The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-02-01

Tie state. Following this as a pre-
cedent, he could nave removed every
sheriff, in fact, every officer elected by
the people, filing their places with mis-
own satellites and thus destroy the
rights of the people to choose their
public servants.
come now to the third glaring Vio-
lation Of the law. In the fixing of the
salary of the superintendent of the
hospital for the insane, article 3, sec
ton "a, of the constitution reads: "All
officers othere than those named in
section provided for in this article
snail receive for their services such
compensation as the general assembly
may from time to time by law direct"
The general assembly had fixed this
salary at $4,000. In the beginning
his excellency had secured the services
of physician of nationwide reputa-
ton as a healer of the mentally af-
ficted. He not being citizen of this
state, under the constitution could not
be appointed.
Next We near that the present in
cumbent had been appointed at double
the salary fixed by law, his excellency
pledging himself personally for this
extra compensation, should the gen
eral assembly not make the necessary
appropriation. Some mild protest to
this illegal procedure was voiced
through the press of the state so that
his excellency in his address to the
general assembly on January IA beats !.
a retreat Stating that he does not
ask the general assembly to reimburse
him for this extra compensation paid,
but that the present incumbent's COM
mission will expire February 10, so
that if the general assembly wishes
to retain the services of this pre-emi-
nently capable SUI erintendent it can
fix his salary accordingly. Permit me
to ask if you ever heard Of man be-
ing appointed to such a position for SO
short a time? Has not an alenist
from another state been employed as
assistant superintendent, at a salary
of $4,000? If the present superintend-
ent is so pre- eminently qualified for
this position, why was it necessary to
employ an assistant, and place him in
charge of this most important depart
ment? Would it not have been bet
ter for the pre-eminently qualified su-
perintendent to have personal charge
of this department and to have en-
ployed competent business man as
assistant and placed him in charge Of
the executive branch? trust you tln-
derstand I have nothing against the
present superintendent. would view
the matter in this light were he my
dearest friend.
His excellency is disengenious, to
say the least, when he attempts to
show that tine raise in salary is COM
paratively small. In speaking OF the
lperquisites that the present incumbent
does not receive he says that the su-
perintendent had the use Of q house. Is
not the house still there and does the
state rece17e rental for the same? He
was furnished lights, water, fuel. Does
not the state pay a lump sum for
water for all its institutions? He was
furnished vegetables. Did the state
receive remuneration for the Vege-
tables the present incumbnt did not
consume? He was furnished servants
from the institution Are not those
servants still there without extra cost
to the state? He was furnished car
riage and pair of horses. Have these
been sold and the proceeds turned into
! the treasury? He was furnished an
automobile. Has it been disposed OF
in like manner? If these questions
can not be answered in the affirmative,
wherein mas the saving in perquisites
benefited the, state?
Have We not statute the substance
of which is as follows: '''If any per-
son or persons bargain for the pur-
| ohoco ~ cole NJ onv office Or receive
any money, fees, reward Or other
profit or take any promise or assur-
ance for the payment of any money,
fee, reward Or other profit, for any
Office he shall be adjudged a disabled
person, in law, to have, occupy and
enjoy the said Office" If such is the
case, is not the present superintend-
ent disqualified under the law?
| Lowndes Browning.