The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-12-27
THE RING ROBBERIES.
TIE REVELATIONS OF TIE JOINT IN
TESTIGITING COMMITTEE.
How the People were Swtndltd-ih'
First Instalment of Details.


First Instalment Of Details.
We propose to publish, as rapidly as posi-
BILE. the whole of the report Of the joint in-
vestigating committee, consisting of Senators
Wh;ttemore and Swaiis, and Representatives
Dennis. Gardner and Hurley. To-day we give
the charters which deal with the operations
ofthe treasury, and with the mammoth bro
ke:'s office known as the South Carolha bahA
and Trust Company:
The State rasury.
TIE committee entered upon the examlC Ia
finn Of tall the accounts OF the State tfeasl-
rer." which was task of no small magnitude;
every charge upon his books has eeen iran
scri6ed-every credit aud debit eopied-eacn
and every voucher examined anu Tue o,,t aveom
pauying tables will show every payment
made. and every dollar received by the Treas
ur4r. and if more has been paid out than there
are vouchers for, the amount in excess, and
upof wnat expended, VIII also pe seen:
Cree patience in the handling ana reaolng OF
fine Teasurtr'S vouchers was necessary, ana
mn{h tine consumed. During the .examna-
ton of these accounts, at no time was the
treasurer present; bUt his clerks, MessIs
Cary ard Tappan, altenied the committee in
Their inspection of all the books and papers OF
the treasurer's office, 10 which they gave
ready access and exp anaG0ns.
III orler that the report OF tnls ccElulitee
miyht be made as soon as possible. after Tue
assembling of the Legislature, :. was neces-
sarv 10 confne their statements, as lar Us pos.
s;bie. TO u period reaching from The time of
tie induction into office OF the State treasurer,
comp;ro.lrr general and financial agent to the
close of the fiscal years 1869 aud 1917. Tney
have als) in preparation supplemental re-
mort tor the fiscal year ending OCTOBER 5ls,,
ISL. which will be thorough in all its details
and submitted as soon as conplele1.
Receipts and Expenditures.
The whole amount received By the State
treasurer from September, 1865, TO Octooer
3lst. 1870, from all sources mas oeen St,isa,-
7s3 49, The largest amount from any source
has been from taxes which, In the aggre-
gate. is 50. .O55. 553 55, and the next from II. d.
Kjmp,on. financial agent for the State. which
is sl,TlO,753 II, leaving the balance from all
other sources of s4ls,476 l6 The expendl-
lures during this time have been si'isS,Ssi.
The largest Of these expenditures are as loi-
lows. viz: General interest account OF pubic
debt, s72O.l4 56; a. H. kimpton, financial
agent of the State of South Carolina, s92s, III
rs: salaries, 1881, ,4ss As; legislative expenses,
$5l6.4OS 46; free schools, Sl35,9i6 II; State
$l2O,322 81; executive contingent, ssi,745 IS;
Lnnalic Asylum. s32,4s9 4s; fitting up new
Statehouse, s55,009 81; censns-taking. $751; III;
State constabu!ary, s32, ,46S ~; fees Of sh-rlfs
for dieting prisoners, s44,946 81; elections,
s2s,tt5 IL; expenses enrolling and organ
izin5 militia, s93,3l o.; Orphan Asy-
CATION Third Congressional District, ST.
SS5 45; purchase of arms and ammunition,
$l3,O66 "a; printing, s43,440 81; advance 10
Blue R dSe Railroad. $50 600: Insurance ana
repairs University Of South tn. Carohsa' Ca sl1,'
mission, $50 SIS Is; bills receivable, s275.-
4Ol; R. X. Scott ito negotiate loan Of sl25,-
900 to meet the current expenses CT the Slate.I
$97.lS5: maintaining quarantine and quar-
autiue hospital. SIT 674 "a; transient sick poor,
sl2,s34 %; lifting ap the Governors residence,
sS924 Il: Deaf. Dumb and Blind Asylum. SILL
l64 80: y. G. Parker for the purchase o! gold,
s24, 400 Gl.
Appropriations.
all moneys should be drawn out of the
tffsasury upon appropriations specifying the
object for which they are made, and upon
every certificate Of payment there shoult De
required. by law, 10 be written, In red Ink, by
the treasurer, the Appropriation drawn upon,
and in no Instance should that appropriation
be overdrawn nor diverted to the payment OF
claims foreign TO the appropriation; and the
treasurer should inform The Govern nr when
an appropriation is exhausted, who should,
after being thus Informed, withhold n er-
dorsemsc. upon any pay certificates drawn
upoE that appropriation.
'The.e is another class Of appropriations be-
side special. which might be called general or
ineyhaUsLihl., known as funds Of the State
not otherwise appropriated" which have fur
nished ready opportunities for the depletion OF
the treasury at any time, and constant drafS
upon this class of funds have been aud can be
male tor the payment Of whatever may be
found deficient in special appropriation, or
for claims however exlraragant or unjust.
In the examination Of the vouchers, which
the committee have carefully sctuiinzed, they
hayaffouud not only appropriations diverted
from their intended and specined purpose, ont
the 'siuexhaustitle funds" of the State,
Ike never-iailing fountain. drawn
upon in every emergency; sufficient nc iSr
Sure of the heads OF the financial departments
of the State so TO direct. In order that
more perfect understanding Of this subject
may be had, there will be upon the page op'
posits the expenditure classified under an
appropriate head) the appropriation designed
fer the payment of the same, as we'll as the
date of its passage by the Legislature. thus
enabling the reader to observe the excess OF
payment over amount approprlhei, as
well as the open door 10 large expenditures
out OF the never exhausted 'lunds OF the
State" This exhibit will also prove vaua-
bic record for reference, as we'll as guide for
all future legis'a alton upon that most sensitive
Of all subjects, viz: How much of the peoples
money snail be appropriated. and IN what
manner shall it be expended Too much
care, with explicit and rigid requirements.
cannot be given to the consideration aDd pas.
sage OF any law calling for the expenditure of
pupc funds: and great Improvements must
be made upon the prodigal modes now prac-
ticei in the disbursement Of the same. The
committee recommend the General Assembly,
at the earliest moment, 10 give sncn consul
Lrafion 10 this subject as its importance de-
ads. that correction Of all mistaken leg
ltion. and the abuses following, may not
6e longer delayed.
Deposits in Banks.
Bv the act OF August %, 1865, the treasurer
of the State is required TO deposit all moneys
coming into his hands. on account OF lhe
State, within three days. Sundays exclusive,
The following is the statutory provision: