Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-02-21
sENAIoa 8. q. TILlMAN has TEsrlflEO.
Made Speech TO The Committee Few Facts
Brought Out.

Columbia, February 14.-There
was not standing room in the aisles
or galleries 0f the hall of the House
of Representatives when Senator
Tillman took the stand yesterday
afternoon to testify before the dis
pensary investigating committee.
Senator Tillman was on the stand
over two hours, and though he is not
man 20 waste words in coming to
the point. his evidence disclosed no.
ding new still what he had to say
X>ls received with much interest aud
frequently applauded. He often
turned the tables on the attorney,
questioning him, these incidents
causing laughter in his favor. AT
times the hearing resembled typi-
cal Tillman campaign meeting.
The Senator arranged seat for
himself on top of the Speakers
desk, 30 that he could see and be
se.n by the entire house. When he
mounted the desk and sat down he
was vigorously applauded.
"Have you any information in re-
gard to any graft, rebate, improper
dealing on the part of any d;spen-
sary official or any record about the
dispensary, Senator Tillman ?" was
Mr.. Lyons first question.
Senator Tillman: "In order to
have myself set Alright and have the
committee understand just what 1
know and what l don't know, and
what believe upon very strong evil
! dence, will have to answer that
question in my own way.
Gas to knowing specially of any
instance of my own knowledge that
any such thing occurred, I answer
NO. and as for my reasons which
have influenced me in interviews and
in my speeches, in saying what l
have said, l will give the foundation
for my opinion"
Here Senator Tillman began to
read recent advertisement of the
board for bids.
81 have one other question:" inter-
rupted Mr.. Lyon: "While you were
in charge of the dispensary did you
receive any money in rebates, graft
or in any improper way from the
Mill Creek Distillery Company?"
"I did;not."
"Did you receive it from any
source ?"
"No," the Senator answered.
Senator Tillman went on to ex-
plain that he had twice volunteered
to come before the committee, and
though he was exceedingly busy in
Washington, and as United States
Senator was mot within the jurisdic-
tion of the committee, he came
because the committee was ready for
him.
After reading the advertisement
Senator Tillman said: "I have had
no time TO get up any papers to pro-
duce the necessary basis for a legal
Argument. l am not lawyer, as
Hou all know, but will call your
Attention to this circular, and any
man here who chooses to examine
the facts under the dispensary law
will see that it is required that pur-
chases for the State dispensary shall
be made by competitive bids, and l
say emphatically that this method of
purchasing has not one element of
competition in it and the law, there
fore, as | understand it, has bt en-
violated absolutely and without re.
lard to the oath Of off &C Oh other
5nsequencestby those responsible as
servants of the people, or of the
Legislature, Eshould say, and not
the people, who have been placed in
charge of this business involving q
million and half or two million dol
lars. why do / say there is not
competition in bidding? Let me
say to you that 'One X Rye is not
to bid on for less than 81 so. what
is One X Rye?' There is no defini-
tion whatever under this specifica-