The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-03-18
.bLEASE VERSUS COMMISSION.
TEXT OF ORDER REMOVING
WIND UP COMMISSION.
Governors Words DO Not Reveal Mo-
tive Underlying His Act-Surmiscd
That Prosecution of Claims Against
Grafters Will Now Ceast>-RichIand
Distillery Company and Carolina
Glass Company May Now Get Away
With the Goods.

Gov. Blease dismissing the five mem
bers of the dispensary wind up COM
mission, has been the topic of dis
cussion here today. The charge he
makes in his order that the members
of the cI&nmission have been guilty
of neglect Of duty is generally laughed
at as ridiculous, for the record of
the commission and the business and
personal standing of the individual
members of the commission disprov-
es the charge. The back down of the
governor from his demand for an in
vestigation of the commission is a
cause of general merriment.
The real motive for the removal Of
the commission is a matter of con-
lecture and there are various guesses
hazarded. The result of the remov-
al Of the commission cannot be for
seen, but a great many are If the
opinion that the grafters who have
not been made to disgorge--notabIy
the Richland Distillng Company and
the Carolina Glass Company will
now be able to get away with what
they made out of the corrupt Sli
state dispensary.
The order issued by Gov. Blease fol-
lows:
Whereas. The general assembly,
by an act approved the 10th day Of
February a. d. 1907, entitled AN
act to provide for the disposition of
all property connected with the State
dispensary and to wind up it's affairs,
provided that Immediately upon the
approval Of this act the governor shall
appoint a commission of we'll known
business men, consisting of five MEM
bers, none of whom shall be members
Of the general assembly, to be known
as the State dispensary commission,
who shall give bond for the faithful
performance of the duties required
in the sum of $4,000. and the said
act further providing that the said
commission shall pay 20 tho stnte
treasurer, after deducung the.~ COM
peneatiou ana otneg expenses allowed
by this act al surplus funds on
hand, after paying all liabilities.
I'm my judgment the members of
the commission have had more than
ample time to finish their work and
make a final report, and it appear
ing to my satisfaction that this has
not been done, and that said COM
| mission is guilty Of neglect Of duty
by not making the investigations re-
quired in said act themselves, but
delegated this power to firm Of at
vided an exorbitant fee, and providing
The said parties Of the first part in
their negotiations or prosecution of
suit in behalf Of the parties Of the
second part or of the State of South
Carolina, are hereby clothed with full
power, subject alone to the approval
Of the attorney general Of said State.
to offer to any Of the parties involved,
immunity from prosecution upon such
terms and conditions as in their judg-
ment may be deemed to the best in
terest Of the parties hereto and to the
State of South Carolina, which pro-
vision OF said agreement was wholly
without any authority Of the commits
sion to make, in violation Of the law
and contrary to the policy and dig
nifty Of the State, placing the great
and delicate power Of the State to
give pardon and immunity to vio-
lators of her laws in the hands OF peo-
pie not even citizens Of the State, sub
ject TO the approval Of an officer of
the State in whom / fail TO find any
constitutional or statutory power
vested. Much delay and loss, under
the provisions of this agreement has
| occurred; caused continued agitation
among the people Of the State. and
has prevented them from doing their
work at the earliest date practica-
ble.'
| therefore, they have been negli-
gent in the discharge of and shown
! plainly incapacity for the duties re-
CURED Of them; and, taking into con
| stderation all of the circumstances
and facts in regard to the delay and
neglect in winding up the affairs as
provided for in the act, and in view
| or the fact that all moneys have no
been turned over to tie State treas
urer and this showing clearly inca.
paclty and indisposition to do the
work as the act provides, at tn,
earliest date practicable'-it being
Tour years since said act was ap-
| prONed--nnd f,r diyorS otbor yoof