The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, October 21, 1896, Image 1
MK SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. "Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country'?, thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone. 1266
Consolidated kag. 2,1881.
SUMTER, S. C., WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1896.
New Series-Tol. XVI. No. 12
?l)t Wfatil?cm aub Bawtl)
w ^ sj
Published SYS ry "Wednesday
NT. C3P. Ostee:
SUMTER, S. C.
TERMS :
$1.50 per annum-in advance
ADVB?RTISKMBNT:
One Sqaare first insertion.i
Every subsequent insertion.
Contracts for tbree months, or longer
be made at reduced rates.
All communications which subserve pr
interests will be charged foras ad vertisem
Obituaries and tributes of respect wi
. charged for.
Keels and -?omma?i
Show Cause.
Ex-Treasurer Keels and Coro
Commander Answer the Ku
cf Court.
At high no xi Thurs lay Ex-Treasurer I
Keels and Coroner Commander appeared
fore Judge Benet in open court to answer
rule to show cause why they should no
indicted for malfeasance cf the public; fi
which were in their hands as county effie
The cases against ?hess two officials are
well known in all their details to make (
capitulation of the facts necessary to a (
understanding of the answers put ia by (
of them.
Mr. Commander was first called oa
make his return to the rule which had 1
duly served on bim. He was represente'.
H. L. B. Wells, E?q , who read the an?
which recited briefly that Mr Comma:
became acting Sheriff on the de.tth of Sh
Marion Sanders acd continued in charo
the office until a successor to Sheriff Stn
was appointed. During the time he was
iag Sheriff be collected certain moneys
made correct records of all transaction:
required by law. That when Mr. Georg
McKagen was appointed Sheriff be (W.
Commander) offered to make a settlemen
all matters which bad come into bis ha
v while acting Sheriff, but that the Sheriff
fused tc accept a settlement unless alt
open accounts, including those coming c
from the administration of Sheriff Sand
deceased, should be made. This be was
in a position to do, nor was it inenmt
upon him to do so, hiving no knowle jg
them, and be therefore refused to do
having oo knowledge of them. He bad bt
and is still anxious to settle for all fn
coming into the office while it was in
hands and therefore prayed that the r
be dismissed ?cd a time appointed for a i
tlement. He reported $77.87 on hand.
Judge Benet ordered that the rule be <
missed and that Mr Commander be requi
to make a settlement within a reasons
time.
Capt Keete represented bimse'f and .ri
hia answer which is given in foll herewi
Judge Bccet reserved his decision.
STATS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
SUMTER COUNTY.
In re D. E. Keels. Return.
Rule to show canse.
To His Honor, W. C. Benet, Presid?
Judge.
Ia answer to the rule to show cause wbj
should not te indicted upon the the prese
ment of tbe Grand Jury to your honora
Court made out by A W. Seder, Exp
bookkeeper of the Grand Jury, I hereby st
mit to your honorable Court the followi
reasons why I should not be indicted, to w:
i. Tbat I deny each and every ailegati
in A. W. Suder's bookkeeper report to t
Grand Jory except saco as are hereinafi
admitted to be true and I further deny tba
have been guilty of any malfeasance or m
feasance in office.
2 Under the bead of "Dispensary A
count'' in the aforeeaid report I deny t
amount of $249 C8 beirg due or any pa
thereof other than that charged to me
last annual settlement ou balance bbc
$173.65, that would have been paid, hi
se'ti erne nt been completed and bad I cot be
advised *?y those wbo were connected wi
making settlement and by A. W Suder, G
to pay until after settlement was complete
which a mou t I have always been and a
cow ready io p?y
3 That under the bead "Court Expc-nse(
in tbe aforesaid report, March and June tet
1835 error of $100.10 I know nothing wha
ever cf I posted my Court vouchers wi
number nnd io whom made payable. Tl
cleikof the beard cf County Commission?
checked tba account by the vouchers and b<>
acced the accounts ;>s the books will shov
Havinz implicit confidence io his :r.tegri?
and honesty, 1 nave never verine i the ai
count ??d ?f there is an error I ;'.m not awai
of it. If upon investigation I find error
am re?i?y to pay the amount.
4. That under 'h^ heall "Pubilc Schools,
the sum of $1261 02 wi'h a credit by Trea:
urer H L. Sca?ncr'j?gh's receipt of $120<
is admitted. The S1261 C2 ;3 charged to n
on balance shtet in la^t annual settlcmer
end known io ?fae couoiy officials cooLecte
with the Treasurer's office and many ctben
This amcuM I did not pay t.ecause there wf
at the ilise a disrate as to dispensary fun
&ni th? }.> i tuce sl -.'-t was nc? ?uiJy tar j
ont and I w-.? *-iv;$ed by some coaeecte
with -be f; r not to y soy'hir
more u; :i' i s itl^rseM ~.?* comp?e? (i
M. Sou?r j^irised ic ?hi? CJ
Af-mil the June t:r::. ::....;:* 3?3tj ?ir S?j
a?ked r-:e to p?? ?l,2o*> on iris a mc-:? ai
which I did. r-Jhv-.rt:.. af.-er ih:3 ?Jr. Sade
represented to rn? that we Grand Jun hr.
authorized htm to colite? money tiona me ti
c?rry on the investigation. Upon ibis rep
resection I piid bira ihe sum of 561.02 bul
ance due on school fund aud hereto appen?
copy of bia receipt.
Received of D. E. Keels, ex-County Treas
urer, $61 02,'being balance of amount due ot
school funds. A. W. SUDER,
$61.02. Expert Grand Jury.
I fully beieivtd be had at the time the au
tbority to collect the same and submit that 1
should not be i a dieted
5. That under the head ''"County Tax
Fand" that the amount of S452 13 is admit?
ted to be correct and the amount is charged
ap to me ou balance sheet in last annual set
tlement, which amount would have been
paid bad settlement been completed and had
I not been advised by Mr. A. W. Suder and
others connected with making the settlement
not to pay the amount until settlement was
completed-which amount I have always
been ready and am now ready to pay.
6. That under the bead ' Real Estate asd
Personal Property" in the aforesaid report
thfit whatever A. W. Suder, expert book?
keeper, nod Mr. N W. B-ooker found in the
Sheriffs office I know norming of. The
Auditor rankes up the delinquent tax ?nd ab?
stract of tn*? ?mount, Treasurer issues execu?
tions, turn* them over to the SheifF, takes
his leceipts for the ex-cuiions ?nd his returns
for each execution and it is the duty of the
Apditor to take the returns cf the Sheriff for
the nulla brana tax to make annual settle?
ments and the Auditor who makes the an?
nual settlements gives the treasurer credit for
the amount of nulla booa tax turned over to
bira by the Sheriff on balance sheet in each
annual seulement. If the Treasurer has
been credited by the Auditor with $4,733 72
nulla bona tax on balance sheet more than
Treasurer was entitled to, theB the
Treasurer would have h*d to luve
been in collusion with the Sheriff
?nd Auditor hoth, which I deny, and reserve
the amount of $4,733 72, otherwise the bal?
ance sheet made up ny the Auditor would
necesseri'y show the amount of $4,733.72 to
the cedit of^the Treasurer on balanc? sheet.
Now if there is any confusion or irregularity
in the Sheriffs or Auditor's cffice as to nulla
bon.i tax' I am not aware of it and in no way
resD003ib!e and deny being due the sum of
S4.733 72 under this he.'.d
VII. That under the head of "Poll
Tax Investigation" in the aforesaid
report shows a balance due $1,5?8.90, all
poll tax that went into the hands of
the Sheriff has been settled upon his
return and accounted for in my annual
settlement. I have issued about 7000
poll tax warrants and placed them in
hands of the Trial Justices in 1S93. I
pressel on the trial justices for their
returns upon the warrants. They
went before the Grand Jury during
the year 1893 and asked for more time
to collect the warrants. The Grand
Jury granted them further time and
consequently I have never been able to
get their returns on the warrants. If
I had their returns so that I co;;ld
close up the books I am rather of the
opinion there would be a balance due
me from the fact that L have money in
the hands of some of the -Magistrates,
also Treasurer Scarborough, for my
credit on school funds. Therefore I
deny that the amount of $1,568.90 is
due by me under this head.
