University of South Carolina Libraries
Ctewlltaies Atg. 1.186 tit MMmM an* Soatjjrm Every ?BY? KTUM PUtUSNINQ COMPANY SUMTER, S. C. Tare**: Il l* per annum?4n advance. On* fpaunre trat insertion.$1.00 Bsaii ?bitquant Insertion. .,. .It Contracts for three months, or learner will bo mads at reduced rates. All comraunfjoatloik* wnich sub seres private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes or respects Will be charged tor. WUCTEO. JtOWMUOCtt OUTTON 8pbxtlat am m trouble with v May ?t.?Almost si? dy In Wsshtngton and New Torfe indictments were today set urn eg against Theo. H. Price, a promt Nerw York cotton operator, A. Peehham and Moses both of New York, and Edwin Jr., of this city, formerly it stnUsnJotan of the depart nennt of agriculture, for alleged parti creation In government crop report Pries Is charged with having with the other men to f?r? moo Information regard? ng the) erep reports of the department of sgfrtsnHnrs and Mos. Peck ham and are nhsrged with oonspirlng to to shape the official re? sets their In tarnst Thsrs warn, four htdlotjMoU brought In by ths Nieral Jury ha both eitle*. All hut Price have hereto fore bean ladlet tme btlb\ returned her* In ltoft, following the s#-nsa miM enposdrs of the crop report Mbffiii im r* j^iLt ^jgjlfsw fglffJl Mtton here trom New York, 'MA Relmss era* placed on trial In 1H1. the Jury falling to re sen %2? The tndfetments were returned here ktt* today. According to one of them Pries sand* $7*0.000 as a result of his advisee Information regarding the repent for December. i?04. and paid Han* 1111.00? out of thle sum While not stating now much Holmes re? ceived ss his share the Indictment charges thst Haas paid Holmes $1.000 tor Information on ths Juns report of 1*01. The Indictment, which seta out seven overt sets, says that on May 31. IMS), price and Haas conspired by ans seising, offering and giving to an ?filial of ths United mates a sum of money to Induce Holmes, In violation ?f has duty, to furnish suoh advsnce information u recite* the conference In New York on May SI between Prtoe and Haas, following which Hans came to Washington, met Holmes for advance Information; that on June 1 andl. If0ft. Haas received such Information from Holmes and it was conveyed to Price and that on June 2 Haas paid Holmes $1.000. The sec? ond count of the Indictment says Haas and Price conspired to bribe Holme* to arrange the June report so as to show a greater cotton crop than the Inf oration In the statistician's of? fene Justfted. Ths other Indictments charge the three New York men with bribery; charge Holmes. Peck ham and Hans with conspiracy to defraud the government by getting Informa? tion la advance, and the fourth in diet meat charges Peck ham and Haas only with conspiracy to bribe Holmes to give out advanced Information. i TURNING THE TABLES. Halt AgnhMt Fainter Bull Damaged sa Kn LeorJngton. May tt.?Among the railroad damags litigation thet* It at ladet one Interesting case, because there he* been no other like It here. The action la brought by the Colum? bia, New berry A Laurens Ball road ?company sgalnst ?anders J. Meets, a farmer who resides nesr Leap hart statten, on said road. In the "Dutch Pork." and seeks damsges In the su*r? of $ft00. upon ths allegation that a boll belonging to said Meets on April ISth last, while trespassing on the railroad tr*eks. refused, after sig? nals given to lesve the track, but re lined thereon, causing the engineer train of cars to run over and kill the bull, which cauned great Injury to the engine and machinery thereof and endangered the safety of the train erew and the pasengere. This case will likely come on for trial. > /I _/ ksfced April, teg*. ?Be Just ai 1. BUI I CITY 6MR6IL MEETING. A LENGTHY AND LIVELY SES? SION. Chargen A gales* Officer Grady Heard and Dismissed Heated Colloquy Between Aldermen Ligon and H. C nayatwof?i ?cwcrage Bonds Ordered Issued. A meeting of City Council convened In the counoll chamber at 8 o'clock last night, pursuant to adjournment from May 27th. All members were present The minutes of the meeting of May 27th were read. Mr. Llgon called attention to the following resolution adopted by the police committee on May 26th and presented at the last meeting of council: "We heartily disapprove of the ac? tion of