Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-02-28

Not satisfied with the establishment of bar
room in the capitol, they employed porter,
who had charge of the "refreshment" room
The porter states that for six years the State
House bar-room opened at 8 o'clock in the
morning, and kept open until to the next
morning; that during that time some one was
constantly there eating, smoking, or drinking,
and that Sunday formed no exception to the
rule, and he says che never saw bar room
equal to the State House refresbment room,
for drinking, smoking and talking" that a
large majority of the members who assembled
in the room, were Republicans, but that Dem
ocratic Senators and Representatives were
there also. He mentioned the names Of Sen
ators Bieman and Holcombe, and Represen-
tative R. M. Smith as daily visitors, "that
many of the members would be at the room
before breakfast hunting drink, or eye-open-
er" He could not estimate the exact amount
of liquor drank, but asserted that it averaged
several gallons per day, with considerable
amount of wine, ale and porter thrown in.
The best cigars aud wines we're furnished, and
that often what he considered good article
would be rejected. He could not keep suf.
ficient amount of cig gars on hand to supply
the demand, as many of them filled one or
two of their pockets when leaving, and would
frequently carry of bottle of champagne in
the same way. He is porter now, and SAYS
that no refreshments are served, as that busi-
ness stopped when Governor Hampton took
charge of the State House.
1t will be observed that the State furnish
ed room, porter, and refreshments for our
Statesmen" while they we're plotting how
to rob the people they pretended to represent; !;
ready to vote for any measure that would
enrich themselves at the public expense. In
addition to the refreshments furnished at the
State House, large quantities of wines, IL
quors and cigars and other things were sent
to the hotels, boarding houses and residences
of the State officials, Senators, members and
their friends This is shown by the vouch.
ers and accounts rendered, and the evidence
of Woodruff, who says, that "the matter of re.
freshments, like others, assumed the largest
proportions, and orders were given for IL
quors and cigars which were sent to the hotels,
boarding houses and residences of the men,
bers and their friends"
Clerk Jones says that the most extrava.
CANT accounts were rendered for refreshments
for committee rooms, and that he found it
useless to demonstrate.
Sergeanta..Ar rms Williams testifes that the
House did not keep refreshment room, that
he was ordered to buy wines and liquors for
the members, and that he did buy them
from Mr.. Gibson and Mr.. Solomon. His
evidence is corroborated by Mr.. Gibson, and
the orders given him, few Of which we SUBJ
NIT with this report. Among the members
thus furnished we find the names of T. Hur-
ley, member from Charleston, P. Simkins,
from Edge6eld, j. D. Boston, from Newber-
ry, James A. Bowley, of Georgetown, Speak
er s. j. Lee of Aiken. We submit speci-
men order given to Mr.. Gibson, for James
A. Bowley, which was delivered in one day:
"One box champagne, one box OF port wine
one box whisky, one box brandy, one box sher-
ry wine, three boxes cigars"
Mr.. Bowley was one of the leading colored
members Of the House. and chairman Of the
committee Of Ways and Means, and it is easy
to understand why he reported favorably upon
the enormous tax levies and appropriation
bills of the House. We append an order to
Mr.. Gibson from Rev. w. M. Thomas, men,
Der from Coleton, and chairman of the CON-
mttee on claims:
"Mr. Gibson there is mistake, the order calls
for two boxes Of wine, please send the other"
w. M. THOMAS.
Mr. Gibson, in his evidence, says: he was
paid in legislative pay certificates for all sup
plies, and that he always furnished the best
articles. We also refer to the evidence of
VIM. M. Fine, who kept restaurant in this
city, and who says he furnished supplies con-
ssting of ''eatables, wines, liquors and cigars
to different legislative committees for which
he received pay certificates" and that the
largest amount issued to him at one time, for
these supplies, was 81 800.
Hardy Solomon, a dealer in groceries, has
Numerous large accounts among the vouchers.
He testi6es that he furnished Woodruff and
Jones with supplies, but not as clerks of their
respective houses, and that he was paid by
the State Treasury On presentation of the pay
certificates which were issued to him for his
accounts. In connection with the evidence of
Mr. Solomon we call attention to his itemized
accounts, which were sworn to by him and an
nexed to his evidence under the head Of sup.
plies, wherein appear the names of the follow
ing persons to whom he furnished "refresh
ments:"
F. S. Jacobs, Senators John Wilson, w.
E. Hocombe, D. Bieman, j. H. White and
G. D. Hayne, Governor R. K. Scott, Comp
troller General J. L. Neagle, Lieutenant Gov
ernor Ransier, State Treasurer Niles G. Park
er, Speaker F. j. Moses, Representatives G..
G. Bowen, j. Fielder Myers, S. L. Duncan,
R. H. Humbert, DR.. B. A. Boseman, - Mil
ler, - Mclaughlin, John B. Dennis, b.
Byas, w. j. KcKinlay, John Dix, r. M.
Smith, w. H. Jones, Nelson Davies, and
General William Gurney, County Treasurer
of Charleston.
Your committee also find on the examina-
ton of this itemized account, and the evidence
adduced before US, that Messrs. Jones and
Woodruff made payments on several occa-
sions by check and cash; nevertheless, on
examining the payments made by the State
Treasurer to Mr.. Solomon on pay certificates
issued to him, it is shown that he has drawn
$4,000 over and above his entire account, and
worse still, these certificates we're all ISSUED
before the 1st of March, 1873, after which
time he was paid otherwise. We also find
that in the year 1872 there were issued to
him certificates to the amount Of 24,3oO.5O,
while his itemized account shows there was
only due him for the years 1871 and 1872
sl1 ,2O34S, proving that he was paid sl3,-
177O2 over the amount claimed to have been
furnished by him. Comment is unnecessary.
We know of no better method of illustra-
ting the reckless expenditure of money for
this class of supplies, than by referring to the
accounts rendered, some of which will be
found appended to the evidence, and we call
attention to accounts designated Exhibits
w 2" and w g." in Woodruff's evidence,
where it is shown that on March 4, 1872,