Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THOMAS MAKES SERIOUS CHARGES The Ex-Railroad Commis alocer Begins a Book of Revelations. Charge? of Inoompeteooy and Has cahtj Against His Lato Asso? ciates? The Governor Called on to Take a Hand. Wedgefield, Deo 18, 1899. Kditor Item I Some monthe ago ' road a communication in your papei signed "Boaster Farmer" extolling the railroad commission for the re? daction of the cotton rate. I wee eorprieed when 1 learned that the artiole waa written by one of Sam ler'e moat intelligent repreeentativee The arge see ot need waa a rebaeh of what the ooeamtssioo had to any of tbemeelvee It waa also somewhat of a rebate lo m?, for I have repeat edly deolared that the Board of Rail? road Oornmioeionere are en utterly incompetent body, aod I believe I oaa abow tbia by the ootton rate which oo delighted "Somter Farm er " On page 42 railroad commie eionere' report 1897, "Commissioner Thomas advocated and tried to re dace the oottoo rate to which the majority would not agree " At that time the bet income of all the rail roads was $2,238,579 72. and the prioe of eottoo wse about 5 oente Tb*e earns majority reduoed the cot ton rate io 1899 when the net income of all Ibe reilroade waa $2.162.718 04, and the prioe of oottooie 7 oente Now, why refuee to reduce tbe rete on oottoo when tbe reilroade oould better etaod the redaction end the people were more in oeed of it f The answer is that one of tbe majori? ty io now a candidate for reelection sad deeiree to commend himself lo the people If thie ie a faot, ie it not tree, tbet the people have been owk:Jled out of two yeare' reduoed rate on ooltoo to eoit the politioal convenience of the majority faotion of the board 7 It io tbe duty of "Somter Farmer" to lind out tbe facto front the recorde rent to the legislature einoe be ie tbe people's representative in that body. Tbe board fixed a etandsrd sotton rate, that io, the/eame rate f*>r every road. The law eaye, "The board ebell meke a jtiet and reeeonabls rate for each road doing boeinese in the Slat* " The recorde of 1898 show thst tbe S C k Oa railroad ma te a net income of $398,828 79. while another corporation, the Carolina Midland, made a oet iooome of $14, 921 45 The 8 C \ G hauled 350,447 tone ooe mile, and the C Midland hsoled 8,580 tooe one mile Did the board execute tbs Isw when tbey fixed tbe same rate for this pror road ae for the rich one It would be inleed instructive tn know Vow Iheee widely different figures roold be made to produce the earxe rsaejlt at rate What would "Sunter K?rrner" think of the taxing power ol this county if they wore to tsx every oitisen of the county the same rejfsrdlees of the different condi tioae ? This ie what the Board of Reilroed Commieeiooere have done, for wh?ch seaioity a Sutnter law anaser praises them What ie tbe reeuU of tbie .ate making ? It foroee tbe stronger to gobble op all ibe weaker roade. It deetroye oompetition end forcee com biaatioo lo ihn detriment of every farmer aod boeioeee mm in the Siete Sometime ago Somter felt the need of oompetition, and the citizene eeoored a connection with Ibe S C. h O. railroad, before ite completion tie Southern railway owned both ej them, aod the people who put io their liese, rigbte of way, ko, are lost io the shutll?, and Somter ie withoot competition, for nobody is ireert enough to r.oppose that the osthern rstlwsy and the Atlantic Coaet Line would fight for freighta which they cm pool All railroad intelligence agree that "coronet tum is impossible where combination is possible " A stand? ard cotton rate ie illegal, imjuiioue, absolutely loolieh and proof of Is competency 1 have taken advantage of "Sum tor Farmer's'' communication for a persons! privilege He said : "It is aaid that the railroad commissionere do nothing but draw their