The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-14

Haskell and Mr.. Tillman are incorrect,
and then himself falls into two palpable
errors; and, lastly, if two or more
Especial correspondence at Columbia
make nisstatements and draw dcduc-
tions therefrom, all in defence Of the
powers that be and their policy, and to
show Mr.. Tillman up Us an ignoramus
and al innocent or Intentional liar,
how will the people ever learn the
TRUTH How will this meddlesOme,
impudent, ignorant farmer, who dares
to "whimper' and "yelp' i'll Demo-
cratic conventions, and whom the
farmers must "unload' if they want to
get anything from the manipulators
and '.bosses," how will he solve this
sum in political arithmetic and make
the taxpayers understand it? The task
may appear difficult one, but l must
attempt it, and from habit, as we'll as
because want to reach the people OF
the whole State, must ask you to al
low me space in your columns to defend
myself.
In the State Convention, which met
on the 18th instant, 1 made the asser-
ton that the expenditures of the State
Government were S240, 600 more i'll 1887
than they were in 1879. This was
denied by Col. Haskell. That evening
wrote note to the comptroller gene
raj, Mr.. Werner, asking him to examine
the official records and decide who was
correct. lhave just seen in the News
and Courier and Augusta Chronicle OF
26th May the statement of Gen. Ner-
ner, together with the explanations
and comments of the especial CORE
spondents' of their papers.
Gen. Werner makes the difference in
the expenditures for 1887 and 1873
S22O,O0O in only $4,000 in cash was
paid as interest on the public debt that
wear, the balance of the interest being
funded. Further, that had the whole
of the interest been paid in cash there
would have been a difference of only
S27, coo in round numbers but goes on
to explain that the two years named. lie
was not called on to make any such eN-
PLANTATION but to decide simply the qucs-
ton of veracity between Col. Haskell
and myself. His official position and sup
posed familiarity with the matter had
enabled him to convince the Conven-
ton that WAS talking of something
knew nothing about. / am glad, how
ever, Gen. Werner has made it, as ii
was fact. ! did not know, and l am
only dcsirous Of having the truth made
known. But Gen. Werner himself has
fallen into two mistakes, of course unln-
tentionally.
The total expenditures Of the STATE
for the fiscal year ending October 81
1887, were:
(See comptroller gcnerals's re-
port,
1887, page 13l.................. S3S1,9!!-
For 1879. ......... 1873
Difference ce..................!.. S233S, IN
On page 1l2, comptroller general:
report, 1857, the expenditures are put a
Gen. Vcrner's figures-S9G9, 7S7. He, o.
somebody else, must explain the differ
ence of $1S,lS | am not able to do it
Again, Gen. Werner states that 'only
Sill, 900 was appropriated to pay inter
est on the public debit in 1879. Blu
$l99, 144 was actually paid that year il
interest as will he seen by reference t
the comptroller generals report TO
1879, page 100, leaving s175, 43S due fo
interest that year, and to pay whicl
there was in the treasury cash bal
ance, October q, 1879, of S243, ASS. Gen
Werner says this interest was "fundeC
in consol bonds" If so, what wen
with the money reserved to pay it
Perhaps Col. Haskell, who knows s.
much about our finances, will take tn
trouble to explain: Thus far I hav
shown that, as taken from the officla
reports, was approximately correct II
saying the expenditures for 1887 eN
ceeded those for 1879 S240,000. l hat
no intention to deceive any one in no
mentioning the unpaid interest Q
which l knew nothing at the time
taking the aggregates just as l foun'
them. But since have been forced t
study this question more thoroughly
/ will do some more figuring and Civ
as full and fair a statement as | can
l have tried in vain to obtain a full an
complete set of the comptroller genel
ais reports so that l might arrive at a
the facts, but have found it imposs
BILE to get them. If Col. Haskell o
Gen. Werner will sell, lend or give m
these books, I will try to learn just hoy
and where our money goes, and VIII
with large increase in the phosphat
royalty, our taxes are on tile increaS
too.
Now here are some figures whic
will enable your readers to get bette
idea of the real facts in the case. The
arc similar or extraordinary expense
incurred in the years named: