Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1902-02-26
PUBLIC PRINTING AND KINDRED MATTERS

we embrace the opportunity OF writ
ing further in answer to the letter of
Senator E. l.. Herndon which appeared
in our columns last week. At the out
set we would say it is we'll that the
opportunity has thus been afforded of
letting the people of Oconee county know
what are the facts in reference to this
and kindred matters as disclosed by the
records. An intelligent public can read
and judge for itself as to where the
money goes, and why.
In concluding his letter Senator Hern-
don says:
will further say that 1 have ALWAYS
voted, since have had the honor to rep
resent Oconee county in the Senate, ac-
cording to what has seemed to me for
the best interest of all the people, and if
in so doing must incur adverse criticism
from private interests, I regret that it
must be SO, but such criticism will not
in the least influence my action now or
hereafter.
To one familiar with the facts tho
humor in the above paragraph is strik-
ing. The comparison between private
and public interests is so delicately
traced and allegiance to the latter avowed.
But such talk comes cheap, when it is
only the "private interests" of some one
else that is affected. AS usual in such
cases some little fellow who receives &
small stipend, like a printer or a magis-
trate, is selected as subject to be re-
formed. The big fish swims while the
little fish must sink. When thus engaged
the would-be statesman often flatters
himself that he is pulling the wooP'
over the eyes of the ''dear people" and
making them believe that he is strenu-
ously promoting "the interest of all the
people" as against the "private interests
of certain other individuals. No one,
however, is misled by any such ruse.
In order that our readers may Judge of
the ardor of our honorable Senator in
saving expenses to those whose estates
may find their way into the Courts, we
have selected one or two cases at random,
in which the land was advertised for sale
by the Master. An inspection of the
disbursements will disclose the small
pro rata received by the printer as com
pared with others. Take as an illustra-
tion the case of John S. Cox vs.. w. L,
Cox and others. The land sold for
eighty-five dollars. The disbursemr hts
were as follows: e. l.. Herndon, attor-
ney's fee, $50; j. r. Earle, guardian ad
litem, $40; Clerk of Court, $6.10; Master,
1912; Keowee Courier and Oconee News,
$3.50, or 1915 each; auctoneer, so cents.
The net share of each of five heirs was
$4.73. Take again the case of j. b. King
and others VS.. w. o. Johns, as admins
traitor. The land sold for $42S. Dis
bursements: f.. l.. Herndon, attorneys
fee, $40; j. r. Earle, guardian ad litem,
SO; Clerk of Court, So; Master, 1852;
Keowee Courier and Oconee News, $3.50,
or $3.75 each. These. cases are fairly
illustrative of the relative cost where
lands are sold by the Master under order
of Court in partition cases. Why under
take to affect the compensation of the
printer in such cases and leave the others
alone? Surely when it is possible for two
lawyers to exact combined fee of forty
dollars out of small estate of $85, there
is much more reason for restrictive leg
islation against them than against the
printer. And yet all these more griev-
GUS matters are passed over in silence.
Why is thisp Why not at least institute
q horizontal reduction SO that the "pri-
vate interests" of all would be touched
alikeY
1t now affords us pleasure to answer
categorically the seven questions asked
in Senator Herndon's letter and we do
so the more readily for the information
of the reading public.
~ Does the contract of public print
ing include the printing of all such pub
lie notices as election notices, Treasurer's
notices, Auditors notices, annual and
other reports of the county officers2
The present contract with the County
Commissioners covers all printing for
which the county pays. 1t pays for all
the above except election notices, which
are paid for by the State through war
rant drawn by the Comptroller General
on the State Treasurer after each gene
raj election.
(2.) Does it include advertisements of
notices of sales and other notices of the
Sheriff.
No.
(3.) Does it include the publishing of
notices and other advertisements of a
public nature issued by the Master,
Clerk of Court and Judge of Probatet4
No.