The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-08
ATTORNEY GENERALS
FINE RECORD FOR 1915
REPORT SHOWS ABLE CONDUCT
OF THE OFFICE.
Heavy Litigation Handled Successfully
Without ASSiStance-W
Reviewed.
(By' Jno. K. Aull.)

port Of Attorney General Peoples Of
fee, covering the year 1915, shows a
fine record of important work ably
handled. The report in the outset
takes up in direct manner the business
of the Office, referring briefly to the
reappointment of Col. Fred. H. Domi-
nick as assistant attorney general and
Miss Halle Armstrong as stenog-
rapher.
The first matter called attention o
is the recommendation in the previous
report, to the general assembly, as to
violation of the monopoly laws, and
in this connection is quoted letter
to Governor-elect Richard l. Manning,
under date of January 9, 1915, calling
lis attention to the statutes on the
subject, and asking him to recommend
that certain charnges be made in order
to enable the attorney generals office
to be of service to the people of the
state in this regard, and tiat funds be
provided to carry on the work, with
out which the Office would be helpless.
TIE letter to the governor-elGct also
d.. 1t with ether conditions confront
il the Office, AID asked the co-opera-
ton Of the so ernor in these respects.
Tie letter closed with a sense of my
duty towards you as the legal adviser
OF the officers of the state and the head
OF the department of justice Of sucn
safe, and as that head to serve you
as the chief executive officer Of the
state"
The report says: "No action was
taken by the genera! assembly upon
these suggestions and I nave conse-
q, emily fe,t that my Office was not un-
der obligations to undertake these
matters, all of my recommendations in
regard to same having been ignored"
Litigation During the Year.
Toe office has al uneXcelled record
in litigation. OF very large number
O: cases handled in the United States
ST. preme court, other United States
courts of appeal, and in the supreme
and circuit tribunals in the state: not
a single case was lest. On the GRIM
inal and civil sides of the courts the
cases were of vital Importance. In
regard to this litigation, The attorney
general says:
"The litigation handled by this Of
fee during the past year mas been ex-
tremely and unusually heavy. I am
glad to report, however, that all Of the
litigation has, without exception, been
handled by the attorney generals Of
flee without the employment Of asso-
ciates or assistant counsel in single
case, and without the expenditure OF
single dollar from the public treasury
IN payment of counsel fees. 1 might
further add in this connection, as will
be shown by perusal Of this report,
that the state has been successful in
all the litigation which has been hand
led by the attorney generals Office
during the past year"
The various cases are set out in
detail.
Of course, as the report states, "the
most important service that is rem
dered by. the attorney generals Office
is by way of counsel and advice in
connection with the work Of the va
rious departments of the state govern
ment. and as has been the case during
my term as attorney general, also with
various county officers throughout the
state. In this way many matters are
handled of the utmost importance that
never come before the courts at all. l
CONCEIVE II 10 US 1us NUCy, c@Ao NA0"' y
always endeayored, if possible, to keep
| the state out of litigation, if it can ibe
done without injury to the public serV-
ice, for in that way, in my opinion, the
interests of the government are more
properly served
Important Cases Now Pending.
In addition to the litigation set out
in the report, number of suits have
been filed and placed in the Office for
attention since the first day of Janu-
uary, 1916, for recovery of taxes paid
under protest. All of these tax cases
involve the constitutionality of the tax
commission act and the present system
of taxation in South Carolina.
The more important litigation pend
ing, brought over from the year 1915,
includes the bank tax cases against
! tho fax commission now on appeal in