The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-02-04

impartial discharge of the dut;es Of
the offices'" NN'''' -
CAS- to that / can point to the eff
Gent manner inwhich the laws have
been enforced since I assumed
charge OF the collectorship. Nine il.
hclt distilleries have been DESTROYED
ana not particle of resistance has
been offered to the officers discl,arr.
ing the duty. The work was done
so quletlx that scarcely any one in
the neighborhood Of tho distilleries
knew OF 1T until after the officers had
lett the neighborhood, NY depu-
ties III tho divisions where illicit dis,
tlllation has been carried on inform
me that the condition of affairs has
been very much improved, that in less
than twelve months from now there
wall be comparatively little violation
OF the law, and that then thare will
be no trouble in the enforcement
of it.
THE HELP OF GOOD CITIZENS.
"ln one section Of my own country,
where violations were formerly fire.
! quent, several prominent citizens, af-
ter my appointment as collector, held
q meeting and resolved that they
would, since the change in collectors
had been made, co operate with the
revenue officers and report every case
| of violation that came within their
knowledge. There has not been
since that time any violation of reve
nuo law in that section 50 fur as am
| informed"
What is your policy in admins
| tering the law?"
cit has been my purpose to secure
| by firm but humane enforcement
of the law, the cooperation of the
better class OF citizens in the inter
est Of the law In this [ believe [
have been or will be successful, and
hope by this means to break up en-
tirely all violations of the revenue
laws. Should this cOufso-which
was never persued by my predecessor
--happcn to fail, then othor methods
will be resortc'l to. SO long rs 1 am
collector the law Will be enforced,
and the revenue due the government
collected and honestly accounted
for"
"Was Mr.. Bravtons administra-
ton very ellicient?"
"When I took charge Of tho Office
[ found it in u very
Confused hNb UNSATISFACTORY
condition. Reports which should
have been presented by Mr.. Brnyton
upon their receipt from his subordi-
mates were neglected for months and
had to be made by me; assessments
OH the list had been neglected. for
years. duplicate chrrgce against tex
payers were allowcl hy him TO re-
main on the lis: and were scheduled
and turned over TO me, liquor which
hnd been destroyed by fro or stolun
from tho warehouses; was Bchnc,ulel by
him to me aS in bond, and ne aD-
pearcd to know but little about the
affairs OF his Office Yot he com
plains that he was removed without
good cause and for no ansiGnod rea,
son. Perhaps if he would nsh the de-
partmcnt, or consult the reports
made by Republican rovennc agents,
a5 to his efficiency ho might bo on
lightened upon this subjoct. His
bill OF complaints against me on The
first page Of his pamphlet contains
but two truths. 1to is correct whom
he snys that ] am o rcsiI"nt-~ and he
might have said native ~of PickcnH
County, and that I have hnt the
honor to represent tho people Of that
county in both branches Of the State
Legislature. His other ntat cments
brand on wilfuliy and maii3iouRly e
false. The animus Of his whole ut
tack is shown in his statement to Col.
John G. Haskell, and covered By Col.
Haskells affidavit, that he had no
objections to me, and that if [ would
! retain his sister-in-law in Office Oh q
clerk he would favor my contirma-
| ton, but that otherwise he would op-
pose it..
"Do YOU wish to say anything
about the removal of subordinate
offcers?"
"Thc law gives me the Fight to mp
point all my subordinatos and holds
me responsible for their conduct
Brayton charges that [ removed Re
puhlicans and appointed inexporien
cod Democrats in their place Az to
that I could say thnt / exercised the
same right which has been exercised
by all my Republican predecessors
and that it is not worse for mo to
put in inexperienced Democ ats
than for him to have put in inexpo-
rienced Republicans. New appoin-
toes are Of course inexperienced. The
appointments wero, however, made
with Il view to tho
REFORM ANp ELEVATION
of the service. 1t required reform
and has received it. There never was
q more partisan official in this State
than Brayton. Being carpet bagger,
he knew nothing about the senti-