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*H *l MTfCII WATCHMAN. KetaklHlte<1 April. IM.V> lie ilimt and Fear not?-*I>t all the ends Thon Alms't ?i Ik? thy Country**, Thy God'l and Truth's.' THE TRUE SOTJTIlltON. Kstabllshetl Jhik, 1 Consolidated Aur. 3,1S81 SUMTER, 8 C, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1912 Vol. XXXIII. No. 48. - CHAIRMAN OF WAYS \\1> MEANS <M>MMITT*.r. SPKAKS PLAINLY. tailln* a spede M spade in Diacumang Jhe tttatr Honec* Job-?dov. BJes*e Take*, a Hand and a t^ucailon or Vffa^r Rained?Mr. Browning Haya KU ort Wan Made- to Use stau* lo Bribe and Debauch Mem of Legislature. ffrng 4 4P ~- Columbia. Fab. *.?Rising to a \ question of personal privilege yea tarday morning on the floor of the house. Lowndoi J. Browning of Union called a spade a ?pade. In speaking of the Todd- Bryan-Dlaon Lee claim for IIS.ISO for drawing plans for enlarg the State ho um. Mr. Browning's statement was the raault of a special message from the governor trans? mitting a statement froan Bryan and l?aa* approved by Todd, denying that the contract between the firm of Todd and B*nson. architect* of Char- I n. had been signed In the gover? ns preeence or In hie office. I r. Browning stated that Todd had repeately told the ways and : means committee at Its meeting j thai the matter between himself and the subcommittee had been gone into m the governor's office when the gov? ernor was present. Is referring to th* 91.000 traveling expenses which the Dixon-Bryan-Ijee suheoiumtttee from the committee, on State Ho???? ?od (?round/ hud allowed T odd. who Is a member of the house. m/foir visiting "as many members as "possible.'' and for using "any means In ha? power to acquaint them of the ! eea temple tod work," k'.r. Browning j said: Bo far as I know. this, la t - first instance in American history v are a boommlttee has attempted ? ap- J propriate State funds for Induce in.; members of a general assembly. Speaking even plainer the subeom mlllee haa made an effort to ine ? i State funds to brlha and debauch the . mesnbers of the general assembly into I taa plans which they sp? end they placed these funds In tbf? hands of the architect" Mr. Todd also spoke on a question off personal privilege. He said that j Mr. Browning's statement as to brib? er ery was falsa so far as he was p rson ^ ally concert ed. As an In i on t > hi* question - of personal privilege. Mr. Brown- ' - Ing read from the report on the su>> oororarttee of Htate House and ! Oround* In the HottM Journal od Fei? ruary 1. which F. M. Bryan trans? it -nit ted. The 'section of the report which Mr. Browning read was the minutes of the meet loa: In the governor's of? fice. It follows: 'Pursuant to a call *t the Chair man of the Committee on State ^Hooas sad Orounda the committee met at Columbia, m the office" of hi* WkW eUewcy, the Governor, on Wednes? day. September 27th, 1911, at which ?we present His Ki eel lone v. the teuere aor; chairman F. M. Bryan. Her re tar y W. W. Plion, Clarence D. cslsa ooanpustns; the subcommittee; a full quorum of th > c<?mmitt. .?. m.l Architect A. W. Todd. "TThe committee was called to or? der by the Chairman, and the report of the architect to the subcommittee, and the report of the nubcommle was read, which, after due discussion, the two reports were unanimously adopted. 'They then authorised the ('hair man and Secretary to enter into con? tract with the architect, and Ig Hf mutet? a Bill to present to the next session of the legislature. "Mr. Todd suggested that we have a plaster cast made of the building as it will appear when completed, and rtxhthlted H proposal from a gtsd* eler to make the model for the sum of nine hundred <l?00> dollars. Af er some dUeusslon Mr. Todd authorised t-. have th?- ggasjej | i at a cost not to eace ?d that amount and have the model on SflflMhttiefl at the State ('kpltol at ttM aMMttfSJ of the General Aseemhlt Mr Dtnen then aawrad that Mr, odd visit as many of tie- no-mi * as possible. U I use an> '.vans in hi* power to acquaint them of th?? con .-mplated work, at a cost not to gg ceed one thousand < $ 1 .?>?>'? > doHgf After some discussion thin motion was adopted. "There being no further bu-dne.** liefore the committ????, they id Journed. (Signed) \V. \V. JHXON, "S??crot iry." Mr Urownlng declared that A W odd bad told the ways and means committee that the matt?-r bad been entered Into In tho governor's 0flics and In the governor's pre*.? . Mr. ? r w L I To (Id ha I iterated and reiterated his I statement that the governor WAS I present. For this reason, Mr. Todd had told tho committee that he i thought he was buying a gold bond when he signed the contract. "As fcr the actual signing of the contract." continued Mr. Browning, "this may not have been done either In the governor's presence or in his office, but Mr. Todd did tell the ways and msans committee that the meet? ing was held in the governor's office. And in this. I believe, every member of the ways ano means committee will bear me out. "In addition." said Mr. Rrowning. "Todd told the committee that the plaster model had cost him $1,100." Then. In conclusion, Mr, Browning made the statement as to the unusual course of the subcommittee of the committee on the State house and grounds In appropriating State funds for the architect to use them to In? fluence members of the general as? sembly to adopt his plans. In reply to Mr. Biowning, A. W. Todd spoke on a question of personal privilege. He said he wished to state his position personally. It was false that there had been any scheme to debauch th? members of the general assembly, so far as he was personal* ly <-oncerned. There was no blot on hi* character. He had not "button? holed" members of th'j general assent? s' to fcet them to adopt his plans, lie lad been employed by the sub? committee ami bad entered Into a I written e< ntra< t w.th them. The who;, meeting \cept .he a ibcom mitt- e nie- ting had he* n held in the gev ?rnor's oMi< e. N?*t a member ol tho committee had] any idea of poll tics. He was out of' money for his work and had thought he was buying a gold bond when he signed the con? tract. Mr. Stevenson Introduced a resolu- , tion requiring the subcommittee to state exactly what took place in the j governor's office and whether the j plan of enlarging the State house had the sanction of the chief executive. Out of respect to the ways and i means committee. Mr. Stevenson withdrew his resolution on the grounds that the ways and means committee would probably require a I further statement from the subcom- ] mlttee about the Todd claim. The special message from the gov? ernor, in which K. M. Bryan and C. I?. I.ec. with A. \V. Todd concurring, deny that the contract for enlarging the State house was signed in the gov? ernor's presence, and further states that the chief executive, as far as they know, knew nothing of it until the general assembly met. follows: "To the Honorable, the Members of the. General Assembly of South Carolina: "Gentlemen: 1 herewith transmit to you a statement which is self-ex? planatory snd which I request you to spread on your Journals. "I have been unable to find the Honorable W. W. Dixon, the other j member of said committee; my un? derstanding Is that he is not in th< city. Very respectfully, ? Signed) "Cole L. Blease. "Governor." "Columbia. S. C. Feb. 7. 1912. "STATK OF SOUTH CAROLINA. " To the Honorable, the Members of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina. " Gentlemen: Noticing In the Co-1 lumhla state newspaper this Wednes? day morning. February 7th. 1912, the loHoWtngj statement: .WtTfi a majority of the mem hers of the general assembly of a mind with the members of the sub? committee of th ? committee on State State House and Grounds who on s ptem?.er 27, 1911. in the presence <>f the Qomcnuti signed the contrac t und r which Architect Todd made prellsalaar) plans ami sketches for additions to the State- Mouse, tue bill expropriating |iga,ff| for IhS SX0?U? tlofl < f the plans would be passed. The i ontrael having be signed in the presence ol the Governor, the Inferei. follows that he e/ould sign ths ?nii appropriating tie mono) fof the pre posed bulldlni We. the members of the said subcommittee, desire to state that the HJiid editorial is both fab* and misleading, as the said rontract was neither made nor signed in the Qov? ernor's OfHee or in bis presen?'S, and +n far are know the Go i er nor kncv% nothing of the .aid IgHImeal until it- preeesilatlosi bj as to the full committee ut ibe meeting of the Gen? eral Issffgatdj in |9ti, ? Signed > " ' I *. M. BUY W " 'c. D, u:i: ' The al?o\e Statement Ii I ? IV I t. (tdigSS I > A. W. T< iM I, Are hit.- t.1 " The contract between r m. Bryan JEN? REFUTES BLE?SE. - ! Dl < LAItl.s GOVERNOR MADK WAMME STATEMENT, I/ctter Shown by State Treasurer Giv? en to Geiierul A-sembly?To be Printed in Journal. Columbia, Feb. 7.?"I therefore deny the statements made in the message of the governor. They are absolutely without foundation." This statement was contained In a communication addressed to the gen? eral assembly last night by R. H. Jen? nings, State Treasurer, who is a one armed Confederate veteran, in replying to statements made by the jrovernor with reference to the low rate of interest on the loan of $5 00, 000 made to the Stato of South Caro? lina. "Again, the statement," continues Capt. Jennings, "made by the gover? nor, that the money was on deposit here drawing interest for the ?Vtate, Is at variance with the records sub? mitted." "Inasmuch as 1 am the person," he continues, "who gave out a state? ment of the facts In regard to the money borrowed In 1911, and to which the language of the governor was doubtless directed when he, in his mc.