The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-01-21
POLITICAL POT PoURRI.
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Although this is campaign year.
! it is "off year, with seven import
ant county oficers-state senator
clerk of court, superintendent OF
education. supervisor, master, sher,
iff, coroner and commissioners. bu'
in few weeks the talk Of politics
will begin, as the three members OF OF
the House of Representatives VIII
have to be elected as will the audi
tor and treasurer and the probate
Judge. The incumbents will prob
ABLY offer for reelection. 1 have
heard Of no new candidates, but sup
pose they will show. themselves IN
time.
A public officer is the servant OF
the people and should be held re-
sponsible to the people for neglect
of duty, and Of course is amenable
10 public criticism. It is his duty
to take lively interest IN every
thing pertaining to the welfare, pros
perity and progress Of the county
He should look upon himself as the
guardian of its finance, to be judi
ciously and economically expended
where it will do the most good to the
greatest number of its citizens. He
should take the same interest in the
welfare of the county that he does
in his own private affairs. he
should make sacrifices for the good
Of the county.
The citizens should be consulted IN
everything pertaining to their local
ity. They are the voters and tax
paysrs and are more directly inter-
ested and concerned in their imme-
diate neighborhoods than amy one
else. The county funds belong to
the people and the officers are only
delegated to supervise its expend1-
ture.
A sufficient amount OF money
should be kept on hand in the treas
ury to pay off all court expenses
promptly. The farmers are forced
to leave their crops and other affairs
at anv season of the year to attend
upon court, either as jurymen or
witnesses, and it frequently hap
pens at a season Of the year when
they have no money and are COM
Epeled to remain at the court house
one or two weeks at their own ex-
pense. When court adjourns It IS
sues checks or drafts on the eoun-
ty treasurer, but the jurors, witness
as and other officials or employees
have to wait until the taxes are
, s,aid before they can collect their
pittanee.
{ It is frequently the case that they
cannot wait-they have no money to
pay their board bills and are COM
relled to sell their checks at a
heavy discount. They cannot afford
to lose this money. Their pay is too
small anyway. They have sacrificed
enough in leaving their crops and
families. frequently sick family,
besides being compelled to saerl-
fee half Of their lawful pay.
Some plan could surely be devils
ed whereby the legal creditors of
the county could be paid promptly.
All just and legal claims against the
county should be paid promptly on
demand. There should be no reason
why a creditor should be forced to
wait for money due him.
There is no doubt but what the
county could save largely by pay
ing her debts promptly.
. Run the county on cash system
80 far as it is possible to do so, push
all the Improvements she Is able to
carry-take care of her unfortunates
make every official do his. whole
duty-hold him strictly to account
for all of his official acts, and reduce
sne unnecessary expenses to naught.