The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-06-13
For the Times.

X. .-oome
been looking over the last report of the County
Commissioners, and are anxious to learn how it
is that some entire Misunderstanding even the
nepbews and nieces--ars pensioners on the
bounty Of our County and, rs the Clerk Of the
Board has, as usual neglected TO itemize his
accounts, they arc thinking seriously OF seeing
the grand Jury next week, and having an investi-
CATION into affairs generally. They are not sat
isfied with o bare statement Of the amounts
paid Tom, Dick and Harry, but desire to know
whether the County has received quid pro quo
for the many thousands paid out. This Is very
natural desire on the part Of our backwoods tax
payer but il betrays q lamcntable ignorance OF
the manner in which things are managed in the
present day, to expect the grand jury to waste
their valuable time on such trihing Matters
But if they had plenty of time to examine the
books Of tho Commissioners, courtesy would pre-
vent them doing such an unheard Of thing. 1t
would be q terrible breach Of politeness, and
those guilty of it would never, no never, get to
be Clerk, much less County Commissioner.
No juryman would run any such risk. Like
the rest Of us, all Of them expect to get an Of
fee "in the sweet bys and bye"
You, dear souls, would have the whole jury
overhaul all the books and records in the various
County Offices, make q searching and thorough
examination, and then you would have them
give correct aud truthful report Of their find
ings very little forethought would convince
you of the impropriety of such n proceeding, as
it would be insulting in the highest degree to
tackle the offices in any such manner.
he Of fl,e Iurv
Georgia, have adopted a much easier and nicer
plan, one which renders the thing pleasant
and agreeable to the parties concerned. Here's
how it's done:
A committee Of three members are appointed,
say. to examine the books Of :he County Com
missoners. These gentlemen good friends
-'hail fellows we'll met"-with the Commits
sioners and their Clerk. They go down, or up,
the may be, knock at the door and hal
loe to B. B. opens the door and replies with
another, and wants to know what the - they
want with him; but without waiting for the an-
swer invites the three in, hands over his books
and tells them TO pitch in. The polite reply to
B's. invitation is an 90! H. we don't know
nsthing about your figures, and don't care n
- picayune but we want you to ,rrite out
our Presentment. Here's the notes, fix it up to
suit yourself and it'll be nll hunky. Have it
ready by 10 tomorrow, the old Jedge will be
looking for it sharp. Exit Committee No. l.
While committee number l are examining (?)
the books of the County Commissioner, No. ..
are hailing the superintendent of the Poor
House. Mr.. Is. Secundus, reports everything in
and about the poor house farm in prosperous,
thriving and galorious onlition, specially and
generally BY this time everything has been
thoroughly examined, erccpi The Ja,l, and u con-
ference is called for the purpose Of comparing
notes.
1t is said-witl don't know how much truth
that the grand Jurymdn has a singular and
unaccountable aversion to Jaiis, and while it is
very common to see them 60 in under the escort
Of the Sheriff, not one of them was ever known
to enter one voluntarily. And tradition has it,
that once upon time Col. Macbeth offered "V''
to certain foreman of the Grand Jury to get
him to examine our jail-it had become so inse-
cure the prisoners themselves retellcd at the
carelessness Of the County Commissioners for
not having it repnired-but neither money, en-
treaties nor threats prevailed with the simple
foreman. Don't, Col, don't ask me to 90 in
there he exclaimed. Tell me what you want
done and will report it /; but can't 60 in the
jail I'm going to stay out rs long rs can
Was 1t superstition or presentimcnt on the
part Of this conscientious juryman l can't
vouoh for the truth OF The story, but it is prob
ably true, because grand jurymen have many
strange superstitions, and peculiar notions.
One of the strangest, perhaps, Of all manifests
itself when the jury closes their committee la
bors. Is it not little singular that for the last
two years, and perhaps four, the Clerk of the
Board Of County Commissioners has been called
upon to write the report Of the Grand Jury:
The task was pleasant one, no doubt, but was
1t either right or proper for Mr.. Hill to have
anything to do with it? Complaints had been
made against the Commissioners, and full notes
Of the facts were taken by the jury These
| notes, presume, with the names of the COM
| plainants, were delivered into the keeping of
Mr.. Hill to he used by him M ho saw propor-
Now Mr.. Hill was, and is the Clerk of the board
and is paid by them to keep their books "Thc
servant must obey his MASTER" but we fail to
see what obligation he is under to the Grand
Jury or they to him.
III Mr. Betsill didn't care to write, why didn't [
he get some of his fellow members to do it
There were plenty of good men on the jury