The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1859-11-24

Mr.. Edior-SIR I discover in the Inst Ban.
',er, tho article from Tax Payer, which appeared
| in your paper the Sd February lust. suppose
you have re.puhlished it by request. AS the
author OF that urticle, hope you will permit me
| to make some explanations and further sugges
| tions, through the columns Of the Banner. In
that article assumed the position that for the
last five years it had cost seven per cent to re.
ceive and disburse the Bridge Taxes in Abbe-
vlle District, aud five per cent. Of that sum was
paid TO the Treasurers of the General Board.
This regarded as very extravagant, and thought
the law which authorized it should be amended
have ascertaincd. since that was written, there
is no such law which requires the payment of
five per cent. either to the General or Sub Treas
| urers. But say some of your readers, why did
| not the Judge or Solicitor so explain The law
ut our last Court, when the euIject was so fairly
presented in the Report of the Chairman of the
General Board7 AS to that, I am unable to saw
but from the authority of Lawyer, n member
Of the Legislature, am authorized to say that
no such law exists, and that this matter Of COM
pensation is left to the Board of Commissioners
| The law provides that the Commissioners nuv
nHoto their 1reasurers a reasonable compensa.
| t'on; and us 10 the compensation now allowed
the Treasurcrs Of the Sub Boards, "S2O each
| annually. an average Of perhaps per cent" no
one, think, will complain. But when the Public
examines the Reports of the Treasurers of tho
General Board for the last six years. they do
and OF right ought to complain. But some
| persons say il is not for the labor so much as
tho responsibility of receiving and holding tho
funds mill tboy hoy
| it over to the Treasures of the Sub Boards thnt
they should receive such large compensation
That responsibility. however, is Of their own
choice; Il they wish tn avoid it, they may do
SO by drawing orders the Tax Collector in
favor Of the Sub-Trcasurers, for the amount of
their respective claims leaving in The Tax Col.
iectors hands, to draw ut settlement, enough 10
pay their own Conmiss ssions, and pay for pub
i'shing the annual Reports of receipts and ex-
penditures. This will, moreover, be more con.
| venicnt for all concerned, and save them of the
great responsibility complained Of; for the writer
OF this article served as a Commissioner of
Roads three years, aud during that timo was
The Treasurer Of the General Board From my
| experience, consider the duty no more than
others OF the Treasures Of the Sul.Boards con.
sequently their compensation should be no more
by the hve per cent. system, however. the
Treasures Of the General Board have rcceiv.d
| III The last six yenrs, the sum Of Twelve Hun.
dred aud Thirtythree Dollars MS commissions
lhe Six years Immediately preceding the same
Office was filed, md the duties discharged, for
the sum of sixty dollars, $40 per annnm. Ills
| very natural for the question to arise-whv has
the commissioners permitted such cxtravagant
expenditure of tho public funds, when the law
did not authorize it?
In justice TO the Commissioners OF Roads. il
IL proper Tor me 10 state what some of Them hnv.
recently informed me. They were misled as to
WHAT 'he law was. IL i am correctly informed
inc iacts oi the case are about this: Six years
ago the Treasurer of the General Board cIoirn,d
that he was by law entitled 10 five per cent
Commissions or e total amount of Bridge Tax
annually sor OF the members of the Board
were OF c"nt'ury opinion, and opposed it, The
mal'er was then submitted 10 III Judge, who de-
c'ded In favor Of the opin ion entertained by the
General Treasurer, and Of course the Board IT,
garded that rs the law. think it time for the
Legislature 10 amend the law in relation TO the
compensation allowed to the Secretaries and
lreasurers of the different Boards of CommIs.
sioners III the State. And l will venture t6 SUP.
gest an amendment; that in future the Commis.
s'oners OF Roads. Poor, and Public Buildings of
the State may allow their Secretaries aud Treas.
nrers compensation for their services but in no
case shall that SUN exceed 24 per cent OIL the
annual expenditures! In regard 10 my sucees.
''ons IN The original arcle on the Commits.
s'o"s allowed Tax Collectors, 1 have nothing
1urther to say. l have no doubt that subject
Will be before the Legislature hope the men,
bers OF the Upper Division of the State will see
that i'll the reduction of the Commissions n tho
Tax Collectors it be equalized. saw plan or
scheme which was prepared for the last I.eeislu
ture. In it the Tux Collectors of the Inner
Division was more materially affected than The
Lower Division.
have no doubt. Mr.. Editor, Tin fact have
bean informedj that some of YOUR readers 70.
ard the whole article OF Tax Payers as a small
affair, regular ten cent piece. There are others
however, who think the dimes belonging to The
State should be taken care Of, because ten dimes
make dollar, and it 10 for the benefit of tbose
have written.
The Independent Press will please copv.
With my thanks to Messrs. Editors of Banner
and Press, l close.
m