The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-07-25
COL. D. A. sPIyEY's VIEWS.
statessin Detail Why He Voted Against
the Recommendation of the Sub
Committee.

StdteSssIl Detdll .Wi1T ne VOIeu ASdlHSb
the Recommendation of the Sub
Committee.
Col. D. A. Spivey of Horny has put
on record with the investigating COM
mittee the following as his official rea-
sons for not longer holding up the
sS00,000 in claims due by the State to
the whiskey houses:
II cannot get the consent Of my
mind to agree to the proposition sub
mitted by Messrs. Lyon and Christen-
sen whereby all whiskey claims
against the State dispensary are to be
carried over to the next legislature,
said accounts to be settled by the
general assembly as it may deem
proper and right. My reasons for this
disagreement are as follows:
"1st. My understanding is that the
original intention Of placing this hold
up clause in the act was not to repu-
didate any of these accounts, but was
for the purpose Of forcing such infor-
nation as we might not be able to
otherwise get. The wisdom Of this
I think has been fully demonstrated,
as it mas been the means Of getting
some valuable testimony by the sub
committee.
.'2nd. Neither was it the purpose
of the resolution creating this COM
mdttee in any way to place the man
agement of dispensary in our hands.
It has been and is our business to
investigate. To continue the with
holding of these payments would Ger
tainly interfere with the management
of the institution and probably affect
the credit Of the State.
''3rd. The plain injustice Of placing
all claims on a par, regardless Of
whether there be nkown fraud, ap-
parent irregularities or cases where
there is no indication Of wrong doing
there is no indication Of wrong deal
ing. To be fair to ali parties discrin-
ination must be made between these.
But the committee has not the time
or the funds to pursue the investiga-
ton further, and thus ascertain which
are just and should be paid as against
| those that should not be paid.
"4th. I doubt the moral right (even
| if we have the legal right under this
clause) to withhold payment Of ac-
counts due by the State for goods
bought and actually sold (at consid-
erable profit in most cases) months
ago and the proceeds used by the
State, tne counties and The municipal
tiles. Such course does net COMFORT
with nv sense CT honest dealing.
"5t:,. There ars certain unstable
goods now on hard at the State dis
pensary, I am ir1ormed, Wnica
think, could oe returned 70 the
houses from whom they were bought,
and thus cancel something like $780,
600 of the State debt. 1t is, said that
many o. them are willing and anxious
to effect such a settlement, and
think it to the States interest to get
rid of this chemical stuff
"6th. I have confidence in the
commissioner, in, at least a ma
jority of, the board Of control to be-
lieve that they, with the result of our
investigation before them, and with
the advice of their able counsel, will
not paw these accounts unless it is ie-
gally and morally right to do so.
They should, and I believe Will, take
this matter up where we leave it and
adjust all claims advantageous to the
State and in justice to her creditors.
.7th. regard it as wrong, at least
unwise, on the part Of our committee
to present this matter again unsettled
to the legislature. The investigation
has been running now for almost two
years, and there should be an end.
Some one must be trusted to make a.
final settlement, The legislature
would have to refer it to another COM
mittee or tribunal for adjustment.
And know of no better tribunal for
this purpose than that of the COM
missioner and the board Of control
those men who have been legally
elected, placed under the bond and
entrusted with the management Of
the dispensary.
.For these reasons vote yes upon
the resolution offered by Chairman
Hay
Twenty Year Battle.
*"I was a loser in a twenty year