salaries I don t concur in this view " Nei their do I, for I know they occasion ally drew ? b- r breathe Tbey d. i drew (96 out of the treasury and pay tbe Alliaaoe porter They did drsw f 100 aod psid the erpensee of two commissioners lo Wst hingtovt to at tend s two dsys' contention, when tbey had free paeees to Washington I went to Washington a few weeka ?fterwsrds 1 went and returned in S eleeper, the trip cost me f I 1 Tue oommiestonere aigned my name to the report without authority or ex ii.se aod made me e party to what I believe are illegal charge* I wrote l ie following letter to the board and tbey mode me oo reply : Wedgefleld. March 3 1899. ilon W I) Kvaoe. Chairmen Boeid of Kailroad Commtaeionere. Dssr 8tr : ? received a copy of the railroad oommiaaionsre' report. 1898. My aasie was signed lo the report without authority or excuse, and 1 beg to enqure abobt m trio milters I t ave been made to approve The State ia made to pay for the porter full time when the alliance exchange has alwa} a paid tialf his wages. Iu 893 under Secretary Bartlett the ;tate paid porter $29, in 1898 the State paid for the aaroe service $96. [n 1893 the State paid for atampa $'29, in 1898 $41 Two commifaionera attended the convention in Washing ton and the State paid $100 expenses You have made roe responsible and 1 beg you will explain the above and oblige, Yours truly, H R Thomas "Surater Farmer'' is a State officer espeoialty charged with the duty of protecting the interests of Somter'e oitisens. The illegal cotton rate is detrimental to the ioterest of every citizen in that it destroys competi lion and makes people victims of s railroad trust No trust, is the dem? ocratic slogan for 1900, and yet the South Carolina railroad commission? ers, contrary to law, through pure ignoraooe, force a railroad trust on the people, and are commended by a Somter democratic law maker !t is "Suroter Farmer's" duty to officially find outby what Authority the Board of Railroad Con rnissioners ignore the law of the State to make a just rate for each road and instead fixes the same rate for every road, to the destruction of competition and to the injury of the people, and how it cost $100 to go to Washington on free paeses, and Ibas protect the taxpay? ers To assist "him in his duty I mske the following affidavits and forward to the governor through him, our representative H R Thomas Wedgefiftld, Dec 18, 1899. Hon M B MoSweeney, Governor of South Carolina Sir : I forward you some affidavits snd a letter which 1 wrote the Board of Railroad Commissioners Isst Msrch in regard to what 1 believe was a misappropriation of public fonds. to which they rosde me a party by sign ing my name to the report of 1898 iibout my consent As they re fueed to enswer a respectful letter asking for information, in duty to myself snd the people whose servsnt I was, I send ynu several affidavits ss ia required in Sec 22, Art IV of the constitution of 1895. In the in tercst of the State. I beg yon will recommend the legislature to investi gat? the fertilizer and cotton rates, lioth of which 1 believe are illegal and against the public interest H R Thomas No 1 MHAPPKOPRIATIOX OF PUB LiO FUNDS State of South Carolina?Suroter County. Personal'y appeared before me, B P Kelley. a magistrate for and in said county and State, 11 R Thomas who, on oath, saya he is informed and believes that on sundry times ?hown in office cash book and report for the fiscal year 1898 at the railroad commissioners' office in Columbia in Ricbland county in said State VV D. Kv.mp, chairman. J 0 Wilborn and Secretary D P Duncan was guilty of signing my name to thn railroad com missioners' report of 189S sent in to the legislature without my authority or content and without excuse, mak? ing ni" a per y Id th > following misappropriation of public funds