The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-17
to furHsh the money borrowed at 8

uateu April IV. III mas De6n the Gus
tom In the past for some officer OF the
State OF South Carolina to 60 to New
York with me on account Of the size
OF the transaction, and for the protec.
tion that such officer could give to the
State.
Answering your second question.
which reads as follows: In request
ing that a State officer should accom-
pany you to New York, was it, or not
your purpose to furnish the money
needed at lower rate If possible than
you had offered in your bid?' will
say that IL was my intention to give
the State the very best rate that 1
could possibly secure for them, and 1t
was my intention to lower the rate If
possible. Ny purpose in requesting a
State officer to accompany me to
New York was to safeguard the in
terest OF both parties. and to have
present, when the contract was final
ly completed, an officer Of the State
as a witness to the transaction in case
any question should arise in the fu-
ture, and also that ne might furnish
any information in regard to the
States affairs II desired.
No Agreement.
In reply to your third question,
which Is as follows: What was the
agreement between yourself and Gov.
Blease as to the borrowed money on
deposit in your bank drawing inter-
est beg to state that there was no
agreement.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) J. p. Matthews.
Cashier"
In Governors Once.
The following letter was address
ed on February 8 to Gov. Blease by
j. Pope Matthews. financial agent OF
the State:
AT your request called on you, In
your office day before yesterday, and
dictated TO your stenographer a state
ment relating to the loan made the
State last summer through the Pal
metto National bank.
This statement as first written out
by your stenographer and submitted
to me read as follows:
Columbia, s. c.. Feb. z. 1912.
+" Hon. Cole l.. Blease, Governor of
South Carolina, Columbia, s. c..
Ny Dear Sir: Complying with
your written request. In reference to
the loan made through me to the
State of South Carolina, beg to say
that we submitted proposition to
the financial board just as We have
done in the past. invited in my
bid. 4 representative OF the State 10
go to Ne'T York with me 70 finally
conclude the matter. his expenses TO
be paid by the State Of South Caro-
lima. The representative to repre-
sent the State Of South Carolina was
delegated to the governor by the COM
mission. I had. Of course, noticed
considerable comment in the papers
in reference to tie ability Of the State
to borrow money IL you were elected,
and l thought 1t nothing but proper
that the owner Of 100000 worth Of
paper Of South Carolina should have
occasion to discuss with the governor
the affairs Of the State. in order that
they might, for themselves. get some
idea Of who they were doing business
with.
THE paper was accepted readily
and there was not the slightest hesi-
tation in the acceptance of the paper.
I'm reference to your other ques-
ton. in regard to 20 per cent being
left on deposit with this bank, 1 beg
To say that there was no request made
1t would have been our pleasure
to have paid interest on the States
balance. az agreed with you. II the
treasurer had been in the position to
have left any stated amount with us
for any definite time. 1t has been
the custom in the past for the State
to have to pay quite a sum Of money
for pensions some time during the
first OF the year. and as a rule some
thing like $4,000 to s276, 900 are paid
out for such purpose. Shortly after
that the interest on the State debt Is
Obliged to be met and this. with the
pensions. practically takes up all Of
the 100000. II any unexpended bal
ances were left In the bank we would
nave gladly paid interest thereon;
and " we had had any definite un-
dorstanding as To the amount and
tot tal 10