The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-09-14
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HANDY ANDY was person OF considera
Bile notoriety, and his name, attached to a
book. both warranted a speedy demand and
rave assurance that it would be read. He
was distinguished, because he blundered in
everything that he undertook to perform.
As you are similarly constituted, we have
hoped that your title, pre6xed to this article,
will obtain for it a general and speedy
perusa,
In another respect however you differ
from Handy. He had an idea that he could
do most anything in his line, and yet after
trial and failure, he was conscious of his
mistakes. In your own estimation, you.
too, have an idea that your ability to plan
and execute the varied functions of your
Office is unbounded, but unfortunately your
repeated and continued failures are consid
cred, ,byyoursciveI, an accurate performance
of your duties. The people, however, be-
gin to entertain different idea, and hoping
to gain their attention, we have again been
induced TO critlcise your conduct ns pnbIic
officers. AS men and citizens, we have
nothing to do with you. Like the witness
on the stand, when we are asked wha, our
opinion may be, we answer-"wc know
nothing to the contrary" But as Commis-
sioners of Fairfield County, the Old Consti'
tuition, thank Heaven, gives us the privilege
of making rigid examination into your
characters, and :he present condition of the
public mind, will warrant us a hearing, be-
fore the great tribunal OF the people.
1t may be news to you, but not 10 the mass
ofthe people, five tell you that this same
public opinion consider you rather sorry ex.
cuses to manage the affairs Of this county.
1t may be painful intelligence, and yet we
! feel it our duty, as your true friend, 10 let
you hear it. The people begin TO think,
whatever may be your own opinions upon
the subject, that there are better men in
e the county, who would make better Com
e missioners than yourselves; and they and
we think, that you had better arrange that
little difficulty among yourselves, as it will
require all three heads, acting in concert,
TO make one good one.
. With this short Introduction, VIC will now
o commence our examination. In regard TO
Il your private affairs we have nothing to say
. but we may have much to say Of the acts and
). doings 0i the County Commissioners.
We have before us the Auditors Report,
Q tor the year ending June lst, lS40, "pnb-
lished by order of the Board of County Com
II missioners." We shall use that as evidence
+ as far as it goes, and then deal upon some
o facts derived from other sources. We hope
u that this review may afford you some relic
!. from your nonolonous and arduous duties
and that it may have this effect we shall en-
deavor to make it az interesting as possible
u The amount of county expenditures, in
&c Guiding the township and school funds, a
1t mounts to the very handsome sum Of $32 ,962
" or this amonnt about $50 600 was applied
'' to county purposes.
Among the items we find one for $500 fol
le printing for the county. This is an enor
in nous sum. We will take from it $500 fol
&c extraordinary expenses, and there will be Q
,s balance Of $500; and we make you the fol-
d lowing propositions; Make out list o.
o items Of the entire amount, AMI we will pub
c lish it gralutously. We then agree to per-
h form the next years usual advertising fol
}. the county for $l00, if we do not prove
by practical printers-One to be selected by
ID ourselves, one by you and the third by th'
of two selected-that the same amount ofpnn
is ting, allowing the most liberal rates, ough
le not 10 have been chargeda at over $6O0-an'
J. that no individual, at all acquainted will
printers prices, would have paid even tha
rum, We think $400 would cover tho whole
n prices. As an offset to our terms, we only
is ask that the Commissioners shall pay u
b. $500 for the like amount ofprnting,
II This matter of printing has been the sub
y ecl of animadversion before, the attention
to ofthe Taxpayers has been called to it, an
ne you have had ant opportunity to learn yourd u
10 ty in the premises; butparty men advise yo
o. o. that you should take the funds of the count
RI to support your press, and you think 1t you
duty. We neither ask you TO give it out
to the lowest bidder, nor expect you to do il
ng but as one Ofthe taxpayers # the county
loi and in behalf of the major part, we dcman
;" Of you that you should seek Information VI
n. on this subject from uninterssted sources
,of then select whatever print you please, an
he pay it fair and honest prices for its labor
neither above nor below the common stanC
nm ard. In this, no man, printer or not, Gu
i. object to our course, and we defy any OIL
>, 10 prove the unIairness of the demand.
nj We find aso in this report, another iteI
10 for Building and repai;s--Bridges," an
or thereby hangs atale, winch needs be toll
.r Your own party are clamorous and have r,
peOtedly asked us to tell the tax-paye
what amount ofthe peoples money has bee
,ht thrown away, in one instance, by the qua
dians of their interest Allow us to gi,
en- you few further instructions, neither hOpiG
nor caring much, whether you heed them
. mt In letting out ConlraCts for buil1 IN