The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-08-17

supposition 10 sufficiently hum iliating
We would note here that We know OF
no law authorizing the directors tC
keep a lot of horses and carriages for
tho use OF the superintendent family,
and we regard it as an unwarranted
| extravaganza. The evidence here is
thato the bookkeeper had to use his
horse on penitentiary business, for
which the State fed him In part, while
the horses for whose stable rent we
| were paying handsomely were being
used by tho superintendent's family.
The evidence Ia that there was stable
room for these horses at the peniten-
tiary. The custom OF ertainiug
largely at the penitentiary grow up
also under Dir. Neal. Crowds ate there
Tree at the bounty of the State, making
the taxpayers their hotel keepers, and
exercising thrifty instinct to got all
tEey could at the public credit. Un-
fortunately tho board OF directors set
the example by boarding themselves
there, thus adding to the pay allowed
by the law the further provision Of
hotel bills. In justice to the board,
however, we will say that after this
investigation was begun and that mat
ter was brought out they decided to
discontinue that practice and pay
their own board. This is as It should
be. The lavish entertainment there,
though, was such as should not be to-
lerated again. Politicians, contrac-
tors, State constable., and personal
friends all found a welcome and good
cheer there. The result has been that
the institution came to be considered
as q place where any accommodation
desired could be had, and az a result
we find many things to report as
wrong. We find that he has given
away many articles produced by the
penitentiary to prominent men, such
as a bookcase to Congressman Latimer,
furniture to ID. II. Tompkins, secre-
tary Of State, and II. j. Cunningham
and S. +. j. Garris, directors, and
Senator Tillman, who also got a car
load OF brick, which he says Neal gave
him, but which Neal says he sold him.
Most of these articles Neal now pro-
fesses to be ready to pay for, although
he had never charged himself with
them up to the institution OF this in
vestigatiOn. MIR. Garris also got
carload Of brick bats and some pigs and
turnips, for which Mr.. Neal does not
think he should pay. MIR. Garris had
been anxious to settle the pig bill, but
could not get it made out, and the
other items were more presents and
they contend were worthless. We do
not think 1t wise, though, for directors
to be accepting even valueless pre- ,ents
from the penitentiary. Ii MIR. Neal
had paid for these things when he
gave them away, it 10 a questions BILE
practice for an officer to be making
presents to public men, but when he
falls to pay for them and takes the
State's property and gives 1t to public
men he does two wrongs, he misappro-
PIRATES public property and atte PTS
apparently, to control the inhuenco of
public men by the use Of it. Farther
than that, he has allowed the gover-
nOrs Of the State during his ad minis
tration all to get such things as they
desired from the penitentiary, and has
neithor presented the bills for them
nor plac d them in the assets and Oh
the regular books. A list OF their &C
counts which he should have presented
and collected or published in the list
OF accounts due Is hereto attached
He has himself, also. taken supplies tc
& large amount It worry low price and
has never paid for them, an account OF
them heing also set forth In this re-
port. We find also that there has
| been rule that the superintendent
shall be furnished with wood and coal
free. This 10 not warranted by law,
and is merely another device to In
crease the salary Of the super inte ndent
contrary to law. Again, Ghe cover
victs, tools and stock to cultivate land
near the city, and this has not been
charged to them. This is excused by
Mr.. Neal on the ploa that the governor
10 ex Off clio chairman OF the board O
directors aud has In consequence al
| ways gotten what he asked for.
that Is correct, it is time that tho gov
ernor should be taken of tho bo Ird
We do not refer In speaking OF tht
cnltivating OF land to the patch arount
tho governors mansion, which II
public property and properly cultivat
cd by convicts, but to independ on
farms outside.
Again, the bosrd had o steam laun
dry established In the penitentiary an,
operated by the oonvicts, Mr.. Neal an,
Governor Ellerbe have both had thei
family washing done there ever sino
free, until the Termination OF Mr. NeAl'
term Of office. Now, while II Is die
agreeable to refer 10 those matters, W
deem it our duty to call them to tn
attention OF the general assembly.
the governors salary Is too small
| blOulu Do uCEcdoCu py Vho Is ouoi Q
ASSEMBLY,, not supplemented by tn
penitentiary. II not too small the go'
ernor should be Satisfied therewitt
The same remarks apply to tho othe
, officers mentioned. 1t should be d pie,
, sure to those gentlemen who have rt
ceived these things from the State
q make reparation an. the lesson shoul
9 be learned once for all that publ
:, oNlcer, because he 10 public or =
. has no moro right to tho r"operty
Q The State than the humblesS cltlzel
n and when he attempts to give IT ava
q to prominent mon the inforonce pro-
v orly deductiblo 10 that he Is barterln
= 1t for their influence, and thoy shou
d be above suspicion and keep then
@ selves 80 by eclining such present
o Any other course brceds distrust In I'll
a people Of their rulers, and when th
l. thoroughly permoates the masses r
@ spect fer law and order periShes al
}, 1t becomes aguestiOn OF who can &
@ the most out OF the government, o.
y high office Is sought not from motiv
| ~ Il