Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1883-11-10
the convention the following letters.

To the Executive Committee OF the
Taxpayers Convention of Lafayette
county. AS attorney 1 represent in
bonds, coupons, judgment and interest
thