University of South Carolina Libraries
WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1894. The Sumter Watchman was founded in 18^)0 aod the True Southron in 1866. The Watchman and Southron now has the combined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and is mani festly the best advertising medium in Sam ter THE TREASURER'S BEPORT. "How much longer are the people of this county going to 'pay the piper' for senseless investigations ? It is a ques tion for them to answer," Tbe Sumter Herald in its last issue asks tbe above question, after stating that the County Commissioners had v made a redaction of ?37.50 from its bill of ?434 for the publication of the County Treasurer's Report, as the result of the investigation by tbe Grand Jury?which investigation cost the county io per diem, &c., of the Jury $54.00. Here is what tbe Herald said : the treasurer's report Tbe County Com mission ere have paid our bill for publishing the County Treasurer's Report. Tbe whole cost ? was ?434. Tbe com missioners reduced j the amount $37.50 We deem it of interest to give tbe following facts : The cost of that great and searching investigation by Foreman Rees, which be said was had to save money for the county, ?54, according to his own m statement, besides tbe additional amount paid tbe County Commissioners j It will thus be seen that the connty is in debt ?16.50 for the services of the Grand Jury alone. The commissioners were engaged with this matter at three different meetings, so tbe taxpayers cao imagine tbe additional expense. Had our foli bili been paid at first the county would have saved money. As it is io debt probably ?40 for an inves tigation which ha*- not amounted to a row of pins. This is saviog money for tbe county with a vengeance ! It is a significant fact that tbe presid ing judge completely ignored that part of Foreman Rees'a presentment relat iog to the Treasurer's Report, aod did not have tbe olerk to servet that section oo the Board of County Commissioners Yet tbe Commissioners referred tbe matter to their attorney, aod his opin ion completely demolished every ob jection raised, except tbe space ' occupied, and oo this be reported that he could oot advise them, oot being a practical printer. The question of space was finally referred to Mr. A. G. Flowers, foreman of the Watchman and Southron, a rival newspaper, and he foond space to tbe amount of $25 as compared with the last year's report. When it is remembered that the report this year was much larger than that of last year, the space can be easily ac counted for. The balance, $12.50, was for beads that were net in tbe report of last year, but tbe Commis sioners refused to pay for them. Tbe space Mr. Flowers foond was between the headings. The report was set io smaller type this year, consequently tbe body part of tbe report made less in proportion. The public can now jodge as to who was right aod who was wrong.. How much longer are tbe people of this coooty goiog to 4 pay the piper" for senseless investigations? It is a question for them to answer. Since tbe presentment was made by the Grand Jury, Capt Keels has de nied that be gave tbe report to tbe Herald with tbe expectation that it would be divided with tbe other papers, as tbe Grand Jury claimed to under stand him ; and he has published statements given him by Messrs. W. W. Dennis and R. W. Chandler, of Sbiloh Township, members of tbe Grand Jury, who back him in his de nial. Capt. Keels has also made a state ment to tbe effect that he promised last j winter to give tbe report to Mr. Nettles, theo Editor of tbe Herald, and since then Editor Nettles asked for aod secured tbe report from him for the Herald under Messrs Koight's control. Io reply to ?11 this Mr. W. J. Rees, Foreman of tbe Grand Jury, bas pub lished a dignified card, in which he declines to continue so absurd news paper controversy with Treasurer Keels, as to what he did cr did not say in explicit words, and that he proposes to let the matter rest until tbe reassem bling of the Grand Jury by whose understanding of tbe matter and judg ment thereon he will be governed. He thinks that Messrs. Dennis and Chan dler have made a mistake in not por- j suing the same course. The Watchman and Southron has taken very little part in the discussion of this matter, farther than to ?tate facts, because it occupies tbe position of *a rival newspaper," and one that "got left" by Treasurer Keels and the Herald?and is therefore in a position not to get full credit for what it might say. The Herald is in bad taste when it undertakes to ridicole Foreman Rees and tbe Grand Jury, because of the cost to the county of $54 for its Grand Jury to save $37.50 that the Herald was about to get