the property of the State of South Caro? lina : Paid to alliance porter, $96 Paid to Commissioners W. D Ktrans and J C. Wilborn $100 for attendance on a two daya' conven? tion in Washington, to which city thev hsd free trartportation The board are charged with the safe keeping aod diebureement of the contingent iund approriated by the legislature and did then snd there convert, divert and appropriate the greater portion of said sums to their own use And further, that the said W D Evans .1 0. Wilborn and Secretary D. P Duncan then and there the greater part of said sums, the property of said State, did take and appropriate to their own uae II R. Thomas. Sworn to before me this 18th day of December, 1899 B P Kelley, .Magistrate No 2 COTTON RATK. State of South Carolina?Sumter County Personally appeared before me, B P Keiley, a magistrate for and in said county and State. II 11 Thomas who, on oath rays that he ia inform ed and believes that at "the railroad c >mmisaionrra' office in Columbia in Richlaurl county iu eatd State on the 1st day of September leal that W. D Keane, J C Wilborn and C W. Oarrie, constituting the Board of Railroad Commissioners, did make snd put in force an unlawful and hurtful cotton rate, being the same rate for every road, regaidlesa of the different conditions, whei the law require* a just and reasonable rate for >acti road doing business in the State That the said W D Fvans, J ? Wi born and C W. Gairis in dinrrgard of the law as to ratea are destroying competition and forcing on trie people a railroad trust to the great detriment ar.d loss of (he peo? ple 11 K Thomas Sworn to before me this 18th day of December. 1899 B P Kelley, Magistrate. No 8. FERTILIZER RATE. Mate of South Carolins?Sumter County Personally appeared before ma, B. P Kelley, a magistrate for and in said county in said Mate, U. R. Thomas who, 00 oath, >aays that on the 28th day of November, 1895. at th" railroad commissioners' office in Columbia in Richiand county iu said State, W D Evans and J C Wil born, a majority of the Board of Railroad < ommiasioneie, against the protest of 11. R Thomas, the miuori ty member of said board,'did put in force a fertilizer rate based on errors of about 800,000 dollars in the net income of all the roads at shown on pagea 177 and 186 report 1895, and that the majority of the board did not know whether the Southern rail road lost $93,107 28 or made $442,. 961 65 by the year's operations as shown on pages 177 and 186 report 1895 Aod further that said W. D. Evans aod J. C. Wilborn did enter into a trade with the railroads of the State against which said H R. Thomas protested as shown on page 50 report 1896, where said W. D Evans and J C Wilborn agreed to raise rates on other commodities to induce the roada to work an illegal fertilizer rate When the roads came for their pay and asked for a raise of rate under the trade or agreement said H R Thomas advocated a re? duction of the cotton rate instead as shown on pages 31 to 42 report 1897 Said W. D Evans and J. C Wilborn voted against cotton reduction At that time the net income of all the roads was $2,238 579 72 and the price of cotton was about 5 cents In 1899 said W. D Evans and J C Wilborn did reduce the rate on cot too when the net income of all the roads was $2,162,718 04, and the price of cotton is 7 cents. And fur iber that the fertilizer rate put in force reduced the rate from the Co lubia mills into the Piedmont section 25 per cent and from the Charleston mills 8 per cent in the same section The Charleston mill fixed the price all over the State This was an illegal discrimination in favor of the Columbia mills of 17 per cent, about 75 ccn's a ton on about 70 000 tons, equal to about $50,000 a yea The fertilizer rate was made by Secretary D P Duncan, who wan the agent for the Columbia mills and who was the beneficiary of his own act, supported by said W D Evans and J. C. Wil bom The discriminative und illegal fertilizer rate based on errora of about $800,000 has robbed the ped plo in the Piedmont section alone out of some $200,000 on the one commodity of fertilizer since 1895. Report 1895, pages 177 and 186, shows lbs impossible two ioootntl for nearly every road It is impossi? ble to figure a just rate as the law requires based OQ two incomes for ?lot road or on $800,000 arroto. L R Thomas Sworn lo before, mo this 181Ii day of December, 1S99 B P Kelley. Magistrate - ???aMK ???? ^aaa? ? Pwim in trad, neck, btfoun.ere, back, troi.t, tides fetes, aod lejbe aie rfaoili cure3 oy8iav toutis t;qu*v< Vne Wt< e or Tiulets. Paper eoetlt) ntw patter ? ?.>vtMB ai il G 1 Irft e< X Co' Uaiion Sets AND Garden Seeds. A supply of Onion Sets, of choice varieties, and fresh Garden Seeds for the season's planting, now on hand. FULL LINE OF MEDICINES, PERFUMERY and Fancy Articles, Usually found in a first class Drug Store. Prescriptions carefully com? pounded at reasonable prices. J. F. W. DeLorme. Oct 2V The Lamest anil Most Complete Establishment South Geo. S. H acker & Son, -MANUFACTURERS tif DOORS, SASH, BLINDS, Moulding & Building Material. eftee and Warerooeas, Rieft opposite Can non Street, CHARLESTON, S. C, ao* PnrcljaHP our mako, which we guaranU superior to anv eold South, and thereht >?ave money. Window and Fancy Glass a Specialty Ootober 16?0 Dr M A Nimaioos' Liver Medicine tms in ce 1840 Iteidily nsen in public favor, nod tbe demand for it far t-xceedd that ot my other liT?r medicine I Three Peters a Week j 1 -=agsg & * TOR r\BOUT TOE 1 pr<iCE or omz. I I This paper and the At!~r>ta ? I Twicer Vcek Jjjrail for ? ?2 I $2.00. I i Here you get the ne\v9 of | I tlie world and all your local | a news while it is fresh, paying Cr I very little more than one | i paper costs. Either paper is | 4 well worth $i.00, but byspe- * * cial arrangement we are en- | iabled to put in both of thorn, ? giving three papers a week ?> 5 for this low price. You can- | j| not equal this anywhere else, | 3 and this combination is the t> A best premium for those who % * want a great paper and a f i9 home paper. Take these and * \ you will keep up with the \ 1 times. I Besides general news, the e % Twice-a-Week Journal has \ 2 much agricultural matter I and other art'' lei of special s> ? interest to farmers, It lias \ * regular contributions by Sam | 9 Jones, Mrs. W. H. Felt on, s !| John Temple Graves, Hon. | j| C. H. Jordan and other die- | a tinguished writers. * j| Call at this office and leave your ? I subscriptions for botn. papers. You S> can get a sample copy of either ps- ^ ?f? pirr here on application. t MEDICAL WORK FOR MEN, FREE SEN 3 NO MONEY. My new revised scientific Work USatiim on every weakness md ijiieiuie > u tar lo treu i"* jostt f rom the press. Every mau, ? > matter whalsitoeespsttOBor position in life, will Bndthii worn ii n like any thine ever published. Jt iaot vital interest to the married or unmarried; ?o tlm l.oulihy hnd stronu or to the weak and 4teS'OOWn. While the edition lasts I will send Wcopy SSSSVely scaled is S wrapper, posi? es ,-t- , jk' -o < very man whr writes for it. l hia ??titiou It limited end tho*e dearie a copy must a rite promptly. A.ldrc** U. M. Ross, M. D., Pub ?miIi.O DsssrtSMCt D. 175 Claxk St.. N. L. Cor. ii '?.?. Chicutfo. Illinois. t. if j^sf^Wfl A FINE PIANO. A. a Hiflh Prir^ Is lastly Found, But Fine Pianoe Like tbe At 0'ir .prices are oniv fOBOd in our ware room*. Tbey present iv hapo* cora't ioetion of excellence, impossible to surpass elsewhere. Catalogue hrid Book of NpcceationR for tbe askintr. TKRMS ACCOMMODATING. SECOND-HAND PIANOS TUNING, RKPAIR1NO. GHAS. M. ST!EFF, W arerocrc?, 0 Nor'?h lihertv Strict. F'tctorv?Block of B. Lsfsystt? Ave., Aiken acd Lhdv lie streets. CHARLES C. LESLIE, Wbolessleand Relall CotnmiStfi:?n Dealer in FIS3?C Oysten?, Game and Poultry. Stalls No. 1 aod 2 F sh Market. Oflice, Nos. 18 and 2D Market Stnet. CHARLESTON, S 0. OOBliSBBMnt9 of Co'iniry Produce. Pjultry, Rjjjfl, Ac , are r?