The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1871-10-04
Preso,.p,ent Of tie Grand jury.
vrwprpRY COUNTY, GRAND JCRI.
y n,, nH ~, rnJS, Fall Term, 1871.
THE POOR HOUSE

| HrCSclsuleGs Va s-AS NAN-
/ NewBERRY COUNTY, GRASD JCRI:
! SOUTH CAKoLINA, Fall lefm' 1911
THE POOR HOUSE
; Contains o5 paupcrs, well fed, but destitute
! Of clothing, soap and personal comforts, such
as tobacco, in moderate quantities. "nlch
NAV well be afforded TO thc poor and shouiu
be given. The poor house grounds should
he Ic; 10 a tenant who might work the iaho
and tho rock quarry to great advantage
1t is the opinion Of th;s grand inquest th''
the Poor House may he made source Oh IN
cor,e rather than expense 70 the County.
There are TWO hirc:iDSs-botl negro mcn-
fsO;, and Wal.ccn. K is recommended that
Walleen DC removed. II The first place nc Is
no, needed, and in the second place ne IS not
a proper person. 1t is further recommended
that the sorrcl horse NJ the Poor House &c
sold or exchanged for two good scTiccahlc
lnu.es. The horse is Of 10 use, and it is I'M
possible 10 do without team. \ team might
be made useful beyond the wants of the Poor
House itself, in hauling rock from the vaua-
bic quarry on the Poor House grounds This
rock quarry has been 3 source Of considcra-
BILE income to severa! sdrenturcrS, and If it is
worth tie working the County should have
the benefit Of the profit.
As matter of fact it is stated that since
the 9Th of June Of this year only l3 yards
of shirtns has been sent 10 the Poor House.
This is ali the clothing, except 50 yards OF
sbirtins sent for burial purposes 233 yards
of which was moi used. Itis estimated, from
the hooks Of the late keeper Of the Poor
House-3Ir. Boyd-:hat ioc per day vii
amply feed the paupcrs-coTering in this
expense the feeding of the family Of the So
perintcndent and hireMugS. That much ane
more might be realized from the judiciou
working Of The rock suary and from the rem
Of the land Besides, :hc psupcrs should b
required. andcr the superintendent, 10 ply
such industrial pursuits as they e,sy know
aud be able TO DO. Thus they will be u.cfu
and cared for at the sSme time:
The keeper Of The Poor House should b
able TO read and write.
COUNTY OFFICERS:
Jesse G. Smith is the only Trial Justice /!
town. In his books this Inquest regrets Il
State there arc Irregularities. lie collected
fines in three different cases in tho year 1870
which were not paid into the Treasury as TIT
law digc,s. This default would have bee'
made known at last sitting OF :!is inqncs
bu: for the absence Of Trial Justice Smith.
Jesse C. Smith is the School COMMISSIONS
for Newberry County. Hc has not, by hi
own confession, visited the County School,!
as the law directs.
The Probate Judge shows his office il
proper and commendablc condition. Hi
books are well kept, ana he balance Of cash
to his debit, IN Bauk. He needs 4 book 0
Annual ReturnS, Letter Book for Guardians
Bond Book for Guardians, aud Cour
Docket.
| The Clerk Of the Court makes q clca
showing on his books, and while we coul(
not fully examine his and the Sheriff's re
cords, we believe that they are and have beer
correctly kept.
The County Treasurer offered his books TO
examination, but We were conten. to takt
such figures as serve our present purpose
To examine his entire Office would take ~
expert several days. IF it's desired by III,
Court after this presentment, the Count,
Treasure.'s Office will be fully investigated
There has been paid fer taxes by this Cour
ty this year sl6,497 32-l00. 1t is alnoS
needless to add that part only Of this sn1
has been expended for the public good. TIL
Treasurer has paid his collections on propc
vouchers, but the application Of the none,
rests with those who received it from
his hands Since the last term Of the Cour
two Of the County Commissioners have beer
in the public Jail for crime committed in O.
| fee. The other fed justice. The sheriff, a
Commissioner OF the Poor by appointment
has been the only authorized party to draw
money from the County Treasury and it ap
pears that he has applied the amounts drawn
TO the proper purpose.
And here this Grand Inquest recommend
that law be passed, 1T ,hc next session o
the Legislature, making it the duty Of th'
County Commissioners 10 examine, semi
annually, tho books of the County Treas
u:er, or Tax Coler'or' as he may be called
and all County officers. For under the pres
! ent system Of the collection OF taxes it car
not be doubted that there is very ample op'
portuni:y to make and conceal fraud.
THE COLLECTION OF TAXES.
Among the great evils 70 which the people
of South Carolina are suhjcctcd, is the oncr
Gus expense Of collecting the taxes. For
mcrly, when property paid just taxation
9 single person collected the taxes. Now
when property Is taxed far beyond remu
nerative vainc, whole corps of assessors
| with an auditor and treasurer arc recdcd
! That il shoulI cost a county 5000 - SEQ;
| 10 collect the taxes-and 10 possible SUN
mary way to verify the cHpenditures-wher
! many good men would gladly DO ;hc work
! fo1 salary Of Sl590-iS it not co;o ncntary
upon the system that has been made 10 rof
| the honest laborc- Of his toll, and tie bones
man Of his earning? II was once 2 mans
! pride TO own properly in Soa;h Carolina
now it is a burden. Once it was pride tc
owe allegiance 10 the laws Of South Co-oiua
now it is becoming TO be disgrace. Be
coaISG, slis grand inquest says-EoT YET
coRE TO PASS. God grant it may not cone
finally 10 pass, and that the temper Of the
people may keep cool enough for God
! Providence to work the end
COUNTY JAIL.