VIII. That under the head of total
deficiency in the aforesaid report that
I positively deny that I am deficient inj
Treasurers office the sum of $7,164.95 or
any part thereof other than the
amount shown by balance sheet last
annual settlement unless it be some
insignificant amount that may have
occurred from clerical errors on the
part of myself or some other officials
directly connected with the business
of the office in making annual settle?
ments.
Reference is here made to letter of
Comptroller General Norton to A. B.
Stuckey. Auditor, a copy of which is
hereto attached.
IX. My books are plainly kept, my
accounts correct and there is not a
fraudently entry made on ray books.
Now without the intention of cast?
ing reflections on any one-yet taking
all of the circumstances into consider?
ation and in view of the/act that there
are a number of County officials direct?
ly connected with the Treasurers office
in making the annual settlement and
that the annual settlements are made
by the Auditor from my books, the
Sheriffs books and the Sheriffs return
on Execution, I most respectfully
ask your Honor to allow time for the
Comptroller General who is clothed
with the authority under the law or
any other person that may be appoint?
ed to investigate the whole matter
thoroughly. All of which is'respect?
fully submitted to your Honor's con?
sideration, and having fully answered
the rule the respondent prays that thu
same be discharged.
D. E. KEELS.
Personally appeared before me D.
E. Keels who being duly sworn, says
that the above Return is true to his
own knowledge.
D. E. KEELS.
Sworn to before me this 15th day of
October 1S96.
THOS. G. MCLEOD,
Notary Public for S. C.
Tho Text of the Order Issued by
Judge Benet.
The ?oilowirg order was issued by Judge
Benet Friday 'afternoon:
Fal! Term, 1836, Court of Goof ral Sessions
In ro th? State V3. D. E Ke*Js :
Upon beering th return cf the defendant.
D. Ii Kiels, in 'he above matter to the rule
to show (-?use vrhy Le should not no indicted
an<J p-osecuted for unlfeasacfe in cffice, at;d
npoQ careful consideration cf the present?
ment of the grand jury herein : Ordered that
the clerk do immediately issue a warrant for
the arrest of the said D. E. Keels upon said
ch-:rge of maireasance in office and for official
misconduct and fc.-eieb of trust with fraudu?
lent intent, a: d that bc be odmmittei to bail
to oswer to sa;d cterges at the next term ol'
this Court in the sum of $1,5G0, with not
less than, nor more ?han, three good and suf?
ficient sureties, who shall justify according to
law before and be approved by said clerk.
That upon failure to give said bond th?
eaid ?). E. Kee's sba.'l be committed to j-iil to
answer to enid charges at the nfxt term cf
?biS Court.
Tb?.t ?he ?tr!: mal;? *t?u h-ive s^rcf-d with?
out ucUy rr. cn itt Comptroller Girral and
?Ltt?ira-rr General c.* th?s Stain-ci t: th?
sapjrviso; o? Somier'Jo-?cty comp copies
o? so tench of toe prest ntojeni of the grand
jury as refers ;0 tbes-tii chafes against the
?>a:d D. E. Keels, ?nd also taake and have
served at tue sam? time upon said officers
copies of Section ? of the general order passed
at the present tero of:his Court, copies of
the return ci the said D. E. Keels tereia aud
copies of this order.
That upon failure of eaid Comptroller
General, Attorney General and county super
vi?or to iustitute civil proceedings upon the
bond of the said D. E. Keels by the next
term of this Court, then the solicitor is here?
by directed to give out a bill of indictment
against bim upon said charges, and tbat the
rule be made absolute. W. C. Bc-net,
Presiding Judge.
October 16, 1S96.
CAFT. KEELS GIVES BOND.
The indictment ordered by Judge Bt-net
was mad? out by the Clerk and served
cn Capt. Keels. He gave bend in the
sum of SI,500 at once, as required, with
Capt. T. B. Johnstone, Capt. B. G. Pierson
and L. S. Carton as sureties.
Norton Takes a Hand.
The Comptroller General and
the Keels Shortage in Sumter.
Comptroller General Norton, who is
the head of the tax department of the
State government, seems to be a little
stirred up over the discovery of the
shortage in the accounts of Ex-Treas?
urer Keels He has written Auditor
A. B Stuckey the following letter in
regard to the matter, in which he says:
"I notice ao article in the public
prints of the 11th inst, addressed to A.