^ peel fully solicited. Prompt returns made. Fish pickel in barrels and boxts for tbe country trade a specialty. Dec 6 x Probably you use it? Nearly everyone docs, and if so yow know all about liow far superior:! is to either baking soda or baking DOW<Kr? Leav is the latest advance in baking prepare,' tions, and if you don't use it you slioulu. It Is Better Than Soda because il will make biscuit just ri^lu every tiine. Nu .not e yellow sj>?>t? or >?;t!;i taste, Tt la Better Thau Baking Powtlet Ii t-Aw c ii i??. half as strong sguin und one bespinx U'i?si?wnlul will do tli< w o k (?i iwi roiiU'ied teAspoonfuis ol the l> buk in powder ever niude, U Von't Spoil but I ?? prepared that with ordinary <*??.? it will retain its full sttengih for years. \W d<? n ?t have t?> pack it i;i !< ,(.? ns bakii:^ jiowder, and this :i ; ? ".hits .? ve VOlt Ui'ttCI ?.?a fur your money than you eve! .? '. \y t<>: ??. ? : ft /, ..? ?.?/? Itawn >th fite wSoh fp*ifl.n ' ouncvH I'"-1"> ?. <? ?n*s THE BANK OF SUMTER, aUMTBRi s. t\ City and Uounty Depositary Ospltsl stock psid lo, . . $76,000 oo Uodivldsd purplos, . 1<),()U0 00 Isdlvidosl lisbllitj of .^'ockboldeis is sictts of tbsir stock, . 7^,ooo oo Trai>?HCia ?? gt m ml hnnkinj? bu#inesi ; itioo hna * SAvioyd Bi nk Dessl titicnt Deponits of $1 and upward receivrd Interest Hllowrd *\ the rate (if 4 |cr cent, per sunu.u, payahle eetni-Honuell y. W F. B. HAYNSWORTH, Presideot. Marion Moist, W F. Rhamb, VicsPretldeot. Cssbier. Jso 31. jfc-^*.^ . ? ??^'.^i ....tit-; 2 jWtB*iA'l-^ =_= Has moved his stock of Hardware, Stoves, Cut? lery, Crockery, Into the large store next to First National Bank, lately occupied by the Ducker & Bultman Company. And is oow better prepared with a larger etoci tbao ever, to supply the pablie with everytbiDg in bis lice. Especial attention is directed to tbe very large Hoe of Stoves and Stove Fixtures, Both cooking and beatiog, and aiao to oor large line of CROCKERY, GLASSWARE, WINDOW GLASS, PAINTS, OILS. Our regular lines of Hardware," Tools, Cutlery, Goos, Ammunition, Harness, Saddlery, Hoosefuroisbiog Goods, &c, will be found larger and more complete. We also carry Eogine aod Milt Supplies. Remember, all our stoves are warranted. Call and see us. Very respectfully, L. B. DURANT. Sep 6?x HOT SPRINGS TREATMENT AND COUNCIL OF PHYSICIANS. Will Cure at Home Blood Poi6on in all Stages, Scrofula, Cancer and Rheumatism. Cures Guaranteed. ]f suffering from any form of contagious or inherited Blood Poison, Cancer; Rheuma;!, m, Paralysis, Private Diseases, Gonorrhea, Gleet, Weakness of Or gans, you can bo oured at home with perfect safety at small cost. You call secure tho combined skill of a staff of eminent physicians and specialists with s> large experience and observation in treating such diseases at Hot Spriogs. Any cat-e they accept for treatment who faitbfuiiy complies with directions without a ouie will be entitled to free board, room and treatment at their institution until cured No nostrums or cure-nils used, but special remedies for each particular case, and to suit the particular sta??e of the disease. Honest, expert treatment ia what you need A book of full particulars with question blanks sect secure from observation on receipt of 2 cent Rtamp for postage Address HOT SPRINGS TREATMENT CO.. or P O Box 110. June 14?o HOT SPRINGS, ARK. A Radical Change In Marketing Methods as Applied to Sewing Machines. An original plzn under which vou can obtain ^ 1 e?.s*er u.