The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-11-24
GOV. BLEASE TELLS
ABOUT HIS VIEWS
BieaSe Holds That the General ASSEM-
bly, Should Have Done as He
Asked 1t.

! the following statement III reference
to the borrowing of 100000 to $50,
; goo more money for general expenses:
In my general message to tie extra
session of t. legislature fact, one
! O the very principal reasons for ~
calling them together-Was to carry
; out a recommendation TO extend the
tine for the payment CT taxes and to
provide for the incoming admlnlstra-
ton to borrow a sufficient amount OF
money to run the State government,
in order that said extension might be
granted the people. In a verbal mes
sage delivered to them on my return
from the Memphis conference and III
several written messages during their
session l urged With ali my heart the
passage of these two measures and |
lad prepared in my office and intro
duced by Mr.. Summers Of Anderson
bills looking to this end. The extra
I session Old nothing along this line.
A large majority of the body, both
house and senate, was strongly anti
Blease. Therefore, they ignored all
tie requests and suggestions [ made
| in reference to these matters and left
the people in helpless and pltlful
condition. I knew this relief should
be given; l know our financial condl-
ton, and | knew what it was going to
be later-just as l set out in those
various messages-still the leglsla-
ture, playing cheap politics, refused
to take any action They refused to
extend the time Tor the payment OF
taxes; they refused to make arrange
ments for the borrowing of money,
except to provide that the sinking
fund commission should borrow
certain amount to pay the extra ses-
sion appropriations.
| declined to meet With the sinking
fund commission to borrow this
money because | think per cent was
absolutely excessive and If the
Legislature had not forced through
wnat | considered a most outrageous
act but allowed tie bill to take S
20-day course, as provided by law, We
could lave borrowed this money
within that time at very much lower
rate OF interest In view Of these
matters. l wrote Mr.. Carter the fol-
lowing letter:
Columbia, November II, 1914.
Hon. S. T. Carter, State Treasurer,
Columbia, S. c.
Dear Sir: Your note OF November
II, 1914, received
"In reply l beg to state that l am
absolutely opposed to borrowing any
more money for the State of South
Carolina because | deem it absolutely
unnecessary and an eXtravagant ex-
penditure in the payment Of interest
81 recently vetoed an act of the leg
:slature. which, in my opinion, was
clearly in violation OF the oaths o. the
members. They passed it over my
veto and | understand tie sinking
fund commission has raid as Ugh
rate Of interest as per cent. by VT
tue OF that act. l refused to be a
party to THAI, and l think every man
who took part in it %iolated the oath
+ at he took Wen he assumed the
duties Of the office he was filing.
a Go not propose to meet with your
borrowing committee, or the sinking
fund commission during the re-
nainder Of my term as governor and
shall, and do now, enter my protest
against any action Of the borrowing
committee or the sinking fund COM
mission. | do not believe that we
have a legal sinking fund commission.
The act making the chairman OF the
finance committee Of tie senate and
tie chairman c. ways and means
committee the house members OF
that commission. as followers $
clear,y in violation OF the consttu-
rion OF It's State and without those
two members there can be no legal
action of the sinking fund commits
sion as there viii not be a quorum
present. am satisfied that the eX-
trava gance on the part OF the men,
bers of t e general assembly and the
utter failure on tie part Of others to
do their duty to the people OF this
/ State has caused the trouble Of which
you speak l am in no manner re-
sponsible for it and | do not propose
! to carry their burdens. / pleaded
with the general assembly, at is ex-