W. Suder. Sumter, S. C , over the
name of N W. Brooker, traveling
agent of forfeited lands, for D. H.
Tompkins, secretary of state, which
demands the attention of tbis office and
fall consideration by tbe officials of
Sumter county, especial^ those con?
nected with the annual settlements
since 1859-90, viz. auditors, treasurers,
county commissioners, school commis?
sioners and foremen of grand juries.
"The artioie io question charges a
shortage of several thousand dollars io
nuil* bona executions in Sumter county
since 1889 90, which in effect, and prac
tical results under the laws governing
officers connected with thc tax depart?
ment amounts to a charge of conspiracy
to defraud thc public, or gross criminal
negligence on the part of-these officials,
doun ty and school commissioners, as
thc special trustees of the people, are in
charge of thc disbursement of the
county and school funds.
"The law makes these officers proper?
ly parties to tue annual settlement of
the tixes for each fiscal year. No nulla
bona executions can, therefore, go to
the credit of tho treasurer in the annual
settlements with the auditor except
'upon their examination and approval,
in addition to these officers come the
foremen of tliegrand jury and the comp?
troller general or some one appointed
by him to represent him in witnessing
these annual settlements between the
auditor and i:be treasurer.
''You see that no nulla bona execu?
tions cao, therefore, be placed to the
credit of the treasurer by the auditor
except upon the examination and ap?
proval cf these other officials or ioexcu
stable carelessness.
'.The charge of N. W. Brooker,
agent forfeited lands, for D. H. Tbomp
kius, secretary of state, is that the nulla
bora executions credited to the treas?
urer are fraudulent, therefore a shortage
io bis accounts. Now this charge is
true cr untre. Tho facts must bc as?
certained fully, clearly and indubitably.
It is of paramount importance to thc
tax department, to Sumter county and
to the general public that the charges
be sustained or disproved and the re?
sponsibilities placed where they belong.
Let me repeat the machinery of the tax
department under the laws for assessing
collecting and settlement of Taxes : an?
nually returns are made to the auditor;
after acting by boards of assessors,
he makes up bis duplicate; the
auditor thea makes an - abstract
of bis duplicate, which is call?
ed the treasurers duplicate. The
treasurer, after verification, receipts to
the auditor OD what is called an 'ab?
stract of duplicates.' From this ab?
stract or copies the county treasurer is
charged with ail taxes, State, county
and school, io the comptroller general's
office, al! county taxes in county com?
missions' office and all school and poll
taxes io school commissioner's office.
Original, additional aod 15 per cent,
charges aro thus made. These charges
most be olivet by proper credit. The
State treasurer's receipt for State, coun?
ty commissioners' warrants for county
and school commissioners' warrants for
school and poi! taxes must be produced
by the treatsurer at the settlement to
balance these charges, less treasurers'
commissions, deductions and abate
menfs, nulla booa executions, etc., or
the cash mast be co hand.
"Again, when the time for collec?
tion nf taxesi expires, the auditor at
once makes up the 15 per cent, penalty
books and the treasurer collects for 15
days ; then executions issue and are
delivered to the sheriff, who has 90
days in whi;h io col iee t. The sheriff
returns the executions to the treasurer
sith tue money for ali collected and his
certificate on the uncollected, with ?be
; ?. asens whv hp ccald PS>* collect. The
seulement sheets are mude up by Lite
auditor and th3 figures thereon as
credited should be upon vouchers fur?
nished him by the treasurer of what?
ever character, nulla bona executions,
cash or otherwise.
.'All these vouchers are to be seen
by these county officers and entered
into their records accordingly. I re?
peat that if the law is observed as pro?
vided in this machinery there can be no
fraudulent credits in nulla bona taxes
in any county.
.'Experience satisfies us that state?
ments from ^experienced sources arc
not always to be relied on in these mat?
ters of taxes, and I accordingly sug?
gest that your board of county commis- j
sioners provide thc funds, as I think j
they have the power to do, and secure j
the services of some competent expert j
accountant familiar with the tax laws j
and machinery thereunder and thus thc |
full facta be made known. It is im
portant to have in this expert oce fully
competent io whom the public bas full
confidence as ro character,qualifications
and absolute impartiality."
Stuckey to Norton.
