The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-07-19
Jam In Settlement.

Comptroller-General A. w. Jones has insti.
tinted man y reforms. and has brought about
a new order of things in his office. 1t seems
that he is determined, unlike his predeces-
sors, to discharge the duties assigned to him.
In compliance with the requirements OF MIN
nv the law he was in Abbevllle last week to
make the annual settlement with the Treas
urer, the Auditor, and the County supervisor.
He reports our officers as models In all that
90 10 make good officers. The money was
accounted for to the cent, and all the records
were as clear as figures could maket them.
II Comptroller-General Jones does nothing
else he will deserve the thanks OF the people
for making the annual settlement with the
county officers as required by law. The loose
way which prevailed previous TO Mr.. Jones
incumbency was unsatfactorily to the public.
And the prevailing excuse for ripping
up O d and imperfect settlements to The Injury
of both the good name and the estate or the
county treasurers was the best evidence Of
the incompetency and inefHciency OF forme
Would n man OF
common sense accept as q true explanation
for the neglect Of duty on the part OF tne
Comptroller Genera that the Treasurers o.
flee was hard to fill and the accounts were
hard 10 keep. Age and postponement Would
throw no light on the acts and dolngs OF d
County Treasurer. Conservative and thougnl-
ful people are slow to accept damaging or IN
fair reports Of experts who may possibly
think they nave a mission to perform.
The post Office department settles WITH the
postmasters at stated intervals. The lnsur-
ance agents are required to settle once b
month. The dispensers are required 10 put
their money In bank every day. me rail-
road agents lave their accounts audited re
gularly. The express agents have to keep
their money in sight. The United States gov
eminent looks after the National Banks
The fact Is, we know OF nc fiduciary officer,
except county treasurers. whose old accounts
have TO be gone over and over for ten years
back.
The fact that Comptroller-General Jones is
attending promptly to the duties when re-
ouIre him to look after the trsasurers must
be very gratifying to the people, and very ss-
surfing that we have at last succeeded IN geC'
ting an officer in that Office who Will settle.
18th a competent and an efficient Comptrol
LEI General these settlements with the treas
urers will be made very year.
We have thought that the Comptroller-Gen-
erals office in the past was in greater need OF
reform than any other. At least there was 10
our mind clear and indisputable evidence
that that officer was grossly inefficient as EVIL
denced by the reprehensibie reports Ina
would occasionally get into the newspapers
that the Comptroller had neglected to settle
with treasurers for years, and then Woulo
follow the in formation hat the most impor-
tant officer of the government had left for
years large sums in the hands of the treas
urers with whom he had neglected to settle
annually.
We have thought that all loss to the State
because of the neglect OF the Comptroller
General should be made up by the officer OF
bondsmen. The Comptroller-General, II ne
leaves money in the hands Of the county
treasurers after the proper time for settlement
certainly should be accountable for loss In In
terest.
But all this talk has reference to the past.
We have no doubt that Comptroller Jones
will perpetuate the reforms which he has 10
augurated, and that henceforth we shall have
no more cock and bull stories to the injury
of county treasurers because the most impor-
tant officer in the State failed to perform bis
duty. No treasurer can settle without the
concu rrence OF the Comptroller.