Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NORTON HITS HARD. Comptroller on the Sinking Fund Commission. DOESN'T MINCE WORDS. Comptroller General Norton's an una] report to the general assembly was made public Friday night Under the caption of "Unfortunate Legisla tion*' the comptroller proceeds to deal with the sinking fund' commis sion brance of thh State government in no uncertain language He speaks very plainly and his report makes lively reading. Only a por? tion of the report is given to day Mr. Norton says : ' "The last general assembly passed 'An Act in Relation to Unpid Tax Claims/ which, from its provisions, construed in the light of the practices in vogue among those charged with the execution of this and all similar laws, opens up a plan for the execu tion and collection of money from our people, which in the hands of unscrupulous men, would be the most infamous and inexcusable. In 1890 an act was passed in reference to abandoned .?ands, the beneficia! re? ealte of which are yet to be realized by the people. Au agency was ere aied. with authority to appoint agents and survey lands, with the mandate to auditors to place on du? plicates, treasurers to issue execu? tions and sheriffs to sell and make titles ; sub-agents were paid by the acre for their services. Lands were surveyed, plats made, executions issued and titles executed without regard or the knowledge of such lands in some ca^es-how much, no one knows. Many lawsuits will yet likely result. ? The successes here j opened up a broader desire, and the act of 1892 to provide additional remedy for the collection of taxes, etc., passed. "This act gave new fields and new agents to operate this new field, and for two years the tax department bas "been annoyed by the invasions of these agents and its proper work in many instances obstructed. Instruc tions had to be written county offi c?ale to disregard the obnoxious in? terference of these agents, allowing ' free access to all books not in use, but to attend to their own work, and these agents to do and get all they could without hindering the work of county officials-an effort to practi? cally take charge of the county offices, as we understand the efforts Then, agents have even commanded auditors to disregard the tax laws and the specific instructions from this office ? Then followed the act first above mentioned, approved March 26, 1896 "This act opens up new fields, as it will be noticed that personal, prop erty delinquent falls under the grasp these ever progressive agents of commissioneis of the sinking How the provisions of the act 1, and the executions issued nter checked by no othe an* than these agents, with no r apparent method for account? ing for penalties and costs "What is to hinder a Columbia or central agent from having one or a dozen agents in each county ? These county agents acquaint themselves witfi all classes of persona! property on and off the tax duplicates, and claim what he pleases as to taxes, and collects and report as he pleases, also. The people do not know gen eraliy, and such agents going armed with the act of 1896, just as they do now with that of 1S92, can make i just such claims as may suit, and they will be paid, big or little, as presented, if our people can get the ' monejr. They are afraid of the au I thority of the State, and will not con- j test it, but submit to great wrongs if not known "The agents, under the act of ? 1896, can make tens of thousands of dollars under cover of law, if so dis ) posed, and no possible way of likely detection "Under our tax laws, county treas? urers are not allowed to collect a dol? lar except as placed on his duplicate by auditors Treasurers are made liable to indictment for collecting moneys not on duplicate. The treas urers of this State are as good and true men as are found among us. "The principle of the act is wrong and dangerous, the thought repulsive and the law, as it now stands, con? trary lo the fixed policy of the State government in matters of taxation." Again the comptroller says : "Admitting that auditor, treasurer and sheriff have erred in allowing the collection of taxes to stand too long, .will the general assembly punish the taxpayers because of the delinquen? cies of these official ? This is just what they are doing. Of course every dollar thus diverted must be added to other taxable property, and at last the general taxpayers pay this money-State, county and school - thus diverted. No, if tax officiais