any policeman criticising the; action of any member of City Coun? cil and recommend that for such ac? tion he be dismissed from the ser? vice." Referring to this resolution he said he wanted It corrected so that there could be no mistake In understanding that criticism of the official action of member* of City Council was meant by the resolution. It was the concen? sus of opinion of all present that as the resolution stood the Intent was perfectly clear and It could not be construed to refer to other than offi? cial action. Mr. Llgon reported that at a joint meeting of members of the police committee and the water works com? mission It had been agreed to recom? mend that Mr. W. W. McKagen be continued In the Joint service of the city council and waterworks commis? sion, the city to pay one-third ot his salary and the waterworks cEmis? sion two-thirds, the arrangement to continue In force for three months, at least or until cause for complaint should arise. On motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. R. P. Haynswor*h, the sug? gestion wae adopted. In the dlscuttsion of the motion Mr. Llgon said be was not disposed to light the proposition, hut fes objected to It on the ground that It would tot accomplish the end souaht?to divide the office and make the waterworks stand on its own bot? tom. Mr. Wright and et&ftl spoke of Mr. McKagen'a service to the city and admitted the fact that his services were of more value than the amount paid him by the city represented. Mr. H. C. Haynsworth, of the street committee, stated that, In view of the decision reached at the last meeting to clay the streets, wherever practi? cable, using clay from the sewerage ditches. It would be necessary to em? ploy more hands, and asked for au? thority to Increase the street force by the employment of four or five hand*. On Mr. Finn's motion, amended by Mr. Ft. F. Haynsworth, and seconded by Mr. Barnett, the street committee wss authorised *o employ as many hands as may be necessary to do the work. Mr. Finn moved that the city engi? neer be directed to lay off, level and clay the eastern section of East Mary street, beyond the A. C. L., go as to give the Kennedy Builders' Supply Co. and the Sumter Machinery Co. a proper entrance to their premises. He said It was important to encourage manufacturing enterprises and this Improvement was badly needed. Mr. R. F. Haynsworth said there were more important streets than East Mary and In addition objected to doing any work of this character at this time, except on streets where sewerage work Is In progress and clay available. Mr. Ligon favored the work on East Mary street being done for the relief of the companies mentioned. The matter was discuss? ed generally and simultaneously by the mayor and aeveral other alder? men in addition to those mentioned. The Finn motion was finally defeated on a viva voce. vote. On mo? tion of Mr. 8tubbs the matter was left in the hands of the street com? mittee. The report of the finance commit? tee on thn award of the contract for the public printing being called for, Mr. Barnett stated that the contract had not been awarded, that there were only two bids?from the Watch? man and Southron and the Sumter Herald?and that the committee would ask for more time. The prop? ortion made by the Dally item sev? eral weeks ago was referred to and Mr. Finn asked that the letter be ree/1. The clerk said the letter was on file In his office and he would go for It. But In lieu thereof It was sug? gested that H. O. Osteen. who was present, make a statement for the Information of council. Mr. Osteen stated that he had had an Interview with Mr. Barnett, who called at the Item office to discuss the id Femr not-~Let all the ends Thou Aln ITER. S. 0.. WEDNI I matter of the bids for the public printing, and had stated to him, in substance, that in view of the adop? tion by council at its last meeting of the resolution requiring the newspa? per to which the city printing con? tract should be awarded to publish, free of charge, the official minutes of city council, he could not consistent? ly make any bid and would not do so, so long jas that condition was at? tached to the contract. If council wish its minutes published in full as the official record of Its proceedings, then the city should