The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-02-10
EWR. GANTT'S ANSWER.
The Secretary of State Replies to the
Legislative investigating
Committee

nt State jesse |. Can't. has sent to
the general assembly and handed the
press the following statement in JUS
tiiication OF his administration OF the
office and the correctness OF his rec
ordS. books and accounts:
Il beg to submit to you herewith a
full report Of the finances OF the Of
flee OF the secretary of state. and
detailed iten1ized statement of all
official receipts and disbursements
during my entire term in office.
Il beg to inform you that l have
this day placed in the hands of the
state printer, as supplemental re-
port to the general assembly, full,
accurate and complete list of the
persons Or corporations who have
paid any fees to the Office, which in
it's every detail proves the statements
handed you herewith to be correct.
In doing so I beg to make the fol-
lowing statement in reply to the re-
port OF the committee appointed to
examine the books and accounts Of
my office:
Il have been continuously, since
the appointment OF the committee,
willing and anxious 20 make up and
present this statement to them, hav-
ing offered to do So upon their first
visit to the Office, but was informed
that they desired the papers Of the
office turned over to them without any
checking. verification or statements.
in the condition in which they were
at the time. Presuming the commit
tee competent to come into the office.
take the books, make up a correct
statement Of its affairs, the entire pa
pers and books of the Office were
turned over to them; they were fur
nished a key, which the chairman re-
tanned for three months, and was
used to gain entry to the office when
none of the clerks or employees
thereof were present. This was per.
mitted to allow the fullest and freest
opportunity for full and comprehen-
sive investigation of the Office. Dur
ing most of the time Of the first in
vestigation I was confined to my
house by sickness. During the pro-
gress of this investigation reports
were brought to me of statements by
members of this committe OF a short
age in the office. Upon the conclu-
sion of the investigation, with which
during the week prior to the filing o.
pledges by candidates for state Of
fees, I secured an opportunity to
state to the committee the reports |
had heard and asked that they state
to the public what they had found.
In response to this request the COM
mittee published a communication IN
which it was asserted that no books
were kept, which was false, and that
they lad collected certain vouchers
from which they had made up set
OF books, which was equally untrue
as there is not now and never has
been any vouchers to be collected
and the original declarations and re-
turns of corporations could not be
so designated, and principally from
these | understood the committee
had made up it's statements. AS |
was assured that the committee had
found nothing which they especially
criticized. I supposed the statement
they had secured to be accurate. |
had repeated assurances given me
that no wrong had been found. Con-
sequently my astonishment at the re-
markable statements made therein
was as profound as my surprise at
the partial, incomplete and inaccur-
ate statement OF the financial affairs
thereof
"When reduced 10 its logical con-
clusion and freed from the insinua-
ton and inucndo in which it is cloth
ed. the report charges that no adc-
q5la,c books are kept, or proper rec