neglect their duties, punish them for such neglects, but not the taxpayers. "If the money taken from the tax bocks as described were to go into the State treasury for the public debt or benefit, it would be some better, but, according to this and last year's report of these againts, 20 per cent of collection went to the public ac? count, with 80 per cent, for ex? penses of or for diverting them from proper application. While the sink ing fuud commission is a public ne? cessity, it is proving an expensive luxury to this same public The re port of the agent for 1895 covered i 132 pages. Much of this report is i ule and figure work which costs one j price and two thirds. "If the agents of this commission had given the legitimate work of this department the attention given to the tax department, the items report? ed for 10 to 20 years in the annual report of this department would have been investigated and eliminated. County lines have been changed eight or ten years, and these stand as assets of old counties belonging to this fund. "The continued annual printing of these items has cost already more than ali the alleged asBets are worth Most of this report is rule and figure work and costs two thirds more to I print than other printing, and costs ! for report and reports and resolutions i estimated not less than $300 per an? num-for ten years less than average time printed-would be $3.000. This office insists that such legislation as permits interference with the tax de partaient of the State and the neglect of such matters as the above is at fault and should be revised " Speaking of the Sumter muddle, he says : "I am Rorry to be obliged to say that neither the statements of Mr. A W. Suder or Capt N W. Brooker present any satisfactory or intelligent facts for the proper conclusions of any tax officer, and that their figures are practically worthies. Examina tions of the accounts of county of fiials. the receipts and disbursements arising from taxation and other public sources which do not give year by year total charges and credits for each fiscal, year, showing how. where and when shortage occurred, are not satisfactory and never relied on, and only tend to confuse and con? found the accounts of these officers in the popular mind. '.The grand jury of Eichmond county gives this department another report peculiar to itself '.This presentment was evidently inspired by the same influences which gave the public the one refer? red to from Sumter "There lucks beneath the surface a manifest desire to laud the work of some and damn that of others Grand jury presentments, written by field agents of the sinking fund commis sion, stenographically translated by the tax department, weans 80 per cent in our pockets and 20 percent for publice accounts, with more legislation for fields new and pastures green This report raises doubts and causes rules served on officials, but gives no intelligently connected facts or results cf their examination of the affairs of Richland county. "If your honorable bodies will provide for us the funds necessary for such work, we will have the whole matter thcroughiy investiga? ted, and, if Wrong has been done have the responsibilities fixed and the courts and - solicitors promptly informed. *' Beats the Record. Simon Cooper, negro, killed anoth er negro in Sumter on Emancipation Day. One day last week he shot and killed two white men, one young white woman, and a negro. The i people in great numbers pursued him He was found in a cabin, sur rounded, and fired upon. The fire he returned with a Winchester Rifle, but hurt no one on this occassion On promise of protection he sur? rendered-came out of the house and submitted to arrest. A razor and a pistol were foundin hie pocke ts Ile was soon wounded by pistol shots, and afterward swung to a tree, when his body was riddled These, we believe, are about the facts. His crime was without a parallel in bloody deeds The peo? ple were justly aroused, and nobody ever thought for a moment that any self respecting people would fail to slay him as soon as ht was caught He deserved all that he suffered. He should have been shot on sight, ?he same as if he had been a ravenous wild beast But the fact that some one prom? ised protection to this creature, if he surrendered, has given the pretext for virtuous indignation that so crue a monster met his deserved fate If that promise had not been given -and it is a pity that it was given and he had held out a little