pay for it as ad? vertising matter just as it pays for the publication of ordinances, as is done in the city of Charleston, and Augusta ana other places, that he was not willing to bind himself or the paper he represented, to publish matter of that character, furnished and dictated by other persons, that he admitted the news value of the pro? ceedings of council and had always endeavored to give reasonably full reports,to such parts of the proceed? ings of the council that had news value. ' But this proposition of coun? cil was an entirely different matter, and bound him to publish any and all matter that council might see ftt to spread upon its minutes. While he would not charge council with any intention to do so, It would be possi? ble, under the terms of such a con? tract, for council to spread upon Its minutes the annual reports of the wa? terworks commission, the sewerage commission, or any other matter of that character, and require a newspa? per to publish it free of charge, not? withstanding the fact that heretofore these reports- have always been pub? lished as advertisements. The* propo? sition of council in reference to pub? lication of the minutes is not a busi? ness proposition and no newspaper man with the proper conception of what he owed to himself and the business side of the newspaper would agree to It. As far as giving to the public reports of the proceedings of council, the Dally Item would continue to report the meetings as fully as oc? casion might require, regardless of whether the contract was awarded to the Dally Item or not, and I in the circumstances, while th?{ resolution remained In effect, the Item nor the Watchman and Southron, could be considered as a bidder for the city printing. If council desired to publish the minutes and wanted to do so on an advertis? ing basis he was prepared to make a bid for the city printing on that basis, If they desired a bid for the printing, eliminating frtie matter of the minutes a bid would be sub? mitted on that basis. A motion was made and passed granting the finance committee fur? ther time for consideration of the award of the city printing. Mr. Finn called for a report on the appointment of a purchasing Commit? tee for the city, authorised by reso? lution, adopted at a previous meeting of city council. Mayor Boyle, who was authorized to appoint this com? mittee, stated that he had not up pointed the committee, giving his reasons for not having done so, and asked for further time. Mr. Finn asked the clerk to read section 2008 to 2010, revised stat? utes South Carolina. Sections read by the clerk. The question was asked what bear? ing these sections had upon the mat? ter before council. Mr. Finn said, in reply, that in his opinion, no purchase could lawfully be made by any board of commission or the city council, and no debt incurred without first adver? tising for bids. The matter of charges preferred against Officer J. H. Qrady by Chair? man J. R. Ligon of the police com? mittee was called up. The charges were presented in writing by Mr. Ligon and read by the clerk, as fol? lows: "Charges preferred against Po? liceman J. H. Qrady by Jas. R. Ligon, as chairman of the police committee: Conduct unbecoming a policeman, to wit: The impugning of Improper mo? tives and the circulating of slander? ous remarks, reflecting on the integ? rity of Jas. R. Ligon, as a member of the city council of Sumter, 8. C.J said remarks being occasioned by the ac? tion of said member of said council, while acting In his official capacity, and further on account of such offi? cial action, a show of utter disrespect for the official position of said mem? ber of said city council, when ques? tioned by him concerning the truth or falsity of said remarks." Mr. R. F. Haynsworth moved that Chief Bradford testify first. Mr. Ligon took the floor and under the ruling of the mayor was directed to make his statement. Mr. Ligon, Officer Orady and Chief Bradford testiled In order and were cross-questioned at length. The testimony Is too lengthy to bo an 5 is't at be thy Country's, Thy God's ai SSDAY. JUNE 3, 190 reproduced here, but an outline cov? ering the salient points, will be pub? lished to morrow. Following the testimony there was a confused and at times confusing discussion of the testimony, the points In issue, the motives of those involv? ed and various matters connected and unconnected with the case. During this discussion, the only real? ly exciting session occurred. Mr. H. C. Haynsworth had the floor and was discussing the case in general terms. He held that the right of a citizen to criticise the act of public officials can? not be abridged or denied, that all members of the city council, from the mayor down, had been criticised and would continue to be criticised. H* himself had been criticised, and had criticised his fellow members. He said that the day of the divine right of kings had passed, never to return, that no man and noi official was above criticism. The president himself is bitterly criticised daily, in congress and out of congress, and no minor of? ficial need expect to escape. Mr. Llgon interrupted and asked permission to ask a question. Mr Haynsworth consented. Mr. Llgon asked if Mr. Haynsworth was not chairman of the street committee, if Street Commissioner L. iS. White was not under his directions. Mr. Hayns? worth replied in the affirmative. Mr. Llgon then asked if Mr. White were to go around the streets criticising your (Mr. Haynsworth's) official act, and were to come to your face and use the language that Mr. Grady used to me, what would you think about It? Mr. Haynsworth replied, "I would not like it, but I would not come before council and try to knock Mr. White out of a job." Instantly Mr. Llgon fired back: "The man who says I am here trying to knock a man out of a job states an absolute false? hood." Mr. Haynsworth wanted to know if Mr. Ligon meant to apply the term falsehood to his statement. Mr. Llgon replied that if Mr. Haynsworth Intended to insinuate by the state? ment which he had made, in refer? ence to knocking a man out of a job, that he, Ligon, was trying to knock Mr. Grady out of a job, then he re? iterated his asertion, that any man that made such a statement,1 stated an absolute falsehood. The same question and answer, in slightly dif? ferent form passed back and forth several times, until the mayor suc? ceeded by pounding vigorously on the table In restoring order and getting both aldermen to resume their seats. Here the incident closed. Quiet be? ing restored in a measure, Mr. Stubbs moved that It Is the sense of council that the matter was entirely a per? sonal affair between Mr. Ligon and Officer Grady. The motion was sec? onded and on a rising vote was adopt? ed. H. C. HaynBWorth, R. F. Hayns? worth, William Bultman, W. G. Stubbs and H. D. Barnett voted for it. The negative vote was not taken, but Mr. Ligon and Mr. Finn had pre? viously asked to be excused from vot? ing. Mayor Boyle ruled that council having voted It to be a personal mat? ter, the case against Officer Grady was dismissed; the charges not hav? ing been sustained, (hat it was a per? sonal matter and not an official one. Mr. R. F. Haynsworth attempted at this juncture, as he had done several times previously, and attempted sub? sequently, to ask a question, but was ruled out of order. It was moved, seconded and carried that something else be taken up. Mr. H. C. Haynsworth introduced a resolution thanking Congresman Le? ver and Senator Gary for their suc? cessful efforts to secure an appropria? tion for a postoffice building in this city. The resolution was adopted. The sewer and plumbing or? dinance was called for. A let? ter from the board of health accompanying the ordinance was first read. The ordinance was then read by title, adopted and or? dered published, after having been amended in one or two minor partic? ulars. The second reading having been dispensed with under a resolu? tion dispensing with the regular or? der. Mr. Llgon of the Police Committee brought up the matter of the pur? chase of summer uniforms for the police force. It was ordered that the purchase be made. A request of the Sumter Baseball Association that the license for a carnival company which was shortly to exhibit In Sumter for the benefit of the association be re? mitted. The request was granted. Council then proceeded to elect a board of health. Mr. H. C. Hayns? worth, who had the floor, nominated Mr. R. K. Wilder. Mr. R. F. Haynsworth called at? tention to the fact that the law re? quires the mayor to recommend, or nominate, the