-ms and better value in the purchase of ^ the world famous xHuu:"'" Sewing Machine than ever before oftercd. nrn .?_?r ? ? ?? ? ? ? if Write for our elegant il-T catalogue and detailed particulars. How ? we can savcyots money i:i the purchase cf a high-grade sewing machine $ and the easy'Terr.'^oF payment we can oiler, either direct from factory or Inrougn our regular authorized agents. This is an oppor ? tunity you cannot afford to pass. You know the "White," you know Y ItS mMIUfaCtM rejfj. Therefore, cT3et2lt3 'descnpt'.on of the machine and v Ltacoustruciion isuunecessary. If you bare an old machine to exchange ^ we can offer most ^^??ZSSSi Write to-day. Address in full^ iim mim"??^?mm, roe/t a.-, Cleveland, Ohio. NOTICE. For Sale, 60 Horses. I rciah to siy to the public that I have added to my business Live Stock, and will keep on hand at my S'ables, a nioe lino of young aod weli broke Horses and Malet, for sale at the lowest prices. Giro me a trial sod be ooovioced tbat my prices are as low as tbe lowest. Geo. F. Epperson. Columbia Business College, COLUMBIA, S. C. Th" leading business training school of South Carolina wbicb turn out graduates ior holding the b at positions of booor aod trvet in tbe Lusiceos and shorthand profession The aim of the institution is to be honest io every state? ment it makes, aod to Rife even more value tbao it promisee. It claims to keep improvement as its watchword, and txoellence and thoroughness as its standard. It aims to merit patronage by thorough, conscientious work 50 pr: cent of the onurs-es taught in other commercial schools of this section are eel more tbao a preparatory to ours, Graduates assisted to positions. For information aod catalogue, address, We H. Newberry, President, TESTIMONIALS. Fron or.e of our 6rt>t graduates. He tins a pood pOSttioo, HT:d r.'Comraruds our sobool A9 ttie best, h? does all of our Undents. Columbia, S 0 , Jao. 8. 1897. Prof. \Y. H. Nswberry, P.niient C. B. C , ||? (>eAr Sir: Dohna lbs month ol Jano* ary, 1885, was the time I begao a hosioeea course la 'lie Columbia Botin*?? Col Although a it ranger id tbe city, I was wel? comed by profateora Hr.ri students, which nada me feel at turnip. Having completed my coorse, I accepted * position ai I ?ok keener for oec ol ?in* largest dry goods firm* in the city, which position I held for on* year, end then ch-mg?-?! to lbs grocer) fiim of Jsmei M Greeo, one of the leadiog fancy grocers io the city which pi iltioo I stilt bold Owing to the thorough training leceivtd at the Colombia Businesi (Allege, ha?e he?u able to muster every hOffinSN Irengaeiion that has come ie my work. In future years will always look nack In the tins spent io tbe Columbia Bustntss College with pleasure. I ncomrtend this school to all wbo desire s businers education. From your friend aod student W. W. GREGG. COMPLETED SHORTHAND !N THREE HONTR8. ItlHrkvi?p, Bam veil Co . Vcti 30, 1899. Mr. \V H. Newberry, President Coluabia Basinets College, Colombia, S 0 lit i)i*r Sir: It h fiords me pleawre to t ? i\'y to iti- meriti i ! ilie Coionbi ?sBu?ioe$8 Colt? cp- I do not hrs?tate to say th*t I have rrvvi\e.i 'nbstantiel i?n*l b nencnl results. 1 cheerfully reeommei d :t to any p^on desir < iii t ! greeting a iusiueS9 education Dur? ing niv COOrSS ol Itedy at the College there was uniform kr. d and courteous treatment a.id atteotioo. Clcpe attention whs giteo Ihe students by ths itstructora to irsure ac? curacy and thoroughness in ibnr studies, and my progress w?g rapid, und I presume, < flL'ietit, ns 1 otitain d a situation as sooo as I reached bone, and, so lot as I know, am gitil g satisfaction. 1 completed my Short? hand course in three months. I do not tbiok tbe Columbia Business College can be excelled by any other in tbe State. K*er wiibiop your college grand success, I am Your friend and old undent, (Miss) DAISY STOKES.