lonsrer he may have satisfied his friends and sympathisers by shooting some of his pursurers We find it hard to believe that there is a man on the face of the earth who, in his heart of hearts, be? lieves that a fiend like Simon Cooper ought to have been taken to jail. Is there a community in this country which would not, under similar cir? cumstances, have killed a man for the commission of deeds like those of Simon Cooper't The time has passed in this coun? try when it is necessary to denounce justifiable lynching, with any idea of conciliating or appeasing Northern sentiment We cannot believe that there is a self respecting community in thc North that would not have slaiu Simon Cooper. The peace and safety of the community demanded his death, and this newspaper has no apology to offer Northern sentiment because the men of Sumter defended their homes.-Abbeville Press and Banner. The General Assembly. Senator Moses Watches the Treasury. BILL CREATING SALEM COUN? TY" INTRODUCED Thursday, Jan 14. The house of representatives had a small calendar to consider yesterday, but it did not take long to dispose of the matters thereon. However, the house has at lust gotten down io work and tbe committees have material at last to go upo-i. Up to the present time no bills of very i?re*t public interest have been introduced, though it is understood that sev? eral hf.ve been prepared and are ready to be presented. One of the most notable of these still behind thc scenes is Mr. Rainsford's anti? trust bill, on the line of the Georgia produc? tion, which caused such widespread comment. The most important matter presented at yesterday's session was Mr Patton's resolu? tion looking to the appointment of a special committee of seven to prepare a suitable re? districting bili for the congressional districts The two houses met in joint assembly yes? terday, canvassed the returns and declared the result of the election for governor and lieutenant governor. Governor Ellerbe is to be notified of his election by a joint commit? tee aod the day he selects will be fixed for the inauguration. This means that the in? auguration will take piece on Mooday. To-day a bill providing for the formation of S*lem county will be introduced, it is said. This means that the contested election will have to go before the general assembly as heretofore indicated and be finally settled in tbat body. The speaker announced the committees. Sumter County is represented as follows : J. H. Wilson-Ways and Means, Public Buildings, Mines and Mining. E D. Smith-Legislative Library. "W. A. Nettles-Public Buildings. A K. Sanders-Federal Relations. J. A. M. Carraway-Accounts. SENATE. After tbe usual routine business had been dispatched yesterday morning, a number of new bills were reported on favorably by the several committees to whicb.they had been re? ferred. Tbe committee on railroads reported favor? ably on Mr. Ragsdale's bill making railroad companies liable to landowners for damage done by obstructing streams Mr. Henderson's bill to regulate the hold? ing of courts io the Second circuit was favor aoly reported on by the judiciary committee, as was Mr. Sudduth's amendment to the law relative to the abolition of the office of referee in certain counties, so as to make it include Saluda. The judiciary committee reported unfavor abl on Mr Douuglass' bili to debar persons injured from suing counties. January 16. The most interesting incident of yes? terday proceedings was Senator Moses' . reply to ao attack made upon him by the Columbia Register io its senate re port. The paper io question had this to say : "A bill was introduced by Senator Mayfield to appropriate $5,000 to the public prioter for work already done. Owing to the fact that the last legisla? ture in its "monkeying" with the print? ing law botched up the wbole business, Mr. MaySeld's bill was eminently prop? er and right but Senator Moses, who has persistently aod uoreasonably fought everything connected with the public printing as conducted by the present printer, immediately objected, eayiog : "I want more light on this public printing before any money is paid." Mr. Moses having been OD the printiog committee of the last legisla? ture is thoroughly* familiar with the laws on printing aod his statement that he wanted '*more light" was a gratui? tous fling and unworthy ooe from a repr?sentative of the State who is not supposed to let his po'itioal bias effect his judgment in public matters." Senaor Moses said