Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-05-30
COUNTY CHECKS

complaint against the county commis-
sioners, directed mainly against what
is an alleged violation Of law commit
ted by them in issuing checks upon an
empty treasury. We do not share the
opinion of our correspondent on this
matter. We think the attack upon
the commissioners, on the contrary,
ought to be because they do not issue
checks for the indebtedness of the
county in every case.
Our correspondent seems to imagine
that the debt Of the county is in some
way affected by the fact that check
is issued 10 pay it. A moments re-
Fiction will convince him that this is
not the case. An audited bill is as
much an evidence of Indebtedness as
check. II the law fOrbids the issue of
a check unless the money is actually at
that moment in the hands of the
treasurer then, by implication, it for
bids them to issue what are called au-
dited bills. Ic the prohibition means
anything of any value to tax payers it
prohibits the creation of any debt With
out the means to pay it is actually
visible. Such a construction Of the
law as is contended for by our CORES
pondeut would bring to standstill the
business of the county.
There are some things, necessary to
the government of the county which
cannot be obtained on credit. S'a-
tionery, stamps, fuel, printing, etc.
The fees from liquor licenses have
heen set aside into contingent fund
for payment of such accounts: Some
of the checks issued and quoted by our
correspondent were paid out Of this
fund.
The report of the treasurer is no
true indication Of his ability to pay
check. Five minutes after he has re-
ported a sum on hand it may be drawn
out, and the next day after he reports
mo fuuds,n he may have received
several hundred dollars.
To show how little advantage &C
crucs by the treasU~er's report, take
the incidents of the last meeting, He
reported S270.47 in the poor fund
Checks were issued to various parties
TO pay for articles furnished to the
poor, but it was found upon presenting
them to the treasury that Mr.. BrOdie
had drawn out the whole amount on
checks previously given for feeding the
poor
The law, construed as it is Wy our
correspondent, would not result in any
saving to the county. The injury to
the county is not in issuing checks for
audited and allowed accounts, but in
not scrutinizing closely every claim
presented. 1t is also well known fact
that work can be contracted for at
prices fifteen or twenty per cent.
lower for a check than for an audited
bill.
When a, claim has been audited and
allowed by the board the creditor has
a right to demand a check for it.
Whether the treasurer can pay it or not
is something with which the board has
nothing to do. They have simple
ministerial duty to perform, and it is
probable that if the matter were
brought before court maudamus
could be obtained TO compel them to
issue check for every debt authorized
by them.
The fact that the treasurer has no
money to-day may be of no moment to
the holder of the check. There may
he money come in tomorrow, which,
if be had the check, he could get. He
may have no Immediate use for the
money; he can pay a tax or license
with his check, or he can sell it to
some one who has; he can use it as 3
collateral; he can. at least. close his
account with the county on his books
and lay his check by until it is availa-
bic rs cash, or he cIn sell it at dis
count.
There is neither sense, Justice or
reason in the narrow construction of
the law insisted oD by our correspond
ept. The intention Of the law. makers
was to prevent the creation of a per-
manent county debt, and was intended
to prohibit the issue of checks in eX-
cess of the tax levy. We trust that
this matter may soon receive judicial
determination. To aid this We would
suggest that several parties having
audited bills unite in an apple alton to
Judge Farmer for a mandamus COM
pelling the commissioners to do the
only act they have the power to do to-
ward paying them, viz /: issue check
upon the treasurer for them.
State Politics.
c. ?. Leslie, on Saturday last, de-