Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MR. LYON'S REPLY. A Caustic Retort to the Senators Crit? icisms-The Law Liitdting?Purchas es Not Quoted Correctly-As to Mill Creek and Rebates. To the Editor of The State: The offer of your columns to me to reply to Senator Tillman's interview in yesterday's issue is accepted. I shall try not to be burdensome to eith? er yourself or a long-suffering public. I do not think the public interested in the senator's opinion, either of my . conrse in the dispensary investigation, or as to whether it was sneaking and cowardly to address my reply to an attorney, in response to an inquiry, giving my reasons for delay, and al? lowing that letter to be published. However, I do not wish to take the senator at a disadvantage, and if he thinks it more in keeping with his ideas of fairness, he may treat my let? ter as if it were addressed to him personally, with each statement there? in reiterated. Senator Tillman says: "I have not attacked the investigating committee. I only wa?ned it in a friendly spirit." His reference to the committee in his address stands for itself, and I scarcely think he can expect that this latter statement can be understood as being consistent with his former. In my opinion it will be a very indulgent person who does not think . so. The senator has made the wonder? ful discovery that/the $700,000 worth of claims against the State board are valid and binding, or they are not. Perhaps the entire committee will agree to this statement when they know the senator has said it. But ?when he says: "They are not, because the whiskey was bought contrary to law and the State is not legally bound for payment," I hesitate, for I have no facts to base such conclusion on tile opinion of a person himself under in? vestigation, and know of no law lim? iting the amount of stock, save the version as cited by this same person. I am not familiar with a law that ex? pressly limits the ?mount of goods that may be on hand to $400,000. I have read an 'Act relating to dispen? sary profits,' acts 1902, page 1102, in which it is provided that the direct? ors of the dispensary shall pay to the otate treasurer by January, 1904, all of the school fund reported by them in excess of $400,000 and making provis? ion for ascertaining quarterly thereaf? ter the net profits accruing to the State. No doubt the senator will cite accurately the law he refers to. It is somewhat a surprise to know that the senator has spoken in such strenuous language, because the pub? lic has been notified, at his request, that we are investigating the piano matter. He characterizes this as a dirty and cowardly insinuation. I agree with him that it is rather a dirty looking thing all the way through and I may hav? acted cowardly, but the senator canrot flatter himself that it ti-as an insinuation. Or. the other hand, it was a plain statement that the piano natter was under investigation, be? cause it cams to us that it was possi? bly a "rake eft?'-a sufficient reason 1er' investigating it We have investi? gated at least one other tranaction somewhat similar to the plano matter. This latter was investigated largely Xor the rason that the senator publicly expressed his suspicion about it. It 2s only suspicious that we have to commence on, and it is not roy pur? pose to tell about suspicious transac? tions that are being probed .unless those under investigation ask for in? formation at a* time when it may safe? ly be given. I would suggest, howev? er, if information is not really desired, it.may be well not to be too inquisitive, for someone else might be offended. The interview has represented the senator as saying.that my pretext for delay is that I may look into the records of the Mill Creek Distilling Company to see whether there are any credits. Is it not a little strange that the senator should thus refer to Mill Creek when no mention of it is made in my letter? The statement in this respect is the product of his own fer? tile imagination. Is it not singular that he should associate in his mind Mill Creek distillery and rebates? This of itself would warrant the committee in looking for "a nigger in the wood pile" in the back yard of the Mill Creek distillery But now comes the startling denial that h* ever said anything about re- j turning rebates. It may be interesting to read his interview along with his sworn statement before the committee. Interview. "M;- Lyon heard my testimony in Columbia and he knows I said noth? ing about returning any money for 1 never received any." Sworn Statement. "But for the fact that Hubbell credited me I could not have started the dispensary at all. When we look? ed through it he said: 'This purchase is subject to a rebate, because of the fact that the Mill Creek Company is a member of the liquor