without giving "value received." The fact that the Herald admits tbe justice of tbe reduction and accepted the payment of the bill less the $37.50 refutes the imputation of "Senseless investigation." If tbe bill was un just to tbe amount of only one dollar, tbe principle involved is tbe same. That the bill was unjust the Herald has not disputed?on tbe contrary its proprietors accepted tbe reduction with no other protest than the attempt to ridicule the Grand Jury on the score of false economy. It bas thus added insult to injury. Its greed is equalled by its impertinence. The proprietor of the Watchman and Southroii and Mr. Miller, of the Freeman, did, together, for their own io formati on, go over the report as published by the Herald, and as has been stated in these columns, they esti mated the amount of "stuffing" to be considerably more. Mr. Flowers' esti mate was made under instruction ob a different basis, and it is a fact that somehow or other one sheet of the report (the last one) was not measured by him at all, which gave the Herald the benefit of several dollars more than it would have received if all had been measured out. Id the face of these facts, then, the remarks of the Herald do seem to be io bad taste. While individuals may conduct their business on the plan indicated by tbe Herald, aod submit to a wrong rather than go to law at a greater cost than the amouot involved, officials charged with tbe conduct of county affaire have oo right to do so. 'Pay the piper/ indeed ! a common sense view, and a busic ess view, of the matter would be that The Piper should pay for his own music, and reimburse "the people of the county" for the costs of the case. ?ddiog the Herald's estimate of {40 "consequential" cost to tbe $54 for tbe "investigation,'' make oearly $100 that "the people of the county" are out to this matter?alto gether makiog the expense of this report of the county treasurer, io tbe year 1894?the fourth year of Tilmao aod Reform?about $500, . The Legislatore, io the act providing for the publication of Reports of County Treasurers, fixed the price to be charged for same at 50 cents per iocb of space io length, aod at that price tbe cost of tbe several reports for the five years preceediog this last re oort was : 1889? 175 inches.$ 87.50 1890? 466 inches. 233 00 1891? 360 inches. 180.00 1892? 552 inches. 276.00 1893? 550 inches. 275 00 THE GREAT STRIKE. Sioce our last publication, tbe great strike seems to have received its quietus, although it be but for a time, io all probability. The places vacated by the strikers have been filled to a con siderable degree by oiher meo, aod although many of tbe roads are still badly crippled io regard to moving freight trains, business has been re sumed to tbe extent of relieving tbe coogestioo that bas prevailed. Pebs has sect out "organizers" io the West to rally tbe meo and keep up tbe strike, but even iin Sacramento tbe trains are said to be running as usual. Tbe leaders of tbe strike io several places bave beeo arrested, aod Debs aod other offices of tbe A R. V., are now io jail io Chi cago, oo tbe ebarge of coo tempt of court in disobeying tbe injunc tion against interfering with railroad trains. It is estimated that tbe loss to rail roads is about eight million dollars. The losa to trade otherwise is incalcu lable. The cost to the government of moving troops aod their pay. is said to be a million dollars. Lawlessness con tinues in so m e sections of the North west, aod spasmodic acts of violence occur from day to-day, but it is {evident that the outbreak has been temporarily pot down by the strong arm of the military. Seventeen meo have met their death by violence duriog tbe trou ble, oot counting tbose accidentally killed. Cholera is epidemic io Russia, aod between July 8th and 15;h there were 294 deaths io St. Petersburg alooe. Prof. J. Thorowell Boozer, a Dative of Newberry but a resident of Texas for several years was drowoed. A large part of Coostaotioople was ! wrecked by ao earthquake last week. A number of people wers killed aod all business has been suspeoded. Tbe people all campiog out io the opeo places aod are thoroughly panic strick- j As Others See Them. Sumter County was represented in the last Legislature bj a delegation that was an j I honor to the county. Tbe ability and j i honesty of our representatives was recogoized j by men of both factions, which should be I gratifying to tbe people of this county. j Tbe folio wieg from the Columbia Journal is tbe opinion of one who was io a position to see and judge the gentlemen named as tbey discharged their duties ou the floor of the House. It is do long-range, secood ? handed opinion, but ooe based upon observa I tion. ! "Hon. R. I. Manning, a brainy and pro I gressive member of the Lower House from ! Sumter has declined to run for the Senate. The Joarnal hopes that Mr. Manning will consent to be returned to tbe House. Tbe people of Sumter cannot do better than send Mr. At la mont Moses to tbe Senate. Mr. j Moses is a man of marked ability, gifted with bushels of hard common sense, is the soul I owner of strong and honest convictions, is ! watchful and quick on tbe floor aod isa staunch and popular Democrat." A Letter Prom Guv We've had a litter of misfortunes and trib ulations and also a calamity since our last lucubration. We're not apt at quotations, scriptoral or otherwise, but think tbe good book says somewhere, "Wait thon patiently upon the Lord," or something very like, and we had been waiting, waiting for rain : pa- J tiently ? Well hardly altogether. We don't | belong to tbe angelic host yet, and now and then and sometimes oftener, a body would feel as though they were very human, flesh aod blood with a strong dash of human frail ty. Tbe few apologies for showers were ! something like the old parson's religion, | "nothing to speak of." Gardens were abont mined, corn more or less injured, potatoes were suffering and if there were any tubers in tbe gronnd they should have been roasted I done. Peas and late corn were lying iu the J ground and the ground might as well have been a bot ash heap. Ko grass, and plows and hoes had done all they could to date and we were, "waiting, waiting, only wail ing." Cottoo ? Well cotton really seemed to revel in such weather. It's a mighty spite ful crep any way. Takes up a heap of room while it's with us and when it goes leaves us with nothing?nothing but a hole or two something in this shape?00. We ha int much sympathy for cottoo, but gol darn it it doo't need any. It flourishes and grins and grows right along in gronnd hot enough to parch pindars, while the corn and other crops that we expend onr affection upon are perishing for lack of a little common wetness. Well we've got tbe wetness now and it has brought i tbe grass as we were hoping to lay by and j lay up and leave tbe rest to Providence and j have a good time, we've got to go back with I hoes and plows and tight grass. Then there ? came a terrific bail storm through a portion j j of our community and tore up their cotton and shredded the corn until they doubtless tbiok Apollos has overdone tbe thing. Ah, Law, a borny-handed eon of a-of er of toil bas a trying experience in many ways. This Toil family is quite a large one. We j don't presume ourself, to claim to be a direct lineal soo of old Toil but we became inti- j mate with the family aud formed an alliance j with 'em, and thought they bad adopted us, j but there came along a lot of other chaps j who swore they were nearer kin than we and ! that they could do more and better for 'em ! aod because we didn't think so some of tbe j fambly begun to give us tbe cross eye and j j cold shoulder. We hain't seen nor beard j j that these new kin have done anything for j the Toil family yet, though the family hae dcoe a dratted sight for them. There's a pack of these fellows now going over the j State swearing that their hands are hornier, j and their hats are woolyer, aud their galluses ? singler thau anybody else's and that they have all plowed more furrows than each other and never were anything but a plow boy and don't aspire to anything more, except a small office in tbe fall until we be dod gasted if we don't wish we had every 9on of-urer gnu of 'em hitched up to a Dixie boy plow with the big wing on, sot rank, with curb bit on each of 'em, turning over sod at 3 p. m., sky clear and no breeze, they'd pray to join tbe Neversweats, before we'd get through with 'em and that without office. We are not bunkering particularly after office this season, we'd take a post office, with light mail and fair pay, or?Congress where the pay is heavier and not a gol dar? I thing to do. We waot to get away from this j Toil family, the mode of making a living too often throws you into a sweat of perspiration and tbe pay is too light. If we could raise 10c. to buy a check book we'd move to Sum ter and give checks for everything. It looks more decent and uppity and biggity and is cooler than plowing and hoeing. We bear that our merchants are having more trade offered now than they care to take. The rea ! son they don't care to take it is owing to the lack of per capita. Sakes alive if you ever j do meet up with any per capita these days it seems tc be in an almighty hurry and don't ! give you more' time to say good morn in' and imejectly good bye. It is the lengthiest money drought that we've ever experienced, and we are past the age of adolescence and