Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-04
PAY OF COUNTY OFFICERS
Legislature Says the Public Has a
Right to Know.

Legislature Says the Public Has a
Right to Know.
Columbia State. Friday.
The house yesterday passed to third
/ reading by an overwhelming majority
two bills to require all county officers
to keep itemized statements Of all fees
and costs collected. These accounts are
to be open to public inspection. Fail
ure to keep such accounts is to be pun
ishable by a fine Of not less than $50
nor more than 5000 or imprisonn ent
not less than two months nor more than
six months, or both, in the discretion
Of the court.
The law has been on the statute
books since 1912, but as q provision
was then added so that the law was
not applicable to Newberry, Sumter,
Lexington and Berkeley counties, the
1 general law was rendered unconstitu-
tional and thus q dead letter on the
statute books. One of the bills Is to
amend Section SGT, Volume II, Grim
inal code, 1912, so as to cut out this
provision, and the other provides for
the punishment for violation.
The bills caused warm debate on the
floor of the house. Opposition to the
measure was voiced by Mr.. Owens Of
the Marlboro delegation and Mr..
Hughes Of Marion. Mr.. Owens con-
tended that those who wanted to know
how much salary county officers
were receiving might gain this infor-
nation by close scrutiny Of all the
papers handled by these officers
Those in favor Of the measure argued
that the average person did not have
the time or the inclination to examine
all the papers and books Of any office
to ascertain just the amount Of salary
any county officer might receive.
Mr.. Crews Of Richland county Of
fered an amendment, to exclude Rich
land from the provisions Of the act,
but the house was in no mood to tam
per with the constitutionality OF. the
measure which was being passed on
yesterday. The two measures read:
Be it enacted by the general assem-
bly, Of the state Of South Carolina:
Section /. That Section 6S1 Of the
Code Of Laws Of South Carolina, 1912,
Volume I. requiring county officers to
keep itemized accounts Of the moneys
received by them be, and the same Is
hereby amended by striking out all
after the word Kept" on line 13 Of
said section, so that said section, when
so amended, shall read as follows:
Section 6s1. Each county officer
shall be required to purchase and keep
in his office, open to public inspection
during office hours, a book in which
shall be kept an itemized account Of
all moneys received or due to him,
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 and
costs in advance. At the close OF each
fiscal year each county officer shall
transmit an itemized copy Of said ac-
count, under oath, to the Office Of county
supervisor, in addition to other books
kept. The county supervisor In ad-
dition to other books kept In his office,
shall keep separate book, in which he
shall enter upon his books the total
amount of each account so furnished,
opposite the name ofs the officer fur
nishing the said account, and file the
account Of his Office as other county
records are kept"
Sec. 2. This act shall go into .efrect
imme ediately upon its approval by the
governor.
Be it enacted by the general assem-
bly, Of the state Of South Carolina:
Section 1. That Section 537 Of the
Criminal Code Of South Carolina. 1912,
is hereby amended by striking out the
proviso of said section, 80 that said
section, when 80 amended, shall read
as follows:
Section 537. Any county off,
Ger neglecting or refusing to comply
with any Of the provisions Of Section
ss1 of the civil code, requiring officers
to keep an itemized statement Of fees
and costs received, shall be deemed
guilty of a 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
nor more than six months, either or
both, at the discretion Of the court"
Sec. 2. This act shall go into effect
Immediately upon APPROVAL by the gov
ornor