The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-03-13
the Nandamus case argued before Judge Car

the Mamdamus case argued before Judge Car
penter the other day.
The Treasurer. It was very important
point, and one that, if established, will do much
towards helping us financially in the future.
The point made by the Attorney General was
that whenever an officer receives funds from
the State, for particular purpose, he IS trus-
tee, holding trust funds, and has no right TO
take the certificates or warrants to sell them;
The history of the case may be briefly stated
thus Governor Scott, while Governor OF tne
State, offered to lend Mr.. Stollbrand, Superln-
tendent of the Penitentiary, $4,000. It was at
q time when all the State Institutions were IN
a distressing condition for want of funds. MIR.
Stollbrand borrowed the money, pledglng as
collaterals six warrants ON the Treasury tor
$1,000 each. AS soon as J. came into Office, MT.
Stollbrand came to me and gave him the
money, with which he paid. Scott the Slo,Oo0
borrowed, together with interest, and CLAIMED
the warrants that had been advanced to him as
collaterals. Gov Scott surrendered three OF
the warrants, but held the other three, claiming
that they were forfeited, as the amount had not
been paid. Mr.. Stollbrand Uniformed me, and
requested me not to pay them, and instituted
suit for.their recovery. In the meantime these
same three warrants were presented to me sew
eral times by various parties for payment; y
still refused. @
=. Mr.. Shiver then had one presented, and
upon my refusal to pay it, brought suit TO COM
!. The result of the Attorney Generals posi-
ton, if sustained will be the most beneficial In
the use of the "School Funds"
The County Treasurers, who will get their
respective portions of the $780, GOO raised tor
School purposes, will have to show that they
have applied this fund to the proper purpose.
They will be held to the same accountability,
as Trustees in charge of such funds, and IT they
,misapply the money, will be guilty OF a breach
of trust and embezzlement and will be prose-
cuted for it, In this connection the opinion of
the Attorney General will do more to restore
the county finances to healthy condition than
nyyact of our Administration.
II should, also, mention that the Attorney
General has already given an opinion to one
of. the County Treasurers', to the effect that the
funds ofieach fiscal year must be applied TO the
payment of the expenses of that year, and to
no other.
-c8 M THE SCHOOL TEACHERS.
Last year school teachers claims were hawk
ed about for twenty-five cents on the dollar.
Many of the County Treasurers loaded them
selves with them at this price, and proposed to
take the proceeds of the school funds this year
and pay themselves out of them-thus again
victinizing the school teachers. They can't do
It. Attorney General Melton will prosecute
every one of them that attempts it, for embez-
Element. 2
THE TAXES.
Reporter. Can you tell me what success you
have had in the collection of the taxes this
year7
The Treasurer. There we're Is mills assessed;
II for State and 8 for County purposes. This
levy ought to produce (valuing the real proper
ty of the State at $3.50, ,0O0,000) in round num-
bers, Sl,SO0,0oO. The people have paid prompt
ly nine-tenths of their taxes, but only two
thirds have been returned by the County Treas
urers-only 81 200, 900 have been turned in to
the State Treasury 1t is more than probable
that some of the County Treasurers are hold
Ing back the remaining i've or six hundred
thousand dollars with the idea of specializing in
State and County paper and turning it in as
cash, as they were perhaps accustomed to do
under the late State Administration. l desire,
however, to state right here that Twill not al
low this. do not intend to receive any paper
whatever, unless it is legitimate paper au-
thorized by appropriation for the specific pur-
pose, and if any of the County officers attempt
to do this, they will do it at the risk of their
official bonds.
Reporter. Is true, as have heard it sta
ted, that heretofore there have never been col
lected more than three-fourths of the taxes as
sessed each year.? I
The Treasurer. If You will take the report
of the late Comptroller General for the fiscal
year ending October 81, 1872, which states the
amount Of the taxes assessed and collected, you
will notice that there was assessed 81, 100000,
while of that amount about 81 ,002 900 were
leaving only about one-sixtieth OF
the taxes unpaid. don't think there is any
State in the Union, or, indeed, any country in
the world that can beat that.
Reporter. The statement then is not true.
The Treasurer. don't think it is borne out
by the facts and figures in the case.
Reporter. Why was the tax levy not passed
this year for the next as has been the custom
heretofore.
The Treasurer I am glad you mentioned
the subject. We did all in our power to pre-
vent it. and for this reason. tbs evident that
the tax levied during the present session for
the year will not be sufficient. The tax levy
amounts only to FIVE mills and the appropria-
lions so far made show that there will be de-
ficiency of from 100000 to 100000. The tax
levy of five mills to. pay the Deficiencies of last
wear, will not cover the entire amount. 1t was
therefore, thought best, to wait tuntil the next
November. SO that the General Assembly could
be accurately informed of the exact amount OF
Deficiencies for the present year. and why the
deficiency exists-that is, whether they exist
from .misapplication of the public funds or
from the insuhiciency of the tax levy. Having
satisfied themselves they can 60 to work and
make their levy. The appropriations for this
year amount to fully million dollars, while
the tax levy Of five mills for the expenses OF the
current year will not raise over 100000. l
propose to have my report laid upon the desks
of the members on the first day Of the next ses-
sion, whether. the Comptroller's report is ready
or not, and the General Assembly will be in
formed of the exact condition of the finances.
THE HUMAN EYE-Many tender and beau
tiful things have been said of the eyes; yet how
kl.. 1,xyf ftar,