The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-02-21
TODD Tells OF DEAL
MADE TO DRAW PLANS FOR 4
CHANGE IN CAPITOL
ACTED in GOOD Faith

AuEED lin uUUD lHIEn
Because Of the Presence Of the Gov
ernor He Thought He Was Perfect
" Safe in Going Ahead With the
Work as Instructed by the Sub
Committee.
Mr.. A. ". Todd. member OF the
House o. Representative from Char
lesion County, and several other Wit
nesses. among the number being sew
eral members OF the House commit
tee on State House and grounds, ap-
peared Monday afternoon before the
committee Investigating the CLAIM
presented BY the State House and
grounds committee for sl3.3O0 for
architects fees and plans for the
State House additions, following rec
concentrations in message from the
Governor to the General Assembly
last year.
W. +. Blackburn. stenographer for
Gov. Blease. was sworn He was IN
and out of the governors Office al the
September meeting. He did not pre-
pare the contract, but his under
standing was that it was prepared
III Charleston Mr.. Todd" Mr..
Blackburn said, "was up here all last
summer. and l heard about the plans
from him and he (Mr. Todd talked
with the governor about them. The
governor, presume, knew all about
them
J. A. Hunter, a member Of the COM
nittee OF State house and grounds,
on being sworn, said he recalled the
governors message and subcom-
mittee being appointed to Investigate
the recommendation after the adop-
ton Of the Dixon resolution. accord
ing to his resolution. I took the po-
sition that I would not favor the
idea unless the people Of the State
approved Of it. AIessrs. Lee. Mitch
un and Wells agreed with me. I an
inclined to think that there was a
vote taken on the matter, but do
not recall how it stood. The COVER
nor remarked that if the bill passed
it would give him pleasure 10 approve
it. I refer to the entire project.
3. T. Tison was the next witness.
He attended the September meeting
The governor was in and out Of the
Office during the session. Mr. Todd
explained the plans for capitol en-
largement. He knew nothing Of these
plans until that meeting and he OBJ
jected to them at the time. His IN
derstanding was that bill was to be
prepared to be presented to the gen
eral committee. He knew nothing OF
any fees and thought the subcou-
mittee had arranged this. He did not
approve OF the bill when presented
this session and did not believe in it..
Mr.. Bryan brought it to him in the
hall Of the house. He heard the gov
eroor say ne (the governor) would
approve the measure if it passed. He
attended no meeting Of the commit
tee during the last session.
A ". Todd was then sworn. M
Todd said he had been an architect
for 80 years. He is member Of the
general assembly. "Nr. Bryan said
to me to go ahead with the work. but
I asked him as to his authority"
Mr. Todd then presented a written
statement which Mr.. Blackburn, on
being recalled. said he prepared at
the dictation Of the governor. It is
dated July 26, 1911. and addressed
to Mr.. Bryan, authorizing the en-
ployment Of an ardhitect in regard
to the State house as suggested in the
message, and to employ an architect
as reasonably as possible, as he (the
governor) was sure that it was not
the intention OF the general assem-
bly, to go to any considerable expense.
Mr.. Todd then said he was asked as
to his idea Of the toilet approaches.
He told them it would require com
prehensive study, and later he ap-
peared before the committee and told
the members that the toilets would
have to be put on the inside, as the
majority Of the Offices were dungeons.
and to meet the demands of the
building additions were necessary.
It was then moved" said Mr.
Todd, that committee be appoint
ed TO look into the matter. A reso-
luton was introduced and passed.
was then told ito go ahead with the
plans and worked the whole year
with experts on the matter. Then in
September told the chairman that
was ready, and the meeting was
called
Mr.. Todd then showed his plans
and produced pictures and the article
il The State. September IS, describe
ing the proposed building, which he
said was mailed to every member Of
the general assemb bly,.
The report. Mr. Todd said, was
published in The State by the per-
mission of the committee, and he
gave it to a representative of The
State after permission was obtained.
He told the committee that it was
not customary for an architect to
travel over the State and solicit work
II certainly had never been his pol
icy
Questioned as to the appropriation
OF $1,000 for travelling Nlr. Todd
said:
The governor said. That is
he'll Of al exorbitant fee. can
vassed the State for $3.50 when ran
for governor
"Mr. Dixon said. But this is an
extraordinary affair. and the cover