The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-10
''Da|BE AND DEBAueA."
CHAIRMAN OF WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE SPEAKS PLAINLY.
Calling Spade q Spade in Discussing
1he state House Job-Gov. Biease
Takes n Hand and = Question OF
vcrsctty Raised-Mr. Drowning
sAys Effort Was Made to Use State
Funds to Bribe and Debauch Mem
bcrs OF Legislature.

a question OF personal privilege yes
terday morning ON the door of the
house. Lowndes J. Browning OF Union
called q spade spade. In speaking Of
the odd-Bryan- Dixon Lee claim for
sis.sso for drawing plans for enlarg-
f1ng the State house. Mr.. Browning's
statement was the result of a special
mee.age from the governor trans
mittiag . statement from Bryan and
fss. approved by Todd. denying that
the contract between the firm Of
Todd and Benson. architects OF Char
nn1ss<on. had been signed In the COVER
nor's presence OF In his once.
Mr.. Browning stated that Todd
had repeatedly told the ways and
uaeanx committee at it's meeting
that the matter between himself and
the subcommittee had been gone into
(7in the governors ONCE when the gov
ernor was present.
In referring to the $1,000 travelling
expenses which the Dixon -Bryan-Lee-
subcommittee from the committee on
state House and Grounds had allowed
rodd. who is member OF the house.
for visiting ,'as many members as
\ possible" and for using "any means
In his power to acquaint them Of the
contemplated work. Mr.. Browning
said:
SO far ss ! know. this is I :. first
instAncs In American history GRE a
G,bcommittee has attempted ap-
propriate ststc funds for influencing
members OF general assembly.
Speaking even palmer the subcom-
nittse has made an effort to use
state funds to bribe and debauch the
members OF the general assembly into
9 e1pp<inx the plans which they ap-
(psvved. and they placed these funds
In the hands OF the architect"
Mr.. Todd also spoke on question
OF personal privilege. He said that
Mr.. Hrowning's statement as to brib-
( cry was false so far as he was person
slly concerned.
As an Introduction to his question
3 Of personal privilege. Mr. Brown
ing read from the report on the sub
committee OF state House and
Grounds In the House journal of Feb
ruary 1. which F. NJ. Bryan trans
, mitted.
The section Of the report which
Mr.. browning read was the minutes
Of the meeting In the governors Of
nee. II follows:
Pursuant to n call OF the Chair
man OF the Committee on State
blouse and Grounds. the committee
met at Columbia. I'm the ONCE OF his
Excc,Seucy, the Governor. ON Wedncs-
day, September 27th, 1911, at which
wcrc present His ExceIIency. the
Governor; Chairman +. M. Bryan.
Secretary w. w. Dixon. Clarence ID.
= Lee. composing the subcommittee; a
fun quorum of the committee. and
Architect A. w. Todd.
The committee was called to or
der by the Chairman. and the report
OF the architect TO the subcommittee.
and the report Of the subcommittee
= was read. which. after due discussion.
= the two reports were unanimously
adopted.
They then authorized the Chair
man and Secretary to enter into con-
tract with the architect. and to for
mulats Bill to present to the next
session Of the Legislature.
Mr.. Todd suggested that we have
plaster cast made OF the building
IA u will appear when completed.
and exhibited proposal from a mod
eier to make the model for the sum
Of nine hundred 5000 dollars. At
TER some discussion MIR. Todd was
authorized Co have the model made
at a cost not 10 exceed that amount.
and have the model ON exhibition at
the State Capitol at the meeting OF
the General Assembly.
"Mr. Dixon then moved that Mr..
Todd visit as many Of the members
as possible. and use any means In his
power to acquaint them of the con-
semplated work. at cost not To ex-
ceed one thousand S1.00D dollars.
After some discussion this motion
was adopted.
! There being mo- further business
before the committee. they ad-
journed.
(Signed) w. w. DIXON.
Secretary"
MIR. Browning declared that a. w.
AyTodd had told the ways and means