The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-02-17
f1E yIA.E HOUSE INVESTIGATION.
Situation Clearly Defined by Sen
ators Manning and Aldrich.
Why 1t Is Necessary to Take Matter Out
of Attorney Generals Hands---0Id
Commission Never Denied Hear
ing.

The State House Investigation
which is by far the most sensational
issue before the present session of the
Legislature is being discussed by all
citizens of the State, and as it will
unquestionably be made an issue in
the State campaign this summer a
clear understanding of the status of
the case is necessary. The following
statements made in the Senate by
Senators Manning Of Sumter and
Aldrich of Barnwell, who were mem
bers of the committee of investigation
clearly and concisely define the atti
tude Of the member of that committee
and the motives that actuated them.
Senator Manning said:
ST object to that part of the pream-
Bile which says that the commission
were denied hearing. AS far as l
know no request for a hearing was
made by any member of the commits
sion. I am certain no such request
was made by me. At one of the meet
ings of the joint committee the qaes-
tion was asked if any members Of the
commission were coming before US. I
am sure that if the joint committee
had any intimation of u desire on the
part of the commission or any Of them
to appear before them they would
gladly have accorded them hearing.
I myself would have insisted upon it
and I am satisfied that the other
members OF the committee felt as l
did, bat wish to emphasize the fact
that We felt that We were not invssti-
eating the commission. The duty
placed upon Us was to conidser the
several reports Of the commission for
the completion Of the State house and
TO report to the general assembly such
facts and recommendation in reference
thereto as we deemed advisable. I
was appointed on the joint committee
without my knowledge. realized
that was an unpleasant duty that had
been placed upon me, but I have en-
deavored to discharge the work placed
upon me thoroughly and without fear
or favor. I went into the task with
an open and unbiased mind, determin-
ed only upon ascertaining and report
ing facts. / had no feeling in the
matter, and nothing was further from
me than any deisre to do an injustice
to the commission. AS I said, We
were not appointed to criticise the
commission but to consider the work
upon the State house and the manner
Of it's performance. We have made
our report and the report shows how
We did the wcrk which we we're ap-
pointed to do. We made personal
examination of the work from the
dome to the ground floor, accom-
panied by Capt. S. S. Hunt, who had
been employed by US as frst-class
contractor of large experience, compe-
tent and conscientious. But I say to
the senate that it did not take an
expert to detect bad work and, inferior
material. Such work, as that, as pri-
vate individuals, We would have re-
jected without hesitation AS soon as it
came under our observation. These
defects have been pointed ou5 specif-
cally in our report and l need not re-
peat them here. AS member of the
Joint committee l have discharged the
duty placed upon me as best 1 could.
/ repeat again that I have done SO
without feeling against the commits
sion and without desire to do them
injury or Injustice We have simply
given the facts as I saw them and
without any implication of the COM
mission except SO far as the facts
show. bpt we do in words condemn
the work of the architect and con-
6E6CGCT. VIZ 1ldVS AuiSu0l GUc WOIh
imposed upon Us and the matter now
rests entirely with the general assem-
bly,: but I, for one, am more than will
ing to accord to the commission the
hearing they desire.
The portion of the preamble objected
to by Senator Manning reads:
So: Z x 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 bearing"
Senator Raysor moved that the pre-
amble Of Senator Aldrich's resolution
be substituted for the preamble in
Senator Talbird's. This removed
the objection, said Senator Manning,
and the motion was adopted. Sen
ator Aldrich's motion that the num-