The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-07-25
A Matter Personal to the "Press and
Ranner.,'

Banner.'
Having been at Greenwood and at Whit'
Hall within the last week, and having nav
ing heard at each place, of the circulation
q charge, rejecting on us, to the eHect ina
the newspapers at Abbeville, notably th'
Press and Banner, had Disseminated agains
the officers in the matter of publishing thei
replies to the presentment OF the grand Jur!
at the June term Of the Court, 1t may be vel
enough to make the following statement
facts:
In the first place, we charged for the pre-
sentiment, including the experts report.
In the next place, we charged for each
the officers replies at exactly the same rat'
that we charged for Mr.. Hilrs report-'H
more, no less.
The circumstances were some what as fol
lows:
The County Commissioners, as usual II
such cases, ordered US to publish the present
ment, including Mr.. Hills report, promising
to pay for the same.
The Clerk OF the Court handed in his reply
and asked US to charge full price for II.
The treasurer, said that he did not eApec
US to work without proper compensation, ane
wonld pay whatever charge we though
right.
Our recollection is, when the Sheriff brough
his communication to our office, that he sale
he would foot the bill or words to that effect
The other officers, as we'll as we remember
sent In their letters without referring TO TIT
matter Of cost.
The Probate Judge, however, was the frs
man to call for his bill at the Press ana Ban
ner Office His evident desire to pay ana u
treat the newspapers right in the matter, ]!
shown in the fact that we never asked MIN
for the money, but he called or sent twice Y
the office to pay the bill, and, we believe wa!
actually the first man to pay.
The Probate Judge, the Sheriff and Others
were notified that If they had any reply Il
any of the communications Of Mr.. Hill, thai
they could have the use Of our columns, with
out cost.
We are at loss to know where the rumors In
reference to this matter could have original
ed. We are quite sure that no officer at Aooe
VILE would make an accusation so utterly uh
founded in fact, as, that we had charged
them, and had not charged for Mr.. Hill's re
, port, or that we had in any way dlscriminat
ed against them in favor OF Mr. Hill.
The publication Of the presentment Of the
grand jury at the June Term of the Court was
made on exactly the same terms as were those
on which the presentments have heretofore
been made, and II any officer seeks to assai
or to defend himself against such an officia
document he must pay for 1t, but II any one
OF them seeks to reply to any communication
OF q. private citizen, that is quite another
thing.
AS we'll attribute to us unfairness In charg
ing for their announcement as candidates fol
reelection as to lay blame to us for charging
for the use of our columns TO refute or to ex
plain away the official matters which affected
their prospects OF reelection.
A public officers official acts are at al
times a proper subject for newspaper criti
cism and we have never charged, and have
never proposed to charge. for any officers re-
ply to the communication OF any citizen.
IT, however, an officer in his own interest
- seeks to reftite or to set aside the arraignmeni
of the Court, or to nullify the contents Of an
ofdcial paper, then he should pay for it.
Mr.. Hill, as a citizen, has exactly the same
privilege In these columns that is extended tc
any other citizen, or to any officer in private
capacity-and no more-and any intimatior
or insinuation that special favors have beer
granted to Mr.. Hill, which has been denied
to others, has no foundation in fact.