The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1904-02-17

COInDUTOlltl ueuold1 u. l.. DSlidii,
chairman of the finance committee,
George S. Mower; chairman of the
ways and means committee of the
house, J. Harvey Wilson; members of
the house, R. J. CAN'T and W. j..
Johnson, members of the said COM
mission were not permitted to testify
before said committee, and that other
parties whose actions were considered
by said committee were not allowed
to appear before said committee or in
any manner given a hearing.
Be it Resolved, that special joint
committee consisting of five members
of the house and two members of the
senate be appointed by the speaker
and lieutenant governor, respectively,
with authority to appoint Ste
nographer, take testimony, COM
mand the production of records and
papers and report the same to this
general assembly before its adjourn
ment.
Mr.. Williams offered the following:
Whereas, certain members of the for
mer commission to complete the State
house have memoralized the general
assembly to make provision for giving
them hearing in reply to the report
of the Joint committee to consider the
several reports of the commission. Of
the completion of the State house and
facts relating thereto. "
Be it Resolved, by the general as
sembly Of the State Of South Carolina
that. any evidence Z. explanation or
other statements in writing that the
said memoralists may have to submit
will be received and considered by the
general assembly whenever presented.
MIR. PATTERs0N's STATEMENT.
When the memorial had been read,
Mr.. J. o. Patterson Of Barnwell, a
member of the Investigating commit
tee, declared that it is duty to him
self and to South Carolina for him to
make a statement. The general as
sembly is conversant with the mat
ters which led up to the appointment
of the Investigating commission-the
members of which realized the gravity
of the trust placed upon them. They
had done their duty honestly, fear
lesslY and conscieDtiously. The men,
bers of the State house building COM
mission had all been friends of his
and it had been an unpleasant duty.
The Investigating commission had not
been charged with the duty Of eXtoll-
ing or blaming the members Of the
building commission. He referred to
the cards in The State Of Wednesday
in which Mr.. Bellinger and Mr.. CAN'T
complained that they had not been
treated with proper consideration.
The complaint is that the State house
commission had not been invited be-
fore the building commission. Why
should the members Of the latter
commission be summoned when they
themselves could not agree?
In reference to the statement Of
Mr.. Bellinger that he had been denied
the privilege of coming before the
commission, Mr.. Patterson declared
that it was case Of a misunderstand-
ing, which be regretted, as he and Mr..
Bellinger had been political personal
friends for many years. On the night
of January 7th Mr.. Bellinger, while
Mr.. Patterson's guest at the Colum-
bia hotel, had threatened that in case
the Joint commission should attack
the building commission he would
take the matter to the legislature.
Mr.. Patterson declared that he regrets
very much that a casual conversation
should have been misunderstood. He
had told Mr.. BelliDger that should
the report be in the nature Of an at
tack he (Mr. Patterson) would insist
upon the members of the building COM
mission being given hearing. There
was no formal demand and the state.
ment he made to Mr.. Bellinger was
conditional. The joint committee had
thought it a waste Of time and money
to bring here the members Of the build
ing commission. The Investigating
commission had employed govern
ment architect and in person had in
spected the building carefully. He
regretted that the building commits
sion had felt aggrieve6. They. are
honorable men and if their confidence
in those whom they employed is mis-
placed it is a misfortune to the State
Of South Carolina.
MIR. WILLIAMS DISCLAIMER.
Mr.. Williams made a straight for
ward statement that the terms Of the
memorial do not contain a true state
ment of facts. The joint committee
had never refused ~ give audicnCe 10
any member Of the building commits
sion. The architect brought here to
inspect the work had been given no
suggestions. The Investigating COM
mission had not reflected upon the
building commission. 1t had simply
stated the facts as they had been