The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-17
Supervisor Davis Position.

The Editor OF The Manning Times:
Owing to the presentment of the
Grand Jury and letters of represen-
tatives Burgess and White, l deem
it necessary for me to make this
statement in regard to the financial
condition of the County.
When I assumed charge of the
Supervisors Office I found a great
many outstanding debts against the
County which had to be approved
and entered on the books. After en-
tering all such claims and using all
the money collected by the Treasur-
er from the four and one-half mill
ordinary levy and the one-half mill
levy for back Indebtedness, up to
March 18th. 1918 we found that there
was deficit of something over
Sl1, 100000. These accounts were
closed with all who were willing to
accept it, at six per cent interest,
and in few cases at eight per cent
interest.
At the June 1913 term of court we
took each claim as it appeared in
the Office, and estimated all indebt-
edness to that date, and made a re-
port thereof to the Grand Jury. At
the next term Of Court we did the
same thing. Up to January !, 1914
after getting all accounts to that
date, we found that we had an in
debtedness of about S29, 100000. BY
reference to the report of the Treas
urer, which his books will show, we
received something like Sl7.5OO,0o
from the four and one-half mill levy,
the half mill for back Indebtedness
having been cut off, and consequent
ly we received nothing for that.
By deducting the $17,50O,OO from
the indebtedness of S29, 10000 we
have deficit OF s11, 10000. which the
County was owing on January l.
1914.
Mr.. Searson, in his report, stated
that the indebtedness OF the County
amounts to about S2l ,0O9,U0. but this
is computed up to May i, 1914. This
Indebtedness includes some OF the
heaviest accounts Of the year: such
as Court expenses for the February
term Of Court, S933.40 claims OF the
County board of Equalizatlon
amounting to about $4,000, ane
something like five or six thousano
dollars for salaries and other claims
for the fist five months OF the year.
When I took charge Of the Super
visor's Office it was my understand
ing that the revenue Of the Count!
would amount to something llkt
$50, ,000, 90, and it WAS upon this estl
mate that made my statement te
the delegation that we would be
able to pay the expenses Of the yea'
1918 and pay the deficit Of something
like 81, ,OO0,00. but as matter OF fac
the revenue from the County dlt
not amount to more than 1922, 1000, 90
In other words, the Supervisors Of
flee received about 100000 less thar
we anticipated. The indebtedness
Of the County is no more to-day thar
it was the same time last year, anc
the Grand Jury had the same lnfor
nation then as they have at thu
time.
| By reference to the records, l finc
that in 1908 q bond issued for 10,0O'
90 was used for back indebtedness
and that the same time a one.hal
mill levy was also put on for back
Indebtedness, and notwithstanding
this on January l, 1918 the County
was still in debt over 81, 900, ,O0
When took charge in January 19l:
this one. half mill levy was taken on
I do not remember Of even having
seen or heard that q report OF the
County's indebtedness was eVe1
made to Grand Jury, until assum
ed charge of the Office. If such re
port was ever made heretofore
shall be very glad to be advised a.
what session OF Court same wa'
made and the present foreman o
the Grand Jury was at one time {
member of the Board of Commis
sioners and should be able to give
| this information.
With reference to the criticism o
Mr.. Searson in regard to the mannel
of keeping the records in the office
I beg to say that this Office is KEEP