The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-08-19


profit without city reoeiving any rev.
enue.
Your committee has not been able
to ascertain In dollars and cents the
amount that the city has lost by these
irregularities. Your conn
miittee have seen instances them
selves of checks that were paid the
representative of the park board for
dirt In 1907, amounting to 500,
which have not been paid to the city
treasurer. of which the city treasur-
er has no record and which have
been deposited to the credit Of pri-
vate accounts. and from the testi-
mony given. your committee is forced
to the belief that these irregularities
seem to have existed with the knowl-
edge. IL not the approval. Of the chair
man Of the park board.
"Your committee have reached
the conclusion and beg to report, only
after careful consideration. and with
reluctance. that the park board has
been negligent in Its duty In COM
mitting to the chairman the entire
management Of Hampton and Chicora
parks. where the irregularities chiefly
exist. as It apepars from the testi-
mony that these matters have been
going on for some time. and from the
tstimony Of the secretary no member
OF the park board. with the exception
Of the chairman, either had knowl-
edge Of or APPROVAL Of any Of these
irregularities.
'Your committee would recommend
that city council require the board Of
park commissioners to Immediately
dismiss the secretary Of the board Of
park commissioners. and that the
committee on city affairs be author
ICED to employ an expert bookkeeper.
" they desire II. to assist them in as
certaining the amount Of shortage
which your committee feels exists.
THAT the board Of park commits
sioners be directed to respond to the
invitation OF the committee on city
affairs to meet with them In further
pursuance of this investigation and
that upon failure of said board to do
so. that the mayor be and here
by Is directed to request the resigna-
tion OF the said board Of park COM
upon report to him by this
Furthermore. should any member
Of the said board of park commission
ers refuse to answer any questions
relative to this examination put them
BY this committee. that the mayor be
and is hereby directed to request the
resignation Of said member upon re-
port to him by this committee.
"All Of which L. respectfully sub
mitted:
Lawrence n. Pinckney.
(signed) Chairman:
Richard ]. Morris.
Wilson g. Harvey
In roply the park board commisf
sioners only treated OF the matters Of
padded pay rolls. Of irregularity in
handling dirt contracts and Of the
Withholding of city funds by the Sec
retary OF the board from the city
treasurer. Their conclusions were
that the secretary was not censurable
In the matter Of dirt contracts. that
they did not have sufiicient testimony
at hand to come to conclusions in re-
gard to pay roll padding. and that the
secretary acted improperly in not pay
Ing into the city treasury at once Ger.
tain money received for the sale Of
dirt. Furthermore. the park board
committee. appointed to investigate
the charges Of the special committee.
declared that In the future they could
do no more than give information to
the special committee Of city council,
az the task Of Strengthening out the
charges preferred was too large for
their accomplishment.
Statements from Messrs. Lapham.
the chairman Of the park board. and
Jeffords. secretary. contain denials to
the specific charges preferred against
them. and many afiidavits are intro
duced to sustain their denials.
The charges OF irregularities
against the park board and the secre-
tary have created a lot Of excitement
In Charleston. Just what will be the
outcome OF the matter has not been
settled as yet.
Much Said In Small Space.
Mayor Rhett, Of Charleston, is sim
ply q shining mark for the perspfrinp