Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1877-06-16
COLUMBIA, Friday, June

COLUMBIA, Friday, June 8.
The Senate met at II A. M. The
bills which had reached the. third
reading were read, but this being the
close of the session they cannot pass,
and consequently their titles are not
of Importance.
The Hou SO concurrent resolution
to request Wright to resign was
tabled.
The account of the Republican
Printing Company for printing for
the present session, amounting to 49,
113 rs, was ordered to be paid.
DR.. j. L. Reynolds was elected to
represent the Senate on the school
book commission.
The concurrent resolution offered
by Mr. Bowen last night, and pub
lished in the News and Courier to-
day, to appoint a committee Of in
vestigation, was then called for,
Taft was opposed to acting on the.
resolution until the report Of the
Woodruff, Whittemoro committee
had been presented. Mr.. Bowen an
nounced that he would be prepared
to report in a few minutes. A recess,
was ordered fer half hour, and at
the end of that time the long looked
for report was presented and read.
Ofcourse considerable interest was
manifested in the reading of this
document, and large audience soon
filled the lobbies. But never, perhaps
was MI audience more disappointed
than in the contents Of the report it
self. The committee simply say that
the limited time and tho inherent
difficulties ofthe case prevent them
from reaching q conclusion satisfac-
tory to themselves or to the Senate.
Most Of the witnesses were reluctant
to testify. Books and records were SO
kept rs to conceal the truth, and in
one instance access to them was de-
MED. It appears to the committee
that large amount Of certificates Of
Indebtedness, issued to the Republi:
can Printing Company in 1873, for
work not yet performed, although
fully paid for, waa Issued to members
of the Legislature and State officials.
The amount so issued was Sl32,6OS.
Woodruff refused to produce the
books of the Printing Company, and
his refusal justifies the inference that
their production might have crimina
ted both the Printing Company and
the recipients of the certificates. The
committee are satisfied that grave
frauds and abuses of the public credit
have been committed, and the testi
mony taken does not include all the
participants. In reference to Wood
ruff's orders for Nhiskey and cigars
sent to Whittemore and Nash the
committee say that Woodruff pro
duced the receipted itemized account
of Mr. Symmers, embracing the arti
cles sent to these senator's, and it ap
pears to have been paid for by Wood
ruff out of his private funds. The
committee, in conclusion say that if
time is allowed for full aud
tn orough examination Of past finan-
cial transactions the guilty parties
can be reached and punished. They,
therefore, recommend the Adoption
Of the concurrent resolutions men,
toned above.
Taft thcn opposed any action upon
the report or tho resolution until the
testimony had been presented and
read, and expressed the belief that
the committee bad overstepped its
powers in making such report.
Mr. Meetze thought that the testi-
mony should not bs published until
the new joint committee,hnd reported.
After some further debate, testimony
covering about seventy-fivs pages Of
legal cap, was ordered to be printed,
and the report was received as infor-
nation.
1t is well to note right here that
with regard to the statement made in
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