The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-02-12
County Officers Reports.

As there appears 70 be some doubt in the
minds Of many that any law exists demanding
the publication Of the annual reports Of the
County Commissioners, School Commissioners
and Treasurers, we have thought it necessary
to remove that doubt by publishing synopsis
and some sections of the law passed by the
Legislature at the session of lSS1-S2, making
1t mandatory upon those officers to publis
their report, lin some newspaper published in
said county"
The intention of the law was to impart nfor-
nation to the tax payers, that they may know
how their money was spent, who received it,
what for, and TO show to the public, annually,
whether there are any discrepancies or irregu-
larities between he reports of those officers, or
any "embezzlements or extravagances in the ex-
penditures Of public funds
Sec. l. Requires "File Book" to be kept
by the county Commissioners, in which ali
claims presented shall be filed by their clerk,
with date, by whom presented, character and
the amount of claim, sc.
Sec. 2. Defines how the Commissioners shall
draw checks upon the Treasurer.
Sec q, Provides that the county commits
sioners, School commissioner and Treasurer
shall make annual reports to the Presiding
Judge at the frat term of Court afer the first
day of January in each year, which reports
are to be submitted to the G rand Jury for ex-
animation.
Sec. 4. Requires that the report of the
Treasurer shall state the number, character
and amount of claims paid by him on orders of
county and School Commissioners, and to whom
paid
Sec D. Provides that if any discrepancies
between the reports, irregularities, embezzle-
ments or cxtravagauccs are discoverei by the
Grand Jury, they shall present the same to
the Court.
Sec. 6. That said reports of County Commits
sioners, County School Commissioners, and
Taeasurers, shall be published ut least two
weeks before the sitting of said Court by said
officers or their several clerks in scme news
paper published ip raid County.
Sec. Z. Explains how the Commissioners
shall make their report to tho Comptroller Gen.
eral, to be subn tilted to the General Assembly.
with On estimate of the tax necessary for
County purposes the following year.
| Sec. 8. That any violations of the foregoing
Sotions by the County Commissioners, County
School Commissioners, and County Treasures,
shall be deemed misdemcanor, and upon con-
viction thereof in the Court of General essions,
the party so offending shall be sentenced, by
the Presiding Judge before whom convicted, to
pay fine of not less than one hundr d dollars,
or be imprisoned in the County Jail not less
than one month. 1t shall also be the duty of
the several Circuit Solicitors to prosecute any
violations of this Act
1t will be seen that the lay is plau and em-
phatic in the matter of publishing the reports
of the County Commissioners, School Commits
sioner and Treasurer. Those officers have no
choice in the matter, if they obey the law and
if they violate any of its provisions, it is
equally emphatic in imposing fine and making
it the imperative duty of the Solicitor to pros
ecute for such violation.