The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1917, 1914-07-07
THE STATE TAXES
ARE EXPLAINED
Comptroller General Jonea Now
Makes Financial Statement
as to Conditions
political ADVERTISEMENT

Editor Of The Intelligencer.
am impelled to make the race for
reelection to the office of Comptrol-
Ter General because of my continued
interest In the fight for tax reform,
and. honest and economical expendi-
.trreE OF public. moneya. s. /. say eco?
nomfcal, because the legislature must
leave a great deal to the discretion OF
public officers and close scrutiny of
their accounts is necessary 90 dlscov-
er any wasteful extravaganza which
may creep into the handling of the
public funds. In many instances. II
II easier to spend money which comes
from the pockets of others. than from
your own individual exertion. When
the legislature has placed an expense
fund ut the disposal OF IN officer the
expenses arc apt to be larger than IL
they hat 70 be paid out OF hic salary.
For these reasons, 1t Is necessary to
look into and check over or audit the
accounts OF public officinls and call
attention to- any expenditures which
do not .ome within the plain mean
ing OF tie Legislative appropriation.
or course the people hold an officer
directly responsible who extravaganza
ly expendc tho money which they
place at his disposal. II they dis
cover that It has been so expended
they can show their lisapproval by
refusing 60 l0ifs.iinIiITiS him a. Smce,
but it is like locking the stable door
after the h0rce Is guno, for the money
has been expended, and in the major.
ity Of cases, there would be no chance
to get It hack into the .Etate treasury.
as It would cost almost as much as It
Is worth In the expense OF litigation
to recover It. 's
This fs what I mean when gay
that public Office is public trust, and
II truBtees were never held 20: an uc-
counting for the moneys passing
their hands, their position would GER
tainly be delightful. ~ s $50
It reminds me Of the old story OF
proacE sent for his son and told him
he had made his will. leaving him all
OF his estate and appointing q lnw-
him and asking II he had any sug-
gestions to make as 10 changes. The
son PROMPTLY replied "Only one.
leave your money to your lawyer, and
make me executor" s..s ) >
If the accounts OF trustees are not
sctNtintzed and examined scIosely and
cohtinu nuhusly. the moneys in their
hantiR ere npt to- be wasted and the,
party sih interest gets nothing but az,
honornbtes mention. "a ~. - ,sij5
IT has frequently been told me by.
public officials that II waa sunneSes-
sarys to inquire whether or not the
eypendtt ttUres, made by them were snch
As were aut utr7rfzed by. the legislature.
as they wor Il be accountable to the
legislature when they came before It.
IT. is ceftAinfy not a. pleasure To
have TO cfitieise the accounts 6s broth
Rer officers. but It fg d duty imposed
upon The otiica OF the ~ Comptroller
General; aud Sis necessary, to an eyct
nomieal cond duct Of public affass. that
fHublscc & ccnrnth DO shorougtty check
cd and all Items unauthc crixed by inv
be pointed ant whom bills are prGsentS
ed for payment. s. Tho publicity given
toi public lffnirs by thts scrutiny asts
'asS d sstfong deterrent to nxtravagnnce.
and Waateffii ax xband dkHsea OK public
-In0heys. IN fhtS alone. II am gsatis-
ned that : thonsandS OF dollars have
been 9aycd 4 TIL the state during The.
limb II tiaY0 been euf frdSt ted with ths
ONCE Of tho Com Olier General u II
30 Aa aa member Of the Sin king fund
coMmtsat Inn, having charge of the &c;
Gltfnhtated asset O. of y tlle3 f.tato III and
,2hetr uxS Tor HE public baneiatss j. have
end ayQred III breyent the teckloss!
IoaninG lf hesS Ssset 6thSr than
~ stsgss