Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1919-11-12

make such Temporary repairs i'm
mediately to these places as to rem
der same safe for travel, until the
same can be permanently repaired;
also that bushes have grown up upon
the approach Of several bridges.
This, in our opinion, should be re-
moved, 30 as to prevent accidents.
We have visited the county chain
gang and find that the convicts are
we'll fed and cared for.
We further recommend that the
clerk to the Board of County Com
| missioners be paid an increase in
salary, corresponding to the high
cost of living, 80 as to enable him to
give more attention to the duties Of
the clerkship. We think 5000 per
! annum would be a reasonable and
fair compensation.
We have, by special committee,
examined the books Of the county
| officers, and commend our county
officials for the efficient and salts
factory manner in which we find their
books kept.
We find that in the office of Clerk
OF Court more room Is needed for
the proper preservation of the
records. We recommend that this
condition be remedied, which can
OooIiy nc uotC Ny tIlC N6Ail
room, now unused, and that the
vault door. now on the outside, be
removed and placed inside, connect
ing 1.-The said vault room with the
present office. We also find that
there are great many old, worth
less papers and rubbish that ought
to! be destroyed, and thus make room
for new papers and documents. and
that this be done by special commit.
tee from our body, with the assist
ance of the Clerk of Court
+, We find, upon examination Of the
lAuditor's Office, that from the growth
and development Of our county there
has been tremendous increase in
the work Of said office; that the tax
able property in the last six years
has fncreasedso over one and one-half
million dollars: that all "A school
districts are carrying special school
leyies, ranging from three to thirteen
mills, and that twelve school districts
Eare carrying bond 4 Issues, which
has; very materially Increased the
| york In & said Gfiices that this office
ifSy dhetls iii sali sfnti ils ;recaiy yetiS and
tdisbursed IN the fiscal op peratfo Ion 8 Eof
the schools, county and State. We
wish to commend our present Audi
tor for the efficient, systematic, busi-
ness administration Of the duties OF
said office, which have been inaugu-
rated by him.
Our attention has been called to
certain Irregularities on the part
OF some magistrates in allowing con-
stables and rural policemen to take
| cash bonds in certain cases. This
Is an old custom that has been
practiced heretofore, and we recon-
mend that magistrates in the future
| take all bonds of parties charged
with any OffInse as now required by
law, and that they do not allow con-
stables or rural policemen to take
bonds or collect fines.
| There have been sundry charges
preferred to us against Rural Police
man J. G. Mitchell, as an officer, for
investigation. We have sworn and
examined all witnesses whose names
have been furnished us to prove the
charges of Irregularities and miscon-
duct as an officer Also, we have
sworn end examined some Of the
best and leading citizens of West
minister and community, where the
said Mitchell resides, and they have
to our entire satisfaction exonerated
and vindicated his Official conduct.
We believe these charges were in
spired, for the purpose Of removing
said officer, by the lawless liquor ele-
ment Of said community because Of
his vigilance and activity in the
enforcement Of the liquor laws Of
the State. We recommend that he
be upheld and retained in the office
of Rural Policeman. because his
record shows that he has made one
Of the best rural policemen ever ap-
pointed in our county.
We have examined the office Of
Probate Judge and recommend that
his office be furnished with two ad-
ditional filing cases.
We have examined the county Jail
and recommend that the following
changes be made: The steel cages
are now located upon the first floor
where they are very accessible to the
outside public, and hack-saws and
other tools have been furnished
prisoners, which have enabled them
to effect their escape in the past
We recommend that these steel cages
be removed and placed upon the
second floor, as they are so located
in all other counties Of which we
have any knowledge; and that all
the windows be wire screened, so as
to prevent any occurance Of this kind
In the future. We find certain re-
pairs need to be made to the dwell
Ing portion Of the Jail, and also to the
porch over the front entrance Of the
| Court House, and we recommend
that such needed repairs be made at
once.
We 1--we had our attention called
to the increase Of crime caused by
| the Illicit liquor traffic in our coun-