Newspaper Page Text
GRAND JURY ASKS
ABOLISHMENT OF THE
' CHAINGANG SYSTEM
■ (Continued from Page One.)
Expenditures
Public highways and bridge 5.5263,050.52
Public safety 14,694.36
Superior and city courts ... 13,254.05
Support for the poor 24,775.78
General county expenses ... 21,709.54
Bonded indebtedness and in-
terest on same 4,306.00
Total expenditures $341,790.25
Excess of expenditures over
revenues $114,984.11
The result of above is an excess of ex
penditures over revenues for the period
of twenty months of $114,984.11.
As additional information, we continue
quoting from the above audit, “For
twenty-four months ended June 30. 1937,
the expenditures, exclusive of interest
paid on the outstanding warrants amount
ed to $250,819.61. For the twenty
months ended Feb. 28, 1939, they
amounted to $341,790.25, an increase of
$90,970.64. On the other hand, cash re
ceipts for the same period in 1937 were
$186,073.38 and for the period in 1939
amounted to $209,827.01. This over-ex
penditure of cash receipts from which
to pay warrants, created a debt of $196,-
709.47 in unpaid warrants in the forty
four months from July 1, 1935, to Feb.
28. 1939.”
The county warrants drawn on the
county depository which were outstand
ing and unpaid on Feb. 28, 1939, were
as follows:
General fund $ 18.184.45
Bridge fund 27,317.28
Chaingang fund 194.495.98
Pauper fund 14,231.13
Special road fund 963.43
Superior court 1,442.50
Ordinary’s scrip 650.50
Total Warrants Outstanding.s2s7,2Bs.27
The heavy road equipment purchased
for the twenty months from July 1. 1937.
to Feb. 28, 1939, totaled $50,411.77, as
per items and figures listed below:
5 Ford trucks $ 5.299.52
7 Chevrolet trucks 9,175.00
5 Tractors and graders 12,640.00
1 Lorain shovel 9,985.00
1 Stone plant (crusher) .... 7.785.00,
1 Air compressor and hose .. 2,437.25 |
1 Rex mixer 1,390.00
1 Hydraulic press, pump and
jack 150.00
2 Dumps 900.00
Payments on pick-up 550.00
Payment on Pontiac coupe. 100.00
Total equipment purchased ..$50,411.77
We regret the excessively high tax
rate which it was necessary for the of
ficials of our county to fix, as our coun
ty is receiving unfavorable publicity in
this rate being published in the daily
press. The Atlanta Constiution of Sun
day, Sept. 10, 1939, published on the
front page that the tax rate per SI,OOO
in Fulton county for the year 1939 was
$13.50. In the Atlanta Journal of Sent.
17, 1939. the tax rate of our sister coun
ty of Polk was published as being $13.00
per SI,OOO. The Atlanta Constitution of
Sept. 16, 1939. on the fifth page, column
two, carried the unfavorable news item
that the tax rate of our own county of
Chattooga is $32.00. These comparisons
as carried in the daily press are harmful
and injurious to our own county, as it
plainly shows that the tax rate of Chat
tooga county is more than twice as high
as some of our neighboring counties.
We are eager and anxious to invite tc
our county new industries, which in turn
means added payrolls, better churches,
better schools, better homes, and better
roads; however, we are longing for the
day when the taxes of our county and of
our towns can be materially reduced in
order that we may offer inducements to
parties seeking investments. However, we
have not lost sight of an opinion once
rendered by a chief justice of the United
States supreme court when he stated,
“The power to tax carries with it the
power to destroy.”
It is with a tinge of regret that we list
-below the different taxes paid by the
citizens of Summerville, Ga., and in so
doing we have reference to those living
within the corporate limits of Summer
ville :
County tax $32.00
State tax 5.00
School tax 12.00
City taxes 17.50
TOTAL $66.50
The above tax rate is the amount paid
on each SI,OOO worth of property return-
ed for taxation.
We are proud of our «road system in.
Chattooga county. There are very few
of our citziens, if any, that do not have
a good road built to their doors. We feel
that in part this is due to the interest
of each member of the Board of Roads
end Revenue heartily co-operating with
the WPA in constructing settlement
roads. We find that within the period
of the recent audit, from July 1, 1937.
through Feb. 28, 1939, the Board of
Roads and Revenue co-operated with the
WPA to the extent that our county con
tributed $6,614.40 towards the bunding
and maintenance of these roads.
