The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-05-24
lcoMMUNICATED.
TOWN AFFAIRS.

ground.
1t was not denied that The amount
received from the State was expended
in charity. But we charge, that it was
not disbursed in the manner directed
by the Legislature.
The act says "to assist the authori.
ties of the various towns and cities in
the State, in caring for the TRANSIENT
SICK POOR of such citiel and towns -
Act No. 81, approved l1th December,
1868.
The amount coming to Sumter, was
paid to the Intendaut in four equal in
stallments, from 9Th Dec, 1869, to 23d
January, 1871; a period of less than
fourteen months, instead of two years,
as mentioned by him. This money
ought to have gone into the Town
Treasury aud it expended as the act
provides, three.fourths Of the amount
would be now on hand. We have very
few TRANSIENT pdapers, and still fewer
transient sich pa4pcrs. But it appears
that the Intendaut gave away the
money 10 whatever manner suited his
individual judgment, or promoted his
official popularity. The wardens were
not consulted on the subject, nor any
record made of receipts or expenditures.
This was a plain violation Of official
duty, as the Charter requires all money
transactions to be published within
twenty days after the election Surely
an item of Four Hundred Dollars,
which is more than one eighth of the
entire cash receipts Of the town, was
worthy Of sonae notice on the books OF
the Corporation.
Again :-the Iutendant accounts for
his failure to publish the list Of payees
Of Town Scrip, on the score of economy,
when he had just published over three
columns of town finances, which the
undersigned stated (in greatly i'm
proved form) 10 one third Of double
column of your paper. No wonder the
town advertising for fifteen months cost
s253 O0! Perhaps the Intcndaut had
other reasons for Withholding the de-
sired information.
We are puzzled TO understand the
position of the attendant. He declares
he will not answer any more questions
complaints must be made to Council.
&C., &c. This reminds US Of the famous
duel. in which one party selected a''nu
s,cords as the weapons, while the other
party named ten paces as the distance.
Of course they could never reach each
other. a number of respectable citizens
address a polite application to Council,
asking for certain publications, in the
way of tabular statements, dc. No
notice is taken Of the petition. except
an advertisement Of certain items, i'm
properly omitted 10 former statement.
No tables, no lists, no information are
afforded. When complaint Of this
treatment is made, through the press,
aud important questions are propounded,
the reply is, 81 will not answer ques'
tions apply to Council"
There is very little hope Ct getting
any redress for grievances, if this is to
be the irresponsible position of the In
tendant. Application to Council will
receive no attention, and complaints
through the press will not be noticed.
1t is said that bad beginning makes
good ending. We trust it may be so
with the newly elected Council. They
certainly have commenced badly enough.
They have elected, ss chief Of police, On
entire stranger to the commuuity--one
who is disqualified from holding any
Office, as he is not q citizen os This State
aud not even of the United Statea.-
When very large number Of citizens
aud Taxpayers demand the restoration
of the; former chief (who vas good
enough Tor 'he Intendant untaMe day OF
Mclaa e1esaion) their petition is postponed
freu.tneeting to meeting, the wishes of
the people are disregarded, and the ez-
chiee:sud bis family left to starve.
The Intendaut, in another column,
declares his determination TO retire into
private life at the eud of the present
term. This is cruei. Why keep
the large majority of rOssfa vho sup
ported him at last election miserable for
tgelve weary months? Gould not the
heart rending arnoupseRsa: have been
re&ryed until si,',ia abort time of
tLespezt eleetioa9 Aud it isa fxed
fact, What are We to 10 for en- Iussp6aos3
HoE ars oar street lamps 70 be liga ted
ss,..r1 Ifn, ar. va 70 nut,