The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1873-01-30
Ar [iniust CHARGE.

The Columbia Euening Herald, in comment
ing upon the report of the County Commission
ers of Anderson, recently transmitted to the
Legislature, uses the following language:
The people of Anderson have become so
luxuriously riotous in their. lavish economy,
that, with over S., 900 left in the treasury they
still defeated the Democratic member OF the
board by 600 votes, because, following the good
old Democratic rule he had charged for his
services nearly as much as both the Republican
members.
We are profoundly grateful to the Herald for
the complimentary language which precedes
and follows the above extract, but the mani
fest injustice here inflicted upon worthy gen.
tleman calls for brief reply. The Democratic
member of the Board, as our readers will un-
derstand, is Col VIM. S.. Pickens, who served
the people faithfully for more chan four years
as County Commissioner. His vigilance, ac-
tiyity and fidelity in this important trust have
never been questioned in this community, and
we are surprised that our cotemporary should
allow its partizan feelings to make such an un-
Just accusation Col Pickens was not candi-
date for reelection as County Commissioner at
The last election, although he was almost unan-
inously nominated for that position by the
County Convention, but subsequently, declined
the nomination, because the same Convention
afterwards selected him as a nominee for the
House of Representatives. His defeat for the
latter position is not attributable, directly or
Indirectly, to his action as County Commission
er, and especially to his charges for services
rendered, as the report was only published
few days before the election, and the people
generally were not acquainted with the fact
that his charges we're in excess of his col
leagues. AS to the fact that his account was
larger, we have this explanation to make, that
Col. Pickeus lives sixteen miles from Anderson
c. H., and properly charged the mileage allow
ed by law, while the other Commissioners
declined to include mileage in their accounts,
one of them living only short distance from
this place. Besides, on several occasions, Col.
Pickens was required to attend the letting Of
bridges in the upper portion of the County,
which necessarily augmented his bill for extra
services.
Under "the good old Democratic rule" let
US remind our contemporary, the duties now
required of the County Commissioners were
performed by the best and most responsible
citizens without any charge whatever for their
services. For long number of years, Col.
Pickens served upon one of the Boards under
"the good old Democratic rule, " and his fellow
citizens were so much pleased with his course
that they placed him twice in the Board OF
County Commissioners, when the party to
which the Herald belongs inaugurated the
system of paying for services rendered. We
have no objection to the present system, and
believe that it is right to compensate men for
services in public stations; but people who
live in glass houses should not throw stones"
and as the Republican party is responsible for
the law which provides per diem and mileage
to County Commissioners, it does not become
Republican journal to cast odium upon poit-
ical opponent for charging the fees allowed,
especially when those charges are reasonable,
right and proper.
Another error of our cotemporary is that the
Board was composed of two Republicans and
one Democrat. The chairman, Mr.. Breazeale,
is conservative Democrat, and has never
affiliated with the Republican party. Hence,
the Board was really composed of two Demo
Gratis and one Republican.
The Due West Female College has over
I'D -o1 ,tudonts in daily attendance