he felt it a duty he owed to himself to answer this un? warranted fling that this newspaper bad seen fit to make. "There was nothing in my laoguage on the floor of this bouse Thursday," said he, "to oall forth such an attack as this " Ile then read the above quoted article aod continued : "If there was anything out of place or in ill-keeping with my posi? tion as a senator wby did not the gen? tleman who introduced the resolution make reply ? Simply because he aud every senator koew that as a represen? tative of the people it was not only my right, but my duty to demaod more light cn every measure before casting my vote cither for or against it This right canoot be too jealously exercised when it comes to votiog away the peo? ple's meney." In the course of his remarks Sena? tor Moses said he had inquired at the State treasurer's office into the matter to ascertain if money was there for this object aod that after such inquiry he fou?d only ?2,000 available, chowing that he was correct in not votiog for a measure when there was not mooey enough to carry it out. His position, throughout, had beeQ sustained by the senator who introduced the resolution, for after inquiry he had offered an amendment which material? ly altered it. Senator Mayfield, who introduced the resolution, said the gentleman was perfectly right. Fie regretted very much to eec the article as it teoded to do more barm than good a?d it should never have been written The resolution was simply directing the comptroller general to draw a war? rant on the State treasurer in favor of j j the State printer for $5,OOO As j i amended it direct.-? the comptroller gen- | ; erfel to draw his warrant on tho State ; : treasurer io favor of the State printer from time to time io the aggravate not : to exceed ?5,000 Ainong the new billa intorduced yes i terc?av were two are of particular inter? est. One was introduced by Seoatar Nor ! ris, requiring all students at Clemson col* . le^e to pay tuition fees of ?40 per an I nam each, except such worthy and needy one* as the board of trustees might see fit to exempt. The second bill is by Mr. Buist, and provides that bicycles shall be checked as baggage, each passenger being allowed to carry one bicycle. OTIIER NEW BILLS. Among other new bills were the fol? lowing : Mr. Moses-Looking to the creation of the county of Salem. Aoother bill introduced by Mr. Mose* proposes to give electric roads and trasnways the same right to condemn a right of way that railways have, upon payment of the value of the property condemned A report without recommeodaiion was made oo the concurrent resolution ro fix a dav for the holdiog of an elec? tion for United States senator. The committee rendered as ita opinion that Tuesday, the 26th inst, was the prop? er day for such election. A concurrent, resolution was passed fixing Friday, the 22d inst as the day for a joint session for joint election of judges for the fifth and seventh circuits, for the e!ection of a superintendent of the penitentiary ao-d three directors for the same institution. THE HOUSE In the house of representatives yes? terday the calender was vigorously at taked again with the result that it was cleared. There was considerable discus? sion on the matter of redistricting the State and forming symmetrical congres? sional districts, whioh indicated a de sire on the part of many unenuberfl not to act oo this measure until the oext session. Tbore was considerable ar? gument OD the proposition of Mr. Patton. , Among the new bills introduced the most important was that by Mr. Rains ford-the anti-trust measure. COLUMBIA, Jan. 18.-The event of to day was the inauguration of Gov. William H. Ellerbe. The ball of the House of Repre? sentatives was crowded with interested spec? tators. The ODeuing prayer was made by Rev. W. E Evans,' D. D. The inaugural ceremony was, as usual, impressive, and car? ried out in accordance with the programme the ctHtorn of years h*s sanctioned Gov Ellerbe delivered . his inaugural in a clear, firm voice, and as he out? lined his policy the audience that he faced realiz d (bat the brich test expectations were more ?tun fulfiled in Gov Ellerbe, for be show*"! himself to be broad-minded, liberal and anxious to serve the people who had honored him. There was little regular business trans? acted. In tbe House Speaker Gary announced the appointment of several additional com? mittees. Mr A. K. Sanders was mt.de.a member of the Agricultural committtee and Mr. E. D. Smith of the committee on Hospital for insane. Several bills of importance were intro? duced and a number of no moment also. Tbe Senate took leave of its presiding officer Dr. T'immerman and Lieut. Governor McSweeoey assumed the chair. Maj. Mc? sweeney made a brief address and tbe Senate then adjourned until Wednesday. Minister Wiliis Dead. HONOLULU, Jan 15, via San Fran cisco-Correspondence of the Southern Associated Press, per steamer Mono? wai.