croup. The stolid ignorance of our Congress io not seeming to know how to remedy the stringency ia simply amazing when there is, ? at least, a half dozen financiers at every X ! roads and rail road crossing who know it all and could tell'em. Now Long says, (Long lives near us, we call him Long for short, and bis word may be re-lied on if you choose to re-lie on it, but ycn'll have to be a very skill ful liar to do so.) Long says the increase of currency is very simple, "Just let Congress tell the greenback press to go to work and print more green backs or any sorter backs, so they'll spend and we'll spend 'em. So also set the silver and nickel machines to work quick as possible and "let 'er roll" and then take charge of tbe railroads and tele graph aad wire us when, our per capita is ready and send us a free pass and we'll go on and get our'n ourself and save freight. Then pass a resolution, or something, that cotton must not and should not and shall not and can not be sold for less than 10c. per lb. cash and 20c. when paying debts with it, and any : ooe caught buying or selling for any less sball be severely castigated about tbe hind legs, abolish, aonul and forever extinguish ? all mortgages and other lieos aod indebted uess against tbe farmer. Short offers ao amendment to also abolish manual labor. Short lives with Long and they are both ex actly alike except that one is short and the other long. We could elaborate muchly upon the marvelous sagacity of these wonder ful financiers, but time is up and this is the Long and the Short of it for the present. Gcv. -??^ - -^ e? WASHINGTON" LETTER. Washington, July 16, 1894. Now, that the strike excitement is happily over public attention is centered upon the daily meetings of the democratic conference on tbe tariff bill. There is some disappoint ment among democrats that after an entire week's work no agreement has been reached. However, considerable progress has been made, and it is hoped that a partial, if not a complete report can be made to the House and Senate this week. Democrats are more worried over the failure to reach an agree ment than over the bluff made by Senator Hale in introducing a resolution calling for information as to why the republican con ferees had not been invited to attend the meetings. In their anxiety to get to work the democratic conferees neglected to follow the usual course and invite tbe republican conferees to the first formal meeting, but it was merely a form that was overlooked. It is a democratic disagreement and it must and will be settled among democrats withont re publican interference. It is not to aid in settling the disagreements that the republi cans wish to attend the conference, but to try to prevent their being settled. Just as soon as an agreement can be reached that will be ratified by the House and Senate Congress can adjourn, as the Senate, by an unusual spirit, has parsed nine of tbe appropriation bills and has the other five in good shape to be passed this week. That will leave the decks clear for actiou on the conference report on tbe tariff bill, and everything now points to sdjournment by the first of August. Tbe only thing that can upset these calculations is tbe failure of the conference to reach an agreement thnt will be accepted by both Senate and House, and that is not expected. strong effort is being made to get the Nicaragua canal bill passed at ibis session of CoDgress, but it may be crowded out. Tbe House Commerce committee is trying to get tbe committe oa Rules to set aside two or three days for tbe discussion of the canal bill, which Chairman Wise, of tbe first named committe considers one of tbe most important bills that have been before Con gress for years. There are a cumber of democrats in the House, who are on principle opposed to the government's engaging in any such business as proposed by this bill, and while they are not probably numerous enough to defeat the bill on a vote they are numerous enough to prevent a vote being taken unless a special rule is reported limit ing debate. So many requests come to Sergeant-at Arms Snow, of the Huuse, from editors and politicians, asking whether certain members bave drawn mileage for both tbe extra and regular sessions of Congress and whether this j or that member has drawn full pay since tbe law to dock members for absence was reviv ed, that be has had a circular letter prepared politely declining to furnish the information asked for unless instructed to do so by tbe House. A considerable number of members of the House have reason to feel grateful to Col. Snow for uot opening the books of bis office to the men who are trying to find reasons for leaving them at home. It seems to come natural to