trust. * . * *WeII, I said, I don't want any dealings with rebates; you keep that as a bo? nus for the accommodation you have given me in selling me liquor at a fair price, and assisting me in my efforts to start the dispensary.' " I take it that the senator does not desire to quibble and I prefer to be , lieve . his sworn statement true, es ! pecially as the act under which we are proceeding makes false swearing be . fore the committee perjury. Such be i ing the condition of affairs, I think we I have reasonable grounds, and it is our duty to probe this matter as we have been doing and are contiuing to do. The senator avows he has a friendly spirit towards the committee. Leaving aside the suddenness of his recollec? tion of this fact and acting upon his avowal as if >it 'were true, I suggest that if he has any more letters in his possession of similar nature to the one Mr. Fant wrote him some years ago, J he will confer a favor by delivering j them to the committee before we learn of such letters and the affairs to which they relate, through some other source. What we need most is facts and not "friendly advice." So far as the lawyers are concerned who represent the claims held up and the persons under investigation, I will say that when they write me letters they will receive a courteous and frank reply and each of them may expect to be treated in a? respectful mannei when they appear before the commit? tee. , In'the event some other person may wish to find out something about the investigation and prefers not to use the newspapers as a medium of cor- j respondence, just let him write a po? lite inquiry, if he can, and a courteous reply will- be returned. If such person" should be afraid of getting unpleasant information and objects to the reply to his inquiry being made public he will be accommodated upon request. In conclusion let me thank you for the use of your columns and ask you, if I am not too inquisitive myself, whose cur was it that yelped the other day somewhere up between Charlotte and Greenville? J. Fraser Lyon. Abbeville, April 10th. TILLMAN SHIFTS HIS POSITION. It Doesn't Matter What He Said About limit of Purchases, But How About Bids? Washington, April 12.-When ask? ed tonight, if he would reply to the let? ter of Mr. Fraser Lyon published in Wednesday's State, Senator Tillman replied: /'No, but I am much irritated over the way several of the newspa? pers got my Latin mixed up in the re? ports of my remarles at Clemson. If there is anything that I do take a pride in it is the little Latin that is left me in my old age and I' don't want to have anybody' messing that up. They made me use a nominative instead of an ablative and I know I did nothing of the kind." The senator looked particularly fierce as he said this, for as has often been noted, he does take great pride in his Latin. . He appeared not to wish to discuss the Lyon letter but did finally make a few .brief remarks, the gist of which was as follows: "I consider Mr. Ly? on's letter too silly to call for any an? swer from me at all." After turning over two or three newspapers which he tield in his lap, scrutinizing several cartoons of him? self and making a few random com7 ments, he turned suddenly, and the lines of his face assuming their stump speech position, he added: "You can say this if you want to,%that while my idea of $400,000 being the limit of the amount that the board may purchase may not be entirely correct, my idea of the law as to the competitive' bids I know is correct and I predict that unless'the investigating committee re? pudiates all purchases made without competitive bids-I. predict there will be a demand for an. investigation of the investigating committee."-Zach McGhee in The State. DeviTs Island Torture * Is no worse than the terrible case of piles that afflicted me 10 years. Then I was advised to apply Eucklen's Arnica Salve, and less than a box per? manently cured me, writes I. S. Nap? ier, of Rugles, Ky. Heals all wounds, burns and sores like magic 25c ai Sibert's Drug Store. There will be.no more automobile races from Sumter to Camden or else? where. *Nothing will relieve indigestion that is not a thorough digestant. Ko dol Dyspepsia Cure digests what you eat. and allows the stomach to rest recuperate-grow strong again. A few doses of Kodol after meals will soon restore the stomach and digestive organs to full performance of their functions naturally. Sold by all drug? gists. The Southern Railway is repainting the depot, passenger station, ai.d buildings along its line in Sumter. Rheumatism Makes the Life Miserable *A happy home is the most valuable possession that is within the reach of mankind, but you cannot enjoy its comforts if you are suffering from rheumatism. You throw aside busi? ness cares when you enter your home and you can be relieved from those rheumatic pains also by applying Chamberlain's Pain Balm. One appli? cation will give you relief and its con? tinued use for a short time will bring about a permanent cure. For sale by all druggists. CITY ELECTION. 