-Uuitcd States Minister Albert S. Willis died at his residence yesterday at 8 a. m. after several months' illness. The direct cause of death was pneumo? nia, which be first contracted in San Francisoo early last year. His coed i tion has been at time such that it gave his family hopes of his ultimate re? covery and again it was precarious to a degree that filled his physicians with grave alarm. A few days ago his con? dition was much improved and bis fam? ily renewed their hopes, but the change for the better was but temporary. Some time after midnight Tuesday, Minister Willis'* condition began grow? ing worse and it was seen that the end was not far off. He lost consciousness and bis breathing was difficult and in this condition be remained until disso lution took place. mm i i mm i A Famous Eulogy. Of all the eulogies in literature there is none more beautiful than the following- upon Gen Robert E Lee. It fell from the silver tongue of that eloquent Georgian, Senator Benjamin H Hill, and is said to have been ex tempore : "When the future histori? an comes to survey the character of Lee he will find it rising like a huge mountaiu above the undulating plain of humanity, and he will have to lift his eyes high toward heaven to catch its summit. He possessed every virtue of the other great commanders without their vices He was a foe without hate, a friend without treach? ery, a soldier without cruelty, and a victim without murmuring. He was a public officer without vices, a pii vate citizen without wrong, a neigh? bor without reproach, a Christian without hypocrisy, and a man with? out guilt He was Cicsar without his ambition, Frederick without his tyranny, Nepoleon without his selfish? ness, and Washington without his reward. He was obedient to author? ity as a servant and royal in authority as a true LIM-'. He was as gentle as a woman in life, pure and modest as a virgin in thought, watchful as a Roman vestal in duty, submissive to law as Socrates and grand in battle as Achilles." How's This. We offer One Hundied Dollars Reward for any case of Catarrh 'hal cannot Le cured by llnil'i Grttii rr h Cure F. J. Cheney ? CO., Proi'S , Toledo, 0. We tiie undersgned, have known F J Cheney tor the last L5 j ears, believe him perfecly bonorablrin all bus iue?S transactions un il finasicially able to CA rn out uuy obi?Lr;'. i!(;n made by their firm. West li Truax. Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, O. vVuiiiing, Kihimn & Marvin. Wholesale Druggists, i ol?do, 0. Hall's Catarrh Cure is takari internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Price 75c yet Mot? ile. Sold by ult Druggies. Testimonials free. The Killing of Simon Cooper. The last bloody act that will sadden j the hearts of Sumter's citizens has been : p-erformed by the fiend Cooper and he ; has met his just deserts in a violent, j bloody <iea<b His career was as black j as has come before us and we as deeply j abhor him and hi* bloody d ?eds as did j any man in the po-^e which captured I him and then put him to d"-irh The j relatives and friends of his deceased j victim^ have our sincere sy?!p--;tby in j their hour of trouble a>id wc eiocerely regret that the untimely and lamentable deaths were nor. pre? vented by the performance of duty by Sumter's of?L'U s ftur, wbiie these have (?ur heartfelt sympathy and while no feeling of pity stirs our heart for the black fiend, we sincerely regret that his death should have occured as it did. As for Cooper-blood-mad. veangeful, and without pity-death at the stake would have been Done too good for him. But such deaths are relics of barbarism and should be rele? gated to th? past The most certaio, the most effective way in which to uphold the law of the state is to make its trangressors realize that aoy in? fringement of it will bc met with that certain punishment provided for those breakiog it. If the thought of certain death aod the eteroal pouishment to follow will Dot deter meo from crime, surely the possibility of more or less torture preceding it