Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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otchman mm Bmthwu ? THE SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850. .Be Jost and Fear not-Let all the ends Thon Alms' t at be thy Country's, Thy God's and Truth's." THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Established Jone, I860 Consolidated Aug. 2,1881. Sew Series-Vol XXV. So 99 ' C?)e W&atij?ixa at? jftinifcai Published Every Wednesday, -BY OSTEEN PUBLISHING COMPANY, SUMTER, S. C. Terms: $1.50 per annum-in advance. Advertisements : One Square first insertion..SI.50 Every subsequent insertion...... 50 Contracts for three months, or longer will be made at reduced rates. All communications which sub? serve p rivate interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respects will be charged for. p THE LEGISIAATUKE. The Senate Killed the Bill to Require Circuit Judges to Pay Their Sub? stitutes. Columbia, February 7.-The Senate by a vote of 20 to 18 killed Cole Biease's bill requiring a judge, instead of the State, to pay his substitute in case of illness. The Senate passed the bill to give the railroad commission an jexpert to inspect railroad engines, the object being to secure safer travel and get trains in on time. The Senate passed the bills to buy 50 copies of Rev. Barnett Elsas's -The Jews of South Carolina," and 250 copies of J. S. Reynolds' History of Reconstruction in South Carolina. The reformatory bill was argued again, but no vote reached. The House. The house today almost uanimously killed mr. Beambuard's bill to ratifv the biennial sessions amendment. This practically amounted to saying that bill as well as the amendment is con stutionaliy defective. The other bills proposing to carry out the commit? tee's ideas of making biennial sessions effective by having, other amendments voted on were not reached. The House killed the Seller's bill -exacting big license fees of fire, life ard fraternal insurance companies, so as to reduce property taxes. The ten hour bill was debated again but no -rote ?fas -taken. McCaw. Columbia, February 8.-The House today killed tke Toole ten hour labor bill by a vote of 56 to 47. "The bill gained 17 votes since last session. The House parsed Mr. Rucker's bili to allow illegitimate children to. in? herit from their mother after it had been amended to read, "provided there :;' A are legitimate children." The House debated the proposition to have the Legislature convene in July instead of January, but no vote was reached, ti" The House killed the proposition to amend the constitution so as to pro? vide for a fifth member of the Supreme court. The vote was 62 to 43 in favor of the resolution, but S3 vote* are re? quired to pass such a resolution. The biennial sessions matter came near ? being killed on' account of the sman 1V ness of attendance at the time the vote was taken on the first bill under this subject. The motion to pass the bill received 79 aye votes to 19' nays. Be? fore the vote could be clinched by Mr. Sellers debate was adjourned. There will be no session tonight. McCaw. ? Columbia. Febuary 9.-At the in? stance of Mr. Verner, of Oconee, the House struck out the $2,500 appro? priation .for special terms of courts. There were no other changes this morning in the appropriation bills. The college appropriations will likely be reached in tonight's debate on the bill. Col. Watson's immigration depart? ment got a bad \care in the House to? day. It first struck a snag in the ap? propriation bill. The House refusing to table Lafitte's amendment to cut the department's expense account down to a thousand dollars. Before this could be clinched the House switched off to the bill of Mr. Green, of Lee county, to abolish the depart? ment altogether, the friends of the de? partment preferring it to be wiped out altogether rather than have it crippled The Green bill was killed by a vote of 53 to 4S and the Lafitte amendment was then rejected on a vote of 65 to 46. So the department come out of the fight not even disfigured. Columbia, February 12.-The House today refused to kill the Senate bill giving the Firemen's Aid Association 2 per cent, of fire insurance premiums of the State for pension purposes. The Columbia firemen will get about $3,000 under the provisions of I ?he bill and over thirty other fire men's associations will benefit by it. I The bill will become a law. The board of pardons is established, j much to the relief of Governor Hey- j ward. McCaw. Columbia, February 13.-An effort j GREAT BONO ISSUE BY SOUTHERN RAILWAY i Stockholders Asked to Authorize an ls I ' sue of $200,000,000 i - THE LARGEST DEAL IN A LONS TIME - The Proceeds of Issue to Ee Used for Purchase of New Equipment, Dou? ble Tracking, New Shops and Gen? eral Betterments. New York, February 10.-The an? nouncement was made this morning that the Southern Railway Company has decided to ask the stockholders for authority t% ssue $200,000,000 de? velopment and general mortgage four per cent, bonds. A special meeting of stockholders has been called to rat?fy the proposition at Richmond on April 13th. The Southern Railway already has stocks and bonds outstanding aggre? gating $350,000,000. About $6.5,000,000 of the new issue will be used to retire lien and* mort? gage bonds. Fifteen million of honda are to be issued immediately for equip-, ment, double tracking, new shops, etc. The remaining hundred million, it is announced, will be used for future betterments. This bond issue is the largest an? nounced in nrtarty days and has caused a great deal of conjecture. It is un? derstood that a syndicate, headed by J. P. Morgan & Company, have been formed to purchase the $15,000,0000 to be issued now. POSTMASTERS APPOINTED. The President Sent a Batch of Nomi? nations to the Senate Today. Washington, February 12.-Among the names sent to the Senate for ap? pointment today were: To be post? masters: Labert H. Holland, Scotts boro, Ala.; J. C. Stowers, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Clarence W- Teague, West " ^ Durham, X. C.; Edwin L. Ware, Kings Mountain, X. C.; C. H. Kessell Harrisburg, Va.; George L. ?Hart, Roanoke, Va.; William H. Faulkner, South Boston, Va.; R. A. F.ulwiler Staunton, Va. TEX FISHERMEN DROWNED. Bold Xorse Seamen Go Down off Scot? land's Coast. Invergorden, Scotland, February 12. -The' trawler Veronica of Siavanger. Xorway, was lost off Lossimouth last night. The crew of ten escaped in a , small boat and were within eighteen | feet of the trawler Zodiao when struc': by a heavy sea and capsized. All were drowned. was made in the Senate this morning to decide on a time to have a vote on the dispensary bill. A motion was made to Vote at 2 o'clock today by Senators Efird and there was much discussion. ?Senator Mauldin objected to appointing any time and under the rules that objection was sufficient. Senators Hough and Von Koliniz between them spoke over an hour against the dispensary. It looks now as if a vote will not be reached until tomorrow. The reformatory bill finally passe L Fixing the Tax Levy. The House debated, but did not reach a vote on the flexible supply bill. This leaves the levies blank to be fill? ed- in later by the assessing boards, so as to carry out Comptroller General Jones' scheme to get property on the books at its market value. Chairman Richards of the ways and means committee said that on the present tax valaution of $220,000,000 the levy for state purposes would have to be six mills to meet the appropria? tions amounting to $1,330,000. It the new basis of valuation is successfully established the levy would be three and one-half mills. McCaw. COCA-COLA BILL DEFEATED. Columbia. February 12.-At che opening of the Senate session Senator Brown called to the attention of the Senate that according to the journal the vote on the Coco-Cola bill appear- j ed as a tie. whereas the vote as there recorded showed that the vote w;is 16 to 15. The talley sheet showed that such was the ca.'c. Senator Manning announced that he had voted aye, but had not been re? corded. This correction was made and the journal, as corrected, showed that the bill was indefinitely postpon? ed by, 17 to 3 5. Senator Bivins then moved to re? consider the vote and another roll call was had. resulting in a refusal to reconsider by 17 to 15. and thus the Coca-Coia taxing bill was, after all, killed. THE DISPENSARY IS A VERY GOOD CUSTOMER Munificence of the Dispensary DISPENSARY PAYS MORE THAN OTHERS The Carolina Glass Company's Mana? ger Testifies That the Dispensary Pays Such High Prices That He Can Sell Bottles to Other Customers for Less Than Cost. Columbia, S. C., February 10. "If we did not have the dispensary as a customer we could not remain in business," Superintendent Norton of the Carolina Glass Company admitted on the stand of the dispensary invesi gating committee today, j "If we sold at the prices we have been recently selling to Casper & Co., ?at Winston, N. C., and Paul Heyman, at Auguast, nearly $2 a gross less, in some instanfees, than we are selling to the dispensary," he added in answer to another question, "we would eat up our plant and capital in losses in a year. We sold at these prices to get rid of a surplus product" He admit? ted further to having 322 cars, nearly two years' supply, yet to be made for the dispensary at prices far above what was selling for in North Carolina and Georgia. McCaw. PETERS MAKES CHARGES. Accuses South Carolina and Georgia Farmers of Bad Faith. Dallas, Texas, February 9.