Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1904-02-24

To the Honorable Senate and the House
of Representatives:
On Monday, Feb. Sth, 1904 there was
presented to your honorable body re-
port OF the joint committee appointed
under concurrent resolutions adopted
at the session Of 1S93 ito consider the
several reports of the commission on
the completion Of the State house and
facts relating thereto" of which COM
lnittee Hon. Robert Aldrich, of Barn
well, was chairman, and Hons. r. 1.
Manning, of Sumter, j. O. Patterson of
Barnwell, j. Nj. Rawlinson of Rich
land and r. Y. Williams of Lancaster
were members.
This report contained the findings of
said committee and the testimony up
on which said findings were based.
The sole testimony relating to >thc
work included therein was that of
Captain" $. S. Hunt, who swore that
he was a resident of Washington, d.
G.. and for four years had held the
position of superintendent OF con-
struction of the United States capitol
Washington, d. c." Said Capt Hunt
proceeded in unqualified language to
condemn each and every portion Of
the work on the State capitol which
had been done by the commission ap-
pointed for the completion of the build
ing.
No other or further testimony relat-
ing to the work of construction on the
DuildlnG was taken, except that OF A
w. Edens, inspector of plumbing of
the city of Columbia, who was ques-
toned in regard to the newly erected
water closets.
The testimony of these two Witness
eS was concealed from the public and
the undersigned until the said report
was presented to your honorable body
upon this testimony the aforesaid
committee concluded, among other
things, that "the testimony taken re-
Nealed dark picture" (p. 13), "a mon
strous swindlc," (p 1S), and that "it
would regard it remarkable indeed If
there is not some remedy, civil or GRIM
inal. or both, to bring these malefactors
dress the wrongs of the state" p
13.).
a REQUEST FOR A FULL, FREE
AMD IMPARTIAL INVEsTIGA-
Feeling that they had been unjustly
reflected on therein, and if these con-
clusions had any foundation whatever
1f there was even ground to suspect
such condition of affairS--that there
should be made a full, thorough and
searching investigation into this mat
ter. certain members of the commits
sion for the completion of the State
house met in the city of Columbia and
adopted the following memorial which
was presented to your honorable body
along with and accompanying a rcSolu-
ton providing for such an invcstiga-
tom
"Gcntlcmcn Of the General Assembly:
J'rOln an investigation of the report
"a. the joint committee ito consider the
.4fAEeral reports of the commission on
completion of the State house and
:sssA relating thereto" we, ;hc under
members of the commission.
IS 35sssS lied and directed go complete
fe $50 hate house." feel that the report
stSsffIl committee does us Il manifest
S>tIc, as 1t, Willingly or unwitting-
20 unfairly condemns our acts and
V'dC work approved by us without Civ
ing us an opportunity to be heard and
even refusing TO allow us a hearing
Many OF the allegations Of error and
incompetency arc easily explained. Ger
tam conclusions could not and would
not have been drawn had available
evidence been heard. Above ALL we
feel that an impression that must nee
cSsarily result from the tenor and
terms Of the report would not exist if
heard.
therefore, believing that the gel
cral assembly can have no intention &
condemninG us without a hearing, as
members OF the commission upon
whom you imposed an Involuntary pub-
lie duty. should be allowed to account
for that trust and to give their an
SWcr and explanation to any allegation
or il+iluation, do most Respectfully
memoraliHc your honorable body to
make provision for giving us a hear
ing in order that further and all cvi-
dcncc may be produced that may give
light upon the question before the
committee, and that our evidence and
reply to the report Of the committee
should become Il public record Of your
honorable body of the same Dcrma-
ncncy and dignity as the report itself
'RcSpeCtfully,
NJ. Il. McSwccncy,
g. Duncan Bcllingcr,
j. Harvey Wilson,
X. II. Jennings.
Robert j. CAN'T,
w. j. Johnson"
When the said memorial was pre-
Scnted Hon. r.. Y. Williams introduced
IN the house Of representatives and
Hon. Robert Aldrch in the senate,
the following resolution:
whereas. certain members Of the
former commission to complete the
state house have mcmorialiHcd the
general assembly to make provision to
give them hearing in reply TO the
report 1t the joint committee to con-
slider the several reports Of the com
mission fo the completion OF the state
house. and facts relating thereto.
BE II Resolved by the general as
Ecmbly Of the State of South Carolina
Ihat any evidence. explanation, OF 9TH