201 Votes Cast for all the Nominees of the Party. The general election for municipal officers was held on the 10th between the hours of S a. m. and 4 p. m. As a result thereof Mr. W. B. Boyle, recently nominated for mayor, and all of the nominees for the office of alder ' man received 201 votes. The following ticket was elected: Mayor, W. B. Boyle; Aldermen, J. H. Chandler, H. D. Barnett, W. A. Bow ! man, R. F. Havnsworth, H. C. Hayns : worth, P. P. Finn, E. H. Rhame and j R. K. Wilder. GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT. To His Honor, Judge Earnest Gary, presiding judge at the April term of the Court of General Sessions and Common Pleas for Sumter Ccunty: We, the grand jury, beg to make this our first presentment: We have examiner1 into and return? ed all true bills given us by the solici? tor. We have, through our committees, visited the several county offices, chain gang, alms house, jail and the dispensaries, except at Mayesville, and owing to the short time allotted us the examination of these are some? what superficial. We will, however, give these matters a most carel ul in? vestigation during the recess of the court. We find the finances of the county in good shape, the money being on hand to pay the bonded debt when it becomes due, and we would urge the county board of commissioners to use the means at their disposal in the erec I tion of the contemplated new court house in such a manner as to secure at once a roomy, convenient, present? able building, which will be a credit I to the county in after years. The jail we find in very good con ' dition with the exception of a few re? pairs to premises, such as fencing, banisters and some plumbing work, which we recommend being attended to at once. We would also recommend that the county commissioners sell the present jail property and use the proceeds in the erection of a new jail on the east side of the contemplated new court house. We find that some of the magis? trates do not make their report each month as required by law, and recom? mend that they be required to do so. It has come to our attention that only a few citizens of the county are paying the commutation tax, and hardly any of those who do not pay are working the roads, and consequently some of the roads are in a somewhat neglected condition, and for the reason that the chain gang, however efficient it is, with the resources at its disposal, cannot cover the territory, therefore we recommend that our representa? tives to the General Assembly erfdeav or to have a bill passed at the next session, requiring every person liable to poll ?ax to pay the commutation tax and that that tax be increased if nec? essary and the proceeds used in the employment of suitable township overseers, who shall. have all road work that the chain gang cannot do done, all of which, of course, to be under the supervision of the county supervisor. We find 23 prisoners who compose the chain gang at work, well fed and in good condition. It has come to our attention that some drivers of motor cars or automobiles are driving such cars or automobiles at a greater rate of speed than is allowed by law, and racing upon the public highways in direct opposition to the law as laid down in the statutes for 1903-05 at page 965. We would call the atten? tion of the proper officers to this and to the violation of the law in reference to the proper registering of motor cars or automomibles with the clerk of the court and displaying the number ol such car or automobile certificate, and county to which, it belongs upon the rear end of such motor car or au? tomobile. We find the county alms house tu be in good condition and all inmates properly cared for. The inmates con? sist of eight whites and eleven negroes, making a total of 19. We recommend that the sheriff be instructed to turn over to the treasurer all tax executions which were given to him during May and June. 1905, so that the treasurer may post up and finish his books for 19Ol. We have appointed a committee to j examine into the dispensary at ! I Mayesville and report at next session j of the grand jury. We desire to extend our thanks to | His Honor, the judge, the solicitor and j all court officials for courtesies ex? tended. All of which is respectfully submit? ted. R. F. Wilder. Foreman. *If you ever bought a box of witch hazel salve that failed to give satisfac? tion the chances are it did not have the name "E. C. DeWitt & Co." print? ed on the wrapper and pressed in the box. The original Dewitt's Witch Ha? zel Salve never fails to give satisfac? tion