Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1873-03-20

not been ''dollsr lost" and that the
"Auditor has lied" and all that sort of
thing? Manifestly, these gentlemen
have not yet found these charges false
or they would have made their report
and would not now through the demo-
cratic organ be begging for. time. In
that view of the case we would like to
know what the editor of the Gazette
means, 5y telling his readers week
after week, and month after month,
that the Committee has found every
thing right, and that no fund has suf-
fered through the Incompetence or
rascality of County officials, when in
fact the Committee has found out
nothing of the kind? We now state
that the Committee knows, and has
known Tor weeks, that the statements
as made by us are substantially correct;
that if has known for weeks that the
amount of money credited to the
Treasurer for rede eming bonds and
coupons of the Somerton and Warnock
roads, is about s1l, 200 more than the
amount of bonds and coupons actually
redeemed. We believe that the editor
of the Gazette is advised of this fact
and that the report of the Committee
is held back partly for the purpose CT
helping the Democracy in the spring
elections and partly in the vain hope
that something may turn up to help
it out of the troubles that environ it,
In the meantime the Gazette shouts
itself hoarse trying to induce its read
ers to believe that every dollar paid in
upon these pixies has been paid out
properly, and that there never was
dollar stolen in any way, and to give a
zest to his transparently false articles,
applies to the Auditor who discovered
these frauds and wholesale stealings of
his rarty officers, all the vile names
that the hate and malignity of detect
ed villainy can invent.
This investigation ought to have been
completed in two weeks from the time
it was begun, and all material facts
could have been ascertained in that
time as certainly as they will be when
the Committee ceases its work, if that
should be year hence. Yet, four
months have elapsed and no report is
forthcoming, and none now can be
until the May term of Court. Will it
be made then, or is the Committee
working against time? Is it necessary
to the failing fortunes of the democrat
ic management in this County, that
these gentlemen should labor all sum-
mer, at the expense of the people, to
Keep from making this report; while the
Gazette stands behind them and with
one breath shouts, the Committee has
found that "there has not been a
wrongfully missing dollar" and with
the next, cries, "give the Committee
time" to probe this matter to the bot
tom "if it should take a whole year."
Is this the programme of the Demo-
cratic managers?
1t is bitter enough to the people to
have to pay this 1000 or $4,000 for
which they have received no return
whatever. This is bitter enough, but
to be compelled to pay Committee,
composed of the political friends, back
ers and partners of the men who stole
or through utter incompetence lost the
money, Committee, which, from its
very composition would naturally be
expected to hide the villainy if it could,
and whose every act and movement
shows its willingness to do this very
thing, but finding it impossible, then
slaves off report month after month
for the purpose of saving their party
from the damaging effects which must
follow, is an insult as well as injury to
the people without respect to party
For, be it understood, the people will
have to pay, not only for the work of
this Committee which amounts to but
little, but its delays as well, which will
to great deal. If this Oper-
alton pays in the end, either the party
Or men engaged in it, we are greatly
deceived.