The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-09-21
VOL. IX.-eNEw SERIES.
THE PLUMBER OF THE STATE
EXsTREASURER PARKER, OF SOUTH
CAROLINA, MAKES A CLEAN
BREAST OF 1T.
Chamberlain, Patterson, Kimpton and
Others Charged with the Gross
est Frauds.
Bribery Of the Collision Of the
Of D TnesrsI1sIaS TsySln%enr enrrane;s and Reign

0OV6Ium0ut
Of Unparalleled Corruption.
The confession made by Niles G.. Parker
'ex-Freassrer Of South Carolina, in an in.
! terviewW With reporter of the New York
n sEhs nnde at his house, in Jerssy
C5, and was taken down phonographioai-
4y The statement was made without pre-:
vlous preparation, which will account in
great measure tor the loosencss of arrange
ment, and also for any slight inaccuracies
of dates or figures. The confession is as
follows;
PARKER's RECORD AND ELECTION.
1 settled in Charleston in February.
1866, engaging in planting and the mercan-
tiio supply business. In 1867 General
Candy appointcd me an Alderman in the
city of Charleston. Gaillard was Mayor
at the time, and there was place in the
council made vacant by death A few
months later I was appointed chairman of
the Oemmittee on Legislation under the re-
constructions acts. AftSN <Ae discharge of
that duty ] devoted myself again to private
business. was soon, however, elected
member of the constitutional convention
from Barnwell County, though made no
effort TO secure my nomination or election.
In that convention l was the chairman of
tho Committee on Finance and succeeded
In raising the amount necessary for the ex-
penses of the convention. In the discharge
of my duties I had the cooperation aud
goodwill of Governor Orr. AS men,
Der of the convention I opposed the pas
sage of the law authorizing the State to is
sue bonds. l took the ground that the
State indebtedness and the current expen-
ses could be provided for by taxation and
that any further issue of bonds was unnec-
essary. AS in previous years the State cx-
penses had not exceeded 100000, | did
not believe that more than $500, 900 would
8 be needed to cover Them The. surplus
amount paid into the treasury as collected
taxes would be enough to meet the pay
ment of interest on the State debt, consoli-
dated and floating, and settle, il the course
OF few years, all outstanding claims not
represented already by State bonds The
act was incorporated in the constitution,
however, in spite of my opposition.
At the trst election under the new con-
stitution l was put in nomination for State
Treasurer and elected. This nomination
grew wholly out Of the success which l had
achieved in raising the expenses of the con-
vention. L went into Office in July, 1868
Scott was Governor, Chamberlain was At
torney General, Cardozo was Secretary of
State, Frank Moses was Adjutaut General
and Neagle was Comptroller General. The
constitution of the Legislature was entire
ly Republican, think, without an excep-
tion. The Democrats refused to take part
in the election Naturally both Senate and
House were composed very largely of col
ored members. Frank Moses was the
Speaker of the House-uudoubtedly the
most influential member of it during his
four years term of Office.
When l took charge of the State Treas
ury there was only $42 in it, By the
Comptroller Generals report for 1867 the
bonded and stock debt was nearly S6,O0O,-
600, and there was considerable interest
outstanding, as well as other unadjusted
debts amounting approximately to S3,OOO,-
900. The tax of the first year was 81 mills
upon the assessed valuation of the property
of the State. This tax was expected to
yield 81 100000 or 81 ,3OO,OOO The fis-
cal year Of the State closed on October 81, ,
1868. We went into Office in July, and
special session of the Legislature, was called
immediately Iustead of imposing tax to
cover the expenses of the current year as
we'll as the year ending October 81, 1869,
we only imposed one tax, as we had then
an honest intention to relieve the people of
the State of all but necessary burdens. So
we made tax for one year only, intending
to provide for outstanding claims by the is
sue Of bonds. Of this tax imposed we col
1ected about three fourths, and the balance
was left outstanding. No extraordinary
measures were resorted to in order to en-
force its collection, and think that judg-
ment was never obtained against the delin-
quents in the courts.
CHAMBERLAIN's PECULIAR BILLS.
Under the provisional government law
had been passed authorizing the funding of
all outstanding debts, interest and principal,
up to July /, 1857. The Legislature in
July, 1868, passed bill to pay all interest
due from July !, 1867, in gold. This bill
was engineered by the State Financial
Agent, II. H. Kimpton. He was friend
and classmate of Chamberlain. and was