The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-01-20
NORTON HITS HARD.
Comptroller on the Sinking
t'und Commission.
DOESN'T M1NcE WORDS.

ton the comptroller proceeds to
deal with the sinking fund commits
sion brance of thh State government
in no uncertain language He
speaks very plainly and his report
makes lively reading. Only por-
tion of the report is given to day
Mr.. Norton says:
.'The last general assembly passed
sAn Act in Relation to Unpid Tax
Claims which. from its provisions,
construed in the light of the practices
in vogue among those charged with
the execution Of this aud all similar
Jaws, opens up plan for the execu-
ton and collection of money from
our people, which in the hands OF
unscrupulous men, would be the
most infamous and inexcusable. In
1890 an act was passed in reference
to abandoned lands, the beneficial re.
cults of which are yet to be realized
by the people. An agency was ere
ated. with authority to appoint
agents and survey lands, with the
mandate to auditors to place on du.
plicates. treasurers to issue execu-
tions and sheriffs to sell and make
titles sub.agents were paid by the
acre for their services Lands were
surveyed, plats made, executions
;.eroS ond tit,es executed without
regard or the knowledge of such
lands in some cases-how much, no
one knows. Many lawsuits will yet
likely result. The successes here
opened up a broader desire, and the
act of 1892 to provide additional
remedy for the collection of taxes.
ETC., passed.
..This act gave new fields and new
agents to operate this new field, and
for two years the tax department has
been annoyed by the invasions OF
these agents and it's proper work IN
many instances obstructed. lnstruc
tions had to be written county OH
cials to disregard the obnoxious In
reference of these agents, allowing
free access to all books not in use,
but to attend to their own work, and
these agents to do and get all they
could without hindering the work of
county oficials-an effort to practi-
cally take charge of the county
Offices. as we understand the efforts
Then, agents have even commanded
auditors to disregard the tax laws
and the specific Instructions from this
Office
Then followed the act first above
mentioned. approved March 20,
1896
This act opene up new fields. as
it will be noticed that personal prop.
erty delinquent falls under the grasp
kat these ever progressive agents of
commissioners of the sinking
plIow the provisions Of the act
2, and the executions issued
unter checked by no othe ans
than these agents, with no
Or apparent method for account
ing for penalties and costs
.sWhat is to hinder a Columbia or
central agent from having. one or a
dozen agents in each county :? These
county agents acquaint themselves
with all classes of personal property
on and off the tax duplicates, and
claim what he pleases as to taxes,
and collects and report as he pleases,
also. The people do not know gen
orally, and such agents going armed
with the act Of 1896, just as they do
now with that of 1892, can make
just such claims as. may suit. and
they will be paid, big or little, as
presented, if our people can get the
money. They are afraid of the au
thority of the State, and will not con.
test it, but submit to great wrongs if
not known
..The agents, under the act Of
1896. can make tens Of thousands of
dollars under cover Of law, if SO dis
posed, and no possible way of likely
detection
"Under our tax laws, county treas
urers are not allowed to collect dol
lar except as placed on his duplicate
by auditors Treasurers are made
liable to Indictment for collecting
moneys not on duplicate. The treas
urers of this State are as good and
true men as are found among US.
"The principle of the act is wrong
and dangerous, the thought repulsive
and the law, as it now stands, con-
trary 10 the fixed policy of the State
government in matters of taxation"
Again the comptroller says:
Admitting that auditor, treasurer
and sheriff have erred in allowing the
collection of taxes 10 stand too long,
will the general assembly punish the
<.vnovore hooonco Of tho daiinnnnN