The Placer herald., 1870-06-04
fEnR THE PLACER HERALD.

Ger in which The public business Of this coun
ty has been con Quoted for some time past,
requires notice in the public press. The acts
OF public officrs are the legitimate subject Of
criticism.
10 late is.ue Of Jour paper noticed an
article entitled Poor Placer" 1t was an
appropriate heading. and we'll might you
exclaim, Mr. Editor, Poor Placer ! after the
events that have recently transpired within
her borders. Alas poor Pscer-for poor
indeed would be an individual who was rob
bed by bis servants and plundered by his
friends Poor Placer She has become; the
football OF specus,ors and the prey Of cor
morants, while her interests ars looked after
by feeble Board of Supervisors.
Are the above criticisms correct?
A short glance at the manner in which
the county business Las been conducted will
show whether they are true OF false.
In 1868 the Treasury Of this county was
robbed Of over $1,000 OF this money.
81 900 was repaid by J. w. Dickinson, who
was County Treasurer At the time the money
was lost. Ia the month of January. 1860.
a sui. was commenced against Dickinson
and his bondsmen to recover the baiauce OF
the money. Nothing OF Importance was
done until last February, when a demurrer
to the complaint was sustained, and leave
given to amend. No amendment was ever
filed, and at The last term Of the Court. held
the present month, the sui! having fingered
along for more than year, was dismissed
for want OF prosecution, and judgment was
rendered against the county for costa. The
Supervisors we're in session at the time, bu,
sat by with careless Indifference. Perhaps
they were busy upon their new fec bill. No
steps have ever been taken TO reinsta,e the
case or commence anew, and this is no doubt
the last the county will ever hear of her loaf
money.
suit was commenced almost four years
ago against Kneeland, on his official bond,
and tho county Jared no better. She got
beat and bad to pay the cost.
In 1860 man was indicted for horse
stealing. He was arrested in the State of
Nevada and brought TO Auburn at great ex.
pense. He gave bonds for bis appearance
in the sum of $1,000. lie was no. forth
coming when the ease was called. and his
bond stands forfeited and s now due the
county, but nothing has been done to get
the Loney.
| do not say, Mr.. Elitor, that the Super
vlsors are responsible for taking straw bail,
or for all the misbaps tha. have bsfell the
county in her law suits but the control Of
the prosecution, and defence Of all suits TO
which the county is party, is given TO the
Supervisors.
In view of these results the people may
well legin to think that the giving Of bonds
ia farce; and it will certainly con,nne
iarce until the people cease to elect mon of
lnditteren! qualifications to Gil the public
Offices of this cooutv.
There are many other things to which the
attention Of the people might he called, but
| viii pass them by, as they pale with insig'
n'fcance whsn compared with the great
event OF the season. refer to the Super
v'sors of this county voting themselves 81.
500 apiece for selling the L. r. stock be-
longing to the county. 1t was supposed
that they were entitled to bat six dollars per
diem and mileage for every day spent in
'ransactng county business. Was not this
county business The Supervisors spent
three days in selling the r. r. stock When
they do county business they charge six dol
lars day and mileage. When they do
railroad business the scene changes, they
charge $500 a day, and make the county
pay 1t. The Supervisors had better publish
able Of their fees. There is law to the
effect that every officer whose fees are ascer.
tanned shall publish and set up in bis office
lair tables Of his fees. Perhaps the Super
visors bave no. ascertsned all Of theirs vet:
but as soon as they do. il they will only
publish them, the people will not be so much
taken by surprise as they were on reading
an account Of the fee they charged for the
last business they done for the county. The
way matters stand now, the fees of Super.
vlsors are as uncertain and unknown as the
way OF an eagle in the air. the way OF ser.
pent upon 3 rock, or tho way Of a ship in
the midst Of the sea.
1t WAS not the intent OF this commun
cation to reflect upon any persons private
character, or to attack apy mans reputation
The private reputation Of all our county Off
GERS has always stood deservedly high; but
when they are doiog pablo business, and
wstchng over the interests Of the county.
they sometimes need stirring up with a
sharp stick. PLACER