The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-21

vi II, Uut edlU tIde IL HUulu ue louuu
right, aud left it open Mr.. Ksels
wrote me the next week be was sick
and could not get to Sumter. My time
was up and my report had to GO 10, 50
I wrote to his friend at Sumter to take
the matter up and send his explanation
to me by certain day. | had no 90
swer from him. Mr.. Keels will bear
me out in this statement | would say
further, before doing any thing with
the matter | called oo Mr., Norton him-
self with my book and showed him the
entry. He took 20 notice of it. l
then went to bis chief clerk and asked
him to look at the settlement sheets on
6'e for Sumter and see if the matter
could in any way be explained, that |
might avoid the necessity Of reporting
it. He kindly got the reports and ex-
amined them, and could see DO ezpla-
nation to it. If Mr.. Norton had then
taken the matter up I would have been
relieved aud the horrible letter would
have never been published
Thus it wilI be seen that l exercised
toe highest degree Of prudence through.
out, and have fully discharged my du'y.
I could do 20 less. The letter stated
plainly that the wrong entry was 10 the
fiscal year 1890. This settlement was
therefore made 10 1898, and shows
siogle year credit for SS.514 80 nulla
bona executions, aDd that only $1,000
executions we're issaed for that 6scal
year, aud that al examination of the
settlements for tue proceeding acd sue.
ceediag years did not explain it, If
there is an explanation ia the promis-
cuous archives Ct the Office i, would
afford 10 cue more pleasure
than myself that it be fouod
and published. Mr.. Norton says
that statements from inexperienced
sources are cot always to be relied on
in these matters Of taxes" This
means, of course, that my statement is
not to be relied upon oD account of 10
experience. No one knows better than
Mr.. Norton that am not inexperi-
enced 10 these matters Of taxes. MIR.
Tlndal selected me for this work on ac-
count Of my experience as lawyer 10
the searching OF records. have work
ed for nearly nine years for the sinking
fund commission. Of which Mr.. Nor
ton is a member. collecting 10 the
meantime nearly $4,000 back taxes,
nearly all of which vas lost to the State
by the carelessness Of officers, "a clean
pickup" and have restored to the tax
books nearly 100000 value of prop
erty for future taxation. | have been
in every couuty in the State except
three, de!vipg and working in the dirty
records. II this work does not make
mat competoos Edat 10 the came Of
my great-grand daddy will? [ under
stand the tax laws thoroughly, and my
experience qualities me for any work in
connection with such laws that may
be called to do. Mr.. Norton. knowing
of the large and important work have
done, has no right to speak Of me as
incompetent. am doing a large and
profitable work for the State, one of the
effects Of which is to prompt the county
officers to a more careful discharge Of
their duties. am sustained 10 tnis
| work by the Secretary Of State and the
sinking fund commission, and the peo-
pie everywhere approve it. will par.
sue it with the same zeal as heretofore,
aud will hew to the line.
n W. BROKER.
Colu,nbi S. c., October 13, 1896.