Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1922-07-18
EDITORIAL
THE COUNTY BOARD SUIT,

THE COUNTY BOARD SUIT.
WE believe we voice the sentI-
w ment, not only of a majority
OF the people of Sumter county, but
an overwhelming majority, when
we declare that the filing of the in
junction and restitution action
against the members of the county
board by small group Of citizens
was unfortunate to say the least. 1t
is distinct disappointment to have
such evidence that Sumter county
has within its borders any men of
so little faith in these five public of
fcials, of so little appreciation of
the time and attention they are Civ
ing to the county's affairs as good
citizens with little compensation for
their troubles and worries in behalf
Of the public other than a conscien-
ness OF duty well done.
The Sumter county board as at
present constituted is composed OF
five of the best citizens of Sumter
county. Every one of them is sue
cessful in the management of his
own affairs. Every one of them
bears the respect and esteem of the
people of the community. Every
citizen who knows them personally
knows they are honest men, men
who can be trusted, men who have
made this their home all or most
all of their lives and who expect to
remain here the balance of their
days and can have nothing but the
best interests Of the county at heart
How absurd, then, that any group
of men, regardless of differences Of
opinion, should 80 into court to
compel these officials-any one of
whom is amply able from his own
private resources without difficulty
and without feeling it, to pay back
the paltry $500 into the county
treasury-to restore this amount of
money voted by Them as they con-
scientiously believed and as many
other believed, vastly to the inter
ests of Sumter county. These men
have handled the affairs of the
county spelndidly. They have not
allowed it get into debt under their
management of its affairs, other
than the highway bond issue, which
the people themselves authorized
overwhelmingly and which money
the board has carefully handled.
The affairs of the county, as shown
by the recent audit, are in good con-
dition-as good as they have ever
been, with no deficit and with re-
spectacle balance of cash on hand.
The board has squandered not a
cent, but has given the people full
value fo1 their money. And when
the opportunity presented itself to
help along a movement that bore a
chance of returning to the county
treasury $4,000 or more of the
road money already spent by Sum
ter county-an actual pickup for the
county-these men took a shot
by subscribing $4,000 to a fund to
promote the program. It was en-
tirely in the interests of the cOun'
ty-6nancially and otherwise. They
knew they had no legal right to &c
it, but assumed the obligation
which incurred no debt, in what
they believed to be the unquestionec
advantage of the county, relying
upon the approval and support OF
the people in whom they had faith
to raise no objection.
But Sumter, apparently is like
most other counties. These who
would be progressive here, as else
where in Georgia, must pull heavy
load. And it would cause US little
surprise if thise worthy officers
were net sorely tempted to resign
their places and give their critics
a chance.
There IS little doubt about the
outcome Of the legal action, if the
parties who brought, it care to pur-
sue it. There is no contention as TO
facts. Five hundred dollars of the
subscribed $4,000 has been paid out
illegally, il the terms is insisted up
on. No money has been stolen, none
embezzled, none spent except for the