The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-19
Reply to Tax-Payer--An Eye Open

Editors Pres, and Banner:
In you last Issue there appears n cnmmu.
%nication over the signature of TAX Payer"
which calls for some reply: The catechism
lions, and ! will try and answer them, and l
hope that Tax Payer may get the Informal
ton he asks for. The County Commissioners
are the servants Of the Tax Payers and GER
talnly 1t Is their duty to make q faithful en-
hiblt OF their doings and actings. The Coun-
ty Commissioners arc only men md arc lia-
BILE to make mistakes and a small mistake
by them Is unusually magnificd. Tax Payer
asks, have the Commissioners the preroga-
tive of letting out repairs on bridges pri.
vately?
The law gives them the rlghtto do so, II the
amount Is less than one hundred dollars, but
| do not think that, rs a general rule. II is the
best policy, for. IL n commissioners were TO
make n private contract and have work done
for one half the true valuc, there would be
some persons who would be ready to express
n willingness to have lone the same work
for half the price promised, when those very
persons, IL they could get u contract for three
times the true value would readily accept it,
l find that most men want high prices for the
work they do for the public. AS so maliy have
the bin to pay, 1t will be hard OF nobody.
sometimes cases may arise when delay
would be disastrous, therefore, the law allow
ing private contract TO be made would be
wise md prudent, but these should be except
enable cases.
AS to the second question. 7 would answer
lllalI ! l. u III cAp euleul IT TlEnL I'D let out re-
pairs or any other work without knowing
precisely what Is to be done and at what
price.
And MS to the third question:, I readily nd
nit that If we could get buck to ante bcllum
times 1t would be best, but TnX Payer certain
ly understands the constitution will have to
be changed before we can get the good old
times lie speaks about. In ante bellum times
there were twcnty-sia men charged with the
duties now devolving upon three men. There
were sixteen commissioners of Roads and
Bridges, five Commissioners OF the Poor and
1--WE for Public Buildings. Tax Payer names
commissioners OF Ronds and Bridges, and
but might have named n score Of oilers that
crcditably filled the same office. Tax Payer
Is mistaken rs to the disbursements being
made without fee or reward. Two at least Of
the present commissioners held that posi-
ton and know whereof they speak. There
were four sub roads with a Treasurer for
each, and the General Board, also with a
Treasurer, who was a bonded officer. and re-
ccived five per cent. for relieving and dis
bursting the funds OF the county. The Board
Treasurer who received his per cent. for dis
hurSing the funds of that Board, and IL Tax
Payer will examine the Old records he will
find this TO be the case while three men nrc
n0w required to attend to all the duties that
twenty-siX then performed. They have to
audit and pass upon all the claims Of Jurors,
witnesses, Trial Justices and Constablcs,
which In ante bellum times were audited at
Columbia.
And rs to the pay that the County Commits
sioners get II Is generally admitted that for
the work they are compelled to do, the pay Is
not eNtrnragant, and as to their Lieutcnants,
as Tax Payer calls the overscers of Roads,
their position is n responsible office, and
without them 1t would be impossible for the
Commissioners to supervise all the sections
Of roads, and bridges.
AS to the charge that Tax Payer makes
about the bridge at Winter Seat, Tax Payer
makes q grave charge and hould have exam
lined the facts before making the charge.
That matter is now being examined by the
Commissioner who has charge of that Sec
ton. The whole matter has to be invcstiga-
ted before any money will be paid. and In
stead of eighty. the presented bill is fifty
seven dollars and the plank valued at twenty
dollars that was taken off Is still the proper
ty. of the county. The whole matter was a
misunderstanding and not an intential error,
as l suppose that Tax Payer knows the Com
missioner who has charge of the portion Of
territory spoken of. The bridge was reported
rs needing some repairs and the contract was
that just so much as was actually necessary
was to be done and we were to pay one dollar
and fifty cents per hundred for furnishing
and putting on the lumber
I hope Tax Payer will find the foregoing
answers and explanations satisfactory. If he
Is not, If he will call at the office, I will try to
give him all the Information In my power.
ONE OF THE COMMISSIONERS.
Feb. -, 1879.