some people to misunderstand things. A case in point was i the unanimity of certain labor leaders in announcing after a recent interview with the President that Mr. Cleveland bad agreed to appoint a commission to arbitrate tbe dis pute which brought about the late disastrous and costly?to all concerned, and to many! not directly concerned?railroad strike. It is not flattering to the intellect of the before mentioned labor leaders if this misunder standing was not intentional. Tbe law under which President Cleveland agreed to appoint two commissioners to act with the U. S- Commissioner of Labor in making an investigation, does not give him authority to appoint arbitrators, except under conditions not existing in this case, and the commission to be appointed will only have authority to investigate tbe strike which occurred upoo interstate railways. It cannot investigate the strike at the Pullman car works any more than it could investigate a strike of tbe farm hands of John Smith. President Cleveland will appoint this commission because be wishes to secure authentic information to be used as a basis for recommendations he intends to make on tbe subject in his next annual message to Congress. He recognizes it as a subject that needs national legislation, not in the interest of tbe corporations, nor of the labor organizations, but of the whole country, which is incommoded and in tbe end has to pay tbe bills for tbe periodical strikes. Although there are reports to the couotrary there is no reason to doubt that President Cleveland will sign the bill forthe admission of Utah to statehood, which ?9 now in bis hands. Senator Allen of Nebraska told tbe Senate on Saturday that it was untrue as stated in the newspapers that bad been downed in a wrestling match with John Barleycorn. For Over Fifty Years. .Mrs. Wikslow's Soothing Syrup has been used for children teething. It soothes the child, softens tbe gums, allays all pain, cures wind colic, and is tbe best remedy for Diar rhoea. Twenty-five cents a bottle. Co. E, Palmetto Sharpshooters. THE ANNUAL RE-UNION of Survivors Association of CO. E, PALMETTO SHARPSHOOTERS will be beld on August 3d, 1894,?tbe First Friday in the month? at Tabernacle Camp Ground, two and a half miles from Lyncbburg. The meeting will organize at 11 o'clock. A full attendance, with baskets, is requested. J. C. McKINNEY, Secretary. July 18._ RHEUMATISM. THE NEW FRENCH RHEUMATISM LOTION, by an eminent French Physi cian, cures Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Lum bago, all Diseases of tbe Skin quickly, often immediately; however, Rheumatisms of long standing require some time to be cured ; but they are relieved whenever the Lotion is ap plied. Cramps in tbe limbs, hands, etc., pre cursors to partial paralysis, are cured imme diately. Price $1.00 at DeLorme's Pharmacy. July 18. Can you Keep a Secret ? We know that some of you forget that we still have an ele ? can and that some of you can- gant line of the celebrated not, but what we have to say this week is no secret, and you can tell it to your wives, sisters, mothers, sweethearts and cou sins, husbands, fathers and <fcHermsdorf Fast Elack brothers, that we have some Hosiery," extraordinary And ^ to each purchaser of Bargains in Fresh and ?1.00 or more we present a Seasonable Goods. beautiful souvenir. Our Clothing and Fur 2 Cases lovely as- nishing Department Sorted Ginghams is the Pride of the City. At 8 cents, former retail price A11 the newest and noWieet 121 cents. Our buyer in New 8tY1^ m Men's, Youths, Boys York picked them up, that's and Children's Clothing. Hats, how we got them. He's on the Shirts, Hosiery and Neckwear, look-out for just these kind of Wl11 be found there bargains, and we give you the benefit. Get our Prices On Groceries before buying, nth ai? iVaw lf ^ou desire <luality we can many oiner new ^ ? it t0 you If you desire Goods quantity you can get that also We are selling-agents for a Have just been received and number of firms, and merchants you will find the prices aston- can buy certain lines of goods ishly low, even for these times from us cheaper than else of Bed Rock prices. Don't where. Remember the Place. J. Ryttenberg I Sons, N/W\ Cor. Main & Liberty Sts.. Sumter, S. 0. New York Office, 84 West Broadway. May 2 <2? iui Ilfl? ' A TRIP Will not be enjoyable, j unless you are equipped with the following which is essential to a man's comfort. A Nice Lot of Negligee Shirts, Collars, Cuffs, Scarfs, Underwear, Handkerchiefs, a Hat, &c. -AL8O A NICE Trunk or Leather Valise. Any of the above goods we are selling AT LOW PRICES. BEFORE YOU PURGHASE YOUR OUTFIT SEE US. j|rown, Ruttino A jjelgar, Clothiers, Hatters and Furnishers, SUMTER, S. C. June (>.