The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-02-17

or tWo corri lions, with the knowl.
edge and, he thought, permission OF
the committee.
A charter has been granted In the
sum OF $1,000, same was recorded as
bavlDg been Issued In the sum OF ESQ.,.
0OO."
This has never been called to my
atte ntl0n, and l have no idea to what
is referred. would suggest that q
record must hav5 been accessible to
them which showed the proper capital
stock.
In many cases W, found where
over collections had been made aggre-
eating 1857, So"
beg to say that owing to the
change In the law for recording Ger.
tain papers, reducing the fee so cents,
the reduction has been frequently
overlooked by applicants for charters,
IN spite Of the adoption Of every
means by the office to appraise the
public OF it. AS every declaration on
which it is paid is followed generally
In two or three days with return
upon which further fee Is payable,
1t has been the practice OF the Office
to deposit the additional 90 cents to
the credit Of the official account OF
the 0ffice, to be applied OH the return
fee. In some cases the return has
been delayed, and in others 1t is never
made. Thcrs iS now unrefunded of
these matters, the sum of s4I 25,
which is in bank to the credit of the
State.
Improper amount credited to the
State: Puokhater Bros, Charleston,
S. O., charter fee $50; amount State
credited with S15."
1t was discovered by the committee
that the Cuce had failed to detect an
error In computing the proper fee for
the charter Of this concern made by
John @. Mehrtens, Esq their attor
ney. Only sl5 had been paid the
office, as 1t was so entered. When
the committee called attention to the
error, the attorneys were wiced and
Immediately emitted the balance OF
S35, which was entered on the books
as soon as rec ived and the matter
explained to the committee.
"All moneys have not been turned
over quarterly to the State treasurer" {"
1t Is true that have directed that
funds be not checked out of the bank
until ample time has been allowed for
the collection OF all checks, ect., de-
posted. Sometimes check which is
received by the Office is not paid wheu
presented, and confusion In our &C.
counts arises therefrom. For in
stance, on March 3rd, 1903, a check
given by Thos. B. Butler upon the
carolina National bank for 80 was re-
FUSED payment when presented, AID
the amount was not finally collected
Ior about three months. 1t would
have been inconvenient to have turned
that over to the State treasurer, even
though ithe Office books showed that
1T was chargeab!e to us.
We found by mere chance that
one Item of S102 SO for charter of the
Union Warehouse company OF Colum
bia, chartered on the 18th daSsoff
January, 1902, was presented for pay.
ment Ia June, 1904, and has not been
yet turned over to the State treas.
urer.'
1t is true that 1 discovered that
through some neglect there had been
a failure to collect the fee for this
charter. I demanded its payment and
check was given therefore, which
was held for final determination as to
its proper disposition. This check is
properly accounted for.
There were certain books we had
IN our possession last year concerning
the period OF Mr.. Gantt's predecessor
which we were informcd were kept by
the present secretary of state"
The present secretary of state"
wishes to say that he has never, ex-
cept for short period at the Begin
ming OF his own term, kept any OF
the cash accounts Of the office. Dur.
Ing Mr.. Cooper's term these accounts
were kept by Mr.. d. H. Means and
the record books during this period
nave never been in the personal Gus
tody OF the present secretary Of state.
AS TO FEES.
When fees were paid the office to
him, they were turned over to MIR.
Means. whose pc sonal receipt was
taken therefor. Prior to this time,
receipts were taken, the same prac.
ttce being In vogue. He regarded
Mr.. Means letter as Official notice to
nj N OF the loss OF the books, from a
subordinate TO his superior officer.
The stats ment Is made, however,
that the report Of the secretary OF
State and the original papers and rec.
oIdS which were used b? the commit.
tee to verify the liabilities during the
present term, can be maue to serve
the same purpose even In the absenc
OF this book, while deposit at the
banks and payments to the State
treasurer will show all disbursements
Again revertlGg to the general fea.
turcs OF this report l wish to say that
l. requested an opportunity to test
the accuracy Of the figures made I'D
by the committee and TO explain any
cause for criticism that appeared to
them, but was refused. Without
having seen the totals arrived at, I
challenge the accuracy even of the
addition in the purported statement
which was made up. 1t does seem
that men who proclaim so loudly
their J alousy Of the peoples money
should at least put enough value
upon the character and reputation OF
man that they would at least re-
frain from imputing to him that
which is discredtabla until they had
Il