As the recent audit of our county for
the twenty months from July 1, 1937,
through Feb. 28, 1939, shows that the
total amount of county warrants was
$251,285.27 and that of tKjs amount
$194,495.98 was charged to “Chaingang
Fund,” a simple mathematical reveals
that of the deficit incurred, 75% cents
out of every dollar was incurred by the
operation of the chaingang, or convict
camp, it is easily discernable that the
chaingang is being operated at a huge
loss. We commend the Board of Roads
and Revenue of our county in turning
back to the state practically all of the
felony convicts; however, in the interest
of economy, we recommend the total
abolishing of our chaingang or convict
camp. We believe that if this course is
pursued, within a few years our county
warrants will be paid upon presentation
to our county depository and that our
county will again be placed in the front
line with other counties of our state
whose contracts are worth 100 cents on
the dollar.
Our county, together with the 3,071
other counties of the United States are
beneficiaries of the generosity of our
United States governmenet. In accepting
these benefits, it was necessary for our
own county to reciprocate to the best of
our ability. We are now enjoying these
benefits in better roads, better school
houses and better public buildings, toge
ther with many other improvements. We
believe that the crisis has been passed in
the financial affairs of our county. We
believe that with the whole-hearted co
operation of the citizens of our county,
and that by practicing rigid economy in
every banch of our county government,
that the indebtedness of our county can
be liquidated. In borrowing the words
of the immortal Henry Grady, we be
lieve “That the light of a grander day is
dawning fair.”
We believe that the best interests of
our county can be served by the sale of
our one-time PAUPER FARM. When
sufficient funds are available, we hope
that a creditable building for the care of
the unfortunate will be erected on the
land now' owned by our county in con
nection with our chaingang.
We fix the per diem for jurors and
bailiffs for the next year at the present
figure, which, we understand, is $3 per
day.
We are profoundly grateful to Your
Honor for the instructive and inspiring
charge delivered to us on the convening
of our court.
We highly appreciate the attentive ser
vices and instructions given us by our
solicitor-general, Hon. J. R. Rosser.
Our bailiff. G. W. Woods, has render
ed to us every service commensurate with
his duties.
We recommend that grand jurors, T.
H. Pennington, Harris L. Edward's and
Carl Williams be paid for one additional
day's services due to services rendered on
committee authorized by grand jury.
We recommend that our clerk. Mr. L.
C. Turner, be paid for three days’ serv
ices for extra work done in connection
with work requested by grand jury.
We recommend that these presentments
be published in The Summerville News
and jail of this county, hereby report that
Respectfully submitted.
C. L. HALE, Foreman,
L. C. TURNER, Clerk.
EXHIBIT “A”
We. the committee appointed to ex
amine the books and records of the tax
collector, ordinary, sheriff, clerk of
court and the clerk of the board of roads
and revenue, hereby report that to the
best of our knowledge, their books and
records are kept up to date and are in
good shape and are very neatly kept.
X T. H. PENNINGTON,
HARRIS L. EDWARDS,
E. J. HEMPHILL,
Committee.e
EXHIBIT “B"
We, the committee appointed to inves
tigate the condition of the court house
and jail of this county, hereby eport that
the jail is in satisfactory condition, but
that the fence around the jail yard should
be repaired.
We recommend that the northwest cor
ner of the court house be repaired. We
recommend that the leaks in the roof of
the court house be stopped, and, that
downspouts be put up to take care of wa-
REPORT OF SPECIAL TAX COLLECTED FOR 1939:
E. R, Buskin, professional tax $ 15.00
Texaco Service Station, 3 gas tanks 9.00
T. & C. Case, restaurant 10.(X)
J. R. Jackson & Son, soda fountain 5.00
J. R. Jackson & Son, playing cards 5.00
J. R. Jackson & Son, scales 1.00
Frank Waters, radio 5.00
Star Beauty Shop, two barber chairs 5.00
E. W. Majors, gas tank 3.00
E. W. Majors, lunch counter 5.00
Hair Motor Company, auto dealer 25.00
Hair Motor Company, auto accessories 10.00
Hair Motor Company, auto garage 5.00
Berryton Store, auto accessories 10.00
Berryton Store, radio 5.00
M. C. Millican, two gas tanks 6.00
M. E. Brinson, professional 15.00
Baker Oil Company, two gas tanks 6.00
Trimble Service Station, three gas tanks ; 9.00
Dr. R. E. Talley, professional 15.00
Miss Mary McCloud, professional 15.00
J. G. Allen, cartridges 5.00
W. B. Morgan, shells 1.00
W. B. Morgan, two gas tanks 6.00
C. D. Rivers, professional 15.00
W. T. Dooly, two gas tanks 6.00
W. T. Dooly, auto accessories 10.00
T. J. Espy, professional 15.00
D. H. Copeman. garage - 5.00
Summerville Studio, photographer 10.00
P. A. Morgan, one gas tank , . 3.00
M . J. White, one gas tank 3 00
Western Auto Associate Store, auto accessories .... 10.00
Western Auto Associate Store, radio 5.00
Georgia Power Company, electric«refrigerators 5.00
E. B. Self, gas tank 300
Mavis & Self, gas tank 3.00
Myrtle’s Beauty Shoppe, beauty shop 10.00
Paul Cook, gas tank 300
Standard Oil Company, gas truck 20.00
W. B. Burk, two gas tanks 6.00
B. E. Neal, professional 15.00
McGinnis Drug Company, playing cards 5.00
McGinnis Drug Company, soda fountain 5.00
McGinnis Drug Company, scales 1.00
A. A. Frazier, barber shop 10.00
Echols Dry Cleaning Co., pressing club 10.00
Charles E. Maynor, professional 15.00
Chattooga Case, lunch counter 5.00
Tripp Bros., gas tank 3 00
M. C. Chambers, barber shop 10.00
C. A. Wyatt, garage 5.00
C. A. Wyatt, auto accessories 10.00
C. A. Wyatt, three gas tanks 9 00
Menlo Cash Store, shells 1.00
Martin Pharmacy, soda fountain 5.00
Wyatt Hardwware Company, shells 1.00
J. H. Thomas, barber shop 2.50
S. B. Platt, professional 15.00
Cleckler Cash Store, shells 1.00
H. E. Wyatt, shells 1.00
J. W. Hicks, gas tank 3.00
E. S. Taylor, professional 15.00
THE SUMMERVILLE NEWS: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1939
ter coming off of roof. We find that the
floor of the porch on the west side of the
courthouse is sadly in need of repair, and
we recommend that it be repaired or re
built as early as possible.
Besides these recommendations, we find
the court house in fairly good condition.
J. G. ESPY,
W. L. GAYLER,
W. A. SCOGGINS,
Committee.
EXHIBIT “C”
We, the committee appointed to inspect
the chaingang camp and the pauper farm,
find each of these institutions to be in sat
isfactory condition. We find that at the
puaper farm there are 11 inmates, and for
their comfort and convenience, we find the
following equipment:
Eleven beds, complete with other bed
material; two mules; twenty to twenty
five acres in corn ; 400 to 500 bundles of
fodder.
We have records submitted to us tsy~Mr.
R. M. Crawford, clerk of the Board of
Roads and Revenue, which show that the
county is paying to Mr. J. D. Pledger the
sum of S2O per month for each inmate
for the board and clothing of said In
mates.
On our visit to the Chaingang. we
found 20 prisoners which consists of 15
negroes and 5 whites. We find them to be
comfortably quartered, humanely treated
and wholesome and nutritious food fur
nished them.
At the convict camp, we find the fol
lowing foods and equipment:
Six hundred fifty gallons kraut, half
barrel vineghr, two bags pinto beans, two
cases Octagon soap, one case pork and
beans, half case potted meat, fifty lbs
coffee, 25 packages soda, nineteen 48-lb
sacks of flour, six 100-lb sacks of meal,
four sides of meat, forty Tbs fallback,
2.000 cans canned goods, 260 gallons
syrup, ten bushels Irisdi potatoes, two
dozen suits of clothes, six pains shoes,
22 steel beds, width 3; 1 steel bed. width
2; six 3-4 beds, one cook stove, one set
cooking utensils, one G. E. Frigidaire.
one office quarters, five tons hay, two
mules together with wagon and harness;
fifty hogs, 285 gallons gasoline, 300 gal
lons oil, 100 pounds grease. 33 gallons
kerosene. 75 gallons grease. 275 gallons
tractor fuel. 29 gallons disinfectant, ten
cans powder (blasting), half case dyna
mite, one bag cement, 71 cords wood, I
3 dozen picks, 3 dozen shovels. 1 set
farming tools, 1 set shop tools, 12 wheel
barrows, I roek crusher, 1 air compres
sor with storage tank. 1 R. D. 7 Diesel
tractor, Caterpillar; 3 R. D. 6 Diesel
tractors, Caterpillar; one 66 grader; 3
44 graders; 1 water pump; 1 concrete
mixer; 2 auto patrol tractors; 2 Loraine
powe shovels No. 40; 1 No. 15 gasoline
tractor; 1 road ripper; 1 Baker-Mann
wheeler scrape; 5 Chevrolet trucks (now
in use by WPA) ; 2 Ford trucks (now in
use by WPA) ; 3 Ford trurks, 1%-ton
capacity; 4 Chevrolet trucks. 1%-ton ca
pacity; 1 Ford pick-up truck; 1 Chevro
let pick-up trucn.
J. A. AGNEW,
W. J. WHITE. JR.
CARL WILLIAMS.
EXHIBIT “D”
Report From County Depository
Please be advised that we have oh de
posit the following moneys for the credit
of Chattooga County, Georgia:
Board County Commissioners:
Special cash fund account ..$12,622.58
Board County Commissioners:
County depository accounts .. 4,726.24
TOTAL $17,348.82
Yours very truly,
Farmers & Merchants Bank.
GEORGIA, Chattooga County:
THE TRION COMPANY GIN
WANTS YOUR COTTON
We have eight Gin stands, four of which are reserved for gin
ning nothing but D. P. L. Cotton. Our facilities are of the best and
we are in a position to give you the best of service.
The Following Prices Will Prevail For
This Season:
SI.OO per bale for cotton ginned and sold to the Trion Co.
$1.25 per bale fr cotton ginned and not sold to the Trion Co.
All of our customers that have had cotton ginned this season
will be given the benefit of this reduction in price and refunds
will be made in proportion to the number of bales ginned.
The Trion Company Gin
SEPTEMBER 26, 1939 TRION, GEORGIA
The grand jury, empanelled and sworn
for the September, 1939, term of Chat
tooga Superior court, having returned
into court their general and special pre
sentments it is ordered by the court:
That said presentments be spread upon
the minutes of this court and that same
be published one time in The Summer
ville News and %hat the usual fee be
paid therefor.
That the per diem pay for jurors be
continued at the same figure of $3 per
day.
Dr. B. F. Shamblin, professional 15.00
W. D. Youngblood, two gas tanks 6.00
C. D. Harris, two gas tanks 6.00
A. N. W'hite, barber shop 2.50
W. H. Smith, radio 5.00
T. S. Weems, three gas tanks .% 9.00
T. S. Weems, auto accessories 10.00
Weems & Williams, garage 5.00
The Trion Company, playing cards 5.00
The Trion Company, pressing club 10.00
The Trion Company, five gas tanks 15.00
The Trion Company, laundry 50.00
Thee Trion Company, bicycles 5.00
The Trion Company, musical instruments 10.00
The Trion Company, soda fountain 5.00
The Trion Company, lunch counter 5.00
The Trion Company, restaurant 10.00
The Trion Company, undertaker 10.00
The Trion Company, beauty shop 10.00
The Trion Company, pistols and cartridges 15.00
The Trion Company, pool 10.00
The Trion Company, two professional embalmers ... 30.00
The Trion Company, lunch counter 5.00
The Trion Company, hotel 5.00
The Trion Company, restaurant 10.00
The Trion Company, wood 10.00
J. W, Rose, lunch counter 5.00
Crawford Hardware Company, gas tank 3.00
Crawford Hardware Company, cartridges 5.00
R. L. Williams, lunch counter 5.00
R. W. Bagley, gas tank 3.00
Gulf Service Station, .gas tanks 9.00
Gulf Service Station, auto accessories 10.00
Selman Mule Co., live stock dealer 10.00
Tutton’s 5 and 10-cent Store, auto accessories 10.00
McWhorter-Selman, auto dealer 25.00
McWhorter-Selman, auto accessories 10.00
McWhorter-Selman, garage 5.00
McWhorterJSelman, gas tank 3.00
Standard Service Station, gas tanks 6.00
Hix Bros., gas tanks 9.00
Hix Bros., auto accessories 7 10.00
P. E. O’Neal, auto accessories 3.00
Gordon Comer, gas tank 399
J. H. Blalock, garage 3.00
Star Barber Shop, beauty parlor 10.00
J. H. Clark, gas tank _ 3,(19
T. D. Ballenger, two gas tanks 6.00
Service Dry Cleaners, pressing club 10.00
Paul ’Weems, professional 15.00
Weems Funeral Home, undertaker 10.00
Dr. H. D. Brown, professional 15.00
FX F. W. Hall, professional 15.00
Roy Alexander, restaurant 10.00
Dr. W. B. Hair, professional ; 15.00
Dr. R. N. Little, professional 15.00
Curtis Dean, lunch counter 5.00
Service Barber Shop, barber shop 5.00
W. E. Turner, barber shop 2.50
Mrs. W. E. Turner, beauty shop 10.00
Frank Pless, lunch counter 5.00
Harlow Service Station, three gas tanks 9.00
Western Auto Associate Store, bicycles 10.00
George Sitton, garage 5.99
That the general and special present
ments made by the grand jury in said
presentments be carried out, as far as
possible, by the proper county authori
ties.
