The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-05-11

offices of County Auditor and Treasurer is,
through their incidental expenses, one of the
most fragrant frauds that is now perpetrated
upon the people of South Carolina. In this bill
we make n distinct appropriation for each Of
these Offices, and distinctly say that no more
shall be p nd to them.
When that is done there is no room for fraud.
The bill has bcen carefully dtaYn. lfit is de-
feated we will'5e left in this dilenma. thae tho
Offices Of County Auditor and County Treas.
urer will be left in the same condition as they
are now. The law as it now stands in reference
| to them imposes u larger expense upon the peo-
pie than any other department OF the govern
mcnt This bill will effect u saving Of nearly
$4,000. We cannot at this time make an APP
preparation for those two Offices that will he ac-
ceptaSle to the people of the State. The I'M unc-
ton of our constituents is that we must curtail
expenses, and we will be recrcant to every trust
If we fail to regard it.
Mr.. SIMPSON, would like to say few words
to cOrroborate what has just been said. The com.
mittee found itselfin great dilemma when it un-
dcrtook to Investigate the matter referred to il.
The financial condition of the State was mixed
up that VIC could not find any head or tail to it.
The Offices Of the heals of departments were
c,oscd and we could no: get a@y data on which to
found our enquiries. We have had very ar
duous duty. When we took up the bill to con
fer the duties Of County Auditor on the County
Treasurer we encountered difiicu ties which ma lc
IL.
Auditor is abolished, it will be utterly impOssi-
bic to collect the taxes, and the whole State will
be flooded with law suits. The committee be-
lievcd that the Office could not be abolished with
safety, and so ii set 10 work to reduce the cX-
pcnScs III such \ manner that it would meet the
same cnd The average annual expense of the
County Trcasurers Offices is about 500 900. The
average annual expense Of the County Auditors
Offices is about SGi,OOO, or both together aggrc-
eating about 100000 for the annual assessment
aud collection of taxes. According to the bill
We have raised, it will only require m cxpcmdi-
tUvc of about S51 200. thus we save the State
nearly 100000, while Mt the same time we keep
thcs, s,wlolc machinery Of the tax law intact,
without the risk of increasing II law suit or any
difficulties OF contradictions.
Mr.. J. j. llcmphil-I did not make the mo-
ton in any captious spirit, but as we well know,
the people of tl.is country arc very much in need
of reform And before we came here rs mem
bcrs everybody would say to us, ''bc sure and
abolish the office of County AUDITOR thinl;
it is very probable that nearly every member
present received such instructions. This bill
does not 10 The whole State is ovcrburdcncd
with o!iicchodcrs. Those persons who held no
Offices look with envy nnl suspicion upon those
Tho 5S hsy Sy s0r S IN Of yns ESns
work honestly as they should. Upon the sub
jcct of expenses, the committee have made II
great reduction, but am sorry they have not
made n greater one.
MIR. Blue i agree with tic gentleman from
'hcStcr that the people expected the Office of
County Auditor to be abolished. And at n very
carly day Of this session gave notice Of a bill
to abolish both the offices of County Auditor
and Treasurer But when we came to investi-
gate this matter, | found it would be impossible
TO do away with the present system till we could
provide an entire new one to take its place. and
this being special session, which is not expected
10, Ian 4 Al
have time to perfect new system. There is n
bill before this body to provide for n commission
to revise and perfect the whole system of the
laws. There are II great many delinquent tax
payers and delinquent lands and arrears of taxes
which have to be provided for 10y new bill en-
urely unless the Office of County Auditor is re-
tanned. Therefore, agreed with the committee
in recommending the passage of the bill.
Mr. Gray moved to make the bill the special
elsek-o as,l~srits r. am
exceedingly anxious that this bill should pass.
am persuaded that we cannot 1T this time safe
ly abolished the office of County Auditor. But
do not think il is right TO force such an i'm
portant bill upon members and compcll them
To vote upon something they do not under
stand. The bill provides larger pay for Audi
tors ihan for Trcasurcrs, and we all know than
the Treasurcrs perform the most labor.
MIR. Simpson-Thc Treasurer has 10 work only
n few months in each year. the Auditor has to
keep his Office open the entire year
Mr.. Gray: That is true, but nt the same time
the Auditor gets additional pay for staying there
lie gets u fee for advertising each deed, and
these amount i'll every county, believe, to $500
We are not prepared to vote on this bill to-day
| have not the statistics at hand to-day, and
canno, properly represent my county here with
out them.
The motion TO make the bill the special order
was rejected.
I'm hn 10 Gill
rics of the County Auditors, Mr.. Simpson said {:
| am surprised that gentlemen do not sec the oh
lcct of members upon the right in thus cndcav-
oring to cripple the machinery of the law and
prevent the collection of taxes. They are try
ing to destroy the validity of Tie Office entirely
upon which the collection of the taxes dcpcnd
and thus they will prevent the collection Of any
taxes.
MIR. Reid We do not want to cramp the gov
crnmunt ut all. We do not wish to do ANYTHING
that will be unjust, or that will create IL party
line We only wish to pass the gentleman mo-
ton as he desires it.
MIR. Aldrich-lt is true that the bulk of the
County Auditors duties are performed in two
ur three months. Eut he is required to keep
his Office open the entire year and to he there
ali the time TO make transfer cf property, and
although the work is light. it prevents him from
engaging in any other business.
Mr.. Robertson (colorcd) We have been
preaching reform long enough, md now want
10 see ii rUt into practice.
MIR. Simpson-Why did YOU not do this two
years ago?
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures va not a member
then. came here for the purpose of reform.
Mr. (oUm1ns-l think the polio, in this mat
ter lariakcS Of the penny wise and poUni fool
iSh. We must have an efficient County Auditor
and 10 %rol lnan will undertake the duties Of
that oihcc without Il fair COM .cns0t!on.
[ Ia an I
AN nct I. amend an ur. entitled an act rciriiyc
10 contracts iu' the Executive Department Of the
State Government aul for lc General ASSEM-
bly,"
Mr. Aldrich-Bil to authorize the Governor
TO satisfy Judgments entered in favor of the
state.
Mr.. Orr-Bill to prevent the sale of spirituOus
H,nnrS ,vitlim thrcn n,;ln. ~