Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-12-07
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

tlnuance OF Gne pTeSeuG County So'elh
ment law, is a proposition that we
cannot understand. The existing law
is not only inefficient and cumbersome ;
but it is in direct and positive antago-
nism to all the established principles
of popular government, and this fact
alone should condemn it in the eyes OF
any legislator who claims to represent
the people.
In order to make our meaning clear,
it is not necessary to 60 into an ex-
tended analysis of the present sy stem.
A few facts ought to suffice for those
of our people who have sufficient in
telligence to comprehend them. We
will mention these facts with the ex-
PLANTATION that they bear not only on
the theory of the present county gov
ernment scheme, but upon its practical
operation, and we invite every reader
to put on his thinking cap long enough
to see whether or not what we say is
true.
Under the law as it now stands, the
county board of commissioners,
charged with the government of York
county, consists of 10 citizens-one
elected by the people and nine appoin'
ted by the governor but all equal in
power and authority. This fact OF
itself ought to show on its face the
justice of the complaint made in the
first paragraph of this article; but in
order to make the situation still plain
er, we will go little further.
Some time ago, in an editorial arti-
Gle we referred to the members of the
county board as irresponsible" men.
One of these gentlemen who happened
to be special personal friend of the
writer, and who, financially, morally
and otherwise, holds high position
of responsibility, complained at what
he was disposed to consider personal
reflection. Nothing of the kind had
been intended, of course, and the wri'
ter explained the matter in this way
"You were not elected by the people
but appointed by the governor. You
are not under bond. You are not paid
anything like the value of your time.
You cannot afford to give to the ques.
tions with which you have to deal the
study that is necessary for proper
understanding of them. In the very
nature of the case, you often act unad-
visedly, with the result of working in
justice to fellow citizens, and being be-
yond the reach of the people, and only
under the direct jurisdiction of the
governor, who knows nothing either OF
you or the merits of the questions upon
which you may have unintentionally
taken unjust action, I hold that you are
irresponsible. The statement was not
intended as personal reflection but
only as technical fact, the correct
ness of which is apparent upon its
face" The gentleman was broad
enough to see the justice of the wri-
ter's position and admitted it.
Now, by way of explanation, let us
90 step further. Under the county
government law, the supervisor is the
only responsible member of the county
board, and he is responsible only in
that he has to give bond for the proper
discharge of his duties. Just how far
his responsibility extends is a compli-
Gated question. Each of the other
members of the county board is vested
with just as much authority as he is,
and he is bound to carry out any
measures that they might require OF
him. Here then we have the remark
able anomaly of responsible official
being subject to the commands and
directions of irresponsible officials. In
other words, while the people are sup
posed, theoretically, to be governing
themselves in so far as local matters
are concerned, the real power rests
with the governor, who appoints the
controlling element of the board.
We hope not to be misunderstood
in what we are saying. We do not
wish anyone to think we are rejecting
on the members of the county board
either directly or indirectly. People
know. or ought to know, THE EN-
QUIRER we'll enough to understand
that when it feels it to be its duty to
talk plainly, it does not hesitate on
account of the power, influence or
position of the individual under criti,
cism. 1t is not necessary here to make
any personal illusions to the gentlemen
composing our county board to signify
their competency or incompetency.
We only wish to show that from the
very nature of the case, our county
government is not as representative or
responsible as it should be, and the
old system of three county commits
sioners, or some other system that
holds those in authority directly an
swerable to the people for all they do,
or do not do, is the only kind of gov.