The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-17
SITE HOUSE SCANDAL.

Site HOUSE sGaH1aL.
tsornsy General BeIlinger aud
ssss Can't Deny the
H1siauations Made Against
them,
say Demand Rearing Before the Gen.
erai Assembly.
Columbia, Feb. 9.-The publication
az lie report of the State House com
r,1ssse created s. considerable sensa-
soday. Gen. G. Duncan Bellinger.
sgho MAS q member OF fhe COM
sni;ssion that is criticised, has pre-
naSs0 card in which be de-
sr.aff6s hsa.ing for himself and the
members Of the commission.
his card reads as follows
gas asscnished TO see IN the press
report BY the joint committee
l5o consider the several reports OF the
saynraission on the completion OF tie
SFe House and facts relating thereto
s,aS been submittd to the General
assem as che report enthusiastically
ans the character OF the members
Eos the STATE House commission authoI-
szed and directed S to complete, the
EStata House, Of which commission
ns 81 member, for, from the report.
obrieus that no member OF that
commission testified before the COM
EEtsse< and beg to submit that from
ssF exprience that no member was
evaz slowed q hearing. requested and
Sesnanaed Of Mr.. j. @. Patterson, a
rs5af1sfsar of the committee, that i, as
i, nasrsher of the State House comuls-
hould be heard and requested
ashas hnnble privilege. He Informed
Tna xbaS he had seen the chairman
tbe Hon Robert Aidrich, In reference
De at5er and that such privileges
EysuId Sc granted. ! have been con-
Eirsoasy in sne city OF Columbia OF
shs town OF BarnWeil. tse home CT
thsss gentlemen, since this lnyestlga-
gsSh began. My request vas refnsea,s
was allowed no showing. ln-'
Horned Mg. Paterson that il / was
ienied hearing that I would appeal
sn she General Assembly. now do
s. noW ask that all parties con-
car1ys3 be allowed showing. Other
men hers asked she same privilege
N,Es denied. We now appeal TO the
fsgnse Of Justice Of the General Assem-
lbav and 20 the public at Large for q
6how5ug. q hearing that has neger peeil
denied Is the humblest representative
tof tie kngio.Saxon race. Without a.
hearing "a attempt has been made to
least stigma upon the names and re-
pasasion Of Governor NJ. =. NC
Sweeney, Secretary OF Ssatez M: -
ECoaper, State TEreasurers N y ks-zfl lla-
rnex man and &. "a. Jennlngs, Comp
troneE General j. p. Denham, Char
man Of the Finance COMMITTEES OF the
Senate George s. Mover Chairman
,f the Ways and Means Committee OF
heHcusa j Harvey Wilson, Repre-
Eantatiyes " j. johnson and &. >.
Can't and myself. Is is inconcelyable,
anfair and inhuuaan that such re-
|bss shonld be made TitEort hear
fng. so-. as citizen OF Safe that l /
nave attempted faithfully TO serve, l
fhaya always believed and now believe
thaf the npblest feature CT our Gov.
|ernsasnS IS 8. .A law which hears be-
fore Is condemns, which proceeds upon
inuuiry and renders Judgment only
latter trial = Ny appeal is to the
General Assembly for this privileges:
AS am not member OF The General
assaubly, and this is the only avenue
Itbas have 80 appeal TO them Tor
lhaarsug. Z hold no public Office except
stat of member of the board OF
trustees Of Clemson College, to which
gas slectsd BY the General Assembly,
gitkore dissenting voics, and as a
c;sizen and member Of the State House
comnission ask full, fair hearing
priyisege TO give an account OF my
sfeys sardship in this matter. Truly
Ehis S not an unreasonable request!
G. Duncan Bellinger.
Jesse T. Can't, who was also
brodpht into the report, has been quick
Eo make an explanation OF his connec-
sion With the matter and has given
.Yis letter to the press. ~
n 20 Robert Aldricb, Esq Chairman,
EoIurubia, s. Dear Sir: la. the
<erprs Of the commission, or winch
kor are chsirman, presented to the
sens,al Assembly this morning, 4
|hofice the testimony OF a witness to the
acs That during the year 1901 l was a
barty TO the purchase OF portion OF
Eheold iron, after it was removed
#rom the State House, which I con
Ferted into country bridges. This
printed report IS the hrst lntimasson
Ehat have had that you desired light
bn this question, or I would have been
pieased to have placed before you all
acts in regard to the transactions.
appeared before the county COM
nissioners of Kichland comfy and
&nade the contract for the erection OF
Bic bridges, visited other counties ln
En eadeaavor to sell them. and wrote
|bygs my own signature to practically
erery county supervisor in the State
making q like offer. / designed the
BRIDGES and personally superlntenoed