The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1914-10-16
GRAND JURY PRESENTMENT

port, begs leave to say:
1. We have, by committee, examin-
ed all the county offices, poor house,
chain gang, dispensary and Sinking
Fund commission. The chaingang is
in good condition, the convicts seem
properly clothed and provided for,
and seem to be doing good work. We
recommend that a small tent be pro-
vlded to be used in cases of con-
tageous diseases, or, in other words,
as hospital tent. The poor house is
In excellent shape, and we hereby
commend the management on the
good condition of affairs at this in
stltutlon. The crops are good, and
the inmates all we'll clothed and prop
erly cared for. We wish to cal. par
ticular attention to the way in which
our new and elegant court house is
being abused, by indiscriminate and
promlscuouS splitting on the walls and
floors. and we hereby recommend that,
especially during the sessions of
court, that two or more persons, not
to be known to the public, be appoint
ed to look after this matter, and that
any persons found splitting on the
walls or floors, or iii any way abus-
inr the building, be reported to the
proper official and fined heavily
enough to insure that the offense will
not be repeated.
The dispensary we find to be well
and properly managed, so far as we
can see, and in this connection, we
wish to ask that the physicians of
the county will cooperate with the
Grand Jury and the management, so
as to minimize the amount of whis-
key sold on Sundays and legal holi-
days, as it has been reported to us
that this has become so common as
to constitute nuisance, and that the
physicians only write prescriptions in
cases of sickness that come within
their own knowledge
We find the sinking fund in good
shape, also, and especially request
the Union county delegation in the
general assembly to Immediately re-
peal the Act of 1914, No. 400, entit-
led IAN Act to retire certain bonds
issued by Union County in rcfunding
the bond debt of in aid of the con-
struction of the Spartanburg Il Ashe-
vile railroad, under an act to provide
for refdnding the bonded indebted
ness of Union County, approved the
24th day of December, 1891, calling
upon Cherokee County for a pro-rata
part of same, and regulating the man
ner and mode of retiring said bonds,"
approved the 28th day of February,
A. ID. 1914. We do not think the time
justifies the preremptory calling In,
liquidating and paying off said bonds
at the time mentioned in said Act,
>tyhn -.
pay them off at said date, or allow
them to continue, by the payment Of
interest until 1921, and then redeenI
ed.
The Masters Office it we'll kept, "a
far as we can see, and his accounts in
good shape. The Superintendent o.
Education appears to be doing his full
duty, and his office seems in good con
dition. The Probate Judges offic
seems to be in good condition, also
and all funds in hts hands, officially,
properly and safely secured.
The Clerk of Court has his Office in
first. class condition, and all fund
turned over to their proper source
The same may be said of the Sheriff.
Office, and we find that officer dis
charging his duties carefully and con
sistently. On examination of the
Auditors office, we find that there
has been an increase in property val
uation of three hundred thousand dol
lars, approximately, and that, in con
sequence, reduction of one-fourth OF
a mill will be made in the tax levy
The Treasurer has his office in ex-
cellent condition, his books accurately
and neatly kept, and in such shape
that we had no trouble in checking up
his accounts.
We have not had time to examine
the books of the County Commission
ers as thoroughly as we would like to-
but we are informed that the mem
bers of the board have been hiring
automobiles and conveyances to visit
the chain gang and other public
works, at the expense of the county,
and we recommend that this practice
be stopped, as these officers are paid
a salary for attending to their duties
In regard to beneficiaries, we find
enlisted old soldiers who are not elig-
ible under the law, drawing pensions,
and some who informed our commit
tee that they could not take the oath,
and have not even applied for enroll
ment And, furthermore, we find some
drawing pensions who do not even
live in Union county. We find that
the pauper fund is being grossly
abused, and, if necessary, can give
names and proof.
In regard to the work of re-index-
ing the books of records in the Clerk'c
office, we find that the sum of five
hundred and fifty dollars was origi-
nally appropriated for this work, and
that a great deal more than this sum
has been paid out, and the work no
where near completion The jury
would be glad to have the proper off
GERS instructed to look into this mat