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

| anu lhhO Juo Cdb0 W ulBuol OVui"
Damely-to the three good housewives
referred to, or to any other three worthy
ladies of Stark county.
On these points, involving generous
care Of frail and criminal human beings,
we are confident generous public will
not condemn Sheriff Rauch, Ifthe com.
mittee wanted victim, they should have
selected one whose error, IT, he erred at
all, was not on the side of outcast hui
manity.
OF the deficit, $2l.17S1s, existing in
the fund for County PURPOSES" the COM
mittee say:
"For this the Commissioners are not
responsible. With all possible economy
on their part, the County funds" for the
year would not have suffiCed for the legal
and proper demands upon it. Over
large portion Of this fund the Commis-
sioners have no control, as payments are
made, in many instances, on the Certih-
Gates of the Common Pleas and Probate
Judges, the Clerk Of the Court, and other
officers; and in some cases las Auditors
salary, Prosecutors salary, &C., the
amount to be paid is fixed by law, and
cannot beChanged by the Commission
ers."
Ifnot insensible to shame, this will 81
lenCe those insensate spirits of evil who
have been denouncing the Commission
ers as wholly responsible for this def.
cheney.
And this overdraft business brings us
10 the gist of this whole question. But
for this deficiency of $2l.178.lS, there
would have been no excitement over the
management of our county affairs. And
what has caused this deficiency mainly2
Every intelligent citizen knows it was
the large increase of Court and criminal
expenses. We were in hopes the com.
mittee would give this special attention;
that they would carefully look into the
cause or causes of all this, and prescribe
a remedy. But as it don't come within
their province, they pass it bye without
further comment, than to fully exoner-
ate the Commissioners. We fear this
state of things is to continue, and soon
will come another deficiency. The Court
and criminal expenses since last septem-
Der reach already over ten thousand dol.
lars, and it is estimated that at this rate
they will reach, during the year, some
twenty-eight thousand dollars
This, in fact, is the great loop.bole that
is to be stopped. Can anything be done
to cut down the clouds Of witnesses be-
fore the Grand Jury? To stop the nu.
merous criminal cases before Mayors
and Justices, where the accused are Of
ten bound over without shadow of law,
and then the costs come out of the coun-
ty? Can aught be done to cut down At
torneys' fees in State cases? The COM
mittee, composed of three attorneys,
give no hope or promise; make no sug-
gestions at all. We speak more in sor.
row than in anger.
The report contains suggestions which
are quite proper, and should be observed;
such as putting a full history of every
transaction in the Journal, scanning"
things closely, acting with proper de-
liberation" &c. We have, however, a
better opinion of the gentlemen Compos.
ing the committee than to suppose, if |
they were County Commissioners, they
would act on their own advice, and COM
pei poor masons, building stone abut-
ments for bridge, and other contract
ors, to wait till the end of the quarter
for all or part of their money when the
work is done, 0fCourse the regular June
session is the proper time to fix the price
for the Sheriff boarding prisoners; and |
also fix the allowance to the Probate |
Judge for his services in criminal cases
but the practice is when once fixed to
let it run till a change is needed. Allow
ing the Probate Judge to draw his pay
monthly instead of quarterly, is con-
demned, as not according to the statute.
The reason it was fixed quarterly un.
was because the Commission
ers only meet every three months by
law. Our Commissioners adjourn from
month to month, and their action is reg
llar. 1t is not claimed the county has
suffered by this at all, and surely it is
not illegal to pay man when the work
Is done.
In public affairs the fullest publicity is
demanded. In this way errors can be
detected, reforms instituted, and all put
Upon their guard. The public are inter-
ested in public affairs, and "in multi
Jude Of counsel there is wisdom.
While Criticising freely, Condemning
many things, and denouncing "abuses
hat have crept in" the committee have
,he Candor to say:
The County Commissioners Ve krao,U to
be honest, upright and we'll meaning
men, who would not Intentionally do
wrong. The same may be said Of the
other county officers, towards all ofwhom
We entertain none but the kindest feelings
The abuses to which we have called at
,ention have been, in many instances, of
ong standing; and in continuing them
he several county officers and others
nave looked to precedent rather than
aw.
Why, as we have said, in courts of law,
awyers "look to precedent" Though
statutes must be strictly construed"
precedent" dictates the construction.
We doubt not the kindly intentions of
The gentlemen, and it was in this spirit,
doubtless, they extenuate, by speaking
If the "abuses" being of long standing,
ind that the Commissioners are honest,
Ind "would not intentionally do wrong"
It is certainly kind to extend, thus, the
mantle of charity, and saw the Commits