The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-02-18
EXPOSITION MONEY HELD UP.

Evans Pay for the Atlanta Exhibit.
The House had under consideration
the appropriation bill, and that por-
ton of which proposed to defray the
expenses Of the exhibit made at Allan,
ia caused more discussion than any
thing else.
The bill provided for an a%ppropria-
tion of $4,000 to refund the amount
expended by the Governor for the
State exhibit at Atlanta. 1t will be
recalled that Governor Evans very
laudably appealed to the people of the
State to defray expenses, but with the
exceptions OF Charleston and possibly
a few other places no money for the
purpose vas given. The Governor
then borrowed $4,000 on his personal
note and that of Treasurer Bates to
defray the expenses of the exhibit.
Mr.. L.. j.. Williams said that he could
not vote for this section unless he had
more light on the subject. He had
boon informed that full information as
to this expenditure would be given the
Legislature, but until that was OBJ.
tanned he would not feel justified in
voting the appropriation. He moved
to postpone debate.
Mr.. Blackwell objected and held
that the House was just as we'll pre-
pared to consider the matter now as
1t w would be.
Mr.. Winkler said that possibly the
appropriation was a just one, but he
thought that more information should
be given the House about it and he,
consequently, favored postponing de-
bate.
The House, however, refused by a
large majority 10 postpone the debate
and Mr.. L.. j. Williams moved to
strike out the provision. He asked
that Mr.. Robertson, of Abbeville, who
was. on the committee which looked
into the matter, give the House some
information on the subject.
Mr.. Robertson came from his seat
to the middle aisle and members gen
orally paid close attention to what he
said. He spoke Of the Governors Of
forts to get h people to raise the nee
essary amount for the exhibit and it's
practical failure. With a patriotic
desire, he said, to see his State pro-
perly represented and thus do his peo-
pie good, the Governor borrowed
$4,000. Mr.. Robertson then spoke OF
the success of the State exhibit and
the exposition generally, and showed
how the State had been benefited and
urged that as a reason why the House
should vote the appropriation. AS far
as the accounts were concerned, he
was one of a sub committee appointed
to investigate them and so far as he
could see the money Aad been honest
ly spent. The only legal irregularity
THAI he saw was that the commission
er had been paid his salary for jan
uary while the exposition closed De-
cember 31.-This was right he be-
lieved because the State exhibit had
to bo removed from Atlanta and, OF
course, the commissioner who super
yised 1T should receive his salary for
the work.
Mr.. LID. Williams sail that 1t was
with reluctance tina he had to take
the position he did. AS q matter OF
TACT the members OF this House and all
Oh the executive officers of the govern.
ment knew In December, 1894, hat
the exposition was to be held. The
Genera Assembly. which alone has the
power 20 appropriate money, did not
appropriate anything then. He went
on 10 say that he feared this thing was
gong TOO lar. Such acts have been
by MS in others and shall
we commit the same sin and condemn
H.! we do mo know where this thing
WIN STOP ana the members of the
Geherat Assembly owed 1T to them
selves 10 reDuke such practices. They
shouldnt lteW things OF the kind,
ne SAID,
MI floyd sald that he was not ia
a TO Wh1te%ashtng anything.
Evans a done what he did
purely tnrough patriotlc motives and
me questlon is whether the General
VIII say 1t was done for
5elnSn enQS or TO turther the best In