The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-02-19
to know all of the de-

lures, expenses and the nature
thereof, incurred in operating these
plants, but so far as we know there
has been no attempt to have the
books of the water and electric light
plants audited by competent au-
ditor for a number of years. This
does not mean that the books are
not correctly kept, nor does it mean
that they are, but it does mean
that the affairs of these town-owned
business enterprises are not being
:un, managed, and safeguarded On
the business principles upon which
other business enterprises of like
Importance are run. The plants are
not being supervised by the City
as the Federal Government and the
State Government supervise bank
ing corporations run under their
license.
The Buying Pn~er.
The buying power of these plants
has been, as we understand it, with
the consent of the City Council, in
the hands of one man and if all
reports are true, he is ever willing
to buy, It is talked that complaints
have been made against the exer-
else of his power, but whether
there has been in fact any cause for
complaint against him, as a buyer,
we do not know. The fact, how
ever, that he buys from year to
year, handles the money of the pub
lie, and no public account is made
to the people who pay the bills of
his transactions, whether his trans
actions be scrupulously right or
not, means that complaints and
will inevitably arise
against him. There is nothing
which keeps down complaints against
public officials, nor which satisfies
the public in regard to the truth or
falsity of these complaints so well
as publicity in all matters pertaining!
10 their operation. This we have
not had.
Mending the Holes.
Now it may be that the parties
responsible for this change in the
of our public utilities
lad in mind these weak spots in
uch management, and sought to
orrect them, and sought at the
anne time to put these business af-
airs of the City on a more correct
nd business-like basis. But, if so,
t seems strange that no such move
vas made, or even suggested, in
he good days when DR.. Neuffer was
member of the City Council, and
he Kaiser of the Water Works
Committee of the City Council. 1t
GEMS strange that nothing of this
ind has suggested itself hereto,
ore, during all of the years that
)r. Gambrell has been the mayor
f the City.
1t is All Speculation.
1t may be that it, has seemed to.
hese gentlemen that they were
ble,. out of their abundant ability,
nd transcendent knowledge of pub
ic affairs, during the time they
erveG the City, to safeguard the
Welfare of the City in the old way,
,ut now that the tenure of their Of
ice is about passed, they feel
hat some means must be devised
" which they may lengthen their
lold on the peoples affairs for the
public good. Perhaps, they feel
hat it will not be safe to permit
;hese great business matters, which
hey have managed so well, to fall
INTO the hands of inexperienced
of inferior business
Judgment to themselves, and there
fore, they have envolved a plan
the management of the
City's Water and Light plants may
be made safe for the City and its
their hands. The
secrecy and want of public ag!ta-
ton. which has been shown in the
manner in which the change has