-Kiific, said that 'Any report or correspondence to the contrary is a malicious falsehood gnd was an effort to rob me of the credit due me In securing this loan, 1 ' beg to state that the foregoing records and cor fgspondeuoc sustains the truth of my ?gattmente." The reply <?f Capt. Jennings, which contains letters from several, sustain? ing his position and discrediting the governor, will be printed in the jour? nal. The following is the reply of Capt. Jennings: To the Honorable, the General As \ sembly of the State of South Caro? lina. Gentlemen:. I gratefully accept the permission extended to me to sub? mit this communication to your bon 1 orable body In regard to the money borrowed for the use of the State in W. W. Dixon and Todd & Benson, was dated on the same day that the meeting was held ln^ the governor's OfHee with his excellency present. Governor Did Know. Says Mr. Bryan. Raising a question of personal privilege, Mr. Bryan stated last night that when the Committee met at the gOVernor**. OACS it did so in response to his (Bryan's) call as chairman. His excellency was "in and out" while the committee was meeting. At the dose of the meeting, after he had been shown the Todd plans, Gov. Blease said: "1 think it is beautiful. If the bill passes the general assem? bly, It shall have my approval." Mr. Bryan said he was speaking for himself when he denounced as false any statement that he bad tried to debauch the general assembly. Mr. Klrkland introduced the fol? lowing resolution at the night ses? sion. Immediate consideration was deferred. "Resolved. That the message of bis excellency, the governor, of this date (February 7. 1912) referring to the contract between the committee on Suite house and' grounds and Archi? tects Todd and Benson be referred to the committee on ways and means, which committee Is hereby empow? ered and directed to summons wit? nesses, administer oaths and take testimony and report as to the re sjMmslldllty for the contract referred to In said message. That the fler geant-at-arms of this House be re? quired to serve and execute the pro? cess and writ of said committee. That the testimony and Undings re? ported by said committee be entered In the journals of this bouse." Mr PegUM offered the following resolution, upon which Action was also deferred: "Resolved, Thai ? committee con ?latlni of three members be appoint? ed ?>\ the speaker to Investigate and report ?" the house at the present session of the general assembly, "lit. When and by whom the committee, consisting of Representa? tives Bryan. Todd and Dlxon under concurrent rssx lutlon No, 182, acta IUI, page 143, was appointed. Ind. When and where the con? tract between said committee and Todd ft Benson, architects, \v;is en? tered Into as reported by the wnyi and mean.- committee at the preaenl ses? sion, "Ird. Any other information re latins lo the matters embraced i,! said contract and report of ihe said committee under the aforesaid reso? lution." 1911. In presenting this matter I respectfully submit the entire record to show that no contract, either writ? ten or oral, was entered into, by which the money borrowed was to i bear interest while on deposit. i Pursuant to an act passed in 1911 ' authorizing the governor, comptrol? ler general and treasurer to borrow ofr the use of *he state $600,000, if so much be necessary, I addressed letters on the 11th of April, 1911, to several bankers who had expressed a desire to handle the State's notes, re? questing that they submit proposi? tions, not later than April 17. Among the bids submitted was one by J. P. Matthews, who !s cashier of the Pal? metto rational Bank of Columbia, as follows: Capt. R. H. Jennings, Treasurer of the State of South Carolina, Columbia, s. q Dear Sir: Complying with your request in reference to loan to the State of South Carolina, $500,000 to $600,000, beg to advise that it will he my pleasure to make you a rate of 3 per cent. If the entire amount is not wanted now, I will be glad to make rate of 3 1-2 per cent., the money to be used as needed. If. however, I am granted the privi? lege of representing the State as I have done in the past, I will go to New York with a representative of the State of South Carolina and get the very best rate that it is possible to obtain, giving the State the benefit of my connections and of my expe? rience in handling the State's paper. Yoti know I have handled it for the last several years, and it has been my pleasure to have taken care of the State on all renewals requested. If you will recall, during the panic I handled for the State a renewal of $100,000 at the same rate enjoyed during the easy money market. I My hid contemplates taking care of the paper when due. taking from the State your checks on various banks throughout South Carolina. I might say for your information that I have had to pay as much as $1.50 per thousand to collect some of the Items taken in payment of your notes. I believe it would be to the inter? est of the State to let me take a rep? resentative to New York and effect the best arrangement possible. This bid is gubmlttd with the un? derstanding that the paper is to he delivered tu me promptly if my b"d Is accepted. Yours very truly, (Signed.) J. P. Matthews. < >n the day fixed. April 17, the gov? ernor was absent. Comptroller Gen? eral Jones and 1 opened the bids which had been filed with me. On the 19th of April, the governor, comptroller general and I met in the governor's office, when the bid of J. P. MatthYws was accepted and the contract awarded to him to furnish $500,000 at 3 per cent interest. On the 20th of April four notes for $100,000 each and two notes for $50, 600 each were prepared in the fol? lowing form: 'Under and by virtue of an act of the general assembly of the State of South Carolina entitled 'An act to make appropriations to meet the or? dinary expenses of the State govern? ment for the fiscal year commencing January 1. 