Hon. James Norton, Comptroller Gen?
eral, Columbia, S. C.
Dear Sir: You recent communica?
tion without date, but published in The
State and News and Courier of to-day,
reoieved You say in referring to the
letter of Mr. N. W. Brook?r that 4,it
demands the attention of your office,
and full consideration by the officials of
Sumter county especially those connect?
ed with the annual settlements since
1889-90." Your letter is addressed to
me. The public therefore might be
led to 6upqose that I was coLoected
with the gross discrepancy in the settle?
ment for the fiscal year 1890-91 be?
tween the auditor, the treasurer, the
comptroller general and others, to
which Mr. Brooker refers and to whioh
you also refer as the basia of your letter,
and showing that the treasurer received
credit far ?8.514.30 of nulla bona ex
ecutions, whereas he should not have
received credit for more than $2,202,
23 after deducting the amount actually
collected by the sheriff on executions
placed in his hands.
You say again, it is of paramount
importance to the tas department, to
Sumter county and to the general pub?
lic that the charges be sustained or dis
proved and the responsibilities placed
where they belong. You do not say
who has been county auditor herc since
1889.
Now, I think it due to my own char
acter and reputation to say to you, to
my friends and to the public, that ?
had nothing to do with the auditor's
office at the time to which Mr. Brooker
refers in his letter, and to which you
refer in your letter. It appears to
have been the fiscal year 1890-91 when
Mr. Peter Thomas was the auditor of
Sumter county and Hon. W. H Eller?
be was comptroller general of the State.
I took charge of the auditor's office
here io January, 1893, and made op
that year the tax duplicate for 1892-93
I made out the 15 per cent penalty
book 1891 92 and made the settlement
that year for the taxes of 1891-92. I
had nothing to do with the taxes of
1889 90 or the taxes of 1890 91.
Pardon the suggestion, but I think
it would not be amiss to send your let?
ter to those directly concerned in the
matter to which Mr. Brooker refers.
The records of the auditor's office arc
in ray charge and of course I would
gladly turn oo all the light possible and
have no objection against having my
own record scrutinized. Soon after
coming into the office, I discovered that
Mr. Peter Thomas's duplicate was oot
properly added page by page, and dis?
covered that a considerable per ceot
of the pages examined were not cor?
rectly added. As the abstract and also
the annual settlement were made from
the sum total of these pages, who
knows how far they may have missed
the true amount with which the county
treasurer should have been charged
He may have been charged with too
much or too little. I reported this to
the grand jury. The grand jury after
examining several pages, reported it to
the court. The court referred it to the
court. The court referred it to the
comptroller general. It was afterwards
at a succeeding term of the court re?
ported by the grand jury that the comp?
troller general had taken no action cr
steps to overhaul the book, and this
part of the presentment was again re
f?rreo to the comptroller general. The
duplicate is still io my office and no one
has ever attempted to overhaul it.
Respectfully.
A. 13 STUCKEY,
'Auditor Sumter County.
Sumter, S. C., Oct. 13 1896.
Mr. Brooker Speaks.
To the Editor of the Register : Re?
curring to Mr. Norton's letter in your
issue of to day. 1 would ask that in jus?
tice to myself you will please publish
the letter I wrote the grand jury's ex?
pert of Sumter County concerning the
tax matters of that county. It will be
seen by tho letter 'hat I make oe
chsrsc against the effieer1:- of Su?ter
Co un tv ana tbs C i G'.DC;-:'
i . ?* . . t t
I Wim c-josptracy to acrraud lac srstc,
and I am abundantly sore ibat rso snch
charge could be for a Tscoieoi, sustained
The letter was prepared with the great?
est care possible, intending no offence
to any, but simply in the discbarge of
a duty. It was to the grand jury of
Sumter County sealed, and forwarded
for their information. I am not re?
sponsible for its publication. 1 desire
to 6ay further that when I found the
supposed wrong credit I called Mr.
Keels'8 attention to it, and a?ked him to
explain it, stating that I would be |
obliged to take official notice of it un
less it was explained. He said he
would look into if, but thought it was
correct. I then went into a most care?
ful examination of the books and could
find no explanation to it. 1 again pre?
sented the matter to Mr. Keels in the
rraseooe of a friend of his, who
helped him with his accounts,
asking an explanation of it.
