The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-24

some matters of small moment ar per-
tanning to his office as not yet turned
over by Mr.. Bowie, his predecessor.
On interrogatiug Mr.. Bowie as TO his
reasons for not doing so, his answers
were not altogether Ineligible to the
Jury. In other respects we found, as
thing in order. We would mention in
this Connection, that Mr.. Bowie, the
late Clerk of Court, from his own ad-
mission, has collected some $3.50 in
the way Of fines and licenses during |
the last year, which he has failed to
turn over to the County Treasurer rs
required by law claiming ~ his rea-
son, for not doing so that there was "a
settlement'' between him and the
Treasurer. While in the Office we eX-
amined as to whether or not the law
has been complied with by the various
town authorities in the matter of fill.
ing the bonds of all persons licensed
by them respectively-to retail splrltu-
Gus LIQUORS. We found that it had not
| been in any case with the exception OF
those of the town of Abbeville.
SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS OFFICE.
The present Commissioner has not
fully entered upon the duties OF ms
office, for the reason, that there IS l't-
tie to be done for the present, owing to
the fact that there are no funds, save
the balance to the credit OF the several
school districts, with which to run the
schools. This amount as reported by
the late Commissioner, aggregates
about 81, 900, which is in the hands OF
MIR. r.. N. Tolbert, late County Treas
urer. We We're pleased with the sys-
tenn manifested by the late commits
sioner in the management OF this Of
flee.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OFFICE.
The new Board of County Commits
sioners have only lately gone into Of
flee and had little to report. We were
informed that they had resolved to
call upon the taxpayers of the county
to contribute to the extentof one-thlrd
of their last years county tax for the
purpose of defraying the current ex-
penses of the county until such time
as the regular county tax can be levied
and collected. They report the roads
and bridges in a much better condi-
ton than usual at this season of the
wear and are sanguine Of being able to
lessen the usual annual expenses of
the county. The Chairman of the
late Board, who is still member Of
the Board, informed US that warrants
for all monies collected for county pur-
poses, subject to their control had been
drawn with the exception Of q small
balance collected to pay the past in
debtedncss of the county. There ap-
pears to be still unpaid of this class Of
claims against the county the sum OF
So, 604. S3, and to prOrate the small
sum above alluded to among this
amount Of claims was not thought to
be eXpedient. 1t has therefore been
left TO the credit of that fund AS the
larger proportion Of the above sum OF
SO, GO4.S3, which is still outstanding
against the county is for money
borrowed at the time OF the
destruction by fire Of the Poor House
buildings and at a time wllen.th cred
it of the county was about exhausted,
it is recommended that as soon as the
exigencies of the times will admit,
provision be made to pay this debt.
1t is to be hoped that hereafter the ex-
penses of the county will be kept
within more limited bounds and to
that end we would suggest that the
expense of dieting the prisoners coll
iiued in our county Jail be reduced
from forty cents per diem to- not more
than 334 cts; that the maintenance of
our paupers at the Poor House be let
out annually to the lowest bidder ;
that the accounts Of Trial Justices
and their constables be scrutiniZed
more rigidly by the Board Of County
Commissioners when auditing them ;
that Trial Justices cease to depend en-
} tireIy upon the business Of their sew
eral offices a. Il means Of support Cor
themselves and families ; and that less
money be paid for keeping in repair
the roads and bridges of Il county.
COUNTY TREASURER.
Tn the matter of the office of Coun-
ty Treasurer VIC would state that we
found no incumbent in said office.
We learn that Mr.. II. N. Toldert, late
incumbent, resigned OH the 9th day OF
December last, since which time Aere
has been no one acting rs Treasurer.
greatly to the detriment of a large
class Of our citizens, viz: school teach
ers, Us well rs others holding claims
against the county. w are informed
that there are a great many warrants
which have been drawn by the Coun-
ty Commissioners and School Commits
sioner for the past fiscal year, which
are still unpaid, Notwithstanding the
money for their payment has been col
lected. From the best information
that we can obtain, there should be in
the hands of the late Treasurer about
IS3, 900, belonging to the various cOup-
ty funds made mp as follows:
or the schoolf fund for which draft have not
been drawn, say ........................". SLOW
" I" Past 4N
% 4" Widows and Orrhams...-.--...-. 1906
Z" " Current Expense Fund for tho
county proper and School Fund
i for which drafts hare been drdGn
but not yet paid...m."""w...-. SOC
Total s.. tEH