The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-09-05

man will have his own idea as to the
matter, and we do not claim to be
wiser than others, but we have
thought about the matter for a con.
siderable time and we make the sug'
gestions which have forced them
selves on US as wide and eXpedient
We believe that the working and
maintenance of the roads as we'll as
other county affairs should be placed
in the hands of commissioners to be
named by the people of the county on
salesday in January of each year, OF
on some other convenient date, in g
meeting of citizens representing
every school district, or township,
of the county, on some plan securing
just representation, and that these
commissioners should hire the nee
essary help to work the roads.
In order to secure the best men in
the county and to keep the commits
sion out of politics, it would be nee
essary that these commissioners
serve without pay. The most ordi'
nary experience in matters of OH,
GERS of this kind evidence the fact
that a small salary attached to an
office of this kind always brings forth
a crop of candidates for the office
to get the pay, and the smaller the
pay, the more mediocre is the bust
ness qualification of the average
candidate for the office. On the
other hand, the school matters in
the several school districts are man
aged by trustees who serve without
pay, and in many of the districts,
especially in the cities, these trus-
tees are selected by the people, and
in all cases so far as we have had a
chance to observe, among the best
men in the several communities, the
most patriotic, and the most efficient
business administrators, are found
on these. boards. Occasionally of
course, in school matters there is an
upheaval, and some men are turned
out, and others put in their places,
but the rule even in these cases is
that only good men are selected. At
least a majority of the men so Sc
lected may always be depended on
to do the best for the people whom
they serve. In the management of
large corporations, such as our
banks and cotton mills, directors
are elected by the stockholders and
these men give of their time and.
experience to the banks and other
corporations without pay. In this
way the commissioners of roads
should be selected. The office would
then be one which would not be
sought after, but one which the pub
lie should insist should not be de-
clined.
Having selected this commission,
it should organize for business. The
commission having charge of the
roads should elect a competent road
man to work the roads, and he should
give his entire time to that work,
being on the roads every day in the
year when it is possible to work. The
salary now paid the supervisor would
pay him for his services. Of course
the roads should be laid out by a
competent engineer, who might be
hired for a month of longer, but who
need not be hired permanently, and
the general nature of the work
done on the roads should be under
his specifications, and according to
his directions, which a competent
foreman might do. The work done
should be of as nearly a permanent
nature as it is possible to build in
this county considering u finances
and the material at hand.
The commission having charge OF
the work, though the general super
visor or builder as he might be desig-
mated, would be in position to pass
intelligently on all claims against
the county, and to order those. paid
which should be paid, and others re-
jected when. this should be done.
Meeting once or twice a month for:
the purpose of passing on these
claims, the auditor of the county
could do the necessary bookkeeping
and the salary of a book-keeper dis
pensed with.
. The affairs of a county need only
that business attention which the or
binary business man gives to his own
business to put it on a better basis.
The old ideas in farming employed
by u fathers r being discarded
and better plans are being adopted.
The lands are being taken care of
where formerly they were allowed