The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-08-10
WILL NOT MOVE AUDITOR.
County Board of Commissioners Re-
vokes Former Action In Matter
of County Offices.

! AT 4 meeting OF the county DOdlu
of commissioners. held on Saturday
afternoon. two members Of the board
expressed themselves as opposed to
carving out the order heretofore made
by the board to the effect that County
Auditor Werts should be required to
move into the small office in rear of
the office now occupied by him, giving
the office now occupied by the auditor
to the probate judge.
This means that Auditor Werts will
retain his present office, and that
Judge of Probate Schumpert, who has
continued to occupy his office in the
old court house. must take the small
room in the rear.
1t will be recalled that the decls-
ion Of the county board to give the
judge Of probate the room now occu-
pied by the county auditor. and which
was designed for him by the commls-
sion which built the new court house,
and to move the auditor into the small
room in the rear, was made at the
meeting Of the board in February
the first meeting held BY the new
board after it went into office. At
that meeting County Supervisor Fea-
gle and County Commissioner L. c.
Livingston voted in favor Of the
change, County Commissioner {. L..
Leitzsey opposing it.
The matter was taken to the su-
preme court in injunction proceedings
by Messrs. BleaSe & Dominick, attor-
neys for County Auditor Werts, the
supervisor and the judge Of probate
being represented by MeSSrs. Schum-
pert and Holloway, Of which firm
County Attorney Henry {. Holloway
is member.
The supreme court decided that it
was without jurisdiction in 50 far as
the placing Of the county officers was
concerned, holding that it was mat
ter entirely in the discretion Of the
county board of commissioners. The
supreme court did not pass on the
merits of the contention, simply send
ing the case back to the county COM
misSioners. and holding that the ac-
.tion Of the county commissioners was
final.
At the meeting Of the county board
on Saturday, July 81, Messrs. Blease
and Dominick, representing Mr..
Werts, appeared before the board and
asked for hearing and that testi-
mony should be taken as to the fitness
of the offices for the respective off,
GERS. The commissioners reserved
their decision.
At the meeting on last Saturday
afternoon when the question was
taken up, Commissioner LeitzSeH. who
has opposed the change from the be-
ginning. maintained the position
which he has occupied all along. Com
missioner Livingston stated that, at
ter more thorough investigation. he
had concluded it was better not to
make the change. Commissioner Llv-
ineston's reasons for his change Of
! position are more fully set forth in a
statement by him published below.
This made a majority Of the board
in opposition to any change, leaving
Supervisor Feagle in minority Of
one. So that there will be no change
in the offices.
Commissioner Livingston's Statement.
County Commissioner Livingston, in
speaking yesterday Of the action of
the board. said that he thought it was
only proper and just to himself that
he should explain what prompted his
change Of position. He said that at the
first meeting Of the county board in
February Of this year-the first meet
ing held by the board after the pres
ent board was elected-the matter of
moving the auditor to the small office
il the rear and giving the judge Of
probate the office now occupied by
the auditor. W. taken up. At that
time, said NJ livingston, he lad not
had time to investigate the matter as
it should have bec2 investigated, and
as thoroughly as ne .:as investigated
it since, but, from tie Incomplete in
vesti; -, ~ he htt? ii IN made. at
i that tine ;:e thought The metal furnl-
ture in the office now occupied by the
auditor was designed for the probate
judge and that the furniture in the
small office in the rear was designed
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