Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-05-21

Ordinarily the account of L. M
Green, special detective under the d.
rection of the governors office would
not be of much interest to the pub
lie; but 1t has come into special note
for various reasons. When Mr.. Green
lost his job with the News and Cou-
"ier because he refused to give up his
colonelcy on Governor Blease's staff
thus showing personal loyalty to the
governor, there was naturally some
curiosity as to what would happen
Later it came out that Mr.. Green hao
been employed in cotton mill inspec-
ton, and on the assumption thai
there was absolutely nothing in the
employment except an effort of the
governor to take care of a friend al
the expense of the state, a lot Of fuss
was made about the matter. 1t viii
be remembered that the gentlema,
from Chesterfield made 1t subject Of
remark in the house of representatives
and. there was effort to heap on Mr.
Green a lot Of humiliation. Some peo-
pie gloated over the incident, others
were disgusted. Although without in.
formation to enable it to determine
just how much need there was for the
factory inspection, ETC., The Enquirer
did not like the spirit of the attack or
Mr.. Green and gave some reasons
why. We are not making this las,
statement as having any bearing on
the matter; but merely as a reminder
as to the record. Following the air.
| ing on the floor Of the house there de-
veloped interest as to what Mr.. Greer
might still be doing to earn his mon.
| ey, and this interest no doubt lea lC
the recent action Of the comptroller
general in demanding that the account
be itemiZed according to law. Pre-
vious accounts had been paid without
IitemiZation; but it was explained tha
this was done by mistake. OF course
the regularity" of the demand fol
litemizatiOn is beyond question, but i
any one who has kept up with the
|
on, honestly believes there was an!
motive for that demand other than {
belief that it would embarrass some
body, why he needs to study some
more. But now the itemiZation is out
That the termination has been done
merely as a compliance with the law
is evident. Work Of this nature coulG
hardly be compensated on any othel
basis than by the month with expense:
added. But the account is interesting
1t shows that certain work that 1:
necessary and important has been ant
is being done, and people who really
think are likely to be impressed will
the idea that If this work Is to be done
at all, it Is just as well that there bt
no official publicity about it, such as
has been given. There is a suggestion
about it also that even If Mr.. Greer
was put on this detective job as a kline
of compensation for the loss Of his
other job. he is evidently giving value
received to the best of his ability and
except through a desire for very ques-
tionable political advantage there
would have been no interference with
his work. OF course, since there is
no question that Mr. Green Is working
on salary basis. and he has been re.
quired to itemize on a per diem basis
it will be easy enough to ridicule the
alleged inconsistencies of the amount;
but it will be dfficult-very difficult
to make anybody see that there is
anything behind it all, other than a
desire to secure political advantage
even at the expense of the public SER
| vice.