The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-01-20
A BIG SHORTAGE
In the Finances Of GreenvilIe
County.
A BALANCE OF s1,352
Is Due the County by Ex.Treasurer q.
Lawrence Walker. Senator Maui.
din's Commission Will Fully
ventllate Entire Affairs of
dreenvilIe County.
A BALANCE OF s1,352
0reenvillc County.


The revelations that will in O few
days bs made In the legislature rela.
tive to the financial conditions OF
Greenville county will create s,nsa.
tion In the upper part Of the state,
out the results will not be profound
surprise to those familiar with the
loose business methods that are po,-
sible and often prevail with reRerd to
county government matters under the
present laws. The affair will be full.
ly aired under Senator Mauldin's re-.
solution calling for the appointment
OF commission to investigate. When
correspondent asked him about
the matter Comptroller General
Jones, who was directed by the last
legislature to investigate the situa.
tion, referred to advance sheets Of his
report to the present. legislature, in
which he says:
The msager appropriation, $500,
for making Investigations was totally
inadequate to continue the investica.
tions reported as necessary in my last
report. However, I felt 1t my duty
to the taxpayers Of Greenville county,
together with the demand Of the ex-
tfeasufor, 10 proceed win tne inves
tigat.on. sent Mr.. Z B. Wilson,
chief clerk OF this office, and Col.
D. 81. Wise, Of Aiken, with instruc.
tions to make a thorough investigation
OF the county's financial affairs. Their
report shows a startling condition
existing. 1t appears from the report
that ex.treasurer G. Lawrence Walker
Is due a balance of 80 352. The bond
ed indebtedness of the county was
found to be Si84, 500. f-.Outstanding
notes countersigned by the treasurer
aud charged to him s94,7I2.34. The
floating Indebtedness consisting of
notes for money borrowed, s3S, 800.
Outstanding claims e25, ,O12 O8. The
floating debt Is fully itt m zed lin the
coun6S Stsuperyisor's statement which
is ma part of this report. It is
thus THAT'S s2sel y as-is..s.,.-75.1=
.St -sp..ssss-l,-s 81, 9EEjzS1 IesErss.-r
s-PorvIsor, Ia S63, ,812 09, although the
exact amount is not definitely known,
and 1t will be necessary In order to
arrive at the exact floating debt OF
Greenville county to advertise for all
claims to be filed by some certain
date or be barred. The total debt of
Grcenvillee county at the date OF the
invest cation as above set forth, ap-
pears to be S343, ,O2442
1t appears from the investigation
relative to the supervisors report that
tho sum OF S38, 200 has been borrowed
and expended in violation of law, and
1t appears as II the lenders Of this
money were aware OF this violation,
from the statute authorizing Green
Vile county to borrow funds.
Not one OF these notes designated
as floating Indebtedness has been
counter-s'gned by the treasurer, as re.
qu!red in section $40, nor one dollar
OF this S38, 300 was paid into the coun-
ty treasury to be disbursed according
to law. In MY opinion none of these
notes are a valid debt against the
county and cannot be paid until some
action Is taken by your honorable body
TO validate TIE same. Ia this lnvesti-
cation 1t appears that the late master
OF Gteenville county held some sl3,-
600 In claims against the county. His
successor, I understand, has turned
these claims over to the county super.
visor, l am unable to say what was
the consideration for these claims.
None OF thi3 floating indebtedne s \,
which includes this borrowed money,
appears upon the county supervisors
books, and no record could be found
showing any entry Of this floating in
debtness
1t will be further noted that the
county trea urer's cash books and
some other books or record, covering
the expenditures and receipts OF the
dispensary, fees from clerk OF court,
fines and licenses and other sources OF
revenue other than taxes, have disap.
peared.