The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-02-27
70 she Honorable. the Senate g
eeuth Carolina:

IL
TO the Honorable. the Senate of
ssuth Carolina:
We, tho undersigned majority OF
your, committee. appointed under res.
olution adopted at the 1918 session
to investigate the charges and state
msnts Of the governor against A. A
Richardson, chief game warden. q,
contained In his veto message ON
house dill No, 7ss. senate bill No.
i7o. beg leave respectfully to report
First: AZ to the statement by the
governor on information. that befor,
Mr. Richardson was recommended d
tor reappointment by the Audubon
Society. as chief game warden, he or
his friends brought about the admis-
sion OF about so new members OF tn.
society, and through them was able
to direct It's action"
We find that this statement. In
Tar an II relates to friends OF Mr.
Richardson. js sustained by letter
from Mr.. Frank Hampton and Mis-
Beile Williams, who gave woman's
love to the ,pcrpetuation OF this work.
and by the minutes OF the meeting o
the Audubon Society of December 20.
1915.
Second: With regard to the state.
ment made by Governor Manning ss
follows; From many sources, by let.
ters and by word OF mouth. have re-
ccived complaints that Mr.. Richard
sons deputies. with. his approval. have
made Illegal collections of money
that they have held up presumed vic
Iators OF the game laws. In the fields
and have demanded cash payments o.
lines. without process provided n,
law"
This statement OF the governor |.
sustained by tho production OF letter,
which no said ne had i'm his posses.
sion stthe time OF the veto message.
and by the oral statements made by
me governor before this committee.
The record as to some OF these in
stances referred to Is possibly incom-
piete. but some OF this evidence Is
very clear and conclusive that money
was collected illegally. and without
warrant. by ia.w-notably i'm the
Hutchison case where collection was
made by MIR. Richardson himself.
Third, The next statement OF the
governor Is that "Mr. Richardson's
travelling expenses have exceeded the
amount prescribed by law. That limit
II $1,000. lie has spent on this item
alone si.25i.56. plus mileage books.
boat hire. s1.ss6.4i. This alone would
show the necessity for restricting ana
safeguarding the expenditures of this
department and requiring q compli-
ance with the law"
This statement seems clearly sus.
tained by the finding OF the State au-
ditor compared with the amount al
lowed by law; the law allowing 81, 900
and the amount expended being ST.
1855 and those other items con-
tained In the governors message
above. In this connection your com.
mittee wishes to state that Mr..
Richardson declined to present his
books and the records OF his office.
except when specifically called for in
specific instances. and your commit
tee. Is therefore. unable TO repor:
more definitely with regard thereto
Such records as were presented indi-
Gated TO this committee that tho of
fee was loosely run and the records
kept with lack OF regularity.
In regard To the expense account.
Mr. Richardson states that the In
creased activities Of his Office appear-
cd TO him to require expenditures o.
more money than $1,000 allowed by
law. and after taking advice from I'll +,
attorney general. he went forward iu
the conduct OF his office I'm accord
ance with that advice. ana this W.
given to the committc as forming thu
basis OF his action I'm exceeding his
allowance. In this connection tn
committee wishes to state that in -
sponse 10 direct question by one OF
its members. the governor stated no
fore this committee that he did no;
charge fraud or misappropriation ~
funds and he stated before this com
mlttcc thot he does not now chnrga
erh"f fteud or miSoprcpriation. Th
kg.,l.su 9 seems to recognize the nc