Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1879-07-25
Neither Justice" nor Caleb"
RocKyILLR. July y. ,7a

AsONh'Ahc"I WY sos
Mr.. Editor ar anonymous writer in your
paper Of the 18th inst, over the signature Of
"Junius'' and in letter dated, ''iInnting
Hill, July l6, 49," makes reply to "Caleb"
and "Justice' who furnished letters for your
Issue of the 18th inst.
| have been credibly informed that II Is ru-
mored In the neighborhood Of Hunting Hill,
and spoken OF as fact, that am the author
o. the said letters, signed respectively "Caleb,
and Justice" simply desire to say that |
am not the author OF said letters or either of
them; that | did not inspire them and do not
now know who IS the author Of cher Of them,
nor have any information or knowledge of
any sort that would enable me to make even a
reasonable conjecture as 70 their origin or
authorship.
As am writing, will, contrary TO my
custom In regard to anonymous writings, no.
tico two statements OF the letter OF 'Junius,"
because they speak directly Of me as public
officer and because the motiue is plain.
First, That "the County Commissioners al
low the Clerk OF our County Court TO receive
twenty or twenty five dollars for carrying his
own mail from the post-ofIico in Rockville TO
the Clerks Office"
The courteous Clerk TO the County Com
missioncrs informs me that he informed the
Reform Committee that in 1881 the then Clerk,
Mr.. Brice Selby, was allowed forty-twO dol
lars "for attending the post-ofice, &C.," and
that ever since some amount, never less than
twenty dollars per annum had been allowed
for that service. The Code, art. rs, Sec los,
makes IL one Of the official duties Of the Clerk
to send to the post-ofice daily. He would be
indictable il he neglected this duty. A charge
for such service, and which has borne the scru-
tiny of County Commissioners of every politi-
cal party for fifty years, is presumably found
ed in justice. In fact, said Clerk not only un-
der compulsion of law takes time necessary to
procure not "his own" personal mail, but his
official mail, but under the requirements of
courtesy TO the public he daily answers letters
asking information, for which he makes no
charge. lie might possibly and without vio-
lation Of law, il churlish, refuse to answer
such letters, especially when postage stamps
have not been enclosed but the common
prophecies Of life and the public convenience
require it. Doubtless, such labor, unremuu-
Grated otherwise, and worth vastly more than
twenty five dollars, in the course Of year, is
part Of the consideration. .for which the said
twenty-five dollars are paid the Clerk. Within
week letter thus written saved cores
pendent OF the county at least one hundred
dollars, and many gentlemen have acknowl-
edged such service gratefully.
The second assertion that "the Clerk Is al
lowed ten dollars per annum for making out
his own account against the county," is a.
mistake. Said allowance covers, in addition,
the making out of the States Attorneys &C.
count, the Cre.'s account, the accounts ofall
attorneys and the accounts OF tho Judges and
Clerks Of elections.
With the rest Of the letter Of "Junius'
have no occasion to deal. Respectfully.
e. B. PRErTYMAS.