The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-10

4
statement that the governor was
present For this reason. Mr.. Todd
had told the committee that he
thought he was buying a gold bond
when he signed the contract.
"As for the actual signing of the
contract continued MIR. Browning.
this may not have been done either
In the governors presence or in his
office. but Mr.. Todd did tell the ways
and means committee that the meet
ing was held in the governors office.
And In this. believe. every member
I of the ways ano means committee
will bear me out.
I'm addition" said Mr.. Browning,
Todd told the committee that the
plaster model had cost him $f,100."
Then. In conclusion. Mr., Browning
made the statement as to the unusual
course OF the subcommittee Of the
committee on the state house and
grounds I'm approrriating State funds
for the architect to use them to In
fiuenoe members Of the general as
sembly to adopt his plans
In reply to Mr.. Browning, A. w.
Todd spoke on a question Of personal
! privilege. He said he wished to state
his position personally. 1t was false
that there had been any scheme to-
| debauch the members Of the general
assembly. so far as he was PERSONAL
iy concerned. There was no blot on
his character. He had not button
holed" members OF the general assem-
bly, to set them to adopt his plans.
He had been employed by the sub
! committee and had entered into a
written contract with them. The
whole meeting, except the sibcom-
mittce meeting had been held i'm the
governors otilce. Not member Of
the committee had any idea Of poll
tics. He was out Of money for his
| work and had thought ne was buying
q gold bond when he signed the con-
! tract.
Mr.. Stevenson introduced a resolu-
ton requiring the subcommittee to
state exactly what took place in the
governors Office and whether the
plan Of charging the State house had
the sanction Of the chief executive.
Out OF respect to the ways and
means committee, Mr. Stevenson
withdrew his resolution on the
grounds that the ways and means
committee would probably require
further statement from the subcom-
mittee about the Todd claim.
} The special message from the gov
ernor. I'm which F. NJ. Bryan and C.
ID. Lee. with A. w. Todd concurring,
deny that the contract for enlarging
the State house was signed in the gov
ernor's presence. and further states
that the chief executive. as far as
they know. knew nothing Of It until
the general assembly met. follows:
ITO the Honorable, the Members Of
( the. General Assembly of South
Carolina:
Gentlemen: i herewith transmit
, TO you a statement which Is self-ex-
planatory and which request you to
spread on your journals.
Il have been unable to find the
Honorable w. w. Dixon. the other
member OF said committees; my un-
, derstanding is that ne is not in ,the
city.
Very respectfully,
(Signed Cole L. Blease,
| Governor"
Columbia. s. c.. Feb. 7, 1912.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
To the Honorable. the Members Of
the General Assembly Of the State
Of South Carolina.
'Gentlemen: Noticing In the CO.
iumbia state newspaper this wednes-
day morning. February eth. 1912, the
following statement
Were a majority Of the mem
bers of the general assembly OF a
mind with the members OF the sub
committee OF the committee on State
state House and Grounds who on
September 27, 1911. in the presence
OF the Governor. signed the contract
under which Architect Todd made
preliminary plans and sketches for
additions To the State House. the bill
appropriatlng 100000 for the execu-
tion Of the plans would he passed
The contract having been signed In
the presence of the Governor. the
Inference follows that ne would sign
the bin aprropriating the money for