for burns, sores, boils, tetter, cracked hands, etc. For blind, bleed? ing, itching and protruding piles it af? fords almost immediate relief. It stops the pain. Sold by all druggists. COUNCIL SWORN IN. MAYOR BOYLE AND ALDERMEN TAKE THE OATH OF OFFICE. Chairman Rowland of the Finance Committee Makes a Gratifying Re? port-Mayer Dick Presents Gavel to His Successor-Committees Ap? pointed. Council held a regular meeting at S o'clock Thursday night. Present: Mayor Geo. W. Dick. Al? dermen H. D. Barnett, P. P. Finn, R. F. Havnsworth, E. W. Hurst, C. G. Rowland, W. G. Stubbs and R. K. Wilder. Absent: Alderman H. W. Hood. Minutes of March 23th were read and approved. The Committee of Public Works submitted the following report, which was adopted: 1. Pipe has been ordered for drains on West Liberty street. Oakland av? enue and corner of Salem and Hamp? ton avenues. 2. The opening of streets on prop? erty of L. D. Jennings in southwestern part of the city is in progress 3. Mr. Wm. Bultman will accept the offer of council to pay him $50 to? wards removal of house to widen East Calhoun street, provided he may spend the amount on a fence instead of removal, which the coma.i nee rec? ommend be allowed. 4. Sidewalk ordered on Caldwell street in front of Dr. G. W. Dick's residence has not been built on ac? count of scarcity of labor. 5. Committee asks further time to report in reference to light, corner of Calhoun and Haskell streets. 6. Request of Mr. E. C. Havns? worth to move a wooden building within the fire limits had been granted on his assurance that it would be used for a short time only, while a brick of? fice is being built, and then torn down. The Finance Committee reported as follows: 1. The claim of W. B. Burns for a broken wagon has been approved and ordered paid, and all other claims re? ferred to the committee disposed of. 2. Recommend that insurance on opera house be increased to $20.OOO, and insurance on city barns and sta? bles be increased to $2,000; other in? surance to remain unchanged. 3. Clerk and treasurer's report for February and March, and annual re? port to April 1st had been examined and found correct. The financial condition of the city is healthy. Two years ago there was a floating debt of $6.953.00 against a debt of $350.00 now. Bonded debt $59,775 including interest against $55.248.75 now. This does not include $116,000 bonds re-*, cently issued for waterworks. 4. In addition to payment of the floating debt $10,212.24 was paid on the water works purchase out ot' cur? rent receipts. 5. Assets in 1904 were $100.350 and liabilities $66,72S.S6. Present assets, including water works, $234,923.18 and liabilities $175,32S.75 including water works bonds. About $3,000 in? crease of assets is attributable to in? crease in real estate. The annual report was ordered pub? lished. Report of managers of election of 10th inst, was submitted showing 201 votes cast for the following council for two ensuing years, who were de? clared elected: Mayor, W. B. Boyle. Aldermen: H. D. Barnett, W. A. Bowman, J. H. Chandler, P. P. Finn, R. F. Haynsworth, H. C. Haynsworth, E. H. Rhame and-R. K. Wilder. The council-elect, except Alderman Bowman, were present . . ' By request of the mayor, Alderman Haynsworth escorted Mr. Boyle - to4 a. 'position'in front of the mayor's desk.; The aldermen-elect took their, places by Mr. Boyle. The oath of office was administered by the recorder and sub? scribed by the members of . the new council. In retiring Mayor Dick pre? sented Mayor Boyle with a "gavel," accompanied with the hope that * he would rightly use it and never abuse it. He expressed his kindly feeling to his former colleagues and hoped that the newly installed council might have even a more pleasant and pros? perous administration than his had been. Mayor Boyle, in taking the chair, declared his high appreciation of the kind expressions of the retring coun? cil. He hoped to have the co-operation of the new- council in doing good work for the city, working in harmony un? der majority rule. He announced the following standing committees: Finance-H. D. Hain ft t. E. H. Rhame. W. A. Bowman. Public Works-J. H. Chandler, R. K. Wilder, H. C. Kaynsworlh. P. P. Finn. Police-R. F. Haynsworth. J. H. Chandler, E. H. Rhame. Fire Department-R. K. Wilder, H. C. Haynsworth, P. P. Finn. Election of police force and other officers was postponed until meeting of 25th inst. Alderman H. C. Haynsworth was elected mayor pro tem. Council meetings were appointed for second and fourth Wednesdays at S o'clock p. m.. for this month; 6 o'clock p. m.. May to September. The following claims were referred to the Finance Committee: W. S. Reynolds.