The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-12-12
LOOKING FOR THE BOOKS
The Investigation in the Secretary OF
States Office, Covering Certain
Years Prior to Term of
Present Occupant,

last session of the general assembly
this note was sent to Secretary of
State CAN'T:
Columbia, S. c.: February I, 1905.
Hon. J. T. CAN'T, Secretary Of State,
Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir: We re-
spectfully ask that you produce for
our inspection the four receipt books
containing itemized, partly printed re-
ceipts, duly numbered, showing fees
received by the Secretary of State,
extending from some time in 1899 to
some time in 1902, when these re-
ceipts were discontinued; also cash
book kept for the Secretary Of State,
extending from time the book, Sec
retary of States account fees, Vol. g.,
was discontinued, and extending to
the end of Mr.. NJ. R. Cooper's term Of
office; also all bank books for the year
1908.
The committee will be pleased to
have these books this afternoon at
$3.50 D. m, when it resumes its examl-
nation of the office of Secretary OF
State.
Yours truly,
Thos. B. Butler.
Chairman Legislative examining
committee.
This letter is the index to an in
quiry that is now going on.
The books were not produced. Mr..
CAN'T could not find them and wishes
very much that he could.
What became of the books no one
appears to know and that is what the
legislative committee is seeking TO
ascertain.
Today the Legislative committee,
consisting of Senators Butler and
Douglass and Representatives Rich
ards, Too1e and Beamguard. institut-
ed an investigation to get such light
as they could as to the whereabouts
of the missing books OF receipts and
vouchers.
Stenographer McFeat took what
testimony could be gathered and the
desire was to gather what light was
possible, and if the books are not
found, then to let the general assem-
bly, know all that can be learned as to
the history Of the particular books,
which may or may not amount TO any
thing. -.
The committee say that the books
are wanzed to check up the admins
tration of Mr. Cooper; while Mr..
CAN'T was chief clerk. The books OF
Mr.. Gantt's administration have all
been checked up ard full report
made to the general assembly on the
accounts of his term, and the missing
books refer only to Mr.. Cooper's term
of Office when Mr.. CAN'T was in the
office only as chief clerk.
Mr.. CAN'T was sick in bed today and
he could nor be examined by the COM
mittee. Mr.. D. H. Means, who was in
charge of the books for while, but
who turned them over intact in July,
1902, was not sworn today.
The chief witnesses before the COM
mittee today were Mr.. R. M. McCown,
who is chief clerk in the office and
who took charge of the finances of the
ofice after Mr.. Means.
Mr.. McCow VII had nothing to do
with the fiscal affairs of the Office dur
ing Mr.. Coo?er's tenure of Office, un-
til after 1902.
Mr.. McCown testified that he did
not now where the books were nor
what had become of them. He was in
Florence on the day of the fire in the
office of the Secretary Of State, when
the books are supposed to have been
destroyed by fire, and he did not know
what had been destroyed and what
had, not been destroyed. He went
into a detailed account of how the
books of the office were kept, and that
he insisted on keeping the books and
depositing the funds if he was to be
held responsible for the finances, and
Ata.. 4Lo nGna .hac tnad conn ate