The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-03-13
A Costly Omission.
Saving to The State But Hard
on 1reaSurerS.

some time ago and adopted by the
State Legislature without reading,
has cost nearly all county treasurers
in the State 5000 each. The act
was omitted by the codi6er while
preparing the code, and when the
code was adopted all other laws
than those mentioned therein were re-
pealed.
The matter developed yesterday
when it was called to the attention
of Comptroller General Norton. The
Comptroller, inasmuch as a legal!
question as to the amount Of salaries
in commissions each treasurer is to
receive from the '93-'o4 collection of
taxes was left in doubt. referred it to
the Attorney General.
Mr.. Norton explained the trouble
somewhat in this shape:
The attention of the department
was called to it by several Of the
treasurers themselves. 1t appears
that in 1882 an act was passed fix
ing the amount that each treasurer
should receive in commissions during
the fiscal year at $500, ali exception
being made Of Charleston, where the
amount allowed was about $1,000:
and in Horny, Chesterfield and Lam
caster, where the amounts were less.
In 1883 another act was passed rails
ing the general amount from $500 to
$1,000. 1t now develops that this
last act was cmmitted from the codi-
fcation of the laws Of the State !;
and that code, having been adopted
by the Legislature and all acts not
contained therein having been de-
clared repealed, the difficulty is to
know whether the %treasurers saall
get their $1,000 or only $500, the
latter being the only act III the code.
Last evening the Attorney Gene
raj rendered the following opinion:
Hon. James Norton, Comptroller
General.
Sir: The commissions allowed by
law to the county %treasurers IN this
State are as follows:
In all the counties, except Chester
field, Lexington, Berkeley and
Oraugeburg, 5 per cent upon first
$40, 900 2 per cent. upon next SIo,-
ooG; l per cent upon next $4,000;
and one.haIt Of per cent upon all
amounts collected over $4,000; pro-
vided the same shall not exceed
$500 or be less than $500, except
the county Of Charleston, where the
commissions shall not exceed $1,000,
and $1,000 IS allowed for clerical SER
vices.
In Lexington county the treasurer
gets a salary of 5000 a year in lieu of
all commissions.
In Berkeley county the treasurer
gets Sl,4oo in lea Of all commissions
and clerk hire.
In Orangeburg county the treasurer
gets t per cent. upon fist $4,000;
3 per cent. upon the next SO, 600; 2
per cent upon rext $40. 00o and l
per cent. on balance; provided the
total amount shall rot exceed $500
In Chesterfield county the treas
gets 5 per cent. CA first $4,000;
2 per cent. on next $4,000; l per
cent. on next $4,000 and J of l per
cent. on all amounts above $4,000,
provided the commissions do not ex-
coed $500.
Up to December 1894, all the
treasurers, except in the counties OF
Charleston, Lancaster and Chester
field, got commissions offs per cent.
on first $40, 900; 2 per cent. on next
$4,000; l per cent. on next $4,000
and ] Of l per cent. on all over $780,
Gee; provided, the same did not eX-
coed $500, or was less than $500.
In Lancaster, up to December II,
1894, commissions were per cent
on first $4,000; ) per cent. on next
$4,000; , per cent on next $4,000
and l per cent. on all over $4,000,
provided the same did net exceed
$1,000 or less than 500.
In Chesterfield, commissions as in
other counties, provided the u did
not exceed 5000.
In Charleston, same commissions
as in other counties. provided the
same do not exceed $4,000 and there
was allowed for clerk hire in this
county $1,000. Respectfully yours,
c. 7. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Attorney General.
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80 ~.