The news & observer., 1897-02-09
PAID OUT $1,000
For Work That Private ParLies
Would do for Six.
SAMPLE or ECONOMY
CLERK SWINSON MAES START
LING DISCOVERIES.
HE PEOPLE FOR FAvoRITEs
The Taxpayers Will Note the Methods
Employed TO Give the Office
Seekers Ptaces--ExtraVa-
gance Beyond Precedent.

gance Beyond Precedent.
TT HAS COST THE STATE UP TO
THIS TIME FIFTEEN HUNDRED
DOLLARS TO DO SIX DOLLARS
WORTH OF WORK!
Read that over again twice and tell 1t
+o your neighbor. 1t is fact that, under
+he rule of ''retrenchment and reform,
this general Assembly has paid out 81, 300
ia have bills enrolled that ought to have
cost only six dollars if let out by contract
at the usual prices
This is stated upon the authority of
Mr.. A. r. Swinson, of Wayne county,
elected as Enrolling Clerk OF the
General Assembly by the Populists ana
Republicans. Moreover, Mr.. Swinson
voted for six Mckinley electors and fye
Populist electors; is a warm friend ana
admirer of Tom Watson, to whom IoIn
teIegraphed his qualification that Prltch-
ard was elected; and moreover Popuist
who warmly advocated the reelection OF
Pritchard So much is stated to snow
that this is no Democratic lie, but the
statement of Pritchard Populist, who
voted six elevenths for Mckinley against
! Bryan.
]. The majority Populist caucus decided
to stand by economy. after a nearing OF
:the extravaganza practiced by the Repuo-
=licans and Pritchard Populists, as shown
in the dealing with Mr.. Swinson, the En-
rolling Clerk.
Mr. Swinson came before the caucus
Upon his own request, and made the fol-
lewing statement:
."When I was elected, I asked the Re
80 rafNf
ia. put any negro under me. Shortly af-
teeward Mr.. Dockery and several other
Republicans approached me and told me
that they intended to put some negroes
on me. I told them I had already more
clerks than / had use for. They said to
me: UNLESS you put them on. we will
see that you are put out
Shortly thereafter Lieutenant-Goyern-
or Reynolds and Speaker Hileman came
up in my office and inquired how many
bills had been enrolled / told them thir-
ty in all--twenty from the Senate and ten
from the House They then said to me
that they intended to take charge Of my
Office. Speaker Hileman said Lieuten.
ant-Governor Reynolds brother would
represent him, and Lieutenant-Governor-
REYNOLDS told me that Mr.. Mewborne
that no other help was needed in the
office, as I had eight clerks-four Popu-
lists and four Republicans who had been
recommended to me by their respective
caucuses, and two servants to wait on the
Office"
Mr.. Swinson was then asked: What
was the length of the bills you have
enrolledf"
Answer-''They are all short. !"
0.-sHow much would the enrolling Of
these bills would have cost at the pre-
scribed rate per copy sheet?"
A-"About six dollars"
Q.-"What has been the pay received
by the employees in your office, including
your owng
A-"Fifty dollars per day, which at
thirty days had amounted to $1,000 so
far during the session"
Or "Did~vou, and do you still, approve
gram from Watson"
A.-'Because / was in sympathy with
Pritchard."
Q.-"Did YOU ond do you still, approve
of the bolters leaving the Populist eau
cusg'
Ar did and l do
Q.-"For whom did you vote for Pres
dentt
Ar voted for Mckinley and Watson
electors"
Q.-"With whom do you propose to CO.
operate in the future, the majority Pop
ulists or the boltersP
Al am with the majority, as my
sympathy with the bolters only extended
to Pritchard."
Q.-"How will the bolters vote on the
resolution in regard to turning you outY'
Ar understand they will vote with
the Republicans to a man."
Q.-"Why did you refuse to put on any
further force when requested to do SOP
Al had no need for them"
After all these facts had been elected,
the caucus decided, as we printed Sun
day morning, to stand by Mr.. Swinson on
the ground that he was being prosecuted
because he was opposed to the policy of
adding greater or unnecessary expense.