The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-02-09
THE MAsTER's SALARY.

legislature by Hon. It. b. Fraser, of
this city. to pay the Master In Equity
OF Sumter County a salary of $1,000
a year. In lieu OF the fees he has
heretofore received as compensation
for his services. has been the subject
OF considerable comment and dis
cussion. and quite number of citi-
sens are asking for the reason for
the proposed change.
The situation Is about as follows:
For many years the fees received
by the Master for services rendered
aggregated considerable sum
ample compensation for the time
and services Of the man holding the
office; but In recent years the busi-
ness Of the office has fallen off and
the fees have decreased until the
total income Of the office has not ex-
ceeded six to eight hundred dollars
q year. for several years. a sum in
adequate to compensate man capa-
bic OF discharging the duties Of the
ONCE In a satisfactory manner. In
the circumstances one Of two meth
DDS for overcoming the difficulty
had to be adopted. Either pay the
Master a substantial salary out Of
the county treasury and turn the fees
Into the treasury as an Offset against
tho salary. or to abolish the Office
and devolve the duties upon the
Clerk of Court. as In many other
counties In the State.
After consideration. those who
have given the matter most thought
arrived at the conclusion that II
would be better to pay the Master
fxed salary Of $1,000 year. with
q drawback Of one half Of the fees
received In excess of the amount of
the salary paid him. Therefore the
bin introduced by Mr.. Fraser.
We have not discussed the matter
with any members of the bar, and
therefore cannot give legal and tech
nical view of the matter In discuss
ION. but to, a layman Il seems that
the business view Of the question
would have been the proper and
natural one to adopt. and this opin-
Jon We entertain. II the income of
this ONCE has decreased until Il Is In
sufacient to compensate capable man
Tor his time and labor. then the time
has arrived for the abolition of the
once end the transfer Of the business
of the once to the hands Of the Clerk
of Court. II the clerks OF court In
other counties are competent to eff
cientiy discharge the duties of a mast
or In equity. then the Clerk of Court
OF Sumter county could do likewise
and the taxpayers would not be call
Cd upon to assume the burden Of
another salaried ofYicer. We are-not
opposed to paying any man an ade-
quate salary for his services. but we
arc unalterably opposed to the in
crease Of county expenses and the
consequent increase In taxes II It IL
not absolutely necessary to have q
Master In Equity for the proper trans
action Of the public business. then
we are opposed to the continued
maintenance Of the ONCE after 1t be-
come burden uopn each and every
taxpayer In the county. We are not
convinced that the office Is an abso-
lutte necessity. for a number Of other
counties manage their business quite
successfully without this officer. and
unless II can be shown that Sumter
county is peculiar In this respect, we
shall contend that Mr.. Fraser's bill
should be amended SO as to abolish
the offlce of Master in Equity for
Sumter county and devolve, the
duties Of the office upon the Clerk of
Court.
In this connection we will take oc-
cassion to make a remark on the
subject Of salaries that some OF our
readers may regard as totally foreign
To the matter under confederation.
but We believe that the timellness Of
the observation is sufficient excuse
for bringing II before our readers at
this time. In our opinion Sumter
county Is not In a position. financially.
TO assume any additional burdens on
account OF salaries. but IL the salary
of any county oficer is to be increas-
ed this year. or at any time in the
near future. the office Of County
Superintendent OF Education merits
That this officer receives the small
salary he does II little short Of q
disgrace to the county. particularly
when the duties OF his office necessi-