In open court, this Sept. 19, 1939.
C. H. PORTER, J.SjC.,R.C
I Just about the time we get the world’s
championship issue settled along comes
the pigskin warriors to tie us into knots
R. D. Davison, auto dealer 25.00
W. S. Sitton, gas tanks 0,00
R. D. Davison, auto accessories 10.00
R. D. Davison, garage 5-00
R. D. Davison, gas tanks • • 0.00
Louis Tate, restaurant 10.00
J. H. Ratliff, gas tank 3.00
Dr. H. C. Hardin, pofessional 15.00
Dr. N. A. Funderburk, professional 15.00
Dr. L. H. Battle, professional 15.00
Dr. W. N. Hayden, professional 15.00
Sister Harris, gas. tanks •
H. G, Ramey, auto accessories 10.00
H. G. Ramey, three gas tanks SIX)
H. G. Ramey, garage 5.00
R. D. Chamblee, auto accessories 10.00
R. D. Chamblee, three gas tanks 0-00
R. D. Chamblee, lunch counter 5.00
Holland Bros., gas tank 3.00
Katherine White, beauty shop 10.00
W. B. High, gas tank 3.00
F. G. Harlow, photographeer 10.00
Photo Shop, photographer 10.00
Paul Cook, cartridges 5.00
Brittain Bros. Co., gas tank 3-00
Summervilel Skating Rink, skating rink 25.00
E. M. Stephenson &W. L. Reece, peauty shop .... 5.00
The Berryton Store, gas tanks 0-00
Ray Marbett. auto for hire 2.50
Industrial Credit Co., sole purchaser 125.00
Heffner-Vinson Shows, show 5.00
Harper Demoniaf auto for hire 2.50
Paul Murray, garage 2.50
Grady Eleam, radio 2.50
M. t. Millican, beauty shop 5.00
Ben Hix, gas tank 4.50
Ben Hix, auto accessories 5.00
Summerville Coal Co., trucks 12.50
Todd Auction Company, auctioneer 20.00
Total collected $1,524.50
Less 10 per cent, commission 152.45
Amount due state .’. .$1,372.05
J. A. SCOGGINS. Tax Collector.
Special Tax Paid by Corporations tn Chattooga County:
My Com.
The Trion Co., corporation .$ 750.00 $30.00
Henry-Crawford 1000 .50
Summerville Mills, Inc 75.00 3.75
Berryton Store 30.00 1.50
Abbott Cotton Co 30.00 1.50
Summerville Mfg. Co 10.00 .50
Berryton Mills 250 00 12.50
McWhorter-Selman 30.00 1.50
Summerville-Trion Hospital 30.00 1.50
Taylor Mercantile Co 75.00 JJ7S
Montgomery Knitting Mill 75.00 3.’?5
Hair Motor Co 10.00 .50
$1,375.00 $61.25
Amount due state $1,375.00
Less my commission 61.25
Net amount due state $1,313.75
J. A. SCOGGINS, Tax Collector.
IT. J. ESPY, JR. ;;
Attorney-at-Law ; j
Summerville, Georgia. ;l
J Office over McGinnis Drug Co. !|
Remember that Summerville is your
town. Back it to the limit with your
whole-hearted support.