Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-05-21
NO ACCOUNTING FOR FEES
Richland Officials "Stand In" on This
Little Proposition.

Little Proposition.
1t is alleged that the county officials
are not conforming to an act of the
general assembly requiring them to
keep an accurate account Of fees re-
ceived and to render at the end Of
each fiscal year an itemized statement
covering. the years business. Each
official Is supposed to send their state
ments to the county supervisor. but
an investigation yesterday showed
that the Richland county officials are
not complying with the law.
1t was said at the office Of the coun-
ty supervisor that no such @tatements
had ever been rendered. On January
4, 1917, the county board Of commits
sioners instructed the county attorney
to communicate with the county Off
GERS calling their attention to the law
and requesting them to comply. The
clerk Of court, master, sheriff, judge
Of probate, auditor and treasurer re-
ceive fees and no report was filed In
response to the notice from the county
board. The year 1917 passed by and
yesterday there were no statements on
file from any county official.
On August 20. c. l. Vann, the ac-
called attention to- the ob-
sence of the statements and concluded
that inasmuch as some Of the officials
received a large amount Of money
from fees the taxpayers would like to
know what the officers were receiv-
ing.
Inquiry among several officials yes
terday indicated that no attention has
ever been paid the act Of the legisla-
ture. Failure to observe the provisions
of the law is subject to line. The
following acts Of the general assembly
are self-explanatory:
"Sec. 54S. Any clerk Of court OF
common pleas and general sessions or
sheriff or Judge Of probate or register
of mesne conveyances in this state,
who shall wilfully fail or neglect to
discharge all the duties and perform
all the services. wh..l are required OF
him by law, in addition to his liability
to the party aSgrieved. shall be liable
to be indicted as for misdemeanor
and upon conviction thereof shall be
fined, at the discretion Of the court,
not exceeding $780,"
Sec. 537. Any county officer neg
lecting or refusing to comply with any
of the provisions of section 6S1 OF the
civil code requiring officers to keep an
itemized statement OF fees anG costs
received shall be deemed guilty OF q
misdemeanor, and upon conviction,
shall be fined not less than $50 nor
more than 5000, or imprisoned in the
county Jail not less than two months
nor more than six months, either or
both at the discretion Of the court;
Provided, that the provisions of this
section shall not apply to the counues
of Sumter, Lexington, Berkeley ana
Newberry."
"sec. 6S1. Each county officer shall
be required to purchase and keep In
his office, open to public inspection
during office hours n book in wnicn
shall be kept an itemiZed account OF
all moneys received by or due 70 MIN
whether received by him or due to him
as salary, fees or costs or In any other
manner as pay to him for his services
by virtue of his office: Provided, that
nothing herein contained shall be con-
strued to require any officer to de-
mand the payment Of his fees ana
costs in advance. At the close OF eacn
fiscal wear each county officer shall
transmit an itemized copy OF said ac-
count, under oath. to the Office VI
county supervisor. The county super
visor. in addition to other books KEPT
in his office, shall keep a separate
hook in which he shall enter upon his
books the total amount OF each ac-
count so furnished, opposite the name
OF the officer furnishing the same ac-
count. and file the account in his OIL
flee as other county records are Kept
Provided, that the provisions OF this
section shall not apply TO the coun-
ties OF Sumter. Lexington and New
berry. Kershaw. Lancaster, AboeSiiie
or Marlboro"