Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-04-01
CITY Attorney.

To the Editor of the Ledger.
MEXICO, March G0.-I have just
read an article IN this mornings Her
aid, over the signature of "Tay-
payer" i'll which the claims of Mr..
Buckner for reelection as city attor-
ney are sought to be demonstrated
mathematically.
The formula seems to be, under
Buckner's administration more mon
ey in fines, with less ex tra attorneys
fees paid. has been collected than III
der that of of Mr.. Robertson, there
fore, Mr.. Buckner should be re-elect-
ed; but while this is the formula, the
inventor of it, by inuendo, seems to
place around it an atmosphere of at
tack upon Mr.. Robertson, although
a candidate therefor.
Let Il look into the facts and logic
of "Tax-payer" for q moment. Let
it be admitted that Il greater aggre-
gate Of fines, with less extra attor-
neys fees paid, were collected under
Buckner's administration than Rob-
%ertson's and what follows? This on
ly, that during Buckner's admins
t~ration there happened to be more
violations of city ordinances, or in
the Individual eases heavier fines
were assessed by the city recorder than
i'll Robertson's time. 1t does not fol-
low that because a large amount Of
fines be collected under the admins
tration of a city attorney, that he
therefore, has special qualifications
for the office, for in all this class of
cases the marshal has primary charge
and control; he, on his own notion,
arrests the violater of the ordinances,
then notifies the attorney, who draws
the complaint, and in a large per-
centage Of cases the defendant pleads
guilty and pays his fine, the attorney
doing nothing but draw the com
paint. In some instances under Mr..
Buckner's administration, such pleas
have been entered where the fine as
sessed and paid was $50.
During Mr.. Buckncr's administra-
ton the city had no general litiga-
ton, and hence, there was no occa-
sion for extra counsel, which under
the administration Of Mr.. Robertson
there was much and important liti-
CATION, i'll which, as always its habit.
the city did employ such counsel.
But let us look into the facts a little
closer. During Mr.. Hobinson's adj
ministration there was disposed OF
i'll the circuit court eight cases in
which the city was a party, si1 oil
which we're disposed of in favor OF
the city, two only against it., neither
on count of defects i'll the papers
or proceedings while under the adj.
mi~nistration of Mr.. Buckner. six
cases have been disposed OF, in which
The city was party, one was com
promised i'll favor Of the cily and
costs saved with Il small surplus il
favor OF the city two tried on tlieil
| merits and judgements against tn,
city; three dismissed by the court OIL
motion of defendant on account 0.
deficient complaints filed III the i'll.
junction eases. These three case:
have taxed up i'll them in the aggre
gate Sa1 against the city, but which
are not paid, but when placed il
''TaX-payer's' ledger will disturb
his balances largely.
During Mr.. Robertsnn's admins
trati"n there were large amoun o
unpaid taxes. and viii ch were de
!inquent, because The tax-payer
t claimed they were illegal. Mr.. Rob
o crtson WAS ordered to collect them
Two cases, test cases, were tried il
the circuit and county, Mr.. Robertson
+, alone for the city. AIacfarlane /
irlmble Tor defendants. The cit,
had judgements, and resulting from
+ this successful litigation. the marsha
y succeeded i'll collecting large sum o
such taNes-the prec sc amount is no
before me.
have said this much i'll all kind
ness TOR the mere purpose of vindi
eating truth. Beth Mr.. Buekner an,
e MIR. Robertson are excellent youn:
@ gcntlemeI-hoth promising voun.
iawycrs-both have made mistakes
who has not? Either will make a cred
: table and valuable attorney for til
l city, as do they for individual clients
and when "Tax-paycr" undertakes Il
show Buckner's claims to election Il
he seems to do, by showing deticien
cy or want of ability On the part o
his opponent, such alleged deticienc,
, or want of liability has no existence il
fact.
Ii newspaper writer's in the pend
ing canvass propose to give detailed
=, statements of facts in the official lit
! Of either candidate, let them give al
the tacts-fairiy-pcrmit each T.
stand upon his own merits and rea
worth and let the better man sue
coed. JUSTICE.
A Naaiosl Inoi,tpto io ho;,r oc+oI