1911. and to provide for a tax sufficient to defray same.' "The State of South Carolina, by Cole L, Bloase. governors ft. H. Jen? nings, treasurer. and a. \V. Jones, comptroller general, on December 31, 1911, promises to pay to the order of J. P. Matthews, the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000) value received, at the Hanover Na? tional, bank, In the city of New York, with interest after date at the' rate of three- pe r cent per annum. "In witness whereof, the> State of Seoith Carolina has eaused these presents to he- executed by Cole L. ? Phase', governor; K, H. Jennings, treasure^ and a. \v. Jones, comptrol? ler general, and the seal *<( tie- stifte? te, be attached the- day and year above written." i signed these six notei a.> treas? urer and delivered them to Mr. J, P. Matthews, cashier, who agreed to pro? cure tin sign iturea of the governor and comptroller general, neither of whom could be- seen at that time-. Mr. j, p. Matthews receipted to toe- for tht-s.- note s as follows: Received of R. II? Jennings, treas? urer of the St;ite- e.i South Carolina, tour not ?? of 1100,000 each and two notes of $50,000 each, all dated April 20, l 11. pa> able I lecember SI, 1911, with Interesl after date :>t the rate of i hree i" ?* ? put. Wo art t.. credit the Btate of South Carolina with $600,000, subject to their check for current expenses, und it Is] understood that if the state J is not aide to pay these notes when . due that we are to have renewals payable during the month of January, I 1912. (Signed) J. P. Matthews, Cashier. In connection with the foregoing records, I submit the following cor? respondence: Hon. A. W. Jones, Comptroller Gen? eral, Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: Will you state the facts in reference to the governor, comp? troller general and treasurer borrow? ing $500,000 to meet the expenses of the State government for the year 1911, as provided in the appropriation act? Was any agreement made whereby 1 the money borrowed was to draw ir terest while on deposit. Was any agreement ever mad ing your administration whereby j per cent of the money borrowed was to remain on deposit? Yours very truly (Signed) R. H. Jennings, State Treasurer. Hon. R. H. Jennings. State Treasurer, Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: Replying to your letter requesting that I "state the facts rela? tive to borrowing $500,000 to meet the expenses of the State government, as provided in the appropriation act j 1911," I beg to say that on the tenth i of April, 1911, you submitted to me the draft of a letter to several banks, asking for bids to place the loan. On the 17th. the day fixed for opening the bids, I attended at your office. The governor was absent, The follow? ing sealed bids were opened: People's National Rank of Rock Hill; the Gen mania Savings bank of Charleston, and J. P. Matthews, Columbia. Mr. Matthews' bid was the lowest. On the 19th 1 attended ;it the governor's office. The bids were then placed be? fore. Gov. Blease, and on my mo? tion the bid of Mr. J. P. Matthews at three per cent interest was accepted. There was no agreement that the money borrowed was to draw interest while on deposit, and I know of no agreement ever being made that any portion of the moneys borrowed should be kept on deposit. Yours very truly, (Signed) A. \V. Jones. Comptroller General. Office of State Treasurer. Mr. J. P. Matt hews, Cashier th i Pal? metto National Bank, Columbia, S. C. Dear Sir: Tin- governor in bis mes? sage to the general assembly, Jan? uary 9 th ultimo, under "Finances"' uses the following language in ref? erence to money borrowed, to wit: "In some instances it has been necessary to leave 20 per cent on de? posit, but In this borrow, such was not the case, and while the money is on deposit here, it is drawing in? terest for the State thus further re? ducing the net cost of the loan, which has not yet been done heretofore." In the same messago under "econ? omy of my administration," the fol? lowing language is used: "?*** the low rate of interest at which money was borrowed, the securing of inter? est on this money while on deposit Since the State has adopted the policy of borrowing all the money needed annualy from, or through one bank, have you not bandied all such loans, and has it ever been necessary or has any agreement been made to leave 20 per cent on deposit Was any agreement made whereby bor rOWd money would draw Interest while on deposit, and if so with whom? I request an Immediate reply to this, as 1 desire to use it In ? state? ment which 1 shall make to the gen? eral assembly. Yours very truly, <Signed i lt. H. Jennings, State Treasurer. Capt, K. H. Jennings, Treasure! of state of South Carolina, Columbia. Dear sir: Replying to your writ? ten request of the Srd, In reference to your general account With this hank. beg to advise that there was no agreement made whereby we were to pay you Interest on your general checking account. We have never paid interest oil any of the State's accounts, except what are known as special Interest hearing accounts. Replying to your second question, as to the understanding that we have had with you sin. e the State h is adapted the pollcj of requesting kids for rates, beg t<? advise that we hav< endeavored to secure for the State the very best rah. * that could he buk und it has been our pleasure to have received several awards, The state has never Indicated whal amount of balance would be kept with us on an average, not have we S1S,5SQ TOR STATE HOUSE PLANS BY TODD \M> Bi:\so\. Ways ami Moans Committee Report Tliat Sub-oommittee Exceeded its Authority in Contracting for "KnormouiS I*rojcct"?Ugal Opln. ions by Attorney General and Otliers. Columbi- 6.?At tonight's session /louse of Representa? tives, ys ana means committee rer ? gainst the payment of $13, r ^. /odd and Benson, architects, v ae plans of proposed improve v nts of the State House. It is un? derstood that the committee adopted a compromise report. The report of the committee, as ordered printed, reads: "By construing the resolu? tion in connection with the message, we are of the opinion that the com? mittee on State House and grounds has far exceeded its authority in en? tering into the contract with the architects, and that the plan? sub? mitted were never contemplated by, and are useless and unavailable for the purposes of the resolution. "The improvement of the entrance to the present building and red:*ess of the publicity of the closets aiforded no sufficient pretext for the enormous project of enlargement of the Capi? tol and dome, the plans for which the committee has seen fit to contrict. With the report was submitted a claim by Todd and Benson, architects, for the ($13,500) thirteen thousand, five hundrv?d and fifty dollars, for the plans above referred to which were contracted for by a sub-commit? tee of the committee on State House and grounds, which original claim is hereto attached and made a part of this report. "Since we have concluded th.it the contract was entered into without warrant of law, we recommend that the claim be disallowed. We here? with submit legal opinions by the At? torney General, G. R. Ucmbert, T. J, Kirkland and W. H. Nicholson, fur? nished to the committee upon Its re Ojuast, and upon which it has been hased, its legal conclusions. (Signed.)"Lowndes J. Browning, "Chairman.0 Marriage License Record. Marriage licenses were claimed Tuesday to the following couples: Mr. Thomas S. Joye and Mrs. Jacqueline Welch, Suinter; Mr. Ohas. B. Blackwell, Darlington, and Miss Minnie Norris of Wedgefield. Also to S. N. Bradford, Sumter, and Eva E, Campbell. Wedgefield, colored. ever bid on a balance basis, as your requests for rates did not take up this matter, and if such a proposition had been made by us we felt that it would debar us from being able to secure the business. The proceeds of the first notes made each year have been paid out. as a rule, promptly for pensions, and when the second ser.es of notes was made, as a rule the money prag used to pay the interest on the State's debt. We have used our very best effort.* every year to serve the State to the best of our ability. Trusting that this statement will cover the matter, we are Yours very Iruly. j P. Mat thewi I ":umier. Inasmuch as 1 am the person who gave out a statement of the facts in regard to the money borrow* d In ion. ami to which the language of the governor was doubtless directed wh n he in his message mid that "Any report or ? orreepondence to the contrary is a malicious falsehood and was an effort to roh 1SJ of the credit due me in securing this loan,*' i beg to state that the foregoing record* and correspondence sustains the mith ?i my statements ertlich were made not to claim credit because at least once b (fore during my administration and Gov. Ansel's second term, the sann- amount . [ i n., ;, was borrowed for the Statt at the same rate of in? terest ami upon better terms in which credit was not thought of. tgain, the statement made \\ the go' ernor that the money was on de? posit here drawing intrest for the State li at arlance with the records ?ubmltted. i therefore deny the state? ments made ia the n SSSage of the governor. They are ubsolutly with? out foundation V. i v i . I (>. < tfull} . < Signed I R. H. J< 'mums. stat? Treasun i