The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-10-16
No LIGHT rs ET..
THE WHOLE MATTER GOES TO
THE LEGISLATURE.
Mcssrs. Williams and Weston Mako q
Report as to Their Trip to Cincin-
nati-Some Interesting Letters Given
the Public.

As has been predicted the mission
OF Messrs. Williams and Weston to
Cincinnati amounted to naught. Their
report shows that fact. The whiskev
men wouldn't tell them anything and
they came back and ask tho Legisla-
turo to take the matter in hand. realia-
ing that thc Board is powerless Their
report settles all further investigation
by the Board. 1t has done all it comld
and must give the whole matter over
to the Legislature.
THE REPORT.
The following is their report made to
the Board
CoLUMBIA, S. c., Oct. 7, 1896.
To tn" state Board Of Control:
We, your committee appointed at
your last meeting To 60 to Atlanta and
Cincinnati to collect evidence against
Dispensary officials. if any there is,
tending to show that rebates were i'm
properly received, report:
That We went to Atlsnta, Ga, and
there found that it was impossible to
recover damaging telegram said to
have been sent from there to Commits.
sioner Nilsson 10y his son in July, 80,
A. under the rules of the company
which is that all matter over six months
old had been destroyed if eycr in ex-
istencc
We then proceeded to Cincinnati ami
as result present herewith statement
from the Poeblcs and Live Oak Com
panies who have been charged with pay
ing rebates which deserves but little
comment Mt our hands The officers
and employees of those companies refuse
to discuss any of these matters with us,
except through their attorneys-rcfuse
to allow stcnogrnphic report of our
interview with them and rufusc to be
bound by nny verbal statement thev
might make.
Their written statement am cunts to
little else than an advertisement Tor
themselves, and without charging any
body with wrong doing, we respectfully
suggest TINT the Legislature is the only
power in this State with sufficient au-
thority to grapple with this matter and
expose damaging facts in any exist.
While in Cincinnati we approached
other parties who had dealing with tho
Dispensary, but with III satisfactory re-
suits
l.. j. WILLIAMS,
For the Board of Control.
FRANCIS III. WESTON,
For the Legislative Committee.
The Boaro adopted tho following.
This Board of Control. on account
OF the many rumors affecting the in
tegrity of the management of the bus.
mess Of tho State Dispensary before
the present board took charge of its
affairs, deemed itproper to enter upon
an investigation of the truth of such
rumors rs far as they affect employees
OF the institution. This investigation
has been made as thorough and as
searching as possible, in view of the
limited extent of the power and au-
thority of this board.
During the Investigation, the board
LAS received statements, under oath,
OF all persons and all officials who ap-
peared before it. A joint committee,
composed of one member of the board
and ono member of the Legislative
Executive Committee, was sent to the
city OF Atlanta and the city of Gin
cinnati to investigate the business
transactions between firms who have
sold liquors to the State and tho Off
cials of the State DispeDsary unGer the
former Act of the Legislature. The re-
port OF this joint committee has been
made. The hearing before this
board was held with open doors, and
the testimony has been published in
the daily newspapers for the informa-
tion of the public. 1t is the sense of
this board that Mt the proper time the
General Assembly shall be fully APP
ptised OF the disadvantages under
which this investigation was made, that
they may take such steps as may be
deemed advisable.
The evidence that has been taken il,
IN the opinion Of this board, INSULT
clent to show that any Office or en-
ployc OF the State Dispensary has re-
celved rebates or commissions on sales
to the DispcEsary, or to trace any
money SO received Ia the personal pos.
session 0I any srch officer or employc.
or to PROVE that any such officer or
omp!oyc has participated in such re-
batcs or commissions.
NhiSi,cy Meas Letters.
The letters referred to in the rcport
a-e a. Gollows:
CtNrlNNArI, O., Sept 18th, .S9G.
McS&" UIi'H"'~ nId lVcSton, conn.,
anime, ,j /yy,Sfj,,uJ;,,, rxI,,,.y: