The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-11-28
From the freeman.
The Poor House.
MUNSTER, Nov. IS, 1867.

MUNSTER, Nov IS, 1867.
r. L. JOHNSTON, Eso-Dear Sir: L
propose, with your kind permission,
through the columns of your paper, to say
few words concerning the treatment
which [ have received lately at the hands
! of the Directors of the Poor of Cambria
county. On the Goth of September last
the Board of Directors met at the Poor
House and appointed me Steward of that
| institution Stree the House has been
opened the appointment of officers was
always made at the September meeting.
Well, on Monday, Oct. 18th, the Board
met at the Poor House, aud after reading
the minutes of the previous meeting, Mr..
Byrne said: ~ move to set these appoint
ments aside" Mr.. Thomas 81 second the
notion" Now these men had legal
right to do this, and have the samo right
to deal with them with just as little eere-
mony. shall do SO dd seridt,n,.
Mr. Byrue, who proposed this outrage,
is tie same person who was elected TO his
Office in reward tor his services in Canada
during the late war. This may be ex-
cused, being the effect Of constitutional
defect for which a man is not strictly ac-
| couOtable. But there is a moral coward
ice which neither the laws of God or man
will excuse, which deters men from ner-
forming their sworn duties when there is
danger of giving offence to some one TO
whom they owe some little political favor,
which strikes down the integrity of men
when opportunity offers to profit by dis
honest gain.
A great deal has been lately said by
Mr.. Byrne's friends In Ebensburg about
his honesty. Is he an honest man, or is
he the moral coward above described
Let us see. He was elected ostensibly to
put things right about the Poor House.
Very we'll. He was scarcely warm in his
place of honor until, at his instance, a
visit was made by the entire Board to
Johnstown. On :his occasion all expen-
ses were paid by the county. The party
went upon a regular spree. They did,
| believe, hire a Doctor-nothing more.
Mr.. Byrne came nexs day to the Poor
House and coolly issued an order In his
own favor for the sum of ten doUarS-a
small sum, but the principle is tho thing.
An arrangement was made 70 meet again
during the next week, at least Byrne said
SO. One evening during the ensuing week
he arrived at the Poor House and ordered
/ out the team to SO to the Station to meet
some friends, as he said. The friends ar
rived, and after spending the night, one of
them presented bill to the Board for
something over forty dollars. An officer
, of the House took Mr.. Byrne out of the
office, and told him he did not believe
[ the bill was just, and warned him not TO
, pay it. "Oh 2" says Mr.. Byrne, "don't be
uneasy, l will never sign it." Mr.. Byrne
and the person who presented the bill
, then started together to town. What
, passed on the way is known only to them
selves, but before manv days Mr.. Byrne
: returned to the Poor House and signed an
| order for the bill, without inquiry. His
moral cowardice was further displayed by
his absenting himself from the regular
meetings of the Board, in August and
September, thus neglecting duties which
he had sworn 20 perform.
His attendance, l am informed, has
since been ample. AT whose command he
thus eVdded his sworn duties, you, sir,
we'll know. In the face of these charges,
which l dare Mr.. Byrne to deny Of he
denies them access to the books of the Poor
House, 1refuSed sciU be enforced,) will he
continue to occupy the Office which he has
thus disgraced If he does, he exhibits
a degree of moral turpitude OF which
political depraVity exhibits few parallels
Had one such charge been made agains:
me, and substantiated, as the above can be,
L would have quietly wilted under the
lndignity which has been peTpetrated upon
me, and would have been perpetually ST.
lent. On the contrary, no pretext what
ever was offered Tor this high-handed act.
Twas not even alleged that my family
was large, expensive and idle; neither
was it asserted that | was a gambler, in
temperate or lazy. But when it was sug-
sested that this proceeding might be the
subject of political scandal, being as it
was family arrangement, MIR. Thomas
answered " We're q goin' to do IT," It might
have been urged that was not a resident
{ of EbeBsburgh, nor the incumbent of a
good county office, nor the willing tool
OF set OF politicians. But these statesmen
appear to have overlooked all these things
In their vigorous pursuit OF a favorite family
object. 'Tis accomplished. For the
present have done with Mr. Byrue. Let
him answer if he dare Mr. Thomas may
: FOR the present, rest upon his laurels. But
the entire Board, high and mighty as they
are, will find that before the bar of public
opinion they shall come and answer toI
their official doings. A. ID. CRIsTE.
| THos. K. BEEcnER, the eccentric cler