Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-03-14
State Affair5.
WHOLESALE STEALING.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

and horses, and designates some such certih
Gates in his evidence.
ST.. Keith, member from Darlington
says in his evidence before the committee thai
Senator B. F. Whittemore collected mum
ber of fraudulent certificates through the
treasurer of that county.
Your committee also have evidence that
S25,OOO and $4,000 worth Of fraudulent GER
ti6cates were issued and delivered to Hardy
Solomon, which he collected and distributed
to various State officers and members, through
what was known as the claims of the South
Carolina Bank and Trust Company" under
which head you will find the evidence in refer
ence to this most infamous swindle.
By way of comparison, we refer to tabu
lar statement marked Exhibit 81, O, H." in
which it is shown that during one session
certificates we're issued to 465 committee clerks
and to more than 400 other officers and at
taches of the General Assembly, while at the
present time there are only fifty employed
By act passed during special session of 1877
the number is reduced to less than thirty
Through this nefarious practice legislative ex
penses absorbed almost every dollar of the
tax moneys, and made serious inroads on the
proceeds of the sale of bonds. leaving every
department of the government without dol
lar.
During one session alone, certificates were
issued to the amount of 81, 1853 ,255, and more
than 100000 of this amount was recei pted
for on the books of the treasury during 6scaI
year. Allowing sl75,0O0 as the Legitimate
expense, and deducting s1O2,96O, being $3.50
per diem, and mileage for 156 members, there
remain S72,040 for the payment of the regu
larly appointed officers and attaches actually
employed, aud incidental expenses necessari
ly Incurred. Deduct this from the amount
actually issued and the result is the enormous
sum of S993, ,255 robbed from the State in one
term for the avowed perpose of
"UNITING AND HARMoNIzING THE FRIENDS.
The following are few extracts from Mr.
Woodruff's diary bearing on the matter OF
issuing pay certificates:
Wednesday, January 8, lS73.--Cardozo informed
me that Owens had drawn that 81 1857 certificate
The rascal did not tell me that. Gave Owens d
Joint certificate to collect. expected to get halt
of that"
"Thursday, January 8, ls73.-Left S675 certifi-
cate with Mckinney, which Cardozo promised to
pay to- morrow. That will relieve me to this ex
tent. 1 will send Klnck, Wickenberg q Cos
draft for S4s5, and Johnston Sl5l, making $646
The rest will keep for loose change. Received
a letter from Klinok, Wickenberg & Co. stating
they had shipped goods to Mr.. Johnston"
"wednesday, January 90, lS73.-Figured up
contingent expenses of Senate since commence
ment Of session. They amount thus far to about
S25,OOO That is pretty stiff. Gave Jamison a
check for sIOO, which makes him $500. Received
a letter from Leslie relative to his safe. Cannot
do anything for him. Will probably have to lei
Charles P. severely alone this time he is out OF
Office, and therefore no good"
TUESDAY, January 81, lS73.-Owens wants me
to make up more pay certificates, but don't
want to do it,
"Monday, February 10, 1s73.-Made out certii
cate tor the President If 5000. Told John Owens
would draw those he ordered as soon as possi-
ble"
"Thursday, February l3, lS73-Cardozo says
Jones and myself will be responsible and legal y
bound for any over issue OF pay cer.lhcates II
so our printing appropriation would be EXHAUST
ed before actually passed. Luckily we have NJ
bondsmen for the wolves to go to. The llquol
bills are very heavy, and am puzzled what to &c
about them.''
"Tuesday, December9. ls73.-Took or recepted
for $2 400 from Cardozo o.day, in the nature OF
certificate from Frankfort for S4,0O0."
Friday, January %, lS74.-Got Cardozo to cash
pay certificate for $500 for postage stamps foi
senator's
UNGRATEFUL CoLoRED MEN.
saturday, January "A, lS74.-lt is strange, but
my experience is that coored men are inclined
to be ungratetul to their best friends. But Bowley
is not much of specimen of man rather more
of tho ourang- Outang."
Saturday February 7, lS74.-The pressure on
Gleaves and self is immense. hope he will re
sist like man and refuse to issue certificates 1Oi
Smalls Mcintyre and the rest
"Friday, February l3, lS74-Will get the GER
tificates for Whittemore, and will ask the Presi.
dent to let me draw them. Do not know what
Owens, as chairman of finance committee, will
want"
idea of renewing an old certificate for $1,000 OF
last year for one Of this year. Mcintyre wants
the same thing. Both members of committee to
examine into sinking fund and desire to sink q
little more in their pockets
TUESDAY, March 10, lS74.-Received threat
enng letter from Finnegan, who says his name
has been used in certificate without authority
that he knows all about it, and that Briggs got
them for him. 1 know nothing about it. The
certificates were put in among the rest. l re-
member this Briggs making reform speech, in
tended simply for effect, in his county of York
The reform question appears to be taking hold
of the politicians in the Legislature, and each
will now try to outstrip the other. l suppose
will have to pay Whittemores expenses this ses
sion. Will tell Jervey that President Gleaves
declines to sign so many certificates. CardoZc
wants 81, 400 certificate. That is pretty rough
I think Cardozo can afford to let that alone; but
suppose it will have to be drawn"
"wednesday, March II, lS74.-Was unable tc
keep much memoranda this day in consequence
of pressure upon me for certificates. At times
was puzzled to know what to do or think"
"Friday, March l3, ls74.-Do not know what
to do for Whttemore. Will have to make out
certificates by the bushel, I suppose
Saturday, March IA, ls7l.-The senators ap'
pear determined to do something against Gleaves
It's all wrong. Even Sperry, from the House
wants something out of the contingent fund o
the Senate. He will not get it. If such meI
come back next year there will be terrible hgh
over the spois."
HoLCOMBE AND DUNN.
''Sunday, March Is, lS74.-Must try to take
care of some senators. Want to do something t0l
Holcombe and Dunn. Am sorry now that the
claim bill did not pass, but as Summers, Berry
Harvie and Allen and others have got their claim
through, trust we will not see their long faces
around the General Assembly again. Signed {
number of pay certificates, and promised to dc
all that could for each senator. All seem to be
surprised about financial matters. Senator White
should not complain, for he got the certificate fol
Bristow Davidson. Corwin appears easy. He is
not hard man by any means What are the
prospects for business? Cardozo seems to be
willing to pay with no money in the treasury
entirely too willing. If there was any he would
be unable to do anything"
ALMOST SIGNED THE STATE AWAY.
sTuesday, March II, lS74.-Signed and gave
out certificates to great number to-day. Almos
signed the State away. l did hope that Gleave'
and Lee would be able to stand the pressure. It's
Just awful"
. "wednesday, March IS, 1S74.-Settled will
Dunn and Holcombe satisfactorily to-day. Gave
them certificate ofthe Republican Printing Com
pany, for which they can get certificates of in
debtedness. Nash is mad at somebody. Cam
help him, and l suppose he will continue mad
Gave great many parties their certificates to-
day. suppose they really amount to nothing
"Tuesday, March "a, 1874. Called on Cardozt
to-day, and gave him an order for $500 for TIT
fund of the regular session printing. Trust these
will close his mouth for the balance of his term
he shall not have another red cent out of me-
"wednesday, May q, lS74.-Senator White
more called and talked for some time, but i