The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-06-17

most actively engaged III DelalI OF tne
syndicate at the time is clearly set
forth in the testimony. Certain mem
bers of the syLuicate expressed Curl
osity and interest, natural, perhaps,
in the circumstances. They inquired
why it was that of s118, 900 bonus Of
fered by the State to purchasers Of the
bonds, only s39 1880 was available for
the actual purchasers who were to fur
nish the money, while $78,7O was to
60 to Mr.. Rhind, who vas furnishing
no money and apparently taking no
active part in the dioker. The Rich
mond broker told them he understood
presumably from Mr.. Rhind-that
the bulk Of that sum was to "be d.
vided among parties in South Carolina
who had political influence The
New York broker, who vas in close
association with MI. Rhind, and whose
opportunities for knowledge were best
of all, replied that they would better
not investigate that that it was to 60
to people who would better not be
known
1t reads that way in the testimony
as taken.
When Mr.. Rhind was on the stand,
he was not pressed regarding his use
of his part of the bonus, and offered
no explanation.
1t is not in evidence in this case, but
it is a fact capable Of easy and direct
proof, that Mr.. Rhind, while holding
the option on the bond issue and en-
deavoring to induce the formation Of a
syndicate to take it, stated that he
would not get more than enough from
it to pay for his time and expenses.
1t is also true that members of the
syndicate who were willing to deal d.
rectly with the State and take the
bonds for commission of three-fourths
of one per cent. were officially inform
ed that no propositions could be con-
sidered unless they were sent through
Mr.. Rhind-that not even an offer OF
par net without any commission, would
be considered, although at that very
time Mr.. Rhind was demanding a 1t
per cent. commission.
When the time came for division of
the bonus Of $75, 900, the New York
man took $40, 900 and the Richmond
man S., 900, for special services and
expenses. Mr.. Rhind got $48, 500, and
Major Gary $1,000. A peculiar and
perhaps significant circumstance is
that Mr.. Rhind took his S48, 900 not in
one draft on the Baltimore Trust Com
pany, but in three separate drafts, all
payable the same day-onefo for s25, 900,
one for 1000, and one for 1850.
To sum up, according to the sworn
evidence on record
Mr.. Rhind, who has no special
prominence or standing in business
circles, and who was not a citizen or
resident of South Carolina, was ap-
preached by the present Governor.
Evans, then the recognized admins
tration leader in the Legislature.
He was given by Governor Tillman
and Treasurer Bates an exclusive op-
ton to place S 5000, 900 4 per cents at
a commission Of s per cent. fourteen
months before the time for the bonds
to be issued.
He failed to effect this, and Gov,
enor Tillman declared that, after q
personal visit to New York, he became
convinced that a 4 per cent. bond
could not be placed. The Governor
again gave an exclusive option tc
Rhind to place a 44 per cent loan:
The syndicate formed to take this fell
to pieces. For the. third time Mr..
Rhiud was given the exclusive option.
The men who composed the syndi.
cate got $39, 900, or tn. ee-quarters Of
l per cent. The men who organized
| the syndicate got from Rhind S25, 900.
or less than one-half of l per cent,
Mr.. Rhind realized $40 900, or nearly
l per cent, on the option given him
long in advance Of the time for placing
the loan. So far as that part of it is
concerned, it appears to have been
free gift from the State Of South Car
DINA to a chosen citizen Of Georgia,
who employed the present Governor
Evans and his uncle as his attorneys.
The $4,000 and odd paid Treasurer
Bates by the syndicate is said here te
have been for services in removing the
money sent by the syndicate from
| Charleston to Columbia.
Governor Tillman demanded that
the syndicate pay for its bonds in cur
| rency in. Columbia. That was in June;
1893, about the time Of the panic, anc
it was represented to him that the cur
rency could not be obtained, except II
silver, which would load six freight
cars. He replied with the declaration
that the six cars should be delivered
to him at the State line, and that hf
would order out the troops to escort il
to Columbia.
"By -" he exclaimed to the
banker who was negotiating with him
"you can scare me by threatening tt
pay in silver" But he was finally
pacifed and induced to accept ex
change on Charleston.
1t is possible hat the continued EN-
pluyment Of Nh. Rhind and the re
newals of the exclusive option to hin
were the results of the confidence ht
inspired in his ability, and that biz
misunderstanding commission
is his exclusively, not to be shared
with anybody. 1t is also possible tina
the duties of Mr.. Evans, now Cover
nor, as attorney for Mr.. Rhind did mo-
interfere with or affect his actions ane
course in the Legislature, and that ht
could and did separate his private in
t~erests and his public duties entirely
1t is further possible that State Treas
urer Bates earned the $4,000 paid hlu
by the syndicate fairly and fully. Ii
the language Of Marc Antony, the!
are Fall honorable men,"
1t is not possible, however, for Till
man and his followers, in view of thl'
transaction, with any consistency t.
continue TO accuse the President ane
Secretary Carlisle of mismanagement
waste, favoritism, or worse, or to de
nounce with horror the idea OF attor
neys or members of trusts, corpora
tions and Indicates sitting in Con
gress.
Little Boy "The preacher say
there is no marryin' in heaven Lit