Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-05-05
The omce of Ordinary.

ne OHce OF
Editor Morning Nelcs: To many, per-
sonally, it would be a matter of regret
that the excellent system, and the neat
ness, regularity and dispatch which have
characterized the work of this office for
the last ten years, should, from the indif-
ference of citizens to consult their best
interests, have to give way to a new or
der Of things, and different set of men.
A good many citizens, who have never
given the matter consideration, suppose
that it requires no special qualifications
to enable one to discharge the office of Or
binary of Chatham county, and that any
man of common sense has all the fitness
necessary to serve successfully the inter-
ests of the public. As easily as a collar
can be put upon a horse, they imagine
the average candidate can adapt himself
to this official collar. If this view were
correct it would make little difference who
was selected.
But she office is in no respect a sinecure.
neither are its responsibilities trihes. On
the contrary, it is one that can be faith
fully discharged only by faithful atten-
ton, united to thorough knowledge of
detail, special aptitude, and the very best
Judgment and discrimination.
The mere matter of its business routine,
of a knowledge of the relative importance
of Office papers and their custody, OF the
watchful care which has to be exercised
over guardians, executors, administra-
tors and trustees, over the disbursement
of estates and their official returns. over
the persons and property Of minors. luna
ties and imbeciles, of homestead eXemp-
tiOns. of the probate and execution of
wills, of the granting orders of sale, of the
papers to be recorded and the citations to
be issued, of the numberless other details
which must be exactly known and exact
IL f0llowed-not to speak Of the judicial
functions of the court involving difficult
questions of law and large and important
interests-all unite to indicate to serious
thinking men the improperly and risk Of
selecting any man. who, like child, must
begin at the beginning to learn the SIM
plest details, when the responsibility of
lis position calls for him to act, on the
very first day of his term of office, prompt
~, intelligently and wisely.
When it is remembered that Mr.. Hamp-
ton l.. Ferrill has been in this office as de-
putty. thorough official in every respect,
able and efficient, at the same time faith
full, attentive and courteous in the dis
charge of its duties, for ten consecutive
years, and is perfectly familiar with every
detail, it will be readily understood why
large majority Of the members of the bar,
in the present complexion of affairs and
as between the several candidates now in
the feld-with the kindest feelings to all,
are yet unhesitating in their preference
for Mr.. Ferrill for the uneXpired term.
1t is in the true line of civil service re-
form and consistent both with theory and
common sense, when vacancy occurs in
public Office not to select some person who
will take several years to become quail
fed, but to elevate the man next in the
line Of succession who is already qualified
by long previous service. And this, we
trust, will be done at the coming election.
SALUs POPULI.