The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-14

domicile in Jail 10 the tales which were
told in court by the mute but eloquent
shorthand writing of Woodruff. By
means of this book light has been thrown
on some of the corrupt transactions OF
Daniel 81. Chamberlain. Il
Following the example Of other OIL
cial reformers, who have found the need
of a journalistic trumpet with which to
sound forth their OWL praises, Chamber
lain established here in Columbia daily
newspaper called the Union Herald, in
which all the stock was owned by HIM
self, Cardozo, his State Treasurer; S w.
Melton, his Attorney General; and one
G. C. Pufer, who at the time was re-
ceiver of the old Bank of the State. In
| a short time Melton became weary of the
questionable company he was keeping,
and parted with. his stock to Chamber
lain, which transfer, of course, gave to
the latter an increase of power in the
conduct of the newspaper. The Union.
Herald was used rs u vehicle for the pro-
mitigation of the peculiar political views
of Chamberlain and his henchman, Car
dozo, and for q long time il was easily
and munifcently supported from the ILL
gotten gains of these two now notorious
Performers" The Union Herald was e1-
tensively quoted by the Charleston Ne,0s
and Courier as an exponent of all that
was good and pure in the science of State
! government. But after while the fast
Increasing expenses of the "official news
paper" were found to Be of such magni-
tude as could not be met by the pocket
money of two State officers alone, and it
waa found necessary to seek elsewhere
for the funds wherewith to provide for its
ustenance.
| About this time an opportune moment
came for Chamberlain to. make two dnan-
cial strikes. With his accustomed deI-
terity be took advantage Of the occasion,
and from the two combined he managed
to clear $11 900, which went into the de-
pleted Golfers of the Unim-Hcrald, and
| gave to that languishing newspaper an
other breathing spell. The evidence as
to these transactions is to be found in the
records of the investigating committee,
4 and they make out a clear case of the
most barefaced bribery and corruption on
the part of Chamberlain.
To provide for the floating debt of the
State, which consisted in greater part of
past due pay certificates, printing claims,
&c.. the large majority of which were
owned by Woodruff & Jones, proprietors
of the Republican Printing Company,
the Legislature passed an act appointing
by name q. commission of three respecta-
bic gentlemen, whose duty it should be
to examine into the validity of all claims
which should be presented, and to pass
upon their validity or illegality. These
gentlemen were Mr.. j.. P. Southern,
president of the Union Bank of this city ;
Mr.. w. B. Gulick, cashier of the Caro-
| lima National Bank here; and Mr.. G. P.
CaYender, most accomplished account
ant, and who, having been for many
iyears legislative clerk to the Financial
Committees of the two houses, was thor
oughly acquainted with all the various
claims which would come before the
commission. With the appointment OF
I4hese men all the holders of the claims,
democrats as we'll as Republicans, were
fully and perfectly. satisfied, but when
the bill had passed providing for their
appointment, to the surprise of all the
Ipeople of the State, Gov. Chamberlain
linterposed his executive veto, and plain
lily minated that his opposition to the
bill arose from the fact that the General
Assembly themselves appointed the COM
missioners, instead of giving to him their
appointment. Of course the Legislature
was obliged TO yield, as most cf the Dem.
ocratic members supported the veto, and
Immediately thereupon another bill was
passed, giving to the Governor the power
of appointment
This bill having been presented to the
Governor for approval, he Immediately
sent for Woodruff and Jones to attend on
him in his Office, whittier they at once re-
paired. When they arrived he plainly
and without circumlocution impaired to
them the object he had in view. Wood
ruff and Jones have both sworn before
the committee that he called their atten-
tion to the bill above referred to, and
told them that he was undecided
what to do with it-whether to approve
or veto it. He reminded them that
they owned most of the claims which
would come before the commission for
adjudication, and that it must be very i'm
por.ant to them whether the bill became
| iau or was rejected. He said that on the
one hand he could veto it, and be sup
ported by the Democratic strength of
the two houses, together with some Of the
Republicans, which would, of course, de-
prive them-Woodruff and Jones-of the
means to have their CLANS provided for,
and that on the other hand he could
choose the alternative. of approving the
bill, and appoint such commissioners as
would approve any claims that he asked
them to approve. Chamberlain further
pointed out that he could have Wood
rutf's and Jones' claims approved or re-
rejected, just as he chose. He proposed
to them that if they would pay to
him $4,000 in cash, he would approve
the bill, and appoint such commissioners
under it as would provide for their all
claims (amonnting to some $50, ,000), and
would turn over to them as considera-
ton t,oo shares in the Union Herald. He
said that the wanted the money immedi-
ately as the Union Herald was about to ex-
pirs, for the want of funds, and that he was
determined that their claims should not
be paid unless they would turn over this
money. ~s..
Woodruff and Jones have testified that,
finding themselves completely in his
power, and seeing no other Way open to
payment of their claims, they agreed to
pay Chamberlain the money which he
demanded. The next day they paid him
Ia cash the sum he had asked, but de-
clined to receive the two shares in the
Union Herald Company. as their owner
ship of two shares would have constitu-
them q minority of the owners of the
paper, and would have given them
no voice or power in its conduct,
while it would rendered them part
ly responsible for the running expenses
and debts.
The money having been paid over to
him, Governor Chamberlain approved
the bill, and appointed suitable commits
:. opl ha