The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-12-03
The Wny 10 do II.


Doctors differ rs TO the best way OF curing
the evils of tho present Township system.
with its seven hundred and forty townships,
its five thousand one hundred and eighty
officers, and its yearly cost of more than
eleven hundred thousand dollars. One plan
is TO suspend the operation of the law for
ten years. This is plain enough. Another
plan is TO suspend the Township law in part,
ami elect Il special commissioner for each
township, who shall report upon the condi-
tion OF roads and bridges, and upon the
condition OF The poor, and who shall, also,
draw jurors and attend to the working of
the public highways. Upon this basis tie
cost OF the township system would he only
500, 200 Il year Even this is fur too much.
The County Commissioners can discharge
the duties proposed to be imposed upon the
Township Commissioners. All that is stip-
ulatcd TO be pail to these new commission
crs is $50 Il year, and ut this price il will he
exceedingly difficult to obtain good work
from any Radical official. The County Com
missioners should bc willing to take upon
themselves the extra labor, finding their re-
ward in scli-praisc if not in public approval.
simple and unconditional suspension of
the Township law for ten years is the wiscst
course to adopt, and the General Assembly
which does so much for the injury of the
State, should he willing, once in II way, to
pass Il measure which will be II welcome re-
lief TO every taxpayer in South Carolina.
The Township law, as il stands, is IL mon
strous swindlc-an infamous attempt to
seize another slice Of the earnings OF the
people. Among the township officers, how
ever. are many gentlemen of high character
AMI good standing, who allowed themselves
to he elected, or sought election, because n
bad lazy is made worse when administered
by rogucs and rascals. These gentlemen.
who occupy in the townships tho same posi-
ton that the Democratic members occupy in
the General Assembly, cannot make the law
good one; but they can, and do, in their
particular spheres, prevent thieving, ex-
travagancc and waste. They accepted Office
OH the sround that whenever n true and
good man is elected to Office, however small
il may he, another point is marked In the
game. and another step made toward OBJ
tanning the control of the State This is the
true policy, and il is deeply to be regretted
that the Democratic officers cannot be cy-
ccptcd in ,crms, when it is necessary to con-
dcmn and expose the corruption of the
Legislature or the rottenncss of the town
ship system. Their people, nevertheless,
know and appreciate the cmbarrassmcnts
and annoyanccs which conscientious tie
votion TO the interests of The State have
brought upon them. What is opposed what
IS fought. what is condemned, is the Radi-
cal official. To him and his fellows, and to
them only, our deuunciations apply.
All parties agree in declaring that the
Township law is unnecessary and mnwise.
The la'iicuI County Commissioners them
selves cannot uphold a system which makes
the township administration alone cost MS
much ~ tho gross amount of The Slate tax
alton. All that is required is q straigh,for-
ward determination To give the people some
relief, and the law will be repealed or sus-
pended without more delay.