-In an address and appeal to the farmers of Texas today ex-Vice President E. S. Peters of the Southern Cotton Associa? tion, accused Harvey Jordan and other officials. Among other things he said: "At a meeting of cotton growers, held in Shreveport in December, 1904, they had a resolution introduced to prohib? it the growing of cotton in Texas, which was voted down, and a Texas resolution to reduce acreage planted in cotton and use of fertilizers 25 per cent was carried. Texas people went home from that meeting and in good faith carried out their part for reduc? tion of acreage, as the crop proceeds show. What about our friends from South Carolina and "Jaw-Jaw?" What did they do? Well, the- crop they raised" shows that these States have al? ready ginned the largest crop they ever had with the single exception ol one 'year, and that may "be exceeded when the crop has been all ginned. Organization is the oniy way to se ccre success and the farmers should join fhe Farmers' Union as it is a farmers' organization "of farmers, by farmers and for farmers." , STREET FIGHT Di SAVANNAH. One Man Wass Killed and Three Wounded in Pistol Battle. Savannah, Ga., February 9.-Politi? cal partisans of the two rival factions had a pistol fight this afternoon in front of the city exchange. "Boho" Dyer was killed; Frank Nagle, a by? stander, wes shot through the eye an.'-, is in a critical condition: Pat Kearney" a policeman off duty at the time, was shot through the neck; and C P., or "Sap" Dyer was shot twice through the legs. "Snatcher" Dyer and Thomas He? witt, a private detective, arc under ar? rest. Besides those under arrest or wounded, those who participated" in the shotting were Harbor Master James McBride, his sor. Tim McBride, who is a clerk in his father's office; Plumbing Inspector Richard McKen na and James Lane, keeper of the po? lice stables. lt is not known definitely who fired the shots by which the ' ki Med and wounded were struck. The shooting was general and about 40 shots were fired. ( The battle started when-the three Dyers attacked McKenna, one felling him with a billy. The others cann to the assistance of McKenna. There had been a iight earlier in the day in the court house, when McKen? na beat "rabo" Dyer with a billy. This had followed a fight in the ceurt house on Wednesday last when two of the Dyer brothers fought Police Patrol Driver Monroe. Half a dozen, pistols w< re then drawn but no blood was shed. Anderson, February 9.-Ernest F. Cochran today received his commis? sion as district attorney for South Car? olina and left on the night train for Charleston where the formal transfer of the office win take place tomorrow. Governor Hey wa rd is opposed to trilling an extra session of the legisla? ture and has so informed the members who have asked him to call a special session. Made Profitable By A DISPENSARY SENSATION. KI.MAUK'iBLE LETTER HESVK RECTED AFTER FIVE YEARS. It is a Letter From J. R. Fant, Dis pesary Constable Then, and Now a Chief of Division, to Senator B. R. Tillman, Charging Various Crimes in Connection With the Dispensary. Columbia, February ll.-More than five years ago? Chief State Constable J. R. Fant made a serious complaint to Senator E. R. Tillman with regard to certain phases of the dispensary busi? ness. The complaint at that time was almost entirely with regard to the constabulary. Mr. Fant was then, and is now, a division chief on the con? stabulary force, and has been regard? ed as an efficient officer. So far as is known, there was nothing done with the formal complaint that Chief Fant filed with Senator Tillman more than five years ago, and it has not yet been made to appear that it was reported to those who were chiefly and personally interested. ? The letter has been read before the investigation committee by Mr. Lyon, having been submitted by Mr. James H. Tillman, with the accompanying letter: ? February 2, 1906.-The Hon. J. T. Hay, Chairman Committee Investiga? tion, Columbia, S. C.