The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-08-08
! Word About Treasurer Parker,

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AWord About Treasurer Parker,
! The Taxpayers Convention, which met in
Columbia last May, appointed a committee,
consisting of Messrs. Edwin ]. Scott and
| William Wallace, of Columbia, and Colonel
Richard Lathers, of Charleston, to cooper
ate with committee previously appointed
by the Legislature to examine the books
and accounts of the disbursing officers of
the State. Assurances were given that the
committee of taxpayers would be given all
proper facilities for the discharge of their
duties, and, under this impression, the Con-
vention adjourned. Comptroller General
Neagle consented without hesitation to an
investigation OF his accounts, bat Mr.. Niles
G. Parker, the State Treasurer, fatty de-
clined to allow the committee to have access
to his books, declaring that they had been
examined enough, and that the proposed
examination was wholly unauthorized. This
tart talking excited some indignation, il it
caused little surprise, and Mr.. Edwin ].
Scott, the chairman Of the committee ap-
pointed by the Taxpayers Convention, has
addressed letter to Mr.. Parker, in which
the Treasurer's conduct is displayed in a
rather blue light.
Mr.. Scott quotes the proceedings OF the
Convention to show that there were serious
discrepancies in the accounts of the Treas
urer Most OF these were afterwnrd ad-
justed, but difference Of sl99. .74s was still
unaccounted for. This made It advisable,
in justice to the State officers, that q
thorough overhauling Of their accounts be
had; the more especially as the proposed
inquiry would 'stest the sincerity of those
"who have the authority for investigation"
The committee were appointed and ten
dered their services to the Legislative Com
mittee, with an offer to act directly with
them. The Legislative Committee declined
the offer, for the reason that their work was
too far advanced for the new committee to
go on with them, unless the whole field
were reviewed from the beginning. The
committee, however, authorized the Tax
payers Committee to make a separate ex-
animation, and oApreeScu tne OplnlOh tna1
the last named committee would have the
same facilities .forg full and complete in
"vestigation Of the Monetary affairs OF the
..Staten which were accorded the Legisla-
tive Committee. 1t is evident, therefore,
that the Taxpayers Committee had ample
authority for the work which they proposed
to undertake. A convention representing
the taxpayers OF the whole State, an inves-
tigating committee appointed BY the Legis-
lature, and Governor Scott himself author
lied the examination; but Mr.. Parker calls
it, nevertheless, piece OF unparalleled
presumption" to ask for an investigation
Of the affairs OF his office. That Office needs
a thorough examination. Even the Legis.
lature have admitted that this must be done.
That partisan body, by appointing the in
vestigating committee, declared that month
" reports and annual reports were not
enough, and were not, sufficient to satisfy
them that the work OF the Treasury was
faithfully and honestly done.
Mr.. Treasurer Parker is, to the best OF
our knowledge, the only State officer who
refuses to allow his books to be examined.
Three years ago, he was little better than a
beggar. When elected State Treasurer, he
was in the depth of destitution. Now ne
drives fast horses in golc-mounted harness,
buys ffteen-thousand-dollar diamond pins,
and has the reputation Of being worth a
cool quarter of million. All this in three
years upon an annual salary OF twenty-five
hundred dollars. These things are known,
and in connection with his recent conduct,
have an ugly look. A thorough scrutiny oil
his accounts would have satisfied the peo-
pie. They now consider that the State
Treasurer justifies by his own unwarrantabie
behavior the worst opinion which has been
formed of him.
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