The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-04-11

/ anu WlulbT lcIlub VI SVuApl NhO OoNA
room is large consumer; and we under
stand some eight burners are going every
night in the belfry, that the face of the
clock may be visible. The poor quality
of the glass makes strong light neces
sary. OF course there are great many
places in Court House and jail where gal
is burned and many different personI
controlling, and no one can be held re
sponsible, certainly not the County Com
mssioners. 1t is a pity the committee
did not examine the gas bills, and have
the meters inspected
The remarks of the committee, on"sta
tionery" used in the offices, and thai
more care be exercised, are quite proper
The intimation that the stationery, being
"public property, belongs 10 The yfrSt taker,
we imagine ia unCalled for. So far as we
know, we should pronounce the suspic'
ion groundless.
As to the Auditor furnishing bottle
of ink, with pens, pencils and paper, in
addition to blanks, to township and ward
assessors, we claim is strictly legal, and
such has always been the practice in
Stark county; and no doubt is, all over
the State. 1t is small matter, and
ought not to be abandoned. We are as
tonished at the committee recommend
ing against it.
Under the head of printing" the
committee mean advertising, and they
correctly say the price is regulated by
law. The committee err in saying "print-
ers differ as TO the construction of the
law" The law is very plain and spe-
cifc, fixing the square at so many ems,
and printers can no more differ, than
carpenters in measuring lumber.
The value of an advertising medium
depends on the number of persons it
reaches. The paper of no character, in
huence, nor circulation, is worth little for
advertising; and certainly should not re.
ceive the same rates as newspaper of
worth, with large and general circula-
ton in the county. The inequality in
these respects among public journals is
not always known to County Commits
sioners; and they are apt to be imposed
upon, and allow the paper of little or no
consideration, the same price for an ad-
vertisement as a journal with twice or
five times the circulation. Proper dis
elimination in this respect would save
money to the county. Advertising
houses in our large cities, that make it a
business, are not imposed on in this way.
They argue the laborer is worthy of his
hire, and worth no more than he earns.
A county newspaper with 5000 Of cir.
culation is more valuable to them than
weak thing with thousand or so, or
weaker thing, with FIVE hundred or less.
The Report gives out some good ad-
vice, as to the printing Of blanks for the
various Offices. "Bills for such work
should be closely scanned by the Com
missioners." The scanning" is done, or
should be, by the official ordering the
blank; and after the officers endorse.
ment, the Commissioners pass upon the
bill. Printers are entitled to fair remu.
nerative prices and no more. The estab-
lishment that will charge for assessors
blanks, for example, $500 and two years
after do the same job for "about $780,"
had better be watched and scanned"
In the latter case, fear of competition
was the motive, and hence they were
willing to lose money.
AS to Attorneys fees" we regret our
friends of the committee, learned attor.
neys as they are, did not speak more
freely. The allowances were made in
part by the Court and in part by the
Commissioners, and "seem large in the
but, say they, "aOe haze not
he means Of determining aohether or not the
mounts paid haze been srceSSiue." The
gross amount paid to attorneys during
,he year from the County Treasury was
b25l2 35, for assisting the Prosecutor,
defending INDECENT prisoners, and con.
lucting civil cases against Commission.
,rs, Treasurer, &c. The committee con.
,lude this Attorney Fees" paragraph, |
however, very happily, thus:
"We would suggest, however, that in
view of the present deficiency in the
county funds, and the general depreCia-
'tion Of prices, allowances of attorneys
fees, as 'UeH as all other allowances, be |
made prudently, and with all proper de-
liberation"
We hope those reputable taxpayers of
he county" who petitioned the Commits
ioners, will be perfectly satisfied. They
Isked attention to the "gas, stationery,
blanks, attorneys fees, (for gas
nostly), bridges, Culverts and fills, COM
fees, livery hire, boarding,
clothing and washing for prisoners, post.
.ge, Auditors extra compensation and
jhildren's Home" There is no recon.
Aendation to let Attorney work out by
contract"
If this committee had mot the means
If determining" as to Attorneys fees, we
NOW not who would have. 1t is well,
It all events, that they had "the means
# determining" as to most other matters
ubmitted. We much fear this apparent
,lossing over of the subject of "Attor.
leys' fees" by the committee, composed
s it was of three able and learned law.
,ers, will greatly impair the moral effect
f the report upon the public. Truth
las been compared to the straits Of
,hermopyl@, and should always be de.
ended by SpartanS.
While acknowledging the high char
cter of the gentlemen of the legal pro-