-Mr. Chairman: Some time ago Mr. J. R. Fant, chief constable, testified before the investi? gating committee, of which you are chairman, about a letter he ha*d writ? ten Senator Tillman concerning dis? pensary affairs in South Carolina, and, by my uncle, turned over to me. I was absent from the State at the time on professional business. In as? sorting various letters I today ran across the one in question and submit it to the committee for their consider? ation. While the letter was written in .confidence to Senator Tillman it can no longer be so regarded, in view of the fact that Mr. Fant has called at? tention to it in his testimony. For reason that certain newspapers have, by insinuation, sought to create the impression that it was suppressed with the motive and purpose, as has been unjustly alleged, of screening certain parties from their wrong do? ing, in justice to me as well as Senator Tiliman, the letter is transmitted for the consideration of the committee. What truth is contained in the let? er I do not know, but I am advised hat Governor Mcsweeney wes ir. oes cission of the facts it contains. Since he. as chief Executive of tl?e $tat?. and responsible for the honest admin? istration of the dispensary law, did not see fit to probe the matter, it would have been presumption on my part as lieutenant governor to ever have mad a suggestion. In order to keep the record straight I ask that this letter be given the same publicity of the one of Mr. Fant. Re? spectfully. James R. Tillman. P. S.-You will oblige me by return? ing the original after your committee has used same. The letter to Senator Tillman read?: Spartanburg. S. C.. Dec. 20. 1901. Senator B. R. Tillman. Trenton, S. C. Dear Sir: I know that 'you will be surprised to receive such a letter from me. but I feel it my duty to let you know the situation. 'Sh*?wing the in :ercst that you have taken in the dis? pensary lav.' and its enforcement. The management of the dispensary law has become corrupt. Men are specu? lating on constabulary positions. They sell a chef's place for $150 and a pr? ivate's place from $25 to $50. This city seemed to have been headquar? ters. Mr. Bill McGowan. United State: commissioner and former partner the practice of law in this eily, is so? liciting agent. He sends the applica? tions to someone in Columbia, and they get the governor to appoint the parties. Mr. McGowan told a number of parties that ZNCr. U. X. Gunter was getting the appointments at Colum? bia. I exposed the whole thing to the governer, and they now have adopted* another plan, by taking a part of the constable's salary at the end of each month. They also speculate on the county boards of control position One of the county board of control of this county. Mr. Mark Rudisal, told me in the presence of another gentleman that he paid U. X. Gunter $125 for his position on the board. The countv board is corrupt, especially as to beer privileges. I have abundant proof of this fact. S. G. LaFar, constable that you discharged at Florence- for im? moral conduct, has become a common thief. He is the chief constable station? ed at Greenville. He seized liquor in the name of the State and ships to State officials as presents. He shipped five gallons to Col. W. W. Harris. wh/? is in charge of the constabulary force of the State and also clerk of the State board of control. Mr. Harris has re? ceived other presents from him that were seized in the name of the State. I have proofs of numbers of pistol that this man seized in the name of Baking Powder Absolutely Pure Made from 'Pure Grape Cream of Tartar In baking powder Ro^al is the standard, thc powder of highest reputation ; found by thc United States Government tests of greatest strength and purity. It renders the food more healthful and palat? able and is most economical in practical use. Housekeepers are sometimes importune^ sta buy alum powders because they are "cheap/* Yet some of the cheapest made powders are sold to consumers at the highest price. Housekeepers should stop and think. Is it not better to buy the Royal and take no chances the powder whose goodness and honesty, are never questioned ? Is it economy to spoil your digestion by an alum-phosphate or other adultered powder to save a few pennies ? ROYAL BAKING POWDER CO.- NEW YORK the State and converted them to his own use. Mr. T. S. Howie told me thai j Mr. W. TV. Harris had received money for getting persons on the constabu- j lary force; that he himself had paid him through Mr. Dan Miles, for makV ing him chief constable. J. E. Morehead told me that Mr. Harris ordered him not to seize liquor in blind tigers in Coiumbia. Told him that Ben Davie!, a noted blind tiger in Columbia, would have a large supply of liquor during fair week and for him not to interfere with him. Mr. Harris has had complete control in Columbia for a number of years and during that time the blind tigers have been just as bad a-:: -hey have been in Charleston. You remember 'now com? pletely I broke them up in Columbia while you were