The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1921-05-26

-, Dlilon, >. C., May "a, 1921
The Editor of The Dillon Herald.
Dillon. S.,
Dear Sir:
Just at this time 1 think that the
public is entitled to know the findings
o. the grand jury of Dillon County.
as relates to its financial condition
and especially this condition as re-
Elected by and through the following
otfices: Commissioners Office. Super
intendent of Education's office and
the Treasurer's office.
Due to misapprehensions on the
part or some Of the people of the
county, some criticism and much dis
cussion, l am submitting certain do
cuments and letters from the afore-
said offices, which the officers there
or nave requested published. For the
information of the public l will state
briefly as follows:
On May 18th, instant. tho grand
jury met. primarily for the purpose
Oh organization. In this meeting many
tnlngs were. discussed for the good of
the county and definite action was
taken on specific charges and gem
eral charges, much of which will
come out at the next term of the
court and all Of which Is certain to
be helpful towards efficiency and
law and order.
"A committee was appointed at this
meeting TO look into the condition of
the superintendent of Education's fl
nances, 10 determine the reasons for
ueIay IN the payment of school war
rants issued to the teachers of the
county. This committee met on Fri
day. May goth and went thoroughly
INTO TINS matter. 1t was found that
school warrants had been paid
promptly up to January 1st with few
exceptions. School funds had been oy-
hausted, and there was no available
money with which TO pay the teach
ers from that date. We found that the
school year, which started July 1st.
1920, was started with only Sill
712.O0 on hand and that all but ST.
$4,000 of this amount belonged to
two school districts alone, Nos. is
and 22, These districts had the said
amount on hand by virtue of the sale
OF school bonds, and they had not
spent the money yet.
AS the Dillon schools pay the teach
ers through the summer months and
as heating plant was installed in
the Dillon school building at cost of
100000 the books disclosed the fact
that October Q, 1920. school district
No. had approved claims to the
amount of 12.804.OO and there was
no money in the treasury or available
to pay the said claims. This was :
IC0n6ifIOn Uh ha y
by either the Superintendent of Edu-
cation or the Treasurer of the coun-
ty. Taxes had not begun to come
to amount to anything
We found that Dillon No. stood
OH this date May goth overdrawn to
the amount of s6,723.OO. We found
that school bond money to the
amount of s817.00 had been techni-
}cally misused to help out the schools
OF the Dillon district. On March 21st,
1921, the treasurer permitted an ov-
draft of the school funds. To save
embarrassment to the treasurer it is
only fair TO state that upon a gentle
mans agreement. the Bank of Pages
Mill extended a loan to cover the
amount. 1t was made clear to the in
vestigating committee that the tech
nical violation on the part of the
treasurer and the superintendent of
education was due TO their jealous
ness in helping out the schools The
committee, under the circumstances,
and due to the unusual conditions
felt that their action was not only
justified but commendable.
A full report from the superintend-
dent of education was asked for in
order that it might be published. II
was shown the committee that only
within the last few days, had 1T been
possible to borrow the necessary mon
ey 10 pay the teachers, which it is
understood is now becoming avail
able. At the request of the treasurer
and the commissioners of Dillon
county and The Bank Of Pages Mil
am submitting for publication 9th
er data and communications as per-
| ItaIns to their respective offices and
parties concerned.
Respectfully,
L. Cottingham, Foreman.