
retary was offered by Mr. W. J,
Lemon, who suggested that the presi
dent be authorised to appoint a
committee, to attend to any necessary
work that is to be performed for the
advancement of the town and com
munity.
It is realized, of course, that the
organization cannot succeed without
of
In spite of the continued drought,
the Club Market continues to flourish.
On last Saturdav morning, long be
fore the hour set for the opening of
the market, housewives were on the
ground and the Chib women had no
difficuUy in d’spos : ng ot all products.
Hilda se°ms not to Unve'been as haid
hit as other ntetiom and this ciob
has* been furnishing striftg beans,
peas, okra, tomatoes, butter beans,
peaches, late melons, icupuerncngs,
grapes, flowers, ^ as well as eggs,
chickens, etc. From Long Branch
comes roasting ears, snap beans, peas,
sweet potatoes, fresh outter and but
ter milk, scuppernongs, pI/\ Hercu
les section has been hard hit and only
such products as eggs, butter ahd
scuppernongs are ' brought. . An
amount in excess of $20.00 was real
ized from Saturday’s sales.
Arrangements are being perfected
this week whereby products will be
handled on next Saturdav in such
manner as to allow all patrons of the
market to be supplied, and thereby
avoid confusion heretofore h d.
levery .citizen of t
objects ef the
Commerce is,
well to the
county and,
town. One of the
it Chamber^
to “eeir Barn-
of the fuwn and
to
BARBECUE AND STREET DANCE
TO BE GIVEN.
Receives Promotion
Among the new appointments of
Cadet Officers and Cadet non-com
missioned officera of the Corps of
Cadets, United States Military Acade
my, West Point, New York, is that of
Cadet James A. Willis, class of 1926,
who has just been Appointed Cadet
Liedtenant.
‘These appointments are based on a
Cadet's work during the preceding
three years, and are greatly desired.
Cadet Willis is the son of
Mrs. J: A. Willis, formerly
weft, hut now of Son
Large N amber of
Georgia City to Be
Local
When the party of Savannah maa
who are to tour this section of South
Carolina arrive In Barnwell ea
afternoon of Septembor 16th, thoy
will find a moot cordial
awaiting them.
are already under way and a
good time is being anticipated.
The two features of the
will be s big barbecue
ed by a street dance,
for both are already being
with a competent committe in
their success is assured.. The'
will be held st Vickery Broe.
which is an ideal place for such *a ,
fair and these two public a|
gentlen\en are to be.
their generosity in granting
sion for its use. The street
will be held on the paved
around "The Circle,” the music
furnished by a 15-piece hand
will accompany toe Savannah
While in Barnwell, the
ians wfll be the guests ef
and everything possible will
to make their May a pleasant
memorable one. For
'unable to find
hotels, lodging will he
vate homes. The visitors will
served breakfast the following
ing before their departure for
vitle and the other
route of travel. They <
trip for’the
tnore cordial relatione
action and tha Georgia
t$ invite the. ]
na to attend
'be Savannah River
■ • s' ’ik-'an
It
w r.
maun?*