board of health, while council merely confirmed his noml id Truth's." THE TRCJ 8._ Sew 8eri nees. Mr. H. C. Haynsworth with? drew his nomination. Mayor Boyle said there seemed to be a desire to get a board of live young men, but he wanted to be relieved of cutting out i any of the old board. He had at a previous meeting nominated the old board and he would now renew that J nomination. Mr. R. F. Haynsworth moved that the thanks of council be extended the members of the board of health who had served the city in that capacity so faithfully for so many years; that they be relieved of further duty, and that a new board be elected. The motion was adopted, Mr. H. C. Hayns? worth voting No. Mayor Boyle said that he would nominate one member at a time and let council accept or reject. He then nominated the fol? lowing gentlemen to be members of the board of health, and each one was confirmed as his name was an? nounced: Dr. F. K. Holman, Dr. Ed? ward R. Wilson, Dr. E. S. Booth, Mr. R. K. Wilder, Mr. Isaac Schwartz. Mr. Finn brought up the dog ordi? nance and moved that a committee be appointed to prepare an ordinance After some discussion a motion by Mr. Wright that the mayor appoint a committee of three to consider the present dog ordinance and amend it, or prepare a new ordinance, as may be deemed expedient, was adopted. Messrs. Finn, Wright and Stubbs were appointed on this committee. A petition from property owners in reference to widening Broad street was presented. They request that the street be widened ten feet, each way from the center. In the discus? sion that followed it was brought out that all of the property owners on Broad street had not signed the peti tion. It was finally agreed that coun cil could accept titles from all those who have signed the petition and have agreed to give the necessary land, and that the work of widening the street shall be done when practi? cable. Messrs. Finn, R. F. Hayns? worth, Ligon and Barnett voted In fa? vor of the resolution and Messrs. Buluman, Wright and Stubbs against It On motion of Mr. Wright, seconded by Mr. Ligon. the salary of Chief of Police Bradford was Increased to $100 per month. The vote was unanimous. Mr. Wright presented bills against himself and Mr. Isaac Schwartz for putting down cement sidewalks in front of their residences on West Liberty street. He said that they did not ask for the money now, but wanted to know where they stood, if they would come under the rule adopt in reference to putting down cement walks In the business section of jthe city. It was agreed that the same rule shall apply; that the bills should be filed, and that when the city is able, one-half of the cost of laying the sidewalk will be refunded by the city. Mr. Wright moved that the entire issue of $50.000 sewerage bonds be now issued, and that the sewerage commission refund all, or as much as possible, of the money that has been advanced by the city for sewerage work. Motion was seconded by Mr. Stubbs. Mr. R. F. Haynsworth op? posed the issue of all the bonds au? thorized. He said it was not neces? sary, was not good business and would handicap the city in the fu? ture. He said the sewerage system complete would cost about $85,000, and that the work could be completed without issuing all the bonds. After some' discussion the vote was taken and the resolution was adopted, Messrs. Bultman, Stubbs, Finn, Wright and Ligon voting Aye, and Barnett and R. F. Haynsworth voting No. The matter of the rate of inter? est the bonds are to bear was dis? cussed at some length, and incident? ally the rate of interest now being charged the city by the local banks. Considerable feeling seemea to have been aroused by the concerted action of the banks in refusing to let the city have money at a less rate than eight per cent, and for this reason the sentiment of issuing the bonds now had gained strength. The clerk and treasurer was direct? ed to advertise for bids on $50,000 in bonds, bearing Interest at not more than four per cent. Council then adjourned, the hour of midnight being at hand. Dave Smith, a prosperous farmer of Ridgeway, was bitten on one of his hands by a rattlesnake while gathering fodder in his barn. His arm swelled rapidly to twice its nor? mal size. He was given prompt med? ical assistance and