The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-06-03
The District Court Again.

The petu.ant and il-tempSred reply of
the Johnstown Tribune to our remarks in
reference to the renting Of Union Hall, for
the use of the District Court, requires brief
notice. In the first place, it is not true that
we are animated by "bitter hatred of
JchnstoWn," nor is it true that we have
sought to bring the District Court into ncon-
tempt" or to load it with "ridicule." We
have never spoken or written one word
against the establishment Of that tribunal.
but on the contrary have regarded it with
favor. If any unfriendly feeling towards
JohnStown has been eDSendered 10 this COM
munlty. 1t had its origin in the false and
fraudulent petition which was prepared,
signed and sent to Harrisburg, asking the
Legislature, not to establish tne District
court, but to remove the county seat. That
dlsTeputable document was we'll calculated
to produce lively feeling of sensitireness,
but not of hatred.
Tho statement contained in one of the doc
uments published in the Tribune, that there
are thirty thousand people within the juris
dlcton OF the Court, is very Munchausen-
like. Ii that is true. then the balauce Of the
population of tho county, say Seren thousand,
must be scattered around very loosely, over
the remaining Sir boroughs and fourteen
townships. We admit that Johnstowu is a
6tg place, but we deny that it embraces nine
tenths of the whole county.
To the allegation of the Tribune, that the
annual cost for several years, "of heating,
cleaning, lighting and otherwise taking care
OF the Court House at Ebensburg," has
amounted to thousand dollars per } ear, we
reply, that the charge for these specific pur-
poses does not amount to more than one
fourth Of the SUM named. Best des this, it
has nothing at all to do with the question in
controversy.
The whole difficulty is contained In a nut
shell, and to crafty the editor of the Tribune,
we will admit that Fronheiser's Hall is ga
low, dingy, uncommodious, III contriysd,
out-of-the-way and dear-at-sny- price second
story hail." and then ask him. In all can
dor, whether all these things prove that t,co
hundred dollars a sceek ought to be paid for
the use Of Union Hall 1t is not question
Of empty pocket books" but simply one
Of fimmoderate rent. The editor Of the Tri.
6uEe is aware, that for lecture or amusement
purposes, Union Hall would not be usod
during the day perhaps ten times in the en-
tire year. That alone Is q conclusive an
swer to anything that may bo urged in de-
fence Of the stipulated rent.
Entertaining, therefore, no feeling Of "hit
ter hatred Of Johnstown," but on the contra
ry the utmost kindness, and actuated by no
desire to cast contempt" and ''ridicule" on
the District Court, but hoping for it COM
Plete success, We still adhere to the opinion
that, in view Of all the facts, the amount of
rent agreed to bs paid for Union Hall is ex-
traVagant and cannot lie justified. And we
say further. that if the entertaining and ex-
pressing Of that opinion should bring upon
Us so great an "evil'' as an "empty pocket
book" We shall be none the less convinced
Of the truth and justice of what the Tribune
Is pleased to term our "iussne policy In re-
gard to the question at issue.