The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-02-18
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY Is, 1897.
SINKING FUND ENVESTlGA-
TION.

The result Of the controversy he
tween Comptroller General Norton
and Secretary of State Tompkins,
was the appointment Of Il commit
tee by the Legislature to in7csti-
gate the operations of thc Sinking
Fund Commission. The members
Of tho committee are Senators
Dennis and Pettigrcw and Repre-
sontativcs Werner, Blythe and
Stevenson. The committee held
its first meeting Thursday of last
week and adjourned to mect again
Monday. Mr. Norton said that if
the committee would examine the
books of his Office he could better
explain the position he had taken,
but as this would require much
time, the committee decided TO
hear first complaints from the
gentlemen present. Mr.. j. a.
Petorkin, Of Fort Motto, entered Il
complaint against the agents OF
the Sinking Fund Commission,
charging them with taking his
land from him without authority |
and breaking him up and Iuining
him. Mr.. Pctcrkln further al
legged that at one time ho offered |
So. 900 for $4,000 acres of lar Il
which were afterwards sold by the
Sinking Fund Commission for ten
cents per aero. Mr. Potcrkin said
ho had NO complaint against the
present Sinking Fund Commis-
sion, but had only como before it
in the hope that it would restore
hlm to his land.
Comptroller General Norton has
awaken tho interest OF tho tax
payers and SO far seems to havo
the better Of the discussion. In
the presentation Of his views, he
rctorS to tho Act Of 1896 and shows
tho conflict between it and tho tax
laws, as applicable to his depart
mont. The following IS the Act
of 1896:
"Scction /. Bo it enacted by tn,
General Assembly Of the State oI
South Carolil 4, That hereafter tn,
County Auditors and Trcasurcrs
shall annually have full and fina
settlement as to executions issuc(
by the said Trcasurors within
twelve months aftcr tho cxpiratio,
Of tho time allowed by law for tn
payment of taxes in any year.
Sec. 3. That all unpaid tax exc
cutions with tho Shcriir's return
Endorsed thereon shall hc by tn
County Treasurer filed and per
manontly kept rs record in hi
Office, and that all said execution
and other tax claims against prop
erty, whether on or Off ii q tax du
plicates, when past due and III
paid for twelve months, shal
become assets of the State in chnrg
Of the Commissioners Of the Sink
ing Fund.
Sec. 3. That for the purpose o
realizing and collecting mono,
from said assets, the Secretary o
State, az agent Of tho Commission
ers of the Sinking Fund agains
lands. and the buildings and fix
lures thereon, shall have the rights
powers, remedies and processes fo
ascertaining tho amount due thorc
on and collecting the same as pro
vided in an Act entitled can Ac
to provide an additional romod,
for the collection Of taxes. cost!
and penalties upon lands past du,
and unpaid for eight (8) months,
approved December oath, 1892
and for the purpose Of collecting
and realizing from sad asset!
against personal property, the
Secretary Of State as agent aforo
said shall havo all the rights, pow
ers remedies and processes possess
cd by the County Treasurer and
Comptroller General for collecting
taxes under an Act entitled can
Act in relation to forfeited land
delinquent land and collection of
taxes" approved December 24th
1887.
Sec. 4. That the provisions of
this Act shall not apply to proper
ty when the execution has been
stayed by the action Of any judi
cial process nor to cases where tho
Governor and Comptroller Cen
eral have stayed or shall stay tho
collection of taxes generally, as
heretofore authorized by law
Sec. 5. 1t shall be the duty Of
the Sinking Fund Commission to
employ only 80 many agents as
are absolutely necessary to dis
-, I, N ron Tho I,f;oo ,,cu ~ boron ffor