The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-02

tnat he could be bought. Here il
what he swears:
~. Illlman states that you COM
Pla'hcd or having made SO little be-
cause OF Mr.. lthind's commissi ion?
"A. never mentioned Rhind or
Nblnd's commission from the fact that
had been put on my guard by Ian
caster and Williams in referring to
this thing. that Il certain amount of
money, this money on this 81 600, 900 of
bonds, was to be paid to Mr.. 2himl
ana would not do for me to investigate
1T; that l knew enough about politics
10 understand certain people had pull
and intimated to me that that was
going to parties, the powers to be, and
ior that reason | was particularly
| cautious not to mention such q thinG
to Tillman, less it might cause him to
fly up.
| Let me go little further. | spoke
about the expenses incurred in this
thing and that somebody was drawing
q commission. | recol1cct saying that
very we'll, and he (Tillman) said we
had no business paying the commissions
to anybody, that If we were dealing
direct with him there was no need to
I pay commission to anybody, and that
we were nothing but set of fools
using that language, if we wanted to
Minds name was not mentioned"
This does not sound like man who
was getting part of Rhind's profit. 1t
will be seen that this quarrel arose
among members OF the syndicate who
claim that Mr.. Lancaster, who was Il
partner in the deal, should not receive
Il certain part OF Rhind's commissions
but should divide with his brethren.
In ordor to show that Lancaster had
deceived them and thus get a standing
IN court, some OF them had sworn that
Lancaster told them he was to get
nothing but his travelling expenses
nnd l that the rest went to politicians
What was the necessity of buying
politicians ? There was no Legislation
needed there was no influence to be
used or necessary; they were dealing
with Governor Tillman and Treasurer
Bates, who, alone, under the acts OF
the Legislature above referred to. had
the authority to dispose of the bonds
and who, as was publicly known, had
been unable to do. If there is any
man in South Carolina who had pull
on Ben Tillman do no not know him.
He does his own thinking and pulling
and his integrity and honesty is too
we'll known to require any com mment.
Governor Eyans then read Mr..
given some extracts
60 Well, did you succeed in form
ing that syndicate or finding purchas-
ers for the whole 'ssuc on those terms?
"A. We did not. at this juncture,
the exact date | can not give from
memory, someone introduced bill
into the South Carolina legislature
authorizing the extension of the per
cent. Brown consols for four years at 6
per cent, which was evidently done
by some one unfriendly to the admin
lstration OF South Carolina, and that
had the effect Of throwing those peo-
pie off entirel y-many of them. They
said that they could not negotiate for
Il II per cent. bond, when the State
was considering the extension of its
bonds at q per cent, and when / say
they say understand me, | do not
mean any person ; / ain giving you the
! general view Of what | gathered at
the time. Mr.. French was i'll and not
active in getting up the syndicate as a
we'll man might have been"
In another place Mr.. Rhind speaks
OF the commission which he was to
got, saying he started out to work for
commission of IL per cent.
| MIR. Rhind on the redirect examina-
tion by Mr.. Venable tells OF the $l 900
fee he promised to pay Major Gary of
Augusta, Ca, and says:
"Q. Now, you have said also that
you agreed to pay Mr.. John Gary
Evans fee. What was the amount Of
that fee
"A. 1t has never been settled it is
like yours and Mr.. Baetjer's; it is sub
Ject to an agreement"
20. What was the fee for; services
as an attorney?
|, Services as an attorney he has
| been working with me from the start
on this thing, and he has givcn me
point after point in regard to the law,
ond have consulted. him as O resident
OF South Caroline and as practicing
attorney there. | have consulted both
OF these gentlemen, and he has como
on to Baltimore here in this case, |
don't know how many times half q
dozen times, at least, in this matter.
and until he was nominated and elected
governor he was my active adviser in
the case.
"GRD-Q. And you owe him IL fee
for his services, but the amount Is not
settled?
a. The amount is in aboyance.
'7RD-Q. Have you agreed or un-
dertaken to pay any other persons for
their services in connection with this
matter?
a. No person whatsoever except
the $l 900 that | have stated, payable
! to the Bank of Charleston"
Governor Evansoconcluded what he
had to say on the subject thus:
y AS to my connection with the cases
IN our Supreme Court | have this to
say: | was sent for by Governor Till
man to come to Columbia after the
contracts had been signed for the sale
OF the bonds. He related that hair
splitting lawyer had raised point
against the constitutionality of this
act, and the syndicate would not take
the bonds unless they were decided
constitutional by the Supreme Court.
then brought an action In my own
manic against Tillman and Bates, en-
joining them from entering into the
contract with the syndicate. The case
was heard by the Supreme Court, the
Attorney General representing the
State. The Supreme Court decided
the act TO be constitutional. Governor
Tillman refused to pay me foe upon
the ground that he had no money for
that purpose, but insisted that he at