The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-22
THE MOST IMPORTANT COUNTY OFFICERS

In a few days the newly elected Demo
cratic county commissioners will take
charge of the affairs of nearly all the
counties in North Carolina. The party
has been fortunate i'll electing the best
business men and the best farmers IN
the several counties to hold these re-
sponsible positions. In all the scheme of
government there is no office more i'm
portant The commissioners levy and
dsburse all taxes. They are the Senate
and House and executive and judiciary
of every county's affairs. From their
decision there is no appeal. In view of
the Importance of this office, we venture
to make few suggestions to the new
Commissioners:
l. Before entering upon their work,
they should make the most searching in
vestigation into the affairs of the coun
ty. into the acts of their predecessors.
and take nothing for granted. In some
counties the affairs have been miserably
managed In some there may have been
dishonesty The new Commissioners
have been charged with the people to
give them a true statement of the coun-
tvs affairs. and uncover any wrong do
ing. If there is anything ''rotten in
Denmark it should be known now so
that the responsibility can be placed
where is belongs.
>. They should. as soon after taking
charge as possible, publish statement
of the affairs of the county, showing its
Indebtedness, and the credit Of the coun
ty. This, in addition to the statement
of receipts and disbursements required.
The annual statement is too long for
the average man to wade through it.,
and it does not show the full condition
of the affairs of the county.
;. The greatest care should be eXer-
ciscd in the selection of men to have
charge of the poor. None but men of
high character, industry, kind hearts and
business sense should be chosen for this
delicate trust.
4. In the selection of men for all posi-
tons, none but Democrats should be put
ON guard, but no man should be chosen
unless he has peculiar fitness for the
work required even if he is "a Hebrew
of the Hebrews"
). In selecting between aspirants, the
Commissioners should. not elect anybody
who is kin to them, should not show ia
voritism, and should give a fair hearing
and an equal chance to all aspirants.
They can hurt the party and hurt the
administration of county affairs by mis-
takes at this point more than most men
imagine.
g. The people at home are living upon
FIVE cent cotton conditions-the strictest
economy. The affairs of the counties
should be conducted upon similar eco
nomical lines. Wherever a cut ought to
be made, it should be made. Public
officers ought to be paid fairly for the
services rendered, but the compensation
ought not to be 50 much greater than
men earn in the private walks of life
as to make everybody want office IN
order to make more money than they
can make at other employment.
This is a good time to inaugurate
practical reforms. The Legislature is
expected to meet the expectations of the
people, but no matter how wise and
economical the Legislature may be, it
is the county commissioners who levy
and disbuse most Of the money, and the
duty is upon them in their sphere as
upon the legislators in their wider field
of action.