The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-03-02
assw oevHEy eovEasnEsrBIIL.
By nos. JEsEaIAu saIrll.

the many sharp hits aud sarcastics retorts
Of the newspaper editors aud correspon-
dents; but it seems to us, it is now high
time TO lock at this matter seriously. As
the dominant party has control Of the eutire
State Government in oil departments aud has
held four sessions of the ~Legislature, 1t
would seem that some reform should have
bsen accomplished by~this time. We have,-
| therefore, concluded to review some of The
actions of"Reform, trusting our examin "a
tion may be Of interest to some, at least. of
the HERALD's readers,
The so called reform party has made
| great many changes in the policy Of the
State. 1t new becomes the duty of every
patriotic citizen to review the record, antici-
pate the consequences of these changes, and
determine for himself whether the govern
meDt is really improved or not Charleston
has been placed in the Black District as q
punishment for exercising her right in vot-
ing for tho man of her chsice to represent
her in Congress. Judges have been elected
and imported to circuits in which they are
not citizens, because Of their party affilia-
tions. monopoly of the liquor traffic has
boem created for the purpose of revenue.
The State is involved in endless litigation
! ;aAvs are Increased; about three hundred
new sfficers Eave been created, all of which
are appointive instead of elective; penalties
| on petit larceny have been reduced; the CO..
lumbia Register has been subsidized, rs a re-
ward for endorsing all these measures and
every State and County official, together with
the members of the Legislature have receiv ed
precisely the same pay for their services
that their predecessors Under the former
Administration did for theirs The people
must determine for themselves whether such
actions and conditions 90 to improve the
policy Of the State or not, and bring in their
verdict at the ballot box. My object is not
TO criticise, endorse, or denounce any of
these thipgsat this time, but to confine N.Y.
self to an examination of the new County
Government Bill. In doing so, promise to
try to divest myself Of political prejudice.
and, by examining the system Of govern.
ment on its merits, anticipate the conseouen-
ces of its practical operation in Horny
County.
The first section OF this bill abolishes the
office of County Commissioners, together
with their statutory duties and rights, ex-
cept in special cases, and in these cases the
duties devolve upon the County Supervisor.
Section transfers the duties and RESPONSE
bilities, rights and privileges of the office of
County Commissioners TO the office OF
County Supervisor. SO the casual reader is
impressed with the ilea that the Supervisor
assumes the responsibilities uud is Charged,
with the duties of the County Commission
ers. If this were the case, we submit that
it would in no respect be an improvement on
the present plan; because, one man is not
likely to possess more brains or patriotism
than all three of the Commissioners, and
would not, then be safer custodian of the
peoples interests. 1t cannot be claimed
that 1t is a financial improvement, because
the Supervisor has a salary of Five Hundred
Dollars, Tin Union County he gets S6Oo)
which is a greater amount than the cost
Of the County Commissioners, s. here
we have financial extravaganza instead of
economy. But the Supervisor is not charged
with the duties Of the County Commission
ers. lie is given no powers of discretion:
he Is merely clerk, servant of the
County Board of Commissioners, except in
one instance, in which he is allowed yerv
dangerous discretion-but We will refer 10
that later on.
The County Board of Commissioners is the
Sanhedrim upon whom the duties of tho
present County Commissioners deyolye
and not only so, but they are also the
custodians of the tax department in the
County. If we will bear in mind the fac,
that the policy Of the Administration il to
increase the assessed value of The property
of the State, VIC will be better able TO com
prehend this act in all of its hearings. The
Gorernor rs to appoint three Commissioners
IN each township. These are to be tho Gus.
todlans OF the reads and are nlso to assess
the properly of their township. They select
one OF their number as chairman, who be-
comes member of the County Board There
will be % of these appointed Commissioners
in this County, of whom will be memb,r. |
Of and together with the Supervisor. will |
constitute the County Board of Commission |
erS. 1t Is natural to suppose the Governor g
appointees viii be in sympathy with him.
Now suppose your township board, appointed
ny the Governor, should raise your assess
ment above what you believe to be right
You then appeal to the County Board which |
consists Of twelve members, eleven of whom |
are appon ed by the Governor. The Super- |
visor, the only member elected by the peo.
pie, has no more power than any |
other member Of the Board Tb. |
Administration mas eleven represent ltiyes.
the people have oae., Under these circum,
stances, would you expect grievances to be
properly adjusted, or wonld you expect the |
will of the Administration to prevail? Mar
can these things be justified on the pretepce
of economy, for the Board of Commissioners
receive the same compensation ,ha. the pres
ent Equalization Board does, and, consisting |
Vi 'he s"me h"hoer OF members, must re-
suit In the same expense
But perhaps this new bill is intended to |
smash ring, to break up au aris,ocratic |
o'igarchy. If so, we are of the humb,a |
opinion that it must fail in i 3 mission. We |
cannot conceive of n stronger ring than this |
bill creates. The Governor appoints town |
ship ASSESSOR, county Boards of Eoualiz,- |
ton, and, IN fact, takes the " hole machin,rv |
Of taxation 10 his own haods.
Again, submit, that this new systcn is |
oppressive to the poor. 1t provides that |
two dollars shall be received in lieu of MI |
road duty for one year, and in case the |
mooey is not paid the party failing to pay
shall work six days on the public highways
The roal contractor is requirei 10 all,w the
County nifty cents per day for such work.
so when the fellow who cannot get the money
does his six days work, he has paid three
dollars of the Crunty's debt, while the fs :
low who h"d The money only paid two.
Dces that protect the "one-galius," .woo,
hHt clod-hopPe or does it IN IKE him DIV
one dollar for the protection of capital?
We OBJECT further to judicial powers being
gwen TO ministerial officers The County
Board Of Commissioners is authorized TO
punish for contempt by fine Of ten dollars