The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-02-21
THE IoOD CLAIM IS ILLEGAL.
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
MAKES IT'S REPORT.
Tells of Chief Executives Connection
With Nat;er rs brought Out In
Conflicting Testimony.

ceived last niSht tho report Of the
special committee appointed to in
vestigats the Todd claim for s13.55O
for preparing plans proposing to en-
large the State house. The report >of
the committee declares that A. w.
Todd acted knowingly without au-
thority of law In drawing up the plans
for which he demands payment and
that his claim Is not based on legal
grounds
The report wal ordered printed In
the Journal together with the steno-
graphic copy Of the volumir Gus tes-
timony lpon which 1t Is basel.
The report Is signed by the mem
bers of the investigating committee
l. NJ Gasaue. chairman: X. b. Bel
ser. secretary; J. n. Connor: J. II.
Miller and j. w. Boyd.
The findings Of the committee. ap-
pended to a review of tho testimony
and the authority unde- which the in
vestisati,n was conducted. are given
below: t
"U). That the members of the
committee on State house and
grounds who attended any Of the
meetings. conducted the important
matters with which they were en-
trusted with an absolute disregard
of all methods Of business procedure
and without any effort to keep any
proper record OF their proceedings;
and the lack Of such records Is seri-
Gus handicap to any proper determi-
nation OF the issues involved.
"(3). That the chairman Of the
committee on State house and grounds
proceeded In this matter without OBJ
tanning any written authority from
the governor. and that whatever ver-
bal authority ne received was never
Transmitted TO the committee as a
whole; snd that acting under this
verbal authority from the governor,
lhe chaisman. With the sub-committse
~ - sassl ssuay ssxcssasd
that sutaority In engaging an archi-
tect to prepare and present plans and
specifications not contemplated under
the resolution from which ne received
hts authority.
"(D. That Mr.. Todd entered upon
the preparation for the plans for the
enlarged State house. and that the
major part OF the plans and specih-
cations were prepared by Mr.. Todd
without any proper authority being
given the committee to engage his
services for any purpose. under the
concurrent resolution passed at the
last session Of the legislature: and
that the plans and specifications az
prepared and presented to the meet
Ing Of the committee on September
27th. 1911. were never contemplated
by the general assembly at the time
OF the passage Of the resolution or
by the committee on State house and
grounds at the time Of the appoint
ment OF the Subcommittee.
"(D. That the only connection the
governor had with this matter. either
before or after his letter OF authority
to the chairman on July 26. 1911. and
tho alleged verbal authority to Mr..
Bryan during the 1911 session of the
legislature. was at the meeting In his
ofice on September 81. 1911. at which
meeting the governor was present
most Of the time but took no material
part In the conference and discussions
other than to state that Mr.. Todds
plans were beautiful and II the Iegis-
luature would pass a bill authorizing
such improvements he would be glad
TO sign the bill. and to comment on
what he considered to be an exorbi-
tant expenditure by the committee In
appropriating $1,000 for Mr.. Todd's
educational campaign There Is some
testimony showing that the subject
matter Of the contract To he entered
into between the subcommittee and
Mr.. Todd was discussed at the meet
ing. but the written contract entered
into between these parties was not
prepared or entered into In his office
or In his presence. and that the actual
preparing and signing OF the contract
did not take place until some time
after the meeting Of the eth OF Sep
tember.
"(5) We find that A. w. Todd was
called In by the chairman Of the com
mittee on State house and grounds
nj the meeting when considering the
governors message, before the reso-