The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1878-02-14
Card from Mr.. Patterson.

To the Editor OF the Standard
In the last issue Of the Herald, find
an article over the name Of Jas. A. Ale
shire, entitled Facts and Figures for the
Taxpayers" in which he makes numer-
Gus references TO laws volumes and jour
mails, with fearful array of Ggures, suf-
fcient to confuse and confound any hon
est man that was desiring to ascertain
the true state Of the law and the facts
that he undertook to discuss.
At the time ! was elected Auditor Of
Jackson county, the act Of April IL, 1867
(Swan Il Sayler Page 37O,) and the act of
March 90. 1875, Co. L. Volume -, Page
1851 we're both in force, each allowing a
salary to the Auditors OF the State.
drew my salary. fees and compensation.
under these two acts, up until the last
quarter Of the fiscal year OF 1877, and for
that quarter drew under the law of
April "A, 1877, %. L. Volume "A Page l24)
the eleventh section OF which Mr. Ale
shire quotes in his article
The 20 Section of Article 2, Of the
Constitution OF the State Of Ohio, is as
follows:
Sec. 20. The General Assembly, in cases
not provided for in this Constitution,
shall fix the term of Office and the com
pensation Of all officers but no change
shall affect the salary Of any Officer dur.
ing his existing term, unless the office be
abolished
Now the Legislature had no power to
pass law to affect my salary under the
two acts to which have referred, during
my first term Of Office. See 10 Ohio State
Reports, Pages GIT and 6ls.
At no time during the existence oi
these two acts, each Of which allowed me
a salary, did l draw compensation under
both, but for the period OF FIVE months
under the act of 1875, and the balance oi
the time until the last quarter Of the is
cal year 1877, under the act Of 1877, and
under the act Of 1867
Now if my fees &c, are to be regulated
and allowed under the law Of 1877, which
repealed the law Of 1876 and Of 1861
from the time of such repeal, then dur
ing that time ] had overdrawn Sl4O.4s
and which sum / am ready and willing al
any time to refund to the County Treas
ury when am satisfied that / have re
ceived from the Treasury more than an
entitled to.
| confess that did state to the Pros e
cutting Attorney that l had overdrawr
the sum Of S291 90. but the articles in the
Herald, which / regard as having done
me great injustice. caused me to investi
gate the matter, with the aid Of counsel
which, together with the light that ha,
been thrown upon the subject by Judge
Lawrence in his opinion published in the
Bellefontaine News, have created in my
mind grave doubts as to whether
technically, am not entitled to, at leas
as much as Mr.. Aleshire charges me with
having overdrawn.
But knowing, during my 6rst term oI
office, that great diversity Of opinion
existed, as to the exact state Of the lav
regarding Auditors fees, and wishing
only to do what believed to be just anC
right in every sense. With the excep
ton Of the FIVE months / have named,
made up my fees, salary and allowance
as my predecessor had done. Any per
son desiring to investigate this subjee
can do so from the data and references
have given. T. W. PATTERSON,
Audifor