The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1881-02-18
For the Times.
"How We stand"

Mr.. Stokes AS instructed by the Board OF
County Commissioners, desire to make brief |
reply to Communication in your last issue
headed, "How do we stand" The Board knows
the necessity for making an annual report of
their management Of the County affairs. and
they also feel the eminent proprie:y of making
that report at as early day as practicable, and
will give the public what, they hope, will be
satisfactory and instructive report of the status
of the CouIty, when the time arrives. at which
they can, with benefit to the citizens and JUS
tice to themselves, do so. 1t is only necessary
to say now that the law allows the Treasurer
until the second Tuesday in June to make his
settlement with the Auditor, and it is only after
such settlement that any satisfactory or accurate
report can be made, for the Board never know,
until then how much money they will have to
pay on County obligations or expend in County
Improvements. They might make partial re-
port now and in the Summer make q final re-
port ; but the one made now would be Of no value
and would add gr, atty to the County expenses
With regard to the condition Of the County
books, would have wished to have had moth
ing TO say, as l occupy delicate position with
reference thereto but the article to which l am
replying is so worded as to necesstate my say
ing something about the condition of the books;
for, if Say nothing. will be considered Ai en-
up that no report can be made )" while the
truth is, some Of the books are perfect. If L
deny the report, saying there is no foundation
for it, 1 will be considered as pronouncing oil
the books in the office correct, which am not
willing TO do. What want to say is, that the
Record book, upon which the minutes of the
Board are kept, and the cash book, which regu-
lates and shows the expenditures Of the County,
are perfect. The same praise cannot be bestowed
upon the Ledger, which is also an important
book Of the office. 1t has been negigently kept
and has caused me considerable trouble. l.
however, do not think the County has lost cent
by the condition of the books but the great
trouble with them has been, that l could not tell
what was the past. indt btedness of the County,
and this accounts, in some degree, for the con-
Trajectory reports of the County debt. At al-
most every meeting some past Indebtedness
which had not been brought to the new Ledger,
was claimed and upon Investigation had to be
allowed, consequently, the Board might think
! at ora .;sao tiuu usseIs were sufficient to covei
the liabilities, and next month think differently
can say of the former Clerk that whenever
We have met with any difficulty on the Ledger,
ne has worked faithfully TO straghten IL, and 1
believe has in each instance succeeded. think
no responsibility attaches TO the Commissioners
themselves. They know nothing Of book keep.
ing and the Clerk is trust officer.
The Board will try aud embody that accura-
cy in the next annual report, which will settle the
vexed question of the County debt, and the
Board hopes the exhibit, if no additional post In
debtedness comes up and the Treasurer's reports
are accurate, will show the County out Of debt,
excepting r. Il. Bonds.
J. C. WALLACE. C. b. C. C..