The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-02-17
BENNETTsv1LLE s. G., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY u. 1905.

or two corr ctions, with the knowl.
edge and, he thought, permission OF
the committee.
| "a charter has been granted In the
sum OF 1,500, same was recorded as
baviDg been issued In the sum Of $780,.
0OO."
This has never been called to my
attention, and have no idea to what
Is referred. I would suggest that q
record must have been accessible to
them which showed the proper capital
stock.
I'm many cases we found where
over collections had been made aggre-
eating 1867, ,55."
beg to say that owing to the
change In the law for tcording GER
tain papers, reducing the fee SO cents,
tue 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 1t. AS every declaration on
which 1t 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 Office, to be applied on the return
fee. In some cases the return has
been delayed, and in others it is never
made. Thcrg 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
StaCe: Puokhater Bros, Charleston,
S. O., charter fee $50; amount State
credited with Sl5."
1t was discovered by the COM mittee
that the office had failed to detect an
error in computing the proper fee for
the charter Of this concern made by
John Q. Mehrtens, Esq their attor
ney. Only sl5 had blen paid the
office, as 1t was SO entered. When
the committee called attention to the
error, the attorneys were wiced and
Immediately renitted 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 treasu -er. {"
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 q check which is
received by the Office is not paid wheu
presented, and confusion In our &C.
| IcOnntC
stance, on March 3rd, 1903, check
given by Thos. B. Butler upon the
Carolina National bank for SO was re-
FUSED payment when presented, ard
the amount was not finally collected
Tor about three months. 1t would
nave been irconvenient to have turned
that over to the State treasurer. even
though sthe 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 ColumF
bia, chartered on tue 18th OF
January, 1902. was presented for pay.
ment In 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. l demanded it's 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 hau
In our possession last year concerning
the period OF Mr.. Gantt's predecessor
which we were Informed were kept by
the present secretary Of state"
The present secretary Of state"
wishes to say that he has never, ex-
capt fer short period at the begin
ming OF his own term, kept any of
the cash accounts OF the office. Dur
Ing MIR. Cooper's term these accounts
we're kept By Mr.. ID. II. 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 Mr..
Means, whose personal receipt was
taken therefor. Prior to this time,
receipts were taken, the same prac,
tice being In vogue. He regarded
MIR. Means letter as Official notice to
him Of the loss OF the books, from q
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
oTd' which were used By the commit.
tee to verify the Liabilities during the
present term, can be maze 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 reverting to the general fea.
lures OF this report l wish to say that
requested an opportunity to test
the accuracy OF the figures made up
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
a man that they would at least re-
frain from imputing to him that
| which Is discreditabla until they had