Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-04-08

men who created the bonded debt OF
the corporation floatcd it at eight
per cent interest. That was wrong
in the first place. The corporation
ought never have promised to pay
any such interest, and the men who
succeeded in reducing that interest
to a proper and fair standard deserve
the thanks of the people who are
taxed to pay it. If that is the only
objection that can be urged against
the present administration, it had
better be kept in the background.
But in answer to my challenge for
specific charges against the present
council, writer signing himself
Justice - makes the complaint that
the council in its desire to protect
the citizens of the town from the
small pox, did what the authorities
of every town and city in the coun-
try did, ordered the vaccination of
the people and took vigorous meas
ures to stamp out the disease, which
they succeeded in doing. This re-
minds me forcibly of the fellow
who fell into the river and was saved
from drowning by a bystandeI who
rushed in and pulled him out, but
in doing so tore the fellows coat,
and he brought suit against the man
who saved his life for the value OF
his coat. Justice" would indict
the council for saving the people of
the town from small pox. But ''Jus.
tice" forgot to state that the county
paid two-thirds of the expense of
stamping out the small poX, includ-
ing the cost of vaccination. Why,
the authorities of HagerStown, on
the first appearance of small pox in
that place, not only had the citizens
Vaccinated but in less than thirty
six hours, bad erected pest house,
and provided every means for pre-
venting the spread of the disease.
The grumblers must be hard pushed
to find an objection to the present
council when they resort to such a
plea. What if the council had taken
no action, and the small pox had
spread over the town and destroyed
business and perhaps the lives of
many citizens; wouldn't "Justice"
have set up a howl on the other side
of the question ? But what's the
use Nothing the council might
do would satisfyor please such men.
Again | repeat, why don't these
grumblers make some specific charge
of incompetancy, mismanagement
or neglect of duty against the pres
ent administration ? Why don't
they come forward with something
sensible or reasonable ? Do they
suppose the people have no sense :?
Surely they must presume upon their
ignorance or they would not attempt
to deceive them with such stuff.
Justice" wants to know if men
can be found to fill the corporation
offices aoithout pay, who can object
| have only to say that if there are
men so dnUious for the position that
they offer their service for nothing,
nobody will have right to object
ii the people chose to accept and
elect them. There is nothing that
know of to prevent man from be-
ing a candidate and Offering his SER
vices for nothing. My own opinion
about the matter is that man who
offers to work for nothing, puts a
full valuation upon his worth and
services. This is simply my opin-
ion. Other people may look at it
differently. A merchant who ad-
vertises to sell goods betooo cost Jun
less to close out his stock, or the
goods be damaged) is not likely to
give you square bargain. And the
man who show such an itching desite
to work, as to offer to do it for moth
ing, is likely to be little "fishy "
Still there is no moral or legal OBJ
lection to his making the offer. The
acceptance of his offer is the only
thing in question. TAX PAYER