The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-06-24
GENERAL JONES.
An Official Who Has Administered
His Office Efficiently and Fearless
ly Asks for Reelection.

reelection to the Office of comptroller
general because of my continued in
terest in the fight for tax reform, and
honest and economical expenditures
OF public moneys. / say economical,
because the legislature must leave Il
great deal to the discretion Of public
officers. and a close scrutiny Of their
accounts is necessary to discover any
wasteful eXtravagances which may
creep into the handling of the public
funds. In many instances. it is easier
to spend money which comes from
the pockets Of others, than from your
own individual exertions. When the
legislature has placed an expense
fund at the disposal Of an officer the
expenses are apt to be larger than if
they had to be paid out Of his salary.
For these reasons, it is necessary to
have a comptroller general who will
look INTO and check over or audit the
accounts of public officials and call
attention to any expenditures which
do not come within the plain mean
ing of the legislative appropriation.
OF course the people could hold an
officer directly responsible who ex-
eXpends the money which
they place at his disposal. If they
1iconVpr that =
they can show their disapproval by
refusing to continue him in office, but
1T Is like locking the stable door after
the horse is gone, for the money has
been expended, and in the majority Of
cases there would be no chance to get
1t back into the State treasury, as it
would cost almost as much as it is
worth. in the expense Of litigation, to
recover it.
This is what i mean when l say
that public office is a public trust. and
If trustees were never held to an ac-
counting for the moneys passing
through their hands, their position
would certainly he delightful.
1t reminds me of the old story OF
the father Who, seeing death ap-
proach, sent for his son and told him
he had made his will, leaving him all
OF his estate and appointing a lawyer
friend executor to manage it for him.
and asking if he had any suggestions
to make as to changes; the son
promptly replied: "Only one, leave
your money to your lawyer. and make
me executor"
IL tho accounts of trustees are not
and examined closely and
the moneys In their
hands are apt to be wasted, and the
party in interest gets nothing but an
honorable mention. 1t has frequent
ly been told me by public officials
that it was unnecessary to inquire
whether or not the expenditures made
by them were such as were authOriz-
ed by the legislature, as they would
be accountable to the legislature
when they came before it.
1t is certainly not pleasure to have
to criticize the accounts Of brother
officers. but it Is n duty imposed up
on the office Of comptroller general,
and Is necessary to an economical con-
duct of public affairs, that public ac-
counts be thoroughly checked and all
items unauthorized by law be point
cd out when bills are presented for
payment. The publicity given public
affairs by this scrutiny acts as Il
strong deterrent to extravaganza and
expenditures Of public mon
eys In this way alone, am satisfied
that thousands of dollars have be-
saved to the state during the time
have bcen entrusted with office of
general.
AS member of the Sinking Fund
Commission. having charge of the ac-
eliminated assets of the State and
ehSh iOi tuc Dcuclt, i
lave endeavOred to prevent the reck-
less loaning of those assets, other
than upon state bonds. so that the
state property be cared for and pre-
served in the most economical way.
Ii was for this reason that / approved
the policy Of the states insuring it's
own property and gradually accumu-
lating a sufficient reserve fund to
avoid the payment of future prem
iums until losses should occur rend-
cring further premiums necessary.
ON this item of state insurance
during the time ] have been comptrol-
Ter general. the State has saved and
accumulated over 100000 in profits
when carrying only from 10 per cent
to 80 per cent of the amount of insur-