Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1880-07-08
County Claims and tho Shvlocks.

County Claims and the Shy1ocks.
EDlToRs COURIER: In thinking of some of the
reforms which Judge Cooke introduced in the
Eighth Circuit, l am almost ready to come to
tho conclusion that it would be better that each
Circuit haVo it's own Judge, instead of tho sys-
tenn of interchanging Circuits as is now the law;
while admit that tho plan of having different
Judge at each torn Of tho court has many de-
oided recommendations 1t prevents tho Judge
from getting too familiar with the lawyers on
his circuit OF becoming acquainted with tho
people, 80 that there might DO no danger of his
being corrupted in his rulings and decisions on
account of predictions that he might hayo in
favor of any ono. But then, after all, that
could be no objection, for the honest and upright
Judge could not be induced to sweryo from his
duty II no should be on tho samo circuit until
he had become acquainted with every citizen on
it, On the other hand, if tho judge who comes
| on tho circuit but onco in his lfc, should ho be
bad man. he could just as easily bo corrupted
rs if he were on tho samo circuit all tho time.
Now, when Judge Cooke was on The Eighth
Circuit he passed an order requiring tho County
Commissioners of this County to have funds on
purp0S0
OF defraying the expenses Of the court, espe-
cially for paying jurors and others compelled to
attend tho court in tho interest of the county;
80 when the juror got his pay certificate from
tho clerk no had nothing to do but TO step down
into the Treasurcr's Office and get it cashcd to
the last cent and 60 home with his full nav in
his pocket.
But what is the state Of affairs now? When
tho juror gels his pay certificate he is met at
tho court house door by tho pethoric speculator
who buys Gf ho can and very often docs) his
certificate at discount of 25 cents on the
dollar, and in few months at least draws the
full amount in cash from tho treasury of the
county
Dut the jurors arc not all that suffer in this
way. Any ono having claim on the county.
while the county is certainly good for it's obga-
tions. dollar for dollar, as one dollar is GOOD for
another, if said claimant should 90 to those
modern Shylocks, as persons holding county
claims often do, being in need of q little ready
money, they say 10 him "We will give YOU
seveniy-fyo cents on the dollar for your claim,
but don't know when ~c will get tho money for
II, as tho county cannot near pay out this year.
IL has already incurred heavy debts" So tho
dcludcd claim holder parts with his claim at tho
fearful discount of twenty five cents on tho
dollar, thinking, perhaps, he has made good
thing of it, rs "thc county is not good for its
debts no how"
Now | am free to admit that IL reasonable dis
count would bo perfectly legitimate and proper
but this system Of speculation and espionage is
kept up, not only to the dctriment of the in
fhn crolif ~ bo =, ~.
damaged; because if q contract is about to be
let, bridge 10 be built for instance the con-
tractor first calculates in this wise: "Wcll, il is
worth $500 TO build the bridge; but shall have
to discount my claim Mt twenty five cents OH the
dollar if expect TO realize any ready money
when tho work is done, 30 must have $500 10
mako mo WHOLE" Now this is no fancy sketch:
it is exactly the true state Of affairs in Oconec
County.
Those keen, shrcwcd Spectators gather up
their claims and arc always on hand at the right
time for they always know 10 draw the money
on them, so when the holder of small claim,
which ho has refused to part with at q ruinous
discount, comes along there don't happen to be
any money for him 80 no is at last, very often,
forced to sell his claim or ".radc it out" rs best
-
needs, because most persons who hold small
claims are persons who need the money as soon
as tho work is done or whatever the service NAV
be.
Now what does oil This mean? Is il matter
OF accident or design that the small claimant
comes along just rs The funds arc exhausted?
Or is ii understood that he is 10 be put of to
compel him to sell out to those favored specu-
lating Shylocks? 1 can't see TINT they have
any claim TO preference. They buy up their
claims MS matter of choice on speculation, as
they have right to do if they SO choose aud
should take their chances equally with others.
1t certainly does not entitc them to any pre-
ference in payment.
But fear have trespassed too much upon
the valuable space in your paper
VINDEX.