The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-01-02
THE ADVISORY BOARD.
WHO CONTROL AND ARE RESPONSE
BILE FOR THE LAND COMMISSION.
Have they Done their Duty !-A Clear
Statement OF their Powers md PrIvi-
1sges.

The Radical joint committee having shown
up the glaring frauds of The land commission,
direct their attention to the advisory board, as
| follows:
This Is grand council of five, whe direct
all things In connection with the land commits
sion. Have they done their duty? Can NO
| suspicion or censure? Let US see.
Who creates the elandcoDmissloner "The
| advisory board"
How long does he hold his office sat the
pleasure Of the advisory board"
By whose advice and instructions must he
be governed? 1.-THE advice and Instructions
ofthe advisory board"
Who determines the price to be paid by the
land commission for lands ut shall be the
duty of the land commissioner to purchase, or
cause to be purchased, any lands In any por-
ton of the State, at such. price as the advise
ry board may determine"
Is there limit to the amount of land to be
purchased In any fiscal year ut shall not
exceed, In the aggregate amount, In any one
fiscal year, the par value OF the public stock
of this State, created for this purpose"
How far are the purchases of the land COM
missioner legal? s'The land commissioner
shall be subject to majority of the advisory
board, and any purchase or sale Of property
made Without their advice or consent shall
not be valid"
What rule Is given for the purchase of land
mo purchase shall be made without the
certain knowledge of the commissioner that
he will be able to cell the same without de-
lay"
How are the bonds, authorized for land
commission purposes, to be issued? By the
treasurer, In amounts specified In the acts
authorizing the same, iii, In the opinion Of
the advisory board, so much be necessary
What amount of bonds, for land commission
purposes, were authorized under the acts OF
March 20. 1869, and March l, 1870? "Seven
hundred thousand dollars
How much has been expended for land
commission purposes? According to the
books of the State treasurer and the financial
agent, "seven hundred and forty-siX thousand
seven hundred and twenty-three 7-100 dol
lars.m
Are the books of the land commission sub.
ject to inspection =? 1.-THE books and records
of the land commissioner shall, at all times, be
subject to the inspection of the advisory
board. or any member thereof"
1t appears, then, that there can be no land
commissioner who is not first decided ito be
suitable"-appo ppointsd-e1cept by the advisory
board, nor can he purchase or sell land, fix
the price, or go beyond q specified limit In his
purchases, or dispose of bond, or make bis
transactions legal, or discharge the duties OF
his office" without "tte instructions, advice or
control of the advisory board. His books and
records must be submitted to their Inspection,
and his every business operation should pass
under their scrutiny; and If he violates the
law or disregards Its restrictions, the advisory
board, having approved "a written undertak-
Ing, with good and sufficient security, exc
cuted to the people of the State OF South Care.
lima, by the land commissioner, Ia the penal
sum of twenty thousand dollars, for the faith.
full discharge of the duties of his Office" and
filed the same in the Office of the secretary of
State, have at least something to fall back
upon to protect the State against hazard or
loss, and the courts are open TO try and Judge
the offences committed by the commissioner,
according to the strict measures of justice.
That great swindles have been perpetrated;
auces formed; that the money Of the State and
the bonds Issued have not been disposed OF aa
diroot TINT ono of tho land commissioners
Is not free from speculation, either on his
own account or as an agent for other persons
or corporatlons;n that the excess of the public
stock Of this State, created for land commits
sion purposes over the par value of the same,
In the aggregate amount, has been expended;
that the whole spirit, letter and body of the
laws authorizing The appointment of land com.
missioner, the issue Of bonds, the purchase OF
land, the settlement OF the same, the report OF
the commissioner, everything Intended IN the
act, ito create a land commissioner and de1ne
his powers. and dutles," have been disregarded
or wantonly perverted, cannot be gainsa!d.
That the advisory board are responsible for
all of this. the verdict OF. the "homeless and
landless,n at least, will be recorded.
The land purchased, the improved and un-
improved, eligible or ineligible, the 104, ,07s
acrep, land-bill, swamp and otherwise, which
have cost the State already over seven dollars
per acre, with or without titles, could not have
been purchased without the knowledge Of the
advisory board, ''thelr advice aud consent.
The advisory board should be required, then,
to explain their acts, their neglect of duty, and
understandable violation of law.