The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-26
A CARD.

A CARD.
Mr.. EDITOR: Having taken the pains to
prevent the Clubs of the upper townnhips
from nominating me for the office of County
Commissioner, and having seen my narle as
choice for that Office, suggested by sorae 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 thai I
cannot be candidate for that Office, or any
other, at this time, on account of circlm-
stances of private nature which are in'ur-
mountable. Therefore, ask my friends to
not vote for me at the primary election for
that Office or any other, as cannot serve
the people in any Office for causes that LOW
exist. Otherwise, would take pleasure in
serving the people in any Office that they
might think me competent to fill, because l
do claim that have some public spirit that
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
l could fill the office Of County Commis-
sioner properly; also feel grateful to thuse
who have solicited ME to be candidate Tor
q higher Office than County Commissioner.
And if it is ever my misfortune to have to
fill tho Office or County Commissioners.
think would take different course from
any that have been trying to fill that posi-
ton for several years. 1t issaid that it is
an unthankful Office and so it seems to be;
but could not that office be made as respec-
table as any in the County? I think it
can be, because it is certainly one of the
most important Offices in the County, ard
requires the best men to fill it properly.
The duties of that Office come more imme-
diately in contact with the interest Of the
people than any other Office of the County.
The County Commissioners can and DO
assess our taxes, can raise the value of Our
property as Board of Equalization, after
we have sworn that our property is worth
so much. They audit all the demands
against the County, have to examine the
accounts of the Judiciary officers, the Sheriff,
Coroner, Clerk, Constables and other oth.
GERS, consequently they should be men well
versed in the 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 80 as not to
impose OH the taxpayers; should give close
attention to the 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 are not in 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. No wonder the office is political death
to all who have 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 last eight years, makes it the duty of
the County Commissioners to superintend
the working of every part of public roads
in person, and fines them $500 if they do
not do it. Do they do it. Why no, sir.
But are trying to work the roads with set
of ub-commissioners. The law does not
recognize sub-commissioners. 1t does not
assign them any duties; they get no pay,
and cannot afford to do much; they are not
amenable to any court; they do not even 60
over the roads to see that they are worked,
because, as l said, they get no pay. Well,
the overseers know that the roads are not
examined after they are worked, and it is
only the oyerseers that have some public
seers have not that spirit. Some lot tho
hands do all that is done. The law requires
the road working hands all work certain
hours in the day, and that they work not
less than three days nor more than twelve
in one year. And know of certain road
companies that only worked one-half day
on the roads, while other companies worked
three or four days. No wonder there is dis
satisfaction among the people. They know
there is derclict Of duty somewhere.
Well, as l said, the sub-commissioner
cannot afford to attend to all these things
for nothing, and they have no power to
change and equalize the hands according to
the amount OF work that is required to 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 it; hence the unpopularity of that office,
and the bad condition of the public roads.
l think the law that was passed in 1871 was
the best road law that ever existed in South
Carolina, or any other State. 1t provided
for the appointment Of highway surveyors,
made it thcic duty to superintend 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
services, gave them certain sections Of roads
and 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 have 10 work tho roads. When q set
of men are hired TO work and get nav by
the day, they generally have to work, and
work all day, and not fool about it. l
think it is right for property to bear the
expense, because it is property that is bene-
fitted by good roads. The man that has no
property has no need Of roads at all, O, far
as lie is concerned. If he has no horse,
buggy or wagon, he can travel q hog path.
1t is property that is benefited by good
roads, and the man that owns only one
horse, one buggy, one wagon is not bene-
property, and has to do more travelling and
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 was not put in force, it was said,
to save the County 81, ,GOo-the Sl.5O per day
to the highway surveyors. They did save
the County $500, but left it $4,000 in a
worse condition in the shape of broken
buggies, wagons, lame horses, lost horse
shoes, over.strained and broken down
horses, besides jolted shoulders, bad head
aches, and the bad temper of passengers.
The direct tax of all these things and the