The New York herald., 1878-02-23
A CARNIVAL OF FRAUD.
Wholesale Plundef Of the State by legislative
and Executive Officers.
STATIONERY" THAT COVERED EVERYTHING.
Fictitious Accounts Paid with Full knowI-
edge of Their Character.
FEY TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD. ]

icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD.
COLUMBIA, 8. c., Feb. %, 1878.
In accordance with q concurrent resolution SO d.
recting ana requiring the Joint Commission appointed
10 investigate alleged and Irregularities against
this will submit partial report at an early day.
The commission has been In session for nearly one
year and has accum ulated mass OF vouchers ana
other evidences bearing upon the subject OF their
labors which dedes arrangement and classification
within the short space OF week or ten days allowed
Ior the preparation OF their report, and they nnd
themselves compelled, therefore, 10 restrict their
Efforts The presentment OF their discoveries in one
fold alone. Tho report will be confined to statement
OF the fraudulent and extravagant expenditures au-
thorized by the General Assemblies and various State
officers under the head OF supplies" This title Is
truly a general and mprehensive one, but the
reader VIII nnd that 1t is cmneEtly appropriate as
designation OF the infinite variety and amount oi ar
ticles and transactions covered by the term. The
HERALD correspondents has been favored with
perusal OF the evidence and original vouch-
ers IN the hands OF the commission, and
from these is enabled TO present the fol-
loving sy nopsis OF what the report show. II is
truly appalling record OF crime, and the commits
sion are fully justified, perhaps In their statement
that "history fails cite instance which can be
compared with such carnival Of fraud and extravs-
gancc as has been held In Carona for the past
ten years.
The entire evidence 1t must DO remembered, IL de-
rived IRON the testimony OF sx-o1acias OF the
late republican administration and that OF hundreds
the OF the several Legislatures who were
themselves the guilty recipients OF articles paid for
s.by the State" the OF the officials who
were charged with duty protecting her interests
ACCOUNTS WE'RE PAID
One witness, the late Clerk OF the Senate, states
~ orn-
bracea anything that a Senator chose to order.
These orders generally given through the Clerk
the Senate and the accounts were rendered against
him. At first the orders were moderate and included
only stationery and postage stamps, but they grad
ually increased until they assumed gigantic proper.
tions' AT first the amounts were ordered 10 be de-
Quoted from their pay, but very soon the orders
largely exceeded their pay and the accounts "wero
then included IN the reports OF the committee on
Contingent Accounts. and pay certificates were
thus issued for every variety Of merchandise
In addition this, pay certificates we're
drawn and turned over to the chairman OF
the Committee on Contingent Accounts for
collection aud distribution" As these matters be-
came common the Senators claimed that all their ex-
penses should be paid by the State, ia the lam
guage OF OF them, 'the state had right to be
state could pay and take OF her states
mon." The Clerk of the Senate testifes that gratd.
cation certificates Tor eifts were frequently issued
for the benefit OF the Senators. Senators Gaard and
Jermy of Charleston, testify to the truth OF this
statement and acknowledge that they re-
ccived certificates issued. The vouchers
found in the Slate Treasurer's office show
that In session there was expended, under the
heads OF supphes sundries expenses
not less than $780, 00O sl25,0oO OF which was spent
Tor refresh men,s including the fines, wines, liquors
above raj ed IN sbeca m
10 general a to embrace nearly every republican
IN ember and several democratic senator's Such ac-
counts be regarded as privileged matters.
and the Senate rule recurring an reports 70
lie Gay Was generally suspended,
and the report considered at once and the
accounts ordered to be paid without dissenting
voice" Senators lett thor private accounts with the
CHAIRMAN of tae COMMITTEES on Contingent Accounts,
they returned to them settled and recetpted
presented In the Senate, together with or more
good ones. and tue titles ana amounts OF The latter
ciuded the phrase, s'and Others" end all were
ordered paid together.
rng LEGISLATIVE BARRooM
room adjoining that oi the Clerk ol the Senate In
the State House fitted up wherein to vines.
hquors eatables and cigars state officials Senator'S
OF the House and their friends at all hours
OF the day night Several witnesses testify that
VISITED daily 10Y state officials, udges
Senators, memoers OF the House, lawyers, editors,
newspaper reporters and citizens generally irrespec
two of party, and that they discussed matters
State aud national In the most agreeable
coored who waitcd In this rare saoon eStines
that Tor SIX wears II was generally kept open from
eight O'Clock A. NJ. until from four O'Clock the
morning; that during these hours some one was
always present. eating, smoking or drinking and that
Sunday, as may well De believed, "was no exception"
Many OF the members would be IN The room before
breakfast hunting Tor drink, or, as they called It,
san eyc-opener." THIS witness gave the names oil
Two d. emocratic Senators who wont TO frequent
this barroom He estimates the quantity Of liquor
large QUANTITIES Of wine, ale and porter The best
cigars were furnished. and the porter ound u dmcult
TO supply the demand as many OF MS customers nlca
or two OF their pockets upon leaving, ana would
frequently carry of bottle ot champagne In the same
way" The reader only needs TO be reminded here,
in place oil comment, that member was required to
pay lie Rot-tnc State looted all lns bills.
In addition the refreshments furnished ut the State
House large quantities were sent TO the hotels board
ing houses and residences OF the memberz state
officials ''and their friends"
SAMPLE ORDER.
The following, which may regarded ~ q fair
specimen, Is copy OF the Ite ms furnished TO Senator
J mes A. Bowiey on his order IN one day, 'o.wit:-
s-,Jne pox champagne, one box port vino, box
whskey, one box brandy, one box sherry wine threo
boxes cigars"
members OF the House and was Cnair man OF the Com
mIttee Ways and Means IL Is not difficult TO uu-
ferstand the light OF his order why be reported
iavorably upon the enormous tax evies and appropr
btion bills winch came before HIM tor consideration
There S Is also an order on as from Rev. W. M
ls attncned the following exploratory nots:-
Thee is mistake; The calls boxes wine.
All the dealers and merchants who furnished these
supplies testify that they paid legislative puy
certificates. which were always promptly cashed at
the uesk of the Stato Treasurer without any inper
tinent inquiry TO the nature OF Their caima One of
these dealers Hardy solomon, gives list OF some Of
The members and officials 10 whom he supplied liquors
aud refreshments
wHoLEsALR LIQUOR SUPPLIES
ConcerpinR tho account OF Hardy solomon, the
merchant aoove mentioned, tho record oi vouchers
that In the year 1872 there we're issued 10 bm
pay certificates TO the amount OF $2a.3S0 bO, while
his itemized account SHOWS that there was aue b i'm
tor the years 1s12 only $11 203 49, proving that he
was paid $13, III OF over the amount wnlcn he
claimed TO have been furnIsned by him. The evi-
dcnce shows tuat March 4, 1919, solomon iur-
nnhed the Senate xl,63l worth Of wine and
liquors, and on tho 7tn day oi the same month
ike articles 10 the amount oil 81 552 u.s. agaregating
3,4e3 10 TINS am ount was purchased 'ior Tue
Senate" within three days, and large amounts were
furnished 10 the House at the tiino, aud slIil
other amounts were furnished TO tue Senate during
a agm