Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I II Ml UK IttKI Ml, ifiipont. ?* ^*t*tt*> and VrCown Slicn Majority saport sad f Hllams of leinenster Mi- Kfuoert;?Sentiments DlfT? r Aiova 'iiinn nesting*, OelOSahm. Feb. ?.?The MO*!? dttee appointed to Investtg al* *he charge mode by (Jov. Manning against A. A. Hlchardaon, while etil* goats warden, makes a divided report. The majouty report being algned by tatuatws Johnatono and Mct'own, mum the minority report by Senator Wll M una of LanYaater. Iiis majorlt; report sustains tM tnsvernor se to net hod* of election. #o dose the u luorlty report, but it blame* the law. The majority repoit ausiama the charges as to illegal col* Met ten i and traveling expense items si? does the minority report but pie Sinta these matters In different Ian g*#age. As to ?he maintenance of . bald and insidious lobby boih reports *Mo4jy partially sustain the governor. The report follow*: To the Honorable, the Senate of lastlth Carolina: We. the undersigned majority of y? urxcommittee appointed under res? olution adopted at the 1918 session, to investigate the charges and state * ments of the governor against A. A ftiohardaon, chief ganu warden, at Contained in his veto messago on house bill No. 7*6, senate bill No 179. beg leave respectfully to report First As to the statement by the governor on information, that befor?. "Mr Uichardson was recommended tor reappolntment by the Auduhon Society, as chief game warden, lie or his friends brought about the rulmls ston of about 60 new members of th* society, and through them was al l to direct its sctlon." We find that this statement. In s far as It relates to friends of Mi Uichardson, is sustained by lcttei from Mr. Frank Hampton and Ml Helle Williams, a ho gave a woman's love to the perpetuation of this work end by the talnutes of the meeting o. the Audubon Society of December SO, 191*. Second: With regard to the state? ment made by Governor Manning cs IsjOears From many sources, by let tore and by word of mouth, 1 have re? ceived complaints that Mr. Richard son's deputies, with hie approval, hove niatte illegal collections of monc: ihat they nave held up presumed trie later* of the game laws, In the floldi ?md have domnnd*-l rash payments o. fines, without process provided '??. law ." Thte statement of the governor I. ?UStalned by ihu production of letter Which hs said he had in hla poaee.*- ' ?Ion el, the time of the veto message, and by the oral statements made bs the governor before this committee ?he record aa to some of these in? stances referred to in possibly incom? plete, but some of this evidence is vary clear and conclusive that money waa collected Illegally, and without warrant by la.w?notably in th< Hutchison case vhero collection SMS made by Mr. Richardson himself. Third.. The next statement of the governor la that "Mr. Uichardson > traveling expenses have exceeded the amount prescribed by law. That limit 1? 11.000. He haa spent >n this item alone $1.254.54, p'us mileage books boat hire. $1.996.11. This alone would show the necessity for restricting and safeguarding the expenditures of this! department, and requiring a compli? ance with the law." This ni nt seema clearly aus talned bg the hading of the State ail , pate,l with the amount al? lowed ?;y law; the law allowing $1.U0'> and the amount expended being $1. 154.56 and those other Items con? tained In the governor's message above In this connection your com? mittee wishes to state that Mi Uichardson declined to present his books and the records of his oftlct . rpt when speci lcall> called for In rifle Instances, and >our commit tee. la therefore, uuablo to ropoi ' bsSrs do'lpltely with regard thereto buch records as were presented lltdl oated to this committee that the of fire was loosely run and the rUOOrdS kept with lack of regulantv. In regard to the exper.se account Mr. Btehardaon states th it the In creased activities of his office SppOS ed to him to require expenditures o more money than $1.000 allowed ; law, and After taking sdvlOS frua tl attorney general, he went forward th* conduct of his office In ggggl anee with that advice, and this w given to the committe as lormlng th basts of his action In exceeding hit allowance. In this connection Ih committee wishes to state that In ? aponae to a dlrrrt question bv one -.? li < meiijliera, the ?overnor sir ted be? fore thi? I am mit lee that be did mi: . h ige fraud or misappropriation ?? funds and h ? stated before this rim. ii,itlee ih n he dnea not now char??