Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-06-17
WHO GOT THE coMMIs-
SIONS?
More Light on the South Caroli-
ma Bond Scandal.

swERs, AND HE ONLY MAKES A
Personal ExPLANATIoN--EX-
GOVERNOR TILLMAN DECLINES TO
Discuss THE QUESTION FOR THE
PRESENT.
New York Times.
Baltimore, Md, June 12.-The
New York Times yesterday printed
reply from State Treasurer Bates,
of South Carolina, to the article
published on the 4th, regarding
the management of the South Car
olina bonds issued in 1898, by
/ United States Senator Tillman,
Treasurer Bates and Governor
Evans.
The article in the Times referred
to seems to have caused much sur
prise and Indignation in South
Carolina and other parts of the
South. Senator Tillman has been
so prominent in leading the "free-
silver r-or-bust" movement, and 80
fierce in his denunciatlons of the
methods of the President and Sec
retary Carlisle, that the narration
of his own operations as a fnan-
cier caused much excited COM
ment. Nearly every newspaper in
South Carolina published the case
as made out in the Times, and de-
msnded an explanation of the Gu
rious circumstances revealed by
the evidence in the suit now pend
ing here over commissions on the
bonds.
In response to all this Treasur-
er Bates alone replies, although it
was announced a week ago that he
and Gov. Evans were pre- pairing Il
''jo. mt reply" The Treasurer sim-
ply asserts that the $4,000 he was
shown to have received personally
from the bond syndicate was hon.
estly earned by ni.n, and that his
employment by the syndicate was
after the completion of the bond
transactien, and did not influence
his official actiol. 1t is worth no.
ting, by the way, however that
1900 for few weeks work IS
quite liberal pay IN South Carroll
na, even with some clerk hire and
expenses deducted, the pay of the
State Treasurer being only $4,000
year. The Treasurer does not
explain why or on what terms Mr..
Rhind, of Augusta, Ca, was en-
ployed as the States official bro
ker, and received exclusive con-
troll of the handling of the bonds
three separate times, rangil g from
fourteen months to six months
before they were to be issued, the
State having offered a bonus. first
of 100000 to place 4 per cents,
theu uf $4,000 to place 4 LIS.
He does not explain what the New
York and Richmond brokers who
organized tie syndicate for Mr..
Rhind meant when they informed
members of that syndicate that of
the $4,000, or two-thirds of the
total bonus unaccounted for, the
bulk would have to be given to
parties in South Carolina having
political influence whose names
had letter not be mentioned"
Senator Tillman and Mr.. Bates
were the commissioners chosen by
the Legislature, and they hal en-
tire control of the matter for the
State. Governor Evans was then
recognized as the controlling pow
er in the Legislature, and repre-
sentative there of the Tillman
State Government. He had ap-
preached Mr.. Rhind, and he and
his uncle, Major Gary, who was
paid $1,000, were Rhind's attor-
neys. Mr.. Rhind has not denied
that he made that statement to the
two brokers, nor has he denied
that he told them. he would only
get of the $4,000 left for him, af-
ter be paid them and Major Gary,
enough to pay his travelling ex-
penses and time.
On these matters all concerned
are silent. We are not even told
whether the amount of Governor
Evans fee as attorney for Rhind
has ever been determined or paid.
Senator Tillnlan, Gov. Evans
aid Mr.. Rhind were in Augusta
together a few days. after the pub
lication of the articlein the Times
accidentally, the Governor says.
No one of the three has made
statement or spoken word in re-
ply. Treasurer Bates confines him
self to explaining one fact which
seemed to bear against him per-
sonally, and which was no essen
tial part of the general bond trans
action.
Senator Tillman is quoted as
saying that he has no time to re-
ply to "lylng newspapers CORES
pondents," and that he will an
swer only when charges are made
against him by "some responsible
person." He does not question
any of the statements made. They
are from the sworn testimony OF
Messrs. Rhind, Tillman and
Evans. and of the brokers with
mLa.a tho,, daalt and The rnann.