The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1911-03-30
HIS FRIENDS TO INVESTIGATE.
Blease Vetoes Act Creating Special
Investigating Committee.

The new dispensary commission
will do the work that the legislative
investigation committee was to do
and will save the State that much
money"
Making this statement Gov Blease
vetoed the measure passed by the last
general assembly providing for a
commission to investigate the acts
and affairs of the old State dispen-
sary commission, which act was re-
questsd by the chief executive.
Il have turned over all papers in
my possession to the new commits
sion," said the governor, with the
instructions to investigate all Of the
affairs of the old State dispensary
and those connected with the wind
ing up Of it. I instructed the men,
bers to spare no one.
Wants His Acts Investigated.
"While the members of the new
commission are all friends of mine
and personal supporters, have ask
ed that they make a rigid investiga-
ton of all of my acts as State sena-
tor, private citizen and governor OF
the State. 1 want everything to come
out.
THE new commission will sub
poena T. B. Fielder, of Atlanta, and
require him to tell everything that
he knows about my record as men,
Der of the State senate, as governor
and private citizen"
This is the way Gov. Blease COM
mented upon the work of the new
commission.
The members of the new dispen-
sary commission which met Monday
in the office of Gov. Blease are: John
". Wallace, Charleston; Thomas F.
Brantley, Orangeburg; Fred H. DOM
mick, Newberry; B. F. Kelly, Bishop
vile, and James Stackhouse, Marion.
These are the members that Gov.
Blease has ordered to make an in
vestigation of the affairs of the old
State dispensary and pass sentence
upon the old members of the COM
mission.
The Organization.
Just when and where the work will
commence has not been announced.
The new commission held it's first
meeting Monday, when an organi-
zation was perfected by the election
of James Stackhouse as chairman. B.
F. Kelly, of Bishopville, was elected
secretary. The commission received
all of the papers held by the old COM
mission which was dismissed by the
governor several days ago and will
take charge of the final winding up
of the affairs of the old State dispen-
sary.
Will Turn Over Papers.
Gov. Blease said that he would
turn all of his papers over to the COM
mission to be used in the investiga-
ton. Several days ago the governor
said that he had mountain of tes-
timony" that he would produce at the
proper time. He said that all of his
evidence would be used by the new
commission in it's work.
The members of the old dispensary
commission who are to be investi-
gated by the new commission are: DR..
w. ]. Murray, chairman, Columbia;
John McSween, Timmonsville; A. N.
Wood, Gaffney; J. Steele Brice, York
vile, and Avery Patton, Greenville.
These members served the State of
South Carolina for four years and
saved from the wreck approximately
s5O0,000, which has been turned
over to the State treasurer. They in
vited investigation.
Shortly after taking the oath of
office Gov. Blease sent message to
the general assembly intimating
"crookedness" on the part of the
members of the dispensary commits
sion. He requested that a commis-
sion be named to make thorough
investigation of all the acts and af-
fairs of the commission. Upon the
request of the governor the general
assembly passed an investigation act.
There were to be three members
from the senate and three from the
house. Before the senate adjourned
President Smith named Senators
Carlisle, of Spartanburg; Clifton, of
Sumter; and Sullivan, of Anderson;
as the committee from the senate.
Mendel L. Smith, speaker of the
house, refused to name his commit
tee until the act had been approved.
Gov. Blease, upon hearing of the