| ??.?,? el or nii-'!ri|M|iiiil:(?i. Tl' kg! LmIU a eeeiua Id recognise the no i Wtity (Mi' In8fe expenditures, as es tnhilshed by the fact that they put in their appropriation bill tor expons ? account of thai department an umounf^ equalling the sum of |l,l#t. There wai tin expense of name $1, 400 for the upkeep of the automobile.! mentioned in the governor s message. The governor, we think, was justified in mentioning tlmt mutter because of . the fact that the State auditor ha 1 Included it in his returns of the audit of the chief game warden office. How? ever, upon inquiry by the governor of the State auditor, he found thnt this matter did not relate to Stato af 1 fairs, but were matters that had been paid by Mr. Richardson out of hh? j own private funds, and naked that that correction be made in his pre? sentation to the committee. Fourth: The next statement is as : follows: "The lobby 1 have referred ! to has been apparent to the members ? of the general assembly. The chic? I game warden, Mr. Richardson, and his assistant, Mr. Funderburk, have j been continually in evidence in th's ! work during this session, and before. I have been informed that C. H. Glar.e, clerk of the judiciary commit? tee of the senate, who is also court ntenographor for the First Circuit has been active in this lobby. It has bce-i l oported to me that the judiciary com? mittee adopted a resolution that th headquarters of this lobby be with drawn from their committee room w h its bnre-faced activities." Tils statement is sustained In so fur as the resolution being passed by the Judiciary committee Is concerned as shown by the statement of the chairman of said committee before your committee that such resolution was passed. The resolution, however does not sustain the governor's state? ment IP that it relates alone to the chief game warden and his friends but was intended or wan worded ao that it applied to any person except members of said committee and ex members of said committee. As to the general lobby charged by the governor we find that he hud ample Information on which to base this statement and it is in effect ad? mitted by Mr. Richardson. The committee deems it proper io state before it concludes its report that the governor stated that he was in error as to the amount that had been turned over by the chief game warden to the schools. that being that only fti.Oau was found in the re? port of the bank examined. After a more correct knowledge of thai Items, he stated to the committee tha. he was in error to the extent that th. : amount turned over was $10,.'92.2a | and not $6,000, as originally stated b] him. the difference between $k,ou I and !lt,Mfc.M having been deposited - in the State treasurer's ollice an 1 afterwards paid out to the school funds, making the total of $19 502.60. Your committee in making this re? port desires to state that it has con lined itself closely nnd entirely to such matters as win e set out in the go\ - ? rnor's veto meSBOgf and within the scope of their authority given in tin resolution prevailing for its appoint? ment. Most respectfully, Alan Johnstons, J. W, MeCown. Minority Report. To the Honorable, the Senate ol South Carolina: The undersigned, representing i minority Of the committee appointed under your resolution ?adopted at tin ! 111 session to Investigate the 1 charge*; of the governor against A. A Richardson, chief game warden, as ' contained in his veto message on house bill No. 70<i and senate bill No. 170. begs leave respectfully to re? port as follows: First: As to the statement by tha governor on Information, that "be? fore Mr. A. A. Richardson was rec? ommended for reappointment by Au duhon Society ns chief game Warden, lie or his friends brought about the admission of about ?>u new MOmbeta to the society and through them was . bhl to direct its action." This (barge is sustained only te the extent, that friends and support? ers Of Mr. lilchurdsan engaged in th toted activities with hli knowledge and oonoent, it should be stated, however, that the governor's present appointee to the position of chic: gantS warden invoked the same moth Odl While Min h methods are uiilor lunate, it is the "pinion of this. tin minority committee, that the fault HOS mainly in the law providing th ? manner of appointment, and that uu III ir is ( banned, resort to Bitch Beth Itters as are charges' by the governo i i imoif Inevitable, geeoad; am to the obarge Of lob hying: This eharge is in part sustained Mr. It ich.'ids on frankly admits that h.e und some of his friends nnd suh ... Unntes did try to Influence the pna? of i he bill vetoed by the goi ? Mi*r There was no tesjtlmon pre i .?? i bet?re) (he committee, how Si t . show thai the lobby Wits nn i or pernicious in character. Th i t bl night out ga to show th a both the proponents and opponents of the bill engaged in considerable lob? bying in a very customary way. in this connection the statement by the governor til it tito judiciary com-j mittce of the senate passed a reHoltl Mon, directed at Mr. Richardson and ( his friend denying to them the privi? leges of its committee room, can no. be sustained. The governor was doubtless misinformed as to this mat? ter, rndeniably the committee did pass a resolution excluding from it* committee room the public general? ly, with certain exceptions, but neith? er the name of Mr. Richardson no; any other individual was mentioned in soul resolution nor In connection therewith at the time it Was passed. Ah stated by the chairman of the ju dietary committee at the hearing, the resolution was directed to the public generally who habitually resorted to the committee room at times when their presence seriously Interfered with the committee in the perform once of Its routine duties. Third. That the chief game war? den exceeded the expense account al? lowed him by the law. This charge is sustained, but satis? factory explanation of the fact was Offered by Mr. Richardson. It was pointed out by him that after the passage of what is known as the I 'county license law," the activities of tllf department were very greatly en? larged and the expenses of adminis? tration proportionately increased. Th?> expense account allowed was 11,000 | gltd Mr Richardson spent less than $1100 In excess of that amount. The reasonableness of this excess expendi? ture is shown by the fact that the present chief game warden has asked for and received at the hands of the legislature an expense allowance of $1,800. It may be stated further that Mr. Richardson exceeded the 1?. gal allowance only under an advis? ory opinion from the attorney gen? eral's office, and the amount of the excess was drawn on the game pro? tection fund, which* under the law is subject to the order of the chief game warden for purposes of game law en? forcement, v Fourth: That the chief game war? den and his subordinates collected fines in the field without due proces? of law? Your minority committee find that the governor had ample infor? mation on which to base this state? ment and it is In offedt admitted by Mr. Kiehardson. It was shown, how ?ve>. that practically all of these tines were collected from non-resideni who had violated the same laws o: this State and preferred to give and forfeit a cash bond rather than a>> into the courts; and it was further shown that Mr. Richardson relied Up On an opinion from the attorney gci. eral'l Office for his authority in ac? cepting these cash bonds, and then oxercised such authority in only rar? and exceptional cases. In the cases cited before the committee, it is found tnat monies so collected were properly turned over to the State treasurer. The committee does not approve this method of collecting lines, notwithstanding the fact that it is practiced largely by other admin i istrative departments of the State, und notably by the police depart? ments of cities and towns. Fifth: Extravagance and waste. The governor makes no direct charge of extravagance and waste on the part of the former chief game war? den, yet an opinion to that effect might eaRlly be inferred from the language of his voto message. With out limited knowledge of the details of administering this office, wc are hardly In position to pass intelligenl ly and definitely upon the matter. It is realized, however, that the depart? ment is very young; was built up and onlarged during the incumbency of Mr. Richardson as its head, and doubtless, required large expendi? tures, the propriety and reasonable? ness of which would not be appar? ent to those not intimately familiar with the requirements of thorough administration. From the state? ments made by Mr. Richardson as to salaries paid, amounts paid for au? tomobile and boat hire; and by com? parison of his expenditures with those of his SUOCSSBOr, this committee is un? willing to find that his oHiee waa characterised by extravgance or wastefulness. There is little doubt however that as the department pro greases and becomes more systematise od, the costs of administration may be somewhat reduced. The governor t reference to extravagance and waste was doubtless based upon the idea that the item referred to by him. 'Fourteen hundred dollars ror up? keep of automobiles," was paid out of ? he State s funds. The governor had been misted as to that item, howeve and after consultation with the Stale auditor, had his attorney to state to the committee as a matter of fair? ness that the Item had been paid hj Mr. Hlehardaon personally sivth. That the former chief game \ grden collected more than $30,004 and turned over to the public school i und only a little more than $0,000. Thin <dmrge. by the governor is n?> , sustained. He was misled by the ofll . cial reports received at his oflice and frankly so stated to your committee. As a matter of fact. Mr, Uichardson. 0U< of the $:i0,000 collected by him. turned into the school fund $10,50 2. 60 and turned the balance over to the State treasurer to the credit of the game protection fund. Seventh?Production of records. Something has been said about the refusal of Mr. Uichardson to comply with the demand of the governor's counsel to bring before the committee all the records of his office. This de? mand was mode by counsel repeatedly and your committee took the position that it has no authority under the senate resolution to make demand for these records; but did request Mr. Uichardson to present such sped 11 records as the governor's counsel might call for. This he agreed to do and did do. He declined to bring all the records of his office before the committee, however, on the ground of inconvenience and liability to mis? placement and loss*; but before thO close of the hearing invited the com mittee to adjourn its meeting to his offices where all the records were available. Eighth?Personal