will not avail. Death is the punishment the law has provided for either of the crimes com? mitted by Cooper, and death could only have beeo averted by the failure of South Carolioa's citizens to nave fouod a verdict of guilty. Surely no jury of South Carolina would have turned loose this fiend upon the mothers aod sisters of the Stale Surely it is oo mere outburst of passion that makes us demand the death of such a fieod. Ah, No! Nothing could make us believe but that ir is the sense of justice, the feeling of self protection that has writ? ten the punishment of death upon our statute books for such crimes and we believe that when aod where-ever Simon Cooper should have been tried for bis crimes, the awful sentence of "Haoged by the neck until dead" would have rung iu his ears from the pronouncement of judgement until bis body had shot downward through the trap Believing this, we regret that another lynching has blotted the fair me e e Gunning! Gui STRICTLY H Finest in Finish. Best in quality of material and woi mansnip. Style unequaled* Tool Steel Bearings* Seamless Steel Tubing. Perfect in every detail. We are "GUNNING" for you. Eldin Sewing EU Carriage^ Hus Horse?, OLD EICZ0] Buggy Robes, Horse ALL FOR SALK 1. i r. M. G Feed and Sale Stat Jan 13 THE COLrUMBIJ 35 Volumes 7,500 Ult Complete aiic The largest American Cyclopedia. Pronounces ??1 Titles. Volumes of Handy Size. Furnishes the Largest and Latest Mcps. No other Cyclopedia even pretends to cia pretty important ? Send us your name and lei superiority possessed by THK COLUMBIAN, prepared by the most abie and experienced ed by the best judges ihrougbont the country The Best Fe Because il is clear and situ plo in partisan and -jon sectarian, and abov but Tliorouglil; A work of reference which i? foreign or :; Hun.e. ?Sold on easy terms of payment. Garretson, Cox < BUFF. For full descriptive circulars and teams send to our Southern agents j page? of South Carolina's history and I that the law was violated by those I who should be its strength and support, j and trust that the time may come when ! .South Carolinians will fhow their love i for law and order and their belief ! in tfie iusfics and *-isden of our courts j by placing in Tbeir hand* the lives of .ill men, whatever may bo their deeds, j-Ttmmonsville Enterprise j Chamberlain's I5ya and Skin Ointment Is unequalled for Eczema. Terrer, Salt I Rheum, Scald Kesd. Sore Nipples, Chapped j Hand.-. Itchin? Piles, .Sums. Frost Lites, Chronic-Sore Eyes and Granulated Eve Lids. For sale by druggists at 25 cents per box. casa TO HOESTS j For putting a horse in a line healthy con? dition try Dr. Lady's Condition Powders. They tone up the system, aid digestion, cure less of appetite, relieve constipation, correct kidney disorders and destroy worms, giving nev?' life to an old or over-worked horse. 2o cents per package. For sale by druggists. For .?alp in Sumter, by Dr. A. J. China. " Every season, from the time I was two years old, I-suffered dread? fully from erysipelas, which kept growing worst' until iny hands were almost useless. The hones softened so thai they would bend, and several of my lingers are now crooked from this cause. On mv Jpfjad^ hand I carry large f<L, ew s'$ scars, wiiic'i, but for gSsSt -?Sil- SBSvi mJP DYER'S t'K?Sarsaparilla; would ^l^fe^w be sores, provided I ?fwas alive and able ^^^m^! to carry anything. ' .-^^ v " Kight Miles of Ayer's Sarsaparilla cr.rcd nie, M> that I have had no return of the . disease for more than twci.iy ye ar:;. Tte irrst bottle seemed to rene!: the s; ot a;.fi a persistent use of :t iras pi riVeted the e;:re."-0. C. !)AV?s. Wa:;to:na. Wis. 4.Y?E'S PILLS Fromme Digestion. ming! Gunninoi 1GH GRADE. The Best is the Cheapest. There is none better than the GUNNING Send for Catalogue. Machine $ Bicycle Go. 3IN, ILLINOIS._ Harness, ?gies, Mules, WAGONS. Blankets, and Whips. ?OW FOR CASH,, AT >Ies, Sumter, S. C. IN CYCLOPEDIA* istraticns 2S.6C0 Pages, 1 Up to Date. Includes an Unabri?^ed Diciionary. information Right Down to Date. You c- M : i keep (Jp to I he ' ?I?U-S l<y adding an Annual rac.'i j eur. itu these features, bot don't you think the" are t ns show you i:i detail ihe various points of lt covers the whole rang? of knowledge; is itcrs and cyclci-edi* v.-riiers, :md is cornmer.ded imily Library. language, free from technicalities, non e all Neither "British" nor Sectional y American, arrow I y stctional has no place in an American fe Co., Publishers, V.LO, N. V.