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

The appointment of Mr.. f. l.. Roche
of Charleston, as Phosphate Agent, tc
succeed the late Gen. II. III. Anderson
which was made by Governor Simpson q
few weeks ago, has aroused tho pungen,
| criticisms of our esteemed contemporary
tho Abbcville Mcdium, which says that
although Mr.. Roche is a very clover and
capable gentleman, his appointment will
be generally regarded as singularly un-
Fortunate" because he has been on the
side Of the phosphate monoplics; and
our AbbevilIe friend thinks it can hardly
be expected that he "can so entirely
overcome his prcjudiccs as to do equal
and exact Justice
The first proposition Of tho Medium, is
calculated to induce small amount OF
wonder, if true: that the appointment OF
~ clever and capable gentleman" to q
position of trust will bo regarded as
"singularly unfortunate" Our views OF
pnhlic office have always been that tile
appointment of "a clever and capable
gentleman" should be and is considered
fortunate, and is not the ground for an
Epprcasonablc TRADE against the appoint
Ing power. AS to the extent of Mr.
Roche's monopoly, wo believe it consists
III having been 0iio of tho corPuThioIs ui
the Beaufort River Company, which
prnva1 N c,;1uro ,r,t h,, ,,,..o1, :.
charter. But be this as it NAV, Mr..
Roche Is n gentleman above suspicion or
reproach. He has been a successful and
practical man in his own business, and
has the information, honor and integrity
necessary to properly aud efficiently
transact tho 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-
ience enemies, and for our part we pre-
fer the services of such man to those of
less capacity or integrity, whatever their
relation to tho phosphate question may
be.
The Special Agent is by law charged
with the following duties:
Sec. 10. That the Governor be, and he Is
tTeby, s;iiioTi1oli 70 ai;i;o;;i: 6 s;;ac:a! agent.
whose duty 1t shall be to supervise and in
spect all nnvigablc rivers and streams of this
State containing phosphate rocks or phos-
phatic deposits, and the work of all persons
ana Douies corporate mining or gathering
therein such rocks or deposits under license
or otherwise, anu to project the interests of
the State therein, not only by preventing
unlicensed persons to dig, mine or remove
said rocks and deposits from any such st rcams
anu rivers, but also in securing prompt and
accurate returns of the quantity dug, mined
or removed, and the payment Of MI royalty
thereon.
Sec. II. That FOR such services said special
agent shall receive the salnry of twelve
hundred dollars, payable out of the phos-
phate royalties.
1t will be seen from this that the pow
ers of the Special Agent are considera-
bic, and the position should he filled by
a person who, in addition to the other
qualifications enumerated 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.
fication. 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 MIR. Rocho is rot the man the IHeai.
up' wanted; and after al! 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 clincher to the
whole question tn, Medium adds:
The ofioe OF phosphate inspector should
never have been created, il Is d useless and
expensive sinecure, but as Ii has been es-
tablished It should be administered by some
one l9iiy In sympathy with the object and
end of its creation.
When did the ifediuns discover that
this Office is useless and expensive
sinecuref 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
Abbeyille has been long time in find
ing 1t out.
We regret to see cur neighbor so much
displeased at this appointment, but be-
fore the Governors action is condemned
we would be pleased to sec list of the
other applicants, and also to know which
of them was the Aedium's choice. The
answer to this reqlest will throw light
on the subject, and the people can judge
as to the relative merits of the appli-
cants.