It is thought he will recover. Andrew Smith, colored, was shot to death in Charleston while trying to act the role of peacemaker in a quar? rel between two negroes. E SOUTHRON, Established Jans, es?Vol. XXVII. So 44 MANY PRIZE CROPS. Large Number Entered in Corn Growing Contest. Columbia, May 30.?Practically ev? ery county in the State will be repre? sented in the corn contest this year. The prizes offered aro very liberal, there being an appropriation of $500 by the State legislature, a national prize and several prizes offered bjr some of the counties. The record made by this State last year in the corn contest attracted general atten? tion and it is certain that some grow? ing and producing records will be broken. The list of those entering; the race as compiled by Commission? er Watson are: J. W. Bethea, Marion; N. L. Broughton, Pine wood, Alex Bethea, Marion; W. D. Ca ugh man, Jr., Lykesland; Wm. Cooper, Cooper postoffice; A. J. Clark,' Lancaster; J. R. Fairy, Fort Motte; J. F. Garrett, Laurens; J. C. Graham, Jordan; R. H. Hayes, Pages Mill; G. C. HatcheL Timmonsvllle; J. J. Harby, Sumter; J. P. Hhselden, Lambert; T. J. Ham bie, James Island; B. F. Kennedy, Jonesville; C. F. Moore, Cheraw; N. J. McKinnon, Horrell; W. P. Pol? lock, Cheraw; F. C. Rogers, Marion; Frank Rawlinson, Jordan; Jas M. Starr, Yorkville. W. B. Stringfellow, Chester; J. A. Siigh, Slighs; W. T. Thrower, Cheraw; J. C. Whittington, Horry county; W. M. Webster, Cow pens; R. B. Watson, Ridge Spring; D. L. Whittaker, McColl; J. W. Waters, Gaffney. The list of counties gives the fol? lowing: Marion 4, Clarendon 3r Richland 2, Williamsburg 2, Lancas? ter 1, Calhoun 1, Laurens 1, Florence 1, Sumter 1, Charleston 1, Union It York 2, Chesterfield 3, Chester \w Newberry ft, Horry 1, .Spar tan burg 1, Saluda ft, Marlboro 1, Cherokee 1* making a total of 30. About 20 additional entries have been filed with the members of the State commission resident at Clem so a. Lee County News. Prof. J. M. Arail, principal of the? high school department of the Chester graded schools, has been erected prin? cipal of the Bishopvllle graded school. All of the sub-teachers have been re elected except Miss Barr, who did not stand for re-election. Miss Grace Dell James, who has been teaching lnt the Williston graded school this yean has been elected in her place. ? ? * 4 Prof. A. B. Connor has been unani? mously elected principal of the Lynch burg graded school. Prof. Connor is a fine teacher and a slpedid discipli narian. , I . . . The Bishopvllle Telephone Co.. which was recently organized, and bought out the old lines centering here, has begun the. work of com*? pletely overhauling the entire system,, putting in the latest improved switch? boards; and a metallic circuit to Sumter, as well as on the shorter" lines. There will be all-night servfceT as soon as the work is fiinished. Mr. Tucker, of Sumter, an experienced electrician and telephone specialist, im in charge of the work, assisted by Mr. Campbell.?Bishopvllle Vindicator. Clarendon County News. A new barn belonging to Mr. L. H. McFaddin, of Sardinia, was blown down by a wind storn last Sunday night. Oats were considerably dam? aged, and the roof of a tobacco barn belonging to Mr. R. E. McFaddin wan carried away. see The barn and stables belonging to> Mr. David Levi, at St. Paul, were de? stroyed by fire last Sunday afternoon. The loss was quite heavy as he only carried about 3750 insurance on the building. The loss consisted of grain, implements and about 25 tons of fer? tilizer. Mr. Levi thinks his net tos? is from twelve to fifteen hundred dol? lars. see Mr. A. C. Cobia, of Summerton, was in Manning Monday, and while he did not ask for any correction, he told some people here, the Times had? misrepresented his wife by referring; to her as "Miss Masoa." She was a> "Mrs. Mason," as stated by the Sum? merton correspondent In the saase issue. The Times editor had never heard of the 'lady before, and there? fore could have no possible reason to> misrepresent her.?Manning Times. Hollywood Camp, No. 19, W. of W., Sumter, S. C, will unveil the motn ment erected by them to the late W D. Gamble, at New Zlon, Svrx^iy. June 7. All Woodmen are Invited! te? take part in the exercises. Lots of men buy experience by beb ting on horse races.