$5.00 j Booth Live Stock Co. E. L. Vogel.. .. Durant Hardware Co 5.00 6.00 3.00 Council then adjourned. Chairman Rowland of the Finance Committee submitted the following re? port: To the Honorable Mayor, City of Sum Your finance committee begs to submit this, its final, report: Claim of W. B. Burns for broken wagon has been approved and order? ed paid. All bills referred to us have been disposed of. We recommend that insurance on the opera house be in? creased to $20,000, and the insurance on city barns and stables be increased to $2,000; other property stand as it sis. The clerk's reports for February and March haye been checked and found correct. When we took charge of the city government two years ago we found a floa.ing debt of $6,953.86, and bonded debt of $5,977.50. We now owe a floating debt of $350.00 and bonded debt, including accrued interest, $55,428.75. In addition to re? ducing our indebtedness as shown above we paid on the water works purchase out of our current receipts $10,212.24. Our assets upon coming into office were $100,350.00; liabilities S66.72S.S6. Our assets now are, in? cluding water works, $234,923.IS. Liabilities $I75,32S.75. about $3,000 of the increase in assets is attributable to increase in real estate values. We deem the city's finances to be in a heaithy condition. We desire to ex? tend our thanks to vour honor, the il retiring mayor, for the many consid? erations and uniform kindnesses shown us. and to assure our succ?s- i sors that we hope that their adminis- i ter: trat?on may be as pleasant and even ! more successful than ours has been. C. G. Rowland, Chairman. Mayor Boyle made the following re? marks: j "Gentlemen of the Council: "I have selected our committees with the utmost care and I feel sure that we have as good committees asy* ! ever constituted a council. We wish everything to come to the council j through its proper channel. With the earnest co-operation of each member ? of our body, we will be able to do good work for our city. "We must let the -majority rule. When we find ourselves on the side of the minority we should have no hard feelings but join the majority and work in harmony with them. "It will be your duty to elect a mayor pro-tem. You can do so to? night or at the next meeting, as you like. You also have to arrange the dates of council meetings, which, should be settled tonight. The coun? cil, for a number of years, has been meeting on the second and fourth Wednesday nights of each month. WTiat is the pleasure of the council?"" FRECKLES AND PIMPLES REMOVES In Ten Days. Nadinola ?ife?f 'Ahe Complexion M^S?^ Beautifier is en f~5a^E3g5^s5^i derscd fey thousands !5KSESS,"V a - ..... , -*. 1 pgr-ggi ct grateful ladies, and guaranteed to remove W^^-ZI2. ail racial fedora - .?": ticnsand restore tte beauty ot youth. :hi v/orst cases in tv/eaty day*. ?Qc. and Si.00 at all leading' ?ru* store, cr by mail. Prepared hv N;"'"1' ;i TT CT. Pan's. Tenn.. The Faint that covers and wears-and is therefore the cheapest. The whitest, white PAINT made. Strictly Pure Lead and Zinc and Pure Linseed Oil. Ten to twenty per cent, cheaper than other paint and STKICTLTT GUARANTEED. Half a million dollars behind this guarantee. Buy some tor your next job and be convinced forever. The Duraot Hardware Co. V i The weight per rod and size of wire must be taken into consideration ; also the CONST RUG tion of the FENCE. Heavy wires and the best galvanizing are always used on the AMERICAN, and the quan? tity already in service on farms is good evi? dence of its merit. The HINGE JOINT on the American allows for CONTRACTION and EXPANSION, to with? stand sudden and severe pressure from contact witli animals, without hendings stays, the fence springing back to place the instant pressure is removed. The most secure, lasting fence is the AMER? ICAN. Sold by Account United Confederate Veterans' Eeun- 1 ion, April 25th-27th, 1906. The Southern Kail way will sell tickets to New Orleans. La., and return at extremely low rates from prominent pdirs (afew of which are named below) as foil >ws : Hartwell, - - SH 05 Chester, - - $14 70 d Camden, - - 15 35 Kock Hill, - - 1-5 15 1 Charleston, - - 15 75 Oumgeburg, - - 14 75 Columbia, - - 14 70 Yoikville. - - 14 55 Equally low rares ?rom other points. Tickets vi ill he tn sale April 22nd, 23rd and 24th, limited ^ good to return April 30 h. Ry depcsuing tickets with Special Aaent in Now Orleans, a H unon payment cf the sum of fifty cents, an extension of'lin.r to M > 21st will be granted. For the aTommouatiou <f th? .i le rates from South Caro? lina, the Souihern Railway *i I o, erat? through cars from Co? lumbia, S. C, leaving April 23r' at 7 00 a. m. and arrive at J New Orleans next morning at 7 ?1") a. m. For full information apply to any Southern Railway Ticket Agent, or W. E. McGee, R W. Hunt, Brooks Morgan, Trav Pass. Agt, Div. Pas.. Agt, Asst. Gen. Pass. Agt. Augusta; Ga., Charleston, S. C., Atlanta, Ga. ?