They did Dot attea)pt aoy explanation
of it, but said that it would be found
right, and left it opeo Mr. Keels
wrote me the next week he was sick
and could not get to Sumter. My time
was up and my report bad to go io, s:>
I wrote to his friend at Sumter to take
the matter up and send his explanation
to me by a certain day.. I had no an?
swer from him. Mr. Keels will bear
me out io this statement ? would say
further, before doing any thing with
the matter I called oo Mr, Norton him?
self with my book and showed him the
entry. He took no notice of it. I
then went to his chief clerk and asked
him to look at the settlement sheets on
fi'e for Sumter and see if the matter
could in any way be explained, that I
might avoid the necessity of reporting
it. He kindly got the reports and ex?
amined them, and could see no expla?
nation to it. If Mr. Norton had then
taken the matter up I would have been
relieved and the horrible letter would
have never been published.
Thus it will bc seen that I exercised
the highest degree of prudence through?
out, and have fully discharged my du-y.
I could do no less. The letter stated
plainly tbat the wrong entry was in the
fiscal year 1890. This settlement was
therefore made io 1893, and shows a
single year credit for ?8,514 30 nulla
bona executions, a?d that only $3,600
executions were issued for that fiscal
year, and that an examination of the
settlements for the proceeding and suc?
ceeding years did not explain it. If
there is an explanation ir. the promis?
cuous archives of the office it would
afford, no ene more pleasure
than myself that it be found
and published. Mr. Norton says
that -'statements from inexperienced
sources are cot always to be relied on
in these matters of taxes." This
means, of course, that my statement is
not to be relied upon on account of in?
experience. No one knows better than
Mr. Norton that I am not inexperi?
enced in these mathers of taxes.. Mr.
Tindal selected me for this work on ac?
count of my experience as a lawyer in
the searching ol records. I have work?
ed for nearly nine years for the sinking
fund commission, of which Mr. Nor?
ton is a member, collecting in the
meantime nearly $20,000 back taxes,
neatly all of which was lost to'the State
by the carelessness of officers, "a clean
pick-up," and have restored to the tax
books nearly ?100,000 value of prop?
erty for future taxation. I have been
in every couoty in the State except
three, delving and working in the dirty
records. If this work doe.? not make
a man competent \?bat ia thc name of
my great-grand daddy will ? I under
stand the tax laws thoroughly, and my
experience qualifies me for any work in
connection with such laws that I may
be called to do. Mr. Norton, knowing
of thc large and important work I have
done, has no right to speak of me a3
incompetent. I am doing a large and
profitable work for the State, ooe of the
effects of which is to prompt the county
officers to a more careful discharge cf
their duties. I am sustained in this
work by the Secretary of State aod tbe
sinking fund commission, and the peo?
ple everywhere approve it. I will pur?
sue it with the same zeal as heretofore,
and will hew to the line.
N. W. BROOKER.
Columbia, S. C , October 13, 1896.
- - -aw -
What Congressmen Wilson
Thinks.
Hon. Sianyarne Wiisor, who has
just returned from Wasbiogtoo, was
seen by a Heruld reporter yesterday tn
regard to the coming Presidential elec?
tion and what party w^uid probably
control Cou?v?r.$ the c *xt term Ile
stated 'hui both cemmiitees are tusk?
ing extravagant claims, hut. the rea!
sober sentiment seems to be that Mi?
nois will turn tho seale ene way or tte
other, the forces ?ry so evenly divided.
Both side? seem to reco^niz? ibv.
anc? c.'peeialy the city o? Obir-sgo a? ?le
bartle grocud and are coi-escir^ic-g
their torce there. Mr Wilsen said
that if Bryan goes in, the House wi!i
be controlled by populists, democrat":
and ?i'7er republicans. Ou the other
bac*., if MoK:;:'-y i? \ 'h y i-;
republican:, '-T?!! C?^*?O? '.)? Bc-sse <:
cither i vest th-.? e. v .1 rc tor : ii
hy
?nj
?ree silror ame-:
CSDs-wii! not ??.CC
crcracizitiot! of
:t
I he
. Wt?:Cl
A ver\
silv/
tt:?: i. tig ti
for
progressing in a business Tray i*j sil O
doubtful State -Spartanburg Herald
Mr. M. M. Padgett, of Trenton,
went to Edgefield reoently in a buggy
24 years cid, drove a horse 30 years
old andjis himself 84 years of age.
