The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-06-14
The PRESENTMENT

Inc pfeSenIMenG OF the SranQ
jury which was published in
these columns last week was
nothing more nor less than a
continuation of editorials written
by US a month or so ago. We
could see without any special in
vestigation that things were
running along in lax, ram
shackle manner, and that unless
halt was made those in author
ity would soon have our county's
finances in a sad plight.
Waste, extravaganza and IN
competent business methods. is
virtually what the grand jury
charged up to the board of coun-
ty commissioners, especially the
Supervisor. What is to be done
about it? Is there no remedy for
this sort Of thing? Must the
county suffer on until the term
of the present Supervisor ex-
pires2 II the law gives no pro-
lection to the taxpayers when it
is plain that those entrusted
with the management Of affairs
are bringing on a condition OF
Bankruptcy, then let US ali pray
deliverance from such a law.
The county, according to the
grand jury is nearly $4,000 in
debt, when but three years ago,
we were boasting Of not only
being out of debt, but having
money ahead. Since then, how
ever, a jail has been erected,
and this was indeed needed, but,
it must be remembered also that
since three years ago the income
from taxes, fines, licenses and
the dispensary has almost
doubled, so the building of the
Jail should not have sunk the
county into the mire of debt. The
road machine which the grand
jury says cost 'sS2500 Or more F."
Note, S2500 or more, the Super
visor not being able either, from
memory or his books to give ac-
curate information, certainly
could not have sunk the county
nearly $4,000 in debt. There is
mismanagement somewhere, we
have no idea there is any theft,
but that gross mismanagement
exists there can be no doubt.
The presentment, while plain
and outspoken was not as search
ing as we had reason to expect.
We were looking for that body
to recommend that the Super
visor have deducted from his
salary an amount necessary to
cover the expense of maintain
ing a pleasure horse which it is
alleged one Of the guards has
been keeping at the gang on
county expense. We also ex-
pected to see some mention Of
the luxuries used by the chain
gang guard. Then we expected
the grand jury to show by actual
figures just what the chaingang
was costing. We presume they
considered it sufficient, when
they with one fell swoop, char
acterized the whole scheme as
s:extravagance, and recommen-
.ded that it shut up shop and
quit.
The Supervisors Office was
not the only one to come under
the ban Of duty. The Auditor
was hit hard, and if the jury is
correct in it's findings, there is
absolutely ne excuse whatever
for such a condition, that should
appeal to the people who
honored the incumbent with the
position. When a man is elected
to fill a clerical position he
should either do his duty or quit:
and let somebody else have the
Office who will. The idea of the tax
books being behind, as the grand
jury alleges, is not only against
the public interests, but it is a
slap in the face to every man
who is responsible for putting
the incumbent in Office.
The shaking up of the dispen-
sary should result in good, be-
cause the law is plain that no
liquor should be sold except up
on the formal applications pro-
vided, and whenever a dispenser
ignores the request books he
ignores the law, and should be
punished for it the same as any
other violator of the dispensary
law. We regard the request
books a nuisance and a humbug,
but as long as the law requires
them, it should be obeyed.
The presentment is a very
strong paper and should have a
wholesome effect, and so far as
the people are concerned they
are gratifed to know that a duty
was performed by them without
fear or favor.
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