The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-10-14


You will note the number polls re
turned N. E. I. to be over 5021 o.
amount issued, and all these name;
can now be taken Off tire ''Tax Books,
which will relieve the Office and Mag
istrateS from further annoyance. Ths
polls returned not executed can nov
be turned over to present Treasurer
for collection, and the polls marked
paid, can also be so marked upon the
rreasurer's tax duplicate, which will
fully clear up all this poll tax buSines:
which has been such 4 source Of trou.
bic and annoyance, for the past -four
years. All the warrants, Treasurer'$
annual settlement sheets, reports ant
other papers in the case. now turn
over to the Grand Jury for their future
disposition.
| will here state that all the proof:
made in this case, / took from the
official records of the different offices
and also from Mr.. keels annual settle.
ment sheets with the Comptroller Gen
eral, which I herewith file as part OF
the records in this case, and which is
positive evidence, covering the entire
investigation over a period of four
years from Nov. lst, 1889, to Nov. 1st
1898, which embraces Mr.. Keels entire
two terms of office.
TREASURER H. L. SCARBOROUGH.
l went through the accounts of the
present Treasurer, Mr.. Fl. L.. Scar
borough, and am pleased to state that
they have all been methodically ar
ranged, and with the new books now
in use by the State, all of the details
of Tax Collections, are carefully pro-
vided for, and can see no reason why
with anything like ordinary care in
the future management of the Office.
that it. cannot bnt be satisfactory to
the people.
xAsTER;s OFFICE.
carefully examined the records of
this office and found all these cases care
fully and intelligently disposed of and
proper entries made with full and
correct statement as to the disposition
of all funds by the present Master,
ME w. H. Ingram, who should be
commended for the method and pains
taking care exhibited in the manage
meut of the Office. Of the funds in
his hands, find all we'll invested up
on sufficient security, with the posi-
Bile exec ption of $4,000 of the funds Of
the Trust Estate of Mrs. Emma r.
Moses, the security in this case, not
being in my opinion sufficient. This
investment was made by Mr.. Ingrlm's
predecessor in Office, and Mr.. Ingram
is not in anyway to blame. 1t would
be we'll that the Master should be re-
uuired to either call in this fund and
reinvest it or require the security
strengthened.
POLL TAXES FOR WHICH PARTIES SHOW
RECEIPTS.
have carefully examined each poll
tax warrant where party claim to have
paid by the production of their re-
ceipts, and nave accounted for them. 1t
appeared from the examination of the
Treasure,'s tax Duplicate that in al
most every instance found that the
poll tax paid in one township and
assessed in another. this occurred
from the Auditor carrying forward
from year to year a name, while
the party would move into an
other Township, and assessed them
and in many cases they would be re-
ported by others and put upon addl-
tionai and extra and assessment. IN
several cases I could find no stubb re-
ceipt in stubb book covering the num-
ber for that year, and in such cases
the natural presumption is that they
produced receipt which covered the
payment Of tax for the previous or
succeeding year in every case. nave
made the proper endorsement upon
the warrant in order that the Auditor
may properly dispose of each case.
CONCLUSION.
It is clearly apparent to my mind
had not the "GrandsJury" pursued this
inyesti CATION in the manner they have
that the findings of the Jury, as now
presented. would never have been
made. and the loss of the amounts now
found to be due the citizens OF the
County would never have been dis
covered.
In nv Judgment these investIga-
tions should be annual, which would
have tendency to cause the officers
Of the County, to be more careful and
diligent in the discharge Of their re-
spective duties, and would in large
measure prevent repetition OF the
conditions as shown by this report.
I have been actively engaged in this
investigation from the date OF my
appointment, and have pursued it with
great care. not desiring to present any
matter to the Jury without being fully
sustained by positive evidence, as to
do otherwise would only tend to tine
injury of my fellow man, without just
cause. and this would not do.
trust that my efforts have proven
satisfactory and sustained my state
ments made to the Jury at its last
meeting, and as to my fee, l will leave
TO the liberality of the Jury, the only
question is what has it been worth 4, to
the County? And l feel satisfied that
the Jury will be jsst in fixing the
amount.