Highest cf all in Leavening Po\
What is Meant by Free Coin?
age and 16 to 1.
Democrats mean by 16 to I that
the coinage ratio established by the
congress between silver and gold
shall be continued That is that the
silver dollar shall contain 371 14
grains of pure silver, and that a gold
dollar shall contain 23 22 grains of
pure gold These shall constitute
the two dollars, the rates being 16 of
silver to 1 of gold The exact ratio,
therefore, is 15 9883 silver to one of
gold, usually referred to as 16 to 1,
which means that sixteen ounces of
silver and one ounce of gold when
converted into dollars, produce the
same number of dollars. That ie,
that sixteen ounces of silver coins
into $20 67 ; that one ounce of gold
coins into ?20 67. Hence 16 to 1.
What is free coinage ? It is neces?
sary to repeat as some people fail to
understand what is meant by it.
Free coinage is this-that silver shalt
have the precise rights and privileges
as gold now has Gold can be car?
ried to the United States mints and
be coined without any charge to the
owner of the gold bullion. The de?
mand fur free coinage for silver need
not include necessarily the question
of free mintage. That depends on
whether gold has it or no. Silver
must have an equal, full showing
with gold in mintage, charge or
otherwise. Every person having sil?
ver or gold metal or both, shall have
full and free access to the United
States mints, to deposit the metal or
metals for coinage There must be
no opposition or discrimi nation on
the part of officials against persons
or metals. Understand that. These
coins made for individuals, whether
io silver or gold, must have full legal
tender power or rights.
Mark this Under free coinage
the government is not a purchaser.
It does not become a purchaser of
the bullion, whether gold or silver.
The mint simply receives the metal
or metals in bullion as brought or
tendered, and ' converts them into
money, putting the stamp of the
United States upon them. The gov?
ernment does not become purchaser
or owner because tendered. Gold is
now coined free, and so must silver
be coined free, and there is no pur?
chase of gold or silver thereby.
How much responsibility rests
upon the government by this free
coiage of gold and silver ? Docs the
government become responsible when
j it coins free for persons gold bullion
that is brought to its mints ? The
! government under the law governing
puts its stamp upon the disc of the
gold coined certifying as to its gen?
uineness, its fineness of quality, its
actual weight-23 22 grains of fine
gold-and designating the piece thus
coined with a name-a dollar or an
eagle-and there the responsibility
ends. The bullion has been changed
into money by its process of mint?
age, and the money-for such it is
now-full legal tender money that
will pay debts of all kinds, ia taken
away from the mint by the owners
for whom coined, the persons who
carried the bullion to the mint
They use it as their own in the usual
ways prevailing.
That is what is meant by free and
I unlimited coinage of silver. It must
j be entitled by law to all the privileges
j and rights which now gold is receiv
I ing*-free coinage at the mints We
: find in a paper this question asked by
j a fi'iancial wilier:
j "Is the silver dollar now. redeem
j abie in gold coin?
: There is no law in esisleace by
I which government o?ieiais are even
j authorized, much less instructrd, to
exchange gold coins for silver coins.
; How then would the parity be
j maintained?
By leg.:l tender-by paying silver
! dollars equally with goid tor ali debts
I and dues, pnbllc and private
How would these silver dollars bo
\ put in circulation?
j Io the same manner they weie
I prior to 1S73 The owner of them
! pays his debts, purchases goods or
! property, invests In borne eitierpuse
: IW'S is i he personal s kio of the trans
! action.
; ' T. .. u^psriiaeat trcais ail
. money and cu; it nov issued bv it a3
; in circu? ilion as ?oon as ii has pasted.
! beyond \h:> control of the department,
j Ail money held in bank reserves, al:
money hoarded. ;J?! rooney transport?
ed to foreign lands, ail money melted
or destroyed, is counted and reported
as in circulation " - Wilmington,
Messenger.
Sewiog Machines and Organs cleaned and
I repaired at the Sumter Music House.
ntH-ra tm mm i -yanBEcau^raaamnr
vcr.-I itest U. S. Gov'i Report