Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-11-17
from the Cincinnvli Gazette }
The Court House Ring.

So far as Judge Hoeffer is concerned, and the
rest Of those ut the Court House who are resist
ing the Fee bill, II makes no difference whether
that bill is constitutional or not. They are es-
topped from urging any objections to Il on that
or any other ground. They took tie nomina-
tions for their respective offices not only und ,r
the distinct understanding, but the solemn pledge,
that they wodd accept as their maximum sal
ries the sums that had been named in meeting
held at Arbeiter Hall two or thee weeks before
their nomination. Those sums were as follows;
County Treasurer. ..........,.......s 81, 900
County Auditor. ...... ........ 6 900
County Sheriff.. ...,...,.......... 1000
County Clerk Of the Court ........, 5000
County Probate Judge...s .s'..s..s's 's.'s'. 1000
County Recorder er........ ............. 5000
To the acceptance Of these and no larger sala-
ries the convention bound each one Of these
Court House officers by a resolution unan-
mously adopted. Judge lIocfer was especially
d earnest in giving his adhesion to this reform
movement. lie Iledged himself by letter by
by public speech, and in conversation to carry
out the wishes Of the convention. Whether the
Legislature passed, or failed to pass, law re-
ducing the fees, he promised IN take as his sal
ary So 600, and no more. On this undertaking
he was nominated, On this understanding he
was elected. lie went into the Probate Court
bound by every consideration of honor TO relieve
the tax payers from n burden that had been rest
ing on them With great severity, aud for long
time. so did every man Un that Reform ticket
enter his Office under solem obligations to rs-
ceive such salary as had baeu decided upon In
the convention that nominated him and not ons
cent more. II was not the Legislature, il was
their own promises that held them 10 these sal
aries. IL the Legislature had failed to pass the
bill, they would have been not n whit less held
Having passed it, the we ght Of the law was ad-
ded To the moral force Of voluntary promises.
But what dues the county sec tn dny2 HOei.
fer Judge OF Probate, Heart Sheriff, aud Leining
er Recorder, not only have failed to observe
their pledges, but are wilfully violating thu m
More han this The bill which the Legisatur,
passed in conformity with the request Of th'
people Of the whole county, and cf the couven
tion which nominated these Court House sa,raps
reducing the fees Of Hamilton County oflicials
theyl openly decline to conform to- They &c
farther than this. They have org nized an Up
position 10 that bill, and have taken means l.
test its cunsttulionaiity. With money whicl
they are taking from the County Treasury con
trary 10 law, Pnd contrary 10 all their pledges 4
the people, they are preparing to demnusirat
their power to take more. The men vino ar
perpeiratng the TammaUy frauds in New Yor
do not plunder M IRE unblushingly than doe!
this ring ihat is enthroned at the Court House
Both agree in thinking and acting as if the pub
lie purse was fair plundcr. And the man wh
is the leader in this shamsiul work Of illrgdlit
and faithessness is the man who is dischargin
the responsible duties Of Judge Of the Probat
Court. The judicial ermin has never been $
| s0ied in Hamilton county. No Judge ha
dared to thus break faith with those who CAV
him his place.
The public sentiment that exists with refer
ence to his course, he should be made / o under
( stand. The people have rights that even Judge
can be made to respect.