Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1908-06-10
CLERK OF COURTS OFFICE.
"A Citizen Wants to Know Some
Facts About 1t.


To the Taxpayers OF Oconee
County: ! ask the taxpayers and
voters of Oconee county to consider
the following, which embodies my
views in regard to the pay in the
Clerk of Courts Office in our county:
The people are taxed to buy books,
typewriter and all office supplies for
the Clerk Of Court. The books come
at higher rate to us than they did
few years ago, for they are now
printed in blank form and are nec-
essarily more expensive. These con-
veniences do not help the taxpayer;
they only cost the county more, and
help only the Clerk by keeping him
from paying out his money for clerks
to record, and the same price Is
charged for all recording.
The people are taxed for the sup
plies In the Clerks office and to pay
the Clerk $500 per year for doing
the county's work. and in addition
the Clerk receives all the fees.
l believe the income in this office
is over $4,000 a year. l am so sat
isfied that is the case that am will
ing to pay my part, with any fifty
ing the Clerks books audited. Put
ting the income Of this office on this
basis, 1t pays nearly three times
more than any other Office in the
county.
There are a few counties in the
State where the Clerks of Court are
paid salary, and the income of the
office Is turned into the treasury,
which gives the county good sur
plus after the Clerks salary is paid.
We have plenty Of good, compe-
tent men in this county who can run
this office and are willing to do so
for 1900 each year, and then make
more than they are making now.
How many men in Oconee county are
furnished everything free Of charge
and assured of 81, 500 each year, to
say nothing Of having contract for
four years-$6,000?
l think the Clerk is getting too
much and the taxpayer getting moth.
ing. We can find some one to run
it for $500, and turn the Office
fees into the county treasury. When
l say some one | mean competent
man.
l believe the taxpayers will save
from 500 to $4,000 each year II
the offi"e of Clerk Of Court is put on
a salary basis. A nice sum we would
have, If we can do this, by the time
our $45, 900 bond debt is due. Be-
sides, we would be able to do away
with the present levy for bonds and
levy for the payment of the interest
thereon, thus reducing the taxes
considerably at this one point.
What l say is not intended as
criticism of the present Clerk of
Court, nor Of any of the candidates
for the office. 1t is the office itself,
and neither the holder nor the
seeker, l criticise. No man can be
blamed for getting as much as pos
sible for his services. The compen-
sation of this office is, in my judg-
ment, out of proportion with the
work, and out Of proportion with
the salaries of other county offices.
| thiIk | am right in what l say,
but / may be wrong. l may be the
only one In the county who sees 1T
as | do, and | want to know how
some Of the best and most conser-
vative men in the county feel about
it, and l ask the following we'll
known gentlemen to comment on
what / have said: w. o. Hamilton,
f. NJ. Cary, OF Seneca; J. J. Ballen-
ger, j. p. Stribling, Richland; NJ. A.
Terrell, w. p. Anderson, Westmin-
ster; p. p. Sullivan, '. A. Cook, Mad
ison, and any others.
Respectfully, C. G. Jaynes.
Walhalla IUna