Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-11-14
COURT EXPENSES.
EDITOR BEAUreRr REPUBLICAN !:

1t seems that our clerk of the court is
much pleased with the ruling of Judge
Maher, as his bills are not reduced more
now than his taxes would be increased
Under the old ruling.
Let us examine this subject little:
The bill of I'll. G.. Judd, clerk of the
court, for February term, 1872, S4S2.75
His bill for June term, 1872, 605.75
His bill for October term 1872, 323.25
SAL. Is.
Each term of the court lasts two
weeks. So we have against the county
the little sum of fourteen hundred and
eleven dollars and seventy-fve cents for
6 weeks work of our county clerk Tor the
three terms of court in 1872.
You will please notice the fact that his
bill for October is but little more than
half of his bill for the June term. Of
course he is well pleased with the reduc-
tion, as all good cit zens should be. Then
his bill for the June term is $780, 80
more than it was for October under the
ruling of His Honor Judge Maher.
Now we will look at the court expenses
for this year.
For February, $5,234.5O
For June, Al 80. so
For October, 100000
Total expenses, 1872, Sll,3S3.OO
At the annual meeting, Sept. |, 1872,
F. f. Wilder. county treasurer, reported
the whole collections since Sept. l, 1871,
one year, to be So, 2,539.34
Take out the court expenses
for one year ll,3S3.OO
Sl,156. 81
And we have one thousand one hum
dred and fifty six dollars and thirty-four
cents, wherewith to pay ali other county
expenses, amounting to more than ten
thousand dollars. How about "Quaker
Dust" now?' Here it is and plenty Of
it.
These facts and figures cannot be de-
MED. No term Of court is worth to the
county of Beaufort more than two thou
sand dollars. If that amount will not
pay the expense Of each term Of court
we had much better do without court
altogether.
Our clerk of the court charges the
county one dollar for each oath admins
tered by him. Noy this is contrary to
both law and gospel. The law says that
he shall charge only twenty-five cents for
swearing witnesses The gospel says
''swear not at ALL" Let the swearing be
put out by contract-we can get 1t done
cheap on Bay street, or let us all turn
Quakers; and then we cannot swear at
all. The latter course would certainly
save the county large sum yearly.
The county aims house was built by
contract for 50, 800, why should IL. u.
Judd say that it cost $1,000. This same
clerk of the court is bold man to say
anything about the purchase Of the pres
ent court house, when his connection
Herewith is well known to the public.
What about Ho:pur Bridge? IF there is
anything connected Herewith of a disre'
putable nature, let it come out.
Now in all soberness, ] would like te
enquire of the clerk of the court, as tc
the bonds given by the Intendent and
town council Of Beaufort, as security iol
fulfillment of their contract with the
legislature, to give to the county of Beau
fort good and sufficient county buildings
on condition that the county seat shoulc
be removed from Gillisonville to Beau
fort. The clerk Of the court has ackonwl
edged to having these bonds in his pos
session uatiLwithin the past six weeks
He now tells US that they were burned IL
the court house in 1860. As they were
on file in the clerks Office at that time
it does not seem very probable.
JOHN HUM, {. G G.