governor. They could only sell from their pockets. I have been to Columbia twice on official bus" iness during the administration of the present governor, and they made me pay my railroad expenses to and from. I am satisfied that this was done by Mr. Harris to keep me away from Columbia so that I would not catch on to the rascality that was being practiced there. I have only mention? ed a few of the charges I could bring against the officers I have mentioned if an investigation were had. I would respectfully ask you to use your influence to oust Col. W. W. Har? ris, from the position that he now oc? cupies, as he is damaging the dispen? sary law by his management of the some.. If the present governor offers for re-election and uses the same tac tices that he did before, he will cer- i tainly be elected. Mr. Harris hired priviate detectives to .^o to all the campaign meetings in this county at $3 per diem to electioneer for him and paid them out of the dispensary fund. If these detectives were in all the counties you can guess what an effect it would have, i do not think that such expenses should be charged up against the dispensary law or made to appear as expenses in the enforce? ment of the law. I can name these detectives if necessary; Senator. I have written you this in strict confi? dence. T am more than willing to go before any investigating committee and bring out the facts that I have stated in this letter by giving dates and witnesseses to prove the same, and know a dozen other constables who are anxious to go before a com? mittee and testify as to what they know. I have not kept all this to my? self, but have told two of the Legisla? tive men of some of this rascality. I write this so that you can advise, as I do not wish to do anything to hurt the dispenasry law. With kindest re? gards, I remain as ever, your true ] friend. J. lt. Katu. The statements relative to Mr. (Hin? ter have been fully discussed and ex? plained before the committee hy Mr. j McGowan himself and others. ] Nashville. Tenn. February 12.-Maj. i Jno. T. Thomas, president of the 1 Nashville. Chattanooga and St. Louis < railroad, died this morning of heart 1 disease. i THREE VERDICTS SET ASIDE. - Grave Charges Made Against Agent Johnson and He is Ruled for Con? tempt by Judge Hydride Columbia, February 9.-Judge Hy drick is after Land Agent Johnson, of the Seaboard Air Line. He is accused of monkeying with jurors in Lexington, and as a result Judge Hydr?ck set aside three verdicts in fire loss cases, and ruled Mr. Johnson for contempt. Johnson was not to be found in Lex ington today and the rule is returnable at the next term of couit. The fore? man finally said that the agent had slept with the jurors, paid hotel bills and used lic:uor. He was not present to give his defense. Three verdicts, of $100 each were secured for fire losses and these were all set aside. RELIGIOUS RIOTS LX FRAXCE.. Catholics Offer Forcible Resistance to Authorities Who Attempt to Maker Inventory cf Church Property. . Brest. France. February 13.-Fol? lowing the example set by Catholics in Paris in offering forcible resistance to the authorities who tried to take inventories of church property, under provisions of the law separating state and church, the Catholics of Eritain ny are pursuing the same course. As a result there have been a number of disturbances. The soidiers were called out to assist the officials. * A number of persons were hurt in the clash which followed. LODGING HOUSE BURNED. A Fatal Fire in Portland. Oregon. Twenty cr More Perish in Their Beds. * Portland. Ore. Februaiy 12.-Twen? ty persons are believed to have per ishde and ten injured in a fire which swept a district of frame buildings between Morrison and E.tst Water; streets this morning. The district in? cluded several lodging houses. Of the dead, five bodies have been recovered. The fire broke out at 2:4." a. m. in the Mount Hood saloon and burned with great rapidity as the building was built on ^pilings. The frame structures on both sides of the railway were soon ablaze. The fire attained such headway before the alarm was turned in that it could not b< stayed. Most of the dead were io lodgings over the Mount Hood saloon. THE Dc CASTELLAXE SCANDAI*. [molli's Family Still Bogging Countess Anna Not to Sue for a Divorce. Paris. February 12.- Members- of the family of Count Boni de Castellano nave made fresh overtures to Countess Anna, urging her to seek only a sepa? ration, instead of a full divorce. They base their plea in the inerest of the children. Count Boni has chosen as Ivis lawyer Maitre Rene Layalle. a. acted specialist in complicated cases.