The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-02-27
The General Assembly.

DEAR EDITOR AS the session of the
general assembly has just closed, believe
that it would be of interest for the people
of the county to know what has been done
SO far as it effects the county of Bamberg
Now give you for publication resume
of our work and the reasons therefor:
The profits arising from the dispensary
accruing to the county have been set aside
for the maintenance of the chain gang,
building bridges and repairing of roads.
This was done, because we thought there
should be a fund out of which the Super
visor would be able to pay cash for the
maintenance of the chain gang and the
expense of repairs of roads and bridges.
| This fund last year amounted to some
thing over $4,000. The supply bill pro-
vides for the payment of the various items
of expense for the county, together with
the salaries of the officers, and in addition
provides for the county treasurer to bor-
row money to pay cash for current coun-
ty expenses; also he may borrow money
to pay school claims, and that out of the
fund borrowed for current expenses what
ever amount of the school fund had been
used last year the county treasurer was
authorized to deposit sum sufficient to
reimburse the schools for the money so
borrowed and used. and that this should
be placed to the credit of the various
school districts entitled thereto.
The salary of the various county officers
of the county was provided for; the State
at large has increased the compensation
of all county officers, it provides that two
thirds of the salary of the Treasurer and
Auditor should be paid by the State and
one-third by the county, and that the
schedule of salaries as made up shall be
uniform and proportionate to the work,
population, sc. This fixes the salary of
the Auditor and Treasurer at $500; and
as we operate under the Act establishing
Bambcrg County in maintaining the pris-
oners in jail we fixed the salary of Sher-
iff to be $500 in lieu of the compensation
of 20c per day to be paid for prisoners;
this was done in order that the prisoners
might be sent directly to the chain gang
when convicted by the magistrates, and
as far as possible keep prisoners out OF
the county jail. The salary of the county
superintendent of education was fixed at
S. as this work has been devolyed on the
county auditor.
We found on examining the magistrates
report, which was furnished us by the
Supervisor that the various magistrates
had reported the number of the days and
the amount of fines herein set forth.
Magistrate at Bamberg, convicts 300 days,
fines $55; Denmark, convicts 1880 days,
fines $145; Olar, convicts 800 days, fines
$14.90; Ehrhardt, convicts 800 days, fines
$90.50; Fishpond, convicts none, fines
$28.40; Govan, convicts none, fines none.
By glancing at the report of these mag
istrates it was found that the magistrate
at Denmark had furnished more convlcts
than all of the others combined, in fact
his work when estimated on cash basis
exceeded that of all the magistrates in the
county put together. Judging from the
report We thought the magistracy at Fish
pond and Govan ought to be and were
abolished. We devolved the duty upon
the magistrate at Ehrhardt to hold his
court once week at Fishpond and the
magistrate at Olar to hold his court once
a week at Goyan. The compensation
which had formerly been paid to the mag
istrates and constables at Fishpond and
Govan was added to the salary Of the
magistrates who had done the greatest
amount of service, to wit: the magistrates
at Denmark and Olar, SO that the salary
of the magistrate at Denmark is $500;
Bamberg, 5000; Ehrhardt and Olar, $1OO
each.
We have set forth at length these
changes 50 that the people may know our
reasons for making the change. The men
who held the positions were unobjection-
able, but if there was no work for them
to do, it was thought fair, right and wise
to abolish the office and to confer the sal
ary upon those whose salary was made
quate for the work which they had been
doing. We trust that the changes will
meet the approval of the county and we
have set them forth in order that all
mi ght know our reasons for changing
and that the changes had been made. The
Act will 90 into effect Immediately upon
its approval by the Governor and all con-
stables appointed by the respective mag,
istrates will be required to give good
and sufficient bond of $3.50.
Respectfully,
Y ~ N.yEJEJn