Montgomery County sentinel., 1879-10-03
Practical Retrenchment.

To The Voters Of Montgomery County Hay
ing been honored by n denomination for the
Office which | now hold by the votes of the
Democratic party of this county, fairly and
freely cast ut the recent primary election, il
is natural that my official career should be
subjected to the scrutiny of the public | do
not object thereto, and only ask that it be
made in the spirit of justice. 1t has been in
tensely gratifying to me TO learn that even
those who preferred some other for the Office
have, almost without an exception, urged
their preference with manly fairness and en-
tire courtesy. So far as am aware no CEN
sure of my official action has been attempted,
save in single instance. 1t is incumbent
upon me, as the nominee of my party, to fur
nish information TO the public that will en-
able them 10 judge correctly.
An anonymous writer in one of our papers,
some time since, charged that one item of my
yearly account was 800 for carrying my own
mail from the postofiice, and another item, $40,
for making out my own account. publish
ed q reply showing that the former item was
not only for performing the duty required By
laao of attending the postoffice every day TO
procure my official mail, but also for answer
ing the numerous letters upon public bust
ness which are written TO me rs Clerk. now
state that in the course of a year, in compli-
ance with the demands of business, answer
at least one thousand letters addressed to me
not as an individual, but as a public officer,
thereby very frequently preventing the me-
cessity of journey TO the Court House by
the writers, and for which receive no other
compensation than the said item of $40 per
year. also showed in my reply that the
other item of $40 yearly was not for making
out my own account but for the various ac-
counts of States Attorney, crier, attorneys
and judges and clerks of election. ! also
showed that these items were not originated
by me, but had been charged by Clerks and al
lowed by County Commissioners Of every
party for at least fifty years past.
presume the anonymous writer aforesaid
was satisfied by my reply, rs he did not re-
spond and ] should not now trouble you
with this letter, but that have been inform
ed by friends that Others have been retailing
the matter to uninformed persons without
mentioning my reply, and in order that thu
public may judge for themselves my action il
making out my yearly account, ! have pro-
cured the following official statement from the
courteous Clerk of the County Commission
ers, which | respectfully request every vote
to read and cut ont and preserve, viz.
OFFICE OF THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Nh
hereby certify that the files of this ofic,
show that, in the accounts of the Clerk o
the Circuit Court, Mr.. Il. B. Prettyman, il
the year 1869, reduced the charges on some
| of the items of his account below the amount
heretofore charged and allowed and has con
tinued said reduced charges TO the presen
time, and that the reductions made from &c!
TO l879 inclusive, amount in the aggregate
to The sum OF 81, 3GGS so.
In testimony whereof hereto set my hant
aud aflix the seal of the County Commission
ers of Montgomery county this 30th day o
September, 1879.
Jos. A. TANEY,
Cpk 10 County Comrs.
The reductions thus officially pronounced
were made voluntarily and without the sug-
gestion or request of any human being, AM
were begun in 1869, stating the accoun
which chiefly accrued in 1868, in tie begin
ming of my then term. am perfectly willing
TO leave my reputation for integrity, so dea
10 every man, to the judgment of my fellow
| citizens upon my record.
T.. B. PRETTYMAN.