The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-06-13
GRAFT HUNTERS ON thin ICE.
The Dispensay Investigating Committee
Took Double Pay
DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

Salary Both as Legislators and as
Comn1itteemen-One for Each Day.
One Member Refused to Accept.
From Columbia Record.
Saturday Record man heard that
all the members of the dispensary IN
vesti eating committee except one had
drawn double per diem during the ses-
sion of the general assembly the first
part of this year.
Not believing it possible that mem
bers of committee investigating
GRAFT would do anything Of that
sort about the propriety, at least, Of
which there could be so much ques-
ton. the Record man addressed the
following letter to Hon. ]. T. Hay,
chairman of the committee:
June 2, 1906.
"I have been informed that your
committee, all of whose members are
also members of the general assembly
of this state, held several meetings
during the recent session Of the gen.
eral assembly and that, with one ex-
ception, the members of your commit
tee drew per eiem pay for the same
days both as members Of the general
assembly and the investigating COM
mittee. 1t was not stated whether
they also drew double mileage.
81 asked the comptroller general If
these things were so,and he replied
thar he was not the disbursing officer
for the payment Of members of your
committee, but tina: if he were he
would not give double pay for the
same day.
"I have no desire to do anybody an
injustice. I believe That the gentle
mar. who gave me the informa-
ton knew what he was talking about,
but 7 do not care to give publicity to
the statement until asked you as
chairman Of the committee if the
charge be true. If it be true, an
also willing to give publicity in The
Record to your explanation.
'l0id any Of The members Of your
committee draw per diem - mileage
lei meetings held during Inc session
@. The legislature? Dill t:.ey also
CRAY 1er diem and mileage from the
legislature for the same days?
A prompt answer viii he appre-.
ciated, 1or. if the charss he true, l
thir x tie people Of the state ought to
he rul in possession Of Tic fact
have written to the nerabe:-. of your
committee who is said aot 10 nave
taken double pay a request Cor
statement on this subject. would
like to have your answer in time to
publish with his statement
The gentleman who gave The Rec
ord SIS first information Of this mat
ter had stated that Mr.. Cole L. Blease,
a member Of the committee, hal re-
fused to take double per diem on
the ground that he was not entitled
to It. So the following letter was ad-
dressed to Mr.. Blease:
June 2, 1905.
"I was informed today that the dis
persary investigating committee held
several meetings during the recent
session of the general assembly, CT
which its members are also members,
and that, with the exception of your
self, the members of the committee
drew per diem pay both as members
Of the general assembly and as men7-
bers of the committee for the sarae
days. am not informed as to whether
they also drew double mileage. Can
this be true? If so, think the peo-
pie of the state ought to know it.
You will oblige me by a prompt an
swer."
Mr.. Blease got his letter, too late to
reply by mail, but Record reporter
saw him upon his arrival in the city
and he said that he was informed and
believed that the report was true. The
committee had discussed their right
to double per diem, and, despite his
protest, had expressed the opinion
that they could draw pay for the same
days both as members Of the legis-
lature and as members Of the commit
tee. Chairman Hay had offered him
check for per diem for meetings held
during the session of the legislature
and he had declined to take it.
The Record man met Chairman
Hay this morning and asked the chair.
man if he had received the letter
published above
Chairman Hay replied that ne had.
but that he had been too busy 10 an
u -