The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-02-10

ton was necessarily suspended.
In many cases we foud where
over collections had been made ag-
gregati,lg S567.55, ranging from 50
cents to S77.5o. There was no. evil
dence that these various items had
been returned to the proper parties,
but, on the contrary, the secretary of
state informed us we had nothing
to do with these excess amounts, as
that was a matter between himself
and the parties sending them" We
do not agree to such proposition.
On the book which was supposed to
be kept items were left off entirely
To illustrate: Camperdown mills,
chartered April 80, 1904; charter tee
S1oo, and others.
Improper amounts credited to
state: Puckaber Bros, Charleston;
charter fee $50; amount state credit
ed with SIS, March 25, 1904. We feel
compelled to condemn this careless
ness in handling the peoples money,
an din not keeping proper entries OF
all moneys coming through this Office.
also the method that has prevailed IN
many instances where credit sys-
tenn has been allowed. To give an
instance, the Norris cotton mills,
charter increased on April 10, 1908;
charter fee $50, amount received after
charter issued SIS, and the claim was
made that the late Col. D. K. Norris
contended that the office already
owed him SIS" Either this money
is lost to the state or is loss 70 the
secretary of state; at any rate. such
practice should be discontinued.
There are other instances. These
items of over collections may have
been returned, but we have no evil
dence of same. Your committee is
coznizant of one instance where
there has been refund. The charter
was granted on February 23, 1904,
and refund made June 23, 1904, after
these matters had been called to the
attention of this Office.
We regret to report thar ':all mon
eys" have not been paid over quar-
terly" to the state treasurer as is re-
quired by law, same being held, in
some instances, considerable time af-
ter the expiration of the several quar-.
tiers.
Your committee begs to report
that, as the report of receipts and dis
bursements will show, hereto appen-
ed, the secretary of state has deposit
ed in bank several hundred dollars in
excess of amounts shown by his
books or evidenced by proper vo;ich-
ers in his Office, as having been COL
lected for fees. In this amount. no
doubt. is included some of these eN-
cess collections, sent by mistake BY
different parties throughout the state
and which do not belong to the state,
but should be refunded to the proper
parties when the charters were ,ssu-
cd.
We found by mere :chance that one
item of $1o25o for charter Of the
Union Ware House company Of Co.
lr1mbia. chartered on the 18th day OF
January, 1902, during Mr.. Cocpcr,s
administration, vas p1esenleo fc7
payment in juno. 1904, and has not
vet been turned over to the state
l. easurer, being, VIC ar informed,
low in the Office CT secretarr of st2te.
There may be '!er items OF MT.
Gantt's predece $500 still outstanding,
Sut, as we stated, We did not go back
fiat far.
A letter was then sent by Mr.. D. H.
Means to Chairman Butler of the
onmittee Stain: that although the
cash book in h's ofi,:= had been lost.
he was ready to check up all Of the
i. + cunts except +!,ie receipt book. A
letter was accordinglv sent Secretary
,sa::; asking II these books. l1
a reply was received stating that the
fire which gutted the room made i'm