integrity, corrup? tion In office. Your committee finds that nothing was produced before them to assail the personal integrity of Mr. Uich? ardson nor tending to show corrup? tion in office. Indeed, the governor stated orally before your committee that he did not charge, nor mean to charge dishonesty or corruption against Mr. Uichardson, and offered a very candid written statement to the same effect at the close of the hearing. X^ In his written statement submitted by the governor at the close of the hearing, he expresses the opinion that the senate resolution under which your committee was appoint? ed, constituted an encroachment by the legislature upon the executive de? partment, and states that he appear? ed before your committee purely a> a matter of courtesy to the senate. We desire to express our very high appreciation of this courtesy and also our appreciation of the courtesies shown the committee by Mr. Uich irdson and all others who appeared before us. We think It only proper to say, however, that neither the governor nor Mr. Uichardson, were subpoenaed, or otherwise required to appear be? fore your committee but were merely Invited to do so. Very respectfully submitted. D. Ueece Williams, Minority Committee. February 21, 1918. Food Adntlnlstratln Notes. A supply of United States Fo?>.l Administration Home Cards for 101 have been received by G. A. Lemmon. County Food Administrator and plac? ed with the assistant food adminis? trator for distribution at Sumte:* Chamber of Commerce. A supply of bulletins on the various uses of corn meal and oat meal have also been placed at Chamber of Commerce fo free distribution. Call for these cards and bulletins or send for them. Tho home car?ls deal intelligently with the wheatless ind meatless day program, and teh why we should conserve wheat, beef GONE F?ll GOOD. Results That Last Are What Appeal to Sumtcr People. Kidney sufferers in Sumter want more than temporary rolief. They want results that last? Results like Mr. Vogel tells about. His was a thorough test. Two years is a long time. Doan's Kidney Pills have stood the test and stood it well. Why experiment with an untried medicine? People here In Sumter have shown the way. Read the story of B. W. Vogel, 401 B, Hampton Avo. He says: "Foi several years I suffered from pain* ? hrough the small of my back and whenever I stooped. I was in mis? ery. My back became very weak and several times I had to give up work A physician treated me. but his med iclne as well ns a number of others Wrought no relief. After using one box of Doan's Kidney Pills, the pa in.? disappeared and sb". boxes complete ly cured me." A Permanent Cure. Over two years later, Mr. Vogel ?aid: "Doan's Kidney Pills made n permanent cure In my case." Price f?0c at all dealers. Don't ? imply ask for a kidney remedy??et Doan's Kidney Pills- the samo that Mr. Vogel has twice recommended rostor-Milburn Co., Props., Buffalo, W V.?Advt. <43) Mexican Controller General. Mexico City. February II.?Francis? co m. Gonselse, former national I easurer, has been appointed by the president to fill the recently created post of controller general.. His du? ties will be to pass on all government expenditures. pork, mutton, sugar and fat*. Miss Annie Keels and Mis* | Alice Dr. J. II. Haynsworth. bounty Su- Martin, Homo Demonstration agent*, pcrintendent of Education and As- \w iv at UcmPert sehool Friday hold' Kistant. i'ood Administrator B. 1 ing a demonstration meeting with the Reardon together visitcA DuBOJOllhs ladies, and they took one of the* school and Oswcgo school list Wed- food administrators, one E. I. Uear nesday in the interest of the wheat- don with them to talk the wheatless less and meatless day program. D-v and meatless patriotic part of the pro? Hayn: worth also inspected these gram. They promised him something schools and held examination of pU-1 good to eat, that is he will he per pils and conferred with the teachers j milted to eat the samples of wheatless about various school matters. and meatless meals. Wo have one of the Best I AUTOMOBILE POLICIES I on the market I BE WISE - ISTOT SORRY FIRE. LIFE and all other forc .? of INSURANCE (WALLACE & MOSES Established 190S Phone 577. 122 So. Main. The Rational Bank of South Carolina OF SUMTER IF CAREFUL ATTENTION TO THE DETAILS OF YOUR BUSINESS APPEALS TO YOU, THIS BANK IS THE PLACE FOR YOUR ACCOUNT. Capital Stock Surplus Profits $200,000.00 150,000.00 30,000.00 CG. ROWLAND. President. F. E. HiNN ANT. Cashier. LIBERTY BONDS All Coupon Bonds have been received?Please call for yours The First National Bank SUMTER, S C. All Bearer Bonds subscribed through us are here except those of denominations of $50.00. The $50.00 Bonds will prob? ably be here within the next 30 days. Those subscribing Bonds of $100.00 or more, will please call for them as soon as possible. We will keep these Bonds in our vaults for safe-keeping for anyone that may desire us to. n J. P. Booth, President. W. J. Crowson. Jr., Cashier. Everything in the Building Line All Hinds of Feed BOOTH & McLEOD, Inc. KVERYTHINU AT ONE PLACE PHONES: 10 and 631