The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-07-31
THE PHOSPHATE AGENT.

THE PHOSPHATE AGENT.
The appointment of Mr.. E. L. Roche,
of Charleston, as Phosphate Agent, to
succeed the late Gen. R. II. Anderson,
which was made by Governor Simpson a
few weeks ago, has aroused the pungent
criticisms of our esteemed contemporary,
the Abbeville Medium, which says that
although Mr.. Roche is very clever and
capable gentleman, his appointment will
be generally regarded as singularly un-
Fortunate" because he has been on the
side of the phosphate monoplies; and
our Abbeville friend thinks it can hardly
be expected that he "can SO entirely
overcome his prejudices as to do equal
and exact Justice"
The first proposition of the Medium is
calculated to induce a small amount of
wonder, if true: that the appointment of
"a clever and capable gentleman" to a
position of trust will be regarded as
"singularly unfortunate" Our views of
public Office have always been that the
appointment of "a clever and capable
gentleman" should be and is considered
fortunate, and is not the ground for an
unreasonable TRADE against the appoint
ing power. As to the extent of Mr..
Roche's monopoly, We believe it consists
in having been one of the corporators of
the Beaufort River Company, which
proved failure, and has surrendered its
charter. But be this as it may, Mr..
Roche is gentleman above suspicion or
reproach. he has been successful and
practical man in his own business, and
has the information, honor and integrity
necessary to properly and efficiently
transact the duties of the Office to which
he has been appointed. We favored his
appointment because he is an honorable
and high-toned gentleman, who would
not sacrifice his integrity of official con-
duct to crafty friends or to inconven-
fence enemies, and for our part we pre-
fer the services of such man to those of
less capacity or integrity, whatever their
relation to the phosphate question may
be.
The Special Agent is by law charged
with the following duties:
Sec. 10. That the Governor be, and he is
hereby, authorized to appoint special agent,
whose duty it shall be to supervise and in
spect all navigable rivers and streams of this
State containing phosphate rocks or phos-
phatic deposits, and the work of all persons
and bodies corporate mining or gathering
therein such rocks or deposits under license
or otherwise, and to protect the interests Of
the State therein, not only by preventing
unlicensed persons to dig, mine or remove
said rocks and deposits from any such streams
and rivers, but also in securing prompt and
accurate returns of the quantity dug, mined
or removed, and the payment of all royalty
thereon.
Sec. II. That for such services said special
agent shall receive the salary of twelve
hundred dollars, payable out of the phos-
phate royalties.
It will be seen from this that the pow
ers of the Special Agent are considera-
BILE, and the position should be filled by
person who, in addition to the other
qualifications nsenumerated above, should
be thoroughly acquainted with the terri
tory, and also with the work which is to
be done. Mr.. Roche also has this quail
fcation. His appointment is, therefore,
one which cannot be opposed, except on
speculative grounds, like those of the
Medium, the analysis of which, reduced
the whole objection down to the point
that Mr.. Roche is not the man the Medi-
am wanted; and after all Gov. Simpsons
friends may be able to vindicate his ap-
pointment before the people, although
there is such powerful argument
against it. By way of a clincher to the
whole question the Medium adds:
The office of phosphate inspector should
never have been created, it is useless and
expensive sinecure, but as it has been es-
tablished it should be administered by some
one fully in sympathy with the object and
end of its creation.
When did the Medium, discover that
this Office is useless and expensive
sinecure? If we mistake not, the Senior
of our interesting contemporary voted
for the passage of the act, and also for
the appropriation to pay the salary. If
his position is correct, we must reach the
conclusion that the representative from
Abbeville has been q long time in find
ing it out.
We regret to see our neighbor SO much
displeased at this appointment, but be-
fore the Governors action is condemned
we would be pleased to see list of the
other applicants, and also to know which
of them was the Mediums choice. The
answer to this request will throw light
on the subject, and the people can judge
as to the relative merits of the appli-
cants.
THE GREENvILLE AND COLUMBIA
RAILRoAD.-Col.T Thos. Dodamead, who
has served the Greenville and Columbia
Railroad in the capacity of superinten
hoe oil