The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-05-25
THE COUNTY COURT

4 member of the Sumter bar has
stated one reason why the county
court should not be established at
this time, which should convince a
majority of the voters that it is both
wise and expedient to cast their bal
lots against the proposition. He
says there are hundreds of claims in
the hands Of attorneys for collection.
on which suit has not been entered,
because of the congested docket Of
the court OF common pleas. The men
against whom these claims are pend
ing are noninally solvent, and, but
for the extraordinary financial situ-
alton during the past few months,
would have paid these debts in full.
II given reasonable time these peO-
pie will be able to pay their creditors,
but if they are forced into court and
judgement entered against them, they
will suffer great loss and will be put to
heavy and needless expense. The
only persons who will be financially
or otherwise benefited will be the
lawyers having the claims for collec-
ton and who wish to obtain quick
judgements and force settlement, re-
gardless Of the hardship that this
course would inf1ict upon people who
have property, but cannot obtain the
cash 10 pay their debts.
This lawyer estimates that there
are a sufficient number Of claims Of
this character TO keep q county court
busy for months, even though it re-
manned in session continuously. The
lawyers making a business of collect
ing claims would reap harvest in
funds and commissions, but the peo-
pie whose property would be seized
and sold to satisfy these judgments
would suffer loss out of all proper
ton to the debts they unfortunately
owe and now cannot pay.
The congested condition Of business
in court of common pleas, in existing
circumstances, has been the saliva
ton Of many an honest debtor who
would pay now if he could and will
yet pay If he has time to adjust HIM
self to the changed conditions of bust
ness and finance, brought about by
the policy OF deflation that was sud
denly put into operation last fall by
the Federal Reserve Board.
OF course, it is admitted that the
creditors have rights that cannot be
ignored; and they are entitled to
every possible consideration, but ex-
traordinary conditions call for un-
usual methods for meeting the
problems that Unexpectedly arise.
Governments occasionally, in periods
Of financial panic, declare a. mora
torium on all debts to save the debtor
class from utter ruin. This policy,
in the end, works out to the benefit
Of all commemorative creditors ulti-
mately collect their claims and the
debtors save their property from
ruthless sacrifice.
Sumter county is faced with the
necessity OF temporary and limited
moratorium and it SO happens that
this has been brought about by the
congested docket of the court Of COM
mon pleas. which prec!udes the rail
roading of a suit to enforce payment
Of debt If the county court is es-
tablished there will be regular
orgy Of lawsuits and the county will
be worse off rather than better.
Therefore. purely on The grounds
Of Immediate and pressing expedien
cy. we have decided to oppose the
establishment Of the county cour
at this time. and we advise every 9th
er voter-whether he is q debtor OF
creditor--tO do likewise.