The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-08-12
ATTORNEY GEN. BREAKS
RELATIONS WITH JONES
SPICY LETTERS FROM GENERAL
PEOPLES TO GENERAL JONES.
Will Not Advise Officer Unless Dis
position is Shown to Follow Ad-
vice Given.


vice Given.
Columbia, August S-"When the
comptroller general shows disposi-
ton to accept and act upon the ad-
vice of the attorney general, as it is
his duty to do, then this office will on
ly be too glad, as it has been in the
past, to endeavor to advise the comp
troller general of the laws as it sees
fit" is an excerpt from letter writ
ten to Comptroller General A. W.
Jones and signed by Attorney General
Peoples and Assistant Attorney Gen
eral Dominick
This letter, unofhcially called "the
parting of the ways" is a notice Cn
the comptroller general that the Of
flee of attorney general will have moth
ing more to do with him until he
shows a disposition to follow his legal
advice.
Another letter to the comptroller
general replying to his reporting GER
tain corporations for failure to pay
the license tax asks him for detailed
information and a formal request for
prosecutions.
Another letter asks the comptroller
general to make specific details if ne
wants any action brought against the
county treasurer of Berkeley county
on account of the alleged shaky condi-
ton of the Farmers and Merchants
Bank, of Monck's Corner, in which the
treasurer had a large amount of coun-
ty funds on deposit.
The attorney general informs the
comptroller general that he will not
be drawn into a newspaper contro-
versy over the 5000 claim which the
attorney general presented for ex-
penses in attending the convention OF
attorneys general in Charleston and
which was turned down, and says,
Neither the attorney general nor his
office desires or wishes any intlma-
tions or suggestions as to the conduct
of himself or his department from one
who occupies merely clerical posi-
ton in the State government"
The following letter was among sew
eral given out today at the Office OF
the attorney general:
columbia, August, 8.
'Hon. A. W. Jones, Comptroller
General, Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir:
I am in receipt of your letter OF
July 25 in reply to mine of July "a
in reference to an inquiry from the
Farmers and Merchants bank OF
Marion, in which you ask for an
opinion to be rendered.
'In your recent letter you say: II
is necessary that I should have copies
of your opinion on matters affecting
taxation for my guidance in such mat
ters. l like to keep them on file for
this purpose. By so doing I am able
to act in accord with your advice, and
not trouble you by asking the same
questions repeatedly
"And you further ask, that an opln-
ion be given to the bank and that
you be furnished with copy for your
hle.
Further replying to your first and
last letters L will say again that this
office is surprised that it should be
called upon by you for such advice
owing to your long connection and
familiarity with the tax department
and it's laws. The legal department OF
the State is entitled to some respect
from the other departments OF the
State government, whose duty it is to
be governed by the advice and coun-
sci of the legal department and the
occupants of this Office insist that
they shall both have the personal and
official respect that is due them by rea-
son of their official position. This
office, therefore, refuses and will con-
tinue to refuse to render any opinions
or advice to any department whose du-
ty it is to call for such an opinion
and advice unless such department
shall show disposition and willing
ness on it's part to accept such opln-
ions and advice when rendered, as IS
contemplated in the statute laws OF
the State of South Carolina. when
the comptroller general shows dis
position to accept and act upon the
advice of the attorney general, as