The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1886-12-15
one LiTTLi: LEAK.
..i item Of i:Nrense in County Govern
"mt--D:.countin- County Paper.

! .,m item Of rxpensc IN County Covcrn
notwithstanding County Paper.
(Goll:,.@ia Cor Of lie News ard courier.)
In the progress Of the debate in the
House which, by the way, was It's first
indulgence in that most seductive but
somewhat expensive legislative luxury,
& good deal was said about county ex.
penses. It will be remembered that the
subject of discussion was the Alirich bill
/ to change the tenure of Office of grand
juries. 1t was advanced in support OF
the bill that the grand juries by being
made perpetual would be able to exer-
else closer scrutiny over the eXpendi-
lures OF county funds. The opponents
of the bill pointed out, with much force,
that the continuance OF men in Office so
long might render them more easily sub
ject to the influences OF a powerful COM
bination Of corrupt officials OF criminals.
This brought out eulogies from quite a
number Of members upon the officials of
their respective counties, each asserting
that a nobler, purer, more intelligent,
upright, patriotic, self-denying lot Of
citizens, in the words of the "Mikado, y
'.never did exist. All of which is
doubtless very true. Nevertheless it is
admitted on all sides that one Of the
most pressing questions which confronts
this Legislature is the question of re-
form in county affairs. It was pointed
out in this correspondence on Monday
last that in the county OF Abbcyille, as
shown by the Press and Banner, the cx-
penses for six years of Democratic rule
were $i5, 600 in excess of those of six
years Of the Radical rule Of plllnder.
The statement Was the subject Of a
breakfast table conversation at the
Grand Central Hotel yesterday, at which
a distinguished member from Abbevile
assisted. I asked him if the figures of
the Press and Banner were true, and he
replied that he had no doubt they were.
Tie only cause he was able to assign for
it was that the people were too anxious
to make living out of minor offices
which they sought.
'.iny stealing or dishonesty?" l in
quircd. No, he didn't think so. While
it was true tie salaries of some of the
offices were small, the position afforded
opportunities OF making money which
very few men could resist. This remark
was made not in reference to Abbeville
county alone but to all the counties IN
the State.
\ case in point occurred here during
the early part OF this week. Looking
over the register OF the hotel on Tues
day morning found the names Of six
or seven prominent citizens Of George
town. Thinking that they might have
come 70 the capiral on some legislative
business, and not being able to find any
OF them, [ asked Representative Miller,
OF Georgetown county, 'what was up?"
and was told that the object OF their visit
was to bring ahalf dozen CT more convicts
to the penitentia1y. This viii, perhaps,
explain why i: costs from $50 to so
each to transport convicts to the peni-
tertiary. I was further told by Mr..
Miller that some OF the distinguished
citizens alluded to were rabid reformers,
and during the recent canvass had ad-
vocated the abolition Of the Citadel and
College, the reduction OF the salaries OF
State officials and other measures OF re-
form.
Another cause Of expense in the coun-
ties is to be seen III Charleston. Coroner
DeYeaux, who was here on Wednesday
last, had hearing before the Charleston
delegation on the subject OF the pro.
posed ':hcr; ntal' or Perpendicular
reduction OF salaries. The coroner pro-
fessed his willingness to submit to a rea-
sonable reduction, but stated that he
could not make 9 living Cit will be borne
in mind that this is an office the duties
OF which requires the entire time and
attention OF the incumbent) unless al
rangements were made to pay him his
salary. In other words, it transplred
that the officials Of the county are sub
iected to the necessity OF discounting
their certificates OF pay at from 10 to 30
per cent. Ii was learned that a half
dozen prominent merchants are engaged
in the business, all of whom have made
snug sums. asked member from
Charleston il this was actually true, and
he replied that it was, and that It had
been going on for years, some OF the
merchants TcicTItt " uafuIS udoe
fortunes. 1t would appear that there
might be room for reform IN this dircc-
ton.
Thus far the only measure which
promises practical reform IL the direc-
ton OF county expenses that yet appear
on the House Calendar is 4 bill to
change the plan of transporting convicts
to the penitentiary. Tie bill, in accord
ance with the accommodation OF Gov.
ernor Sheppard, devolves this duty on
tic superintendent OF the penltcntlary.
Tie Strongest OF Ee,nini;," in>tiacts.
One OF the strongest OF feminine in
Stincts is to spank. The little girl OF
six spanls her doll, even while the SYM
pathetic tears roll down her checks. She
keeps up the practice when grown to
Young i:dyhood upon her little brothers
and sisters, if she is fortunate enough to
have any, and from then on her children
and grandchildren-or somebody elses
,I,it hon .rt ,rronI oh lil1rpr-vecelvp the