The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-02-28

oostAiu OtCSaut iuIhituf0 tOr tItelE IOOtnH,
and Brussels carpets for their floors, and
recliae on Oriental spring and sponge
mattresses, while their constituents were
being bounded down by the memorable
tax-gatherer to pay the price of these
luxu7ies.
As further illustration Of the iuordi-
nate greed of this horde of robbers, we
present the following, for nothing, how
ever small, escaped the Argus. s.eyed COM
mitteemen who so dexterously played the
game Of "sddition, division and silence :"
STATE OF SoUTH CAROLINA BENATR.
1871. To James ID. Allen, DR..
Sept, n. Bookcase. 200
Sept 81. Fitting closets.............. $40
Nov. 81. Fitting up door frames. 100
Dec. 3. Partitions in cloak room,. $50
Dec. s. Partitions in cloak room. $50
.1 $4,000
BY reference to tho evidence of Mr..
Wing, o master mechanic, it will be seen
that the partitions charged for at $3.50
each would be worth now about $26 each,
but at the time the account was rendered
it wan worth about one-third more. We
also call attention to the evidence of sew
eral witnesses who testify that the account
was raised oy inserting the figure t'3" in
the item, "Fitting up closets" and the
figure "6" in front of the two last
amounts, thus making a gain Of $500.
We find that under the head of eur
niture" accounts were presented for mules,
horses, buggies, ty' -
CARrIAGE HIRE AND HORSE yERn
These accounts were passed upon and
certificates Issued accordingly.
In this connection We refer to tie evi-
dence OF MIR: Peitingill, (under the head
of "pay certificates, ") who was dealer in
horses and mules, and who says no sold
them to different members, and was paid
il. Legislative pay certificates, naming
Speaker s. j. Lee and w. III. Jouea, OF
Georgetown, as two of such purchasers,
and that he also received pay certificates
for "horse food, buggy hire" &c.
Mr. Greenfield says ne did not sell any
buggies or carriages directly to the State,
but sold to the members and was paid for
them with pay certificates. He remem-
bers receiving certificate, which proved
to be fraudulent, in payment for q car
rage. AT one time proposition was
made to him to sell large portion of his
stock of carriages and buggies if he
would make out his account against the
State and receive pay certificates in pay
mcnt thereof, which he declined. We
also refer to the evidence given by Sallas
Randoli, a committee clerk, who testified
that o house of ill.famc in the city OF
Columbia was supplied with furniture at
the expense of the State. We also refer
TO the account of Mr.. LyBrand, dealer
in
AUsIcAI, INSTRUMENTS,
designated as No. 81 by A. o. Jones, as
an evidence that, whilst reyelling in their
Bachahalian sports, the Huses were not
neglected The soft melody of the melo.
asse;. ||ss invoked to inspire what spirits
would not.
We could not ascertain the actual
amount of carpeting purchased or used,
bnt the bills rendered amounted to sew
eral thousand dollars per annum. That
come conception may be formed Of this
enormons expenditure, We refer to the
evidence of Mr.. Purse, who measured all
the committee rooms and Offices in the
State House and committee rooms out.
side, and testities that it would require
only 1900 yards to carpet all of them.
By reference to the account of Stewart,
Sutphen & Co., designated as No. 73 by
A. 0. Jones, and reported from commit,
tee on contingent account, 1t will be
found that during one session alone they
sold to the State tH
1858 YARDS OF cARpErINa,
more than one thousand yards being
finest Brussels. Gen, Dennis and Eergt,
Williams both testify that the COMMITTEES
rooms were furnished with new carpets
every session. TThich were carried away
in the spring of the year. Gen. Dennis
says he knows that some of 1t was shipped
TO Massachusetts,.
It would be an irksome task to enume-
rate all the accounts rendered for repairs
on committee rooms. 1t is sufficient to
say that they amounted to thousands Of
dollars annually, when it is we'll known
fact that after the State House was fitted
up not Q committee room was repaired.
See evidence of Robt Scriven and others,
who state that they were in constant ct
tendance and that no work was done, ox-
cept placing the two wooden partitions.
No transaction was allowed to pass with
out paving tribute to the inordinate greed
which characterized the majority Of the
members.
STATIONERY.
Mr.. Woodrufrs evidence on this sub-
ject is rs follows: ''During Mr.. Parker's
term of Office and part of Mr.. Cardozo's,
up to the time Of specific appropriations,
pay certificates for stationery, which in
nln2ed almost everything, and for other
accounts, ware issued to such an extent
that they sold on the streets for from ten
to twenty cents on the dollar" The
evidence shows that the average member
never received over ten dollars' worth of
stationery; but the bills rendered and
paid by the State in one session amounted
to $4,000 for this commodity alone.
Clerk Jones, in his evidence, says
Stationery included refreshments, dry
goods, groceries, carpets, furniture, horses
and carriages, and miscellaneous articles
of merchandise, and the names used in
the accounts were
GENERAL A;YTHs.
To further illustrate the frauds COM
niitted under this head, we refer to
vouchera in evidence of A. o. Jcnea
designated as Nos. 81, 81 and 81, amount
ing in the aggregate TO 1866. Mr,
Jones says: ut is asserted that these ac<
counts were for books and fine stationery
furnished the members" Attention Is
called to accounts numbered from 1Of to-
Ii, inclaGs7e, where il will be seen that
In january alone one firm furnished
50, $500 worth of Stationery" or more
than fifty dollars worth per month to
each member. In addition to the atbove,
the accounts of Mesers. Bryan & nc.
Garter and Mr. Stokes, we'll known deal
ere, VINO reside In Columbia. and who
farniahed stationery to the House and