The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-26
a CARD.
G. D. MADDEN, o. s.

By order of the Captain.
c. D. MADDEN, o. s.
-------z.-
a CARD.
Nh. EDIToR: Having taken tho pains to
prevent the Clubs of the upper townships
from nominating me for the office of County
Commissioners, and having seen my name as
choice for that Office, suggested by some of
the Clubs Of the lower townships, and also
hearing that the people intend to vote for
me for that Office in some sections OF the
County, now will say to my friends that 7
cannot be o candidate for that office, or any
other, at this time, ON accoU 1T of circum-
stances Of q private nature which are insur-
! mountable. Therefore, ask my friends to
not vote for me at the primary election for
that Office or any other, as cannot serve
:iis people III any Office for causes that now
exist. Otherwise, l would take pleasure in
serving the people in any office that they
might think me competent to fill, because I
| causes me to be willing to try to be of some
benefit to the country in which live, and
| shall ever feel grateful to my friends who
have expressed themselves as believing that
could fill the office OF County Commits
sioner properly; also feel grateful to those
| who have solicited ME to be o candidate foT
| o higher office than County Commissioner.
And If it is ever my misfortune to have to
I'll! the Office of County Commissioner, 1
| think would taks . different course from
any that have been trying to fill that posi-
| ton fer seveTai years. It is said that it is
an unthankful Office, and so it seams to be !;
| but could not that office be made as respec-
| table az any in the County? I think it
can be, because it is certainly one of the
| most important offices in the County, and
requires the best mon to fill it properly.
The duties of that office come more imme-
diately in contact with the interest of the
nennle than any s.hsE Office of :hs County.
The County Commissioners can and do
property as q Board of Equalization, after
we have sworn that our property is worth
30 much. They audit all tho demands
against the County, have to examine the
accounts OF the judiciary officers, the Sheriff,
Coroner, Clerk. Constables and other ca
GERS, consequently they should be men well
versed in tho law that govern those accounts,
or they will not be competent to pass upon
all those claims correctly. They should be
able to run the pauper institute so as not to
impose on the taxpayers; should give close
attention to tho bridges and public roads of
the County; and if you, Mr.. Editor, have
travelled over the County lately you have
seen that the public roads ere not in O con-
dition that the law requires. They cannot,
under the plan they are trying to work them,
expect them to be in good travelling condi-
ton. Nc wonder tho office is political death
to all who havo it and no wonder the Office
is an unthankful one. The people are not
and cannot be thankful to men who are not
carrying out the law aS sets forth the duties
of that office. The law as it now stands,
including all the amendments thereto for
the lnst eight years, makes it the duty of
the County Commissioners to superintend
in person, and snes them $500 if they do
not do it. Do they do it, Why no, sir.
But are trying to work the roads with O set
OF sub-coInmissioners. The law does not
recognize sub-commissioners. It docs not
assign them any duties; they get no nav.
and cannot afford to do much; they are not
| amenahle TO any court: they do not even go
over the reads tc 5e5 that they are worked.
because. as said, they get no pay. Well,
the oyerseers know that the roads are not
examined after tkey are worked, ard 1t il
only the overseers that have some pubic
spirit that try to do their duty. All oyer.
seers have not that spirit. Some Let the
hands stand about in the shade and few
hands do all that is done. The law requires
tho road working hands all work certain
hours in the day, and that they work not
less tnan three days nor more shan twelve
in ore year. And know Of certain road
companies that only worked one-half a day
on the roads, while other companies worked
three or four days. No wonder there il dis
satisfaction among the people. They know
there is derelict of duty somewhere
Well, as I said the sub-commissioners
cannot afford TO attend to all these things
for nothing. and they have sio power TO
change and equalize the hands according to
the amount OF work that is required 70 Keep
| the roads in good condition. The County
Commissioners have that power, and it Is
their imperative duty to do it. They do not
do 1t hence, the unpopularity of that Office,
and the bad condition of the public roads.
think the law that was passed IN 1871 was
| the best road law that ever c~;:ttsl in South
Carolina, or any other Seaie. It provided
for the appointment of highway surveyors,
mado it their duty to supeTintend personally
the working OF every foot OF public road in
the County, gave Them charge OF the bridges
and fined them if they did not carry out
| the law; Paid them $l.50 per day for their
j services, gave Insru certain sections OF roads
an bridges, and provided for them to be
kept up by hired labor, allowing the people
to work out the road tax at 81 per day.
Every township would have had man
| bound by law to give attention to the roads
| and bridges in his own vicinity. Well, the
objection to that law was that property
would havo to work tho roads. When q set
of men are hired to work, and get pay by
the day, they generally have to work, and
work oil day, and not fool about it,
| think it Is right for property to bear the
esnsfse ,s =, aS neG.a eae5s !. :: s. beno.
property has nc need OF roads at all, as far
| as ho is concerned. III he has no horse,
buggy or wagon, he can travel hog path
It is properly that IL benefited by good
roads, and the man that owns only one
horse, ono buggy, one wagon ia not bene-
| fitted as much as the man that has more
property, and has to do mora travelling and
make moro produce to haul to mArirSs. If
above mentioned law had been put In force
| by the County Commissioners we would
| have had good roads and bridges all over
the County for the last several years. But
that law vas not put in force, 1t was said,
to save the County 81 ,000--the $1.60 per day
to tho highway surveyors. They did save
! the CoEnty 81 500, hut left II 5000 In a
worse condition in tile shape OF broken
buggies, wagons, lame horses, Loot horse
shoes oyer-stnined and broken down
horses, besides jolted shoulders bad head
aches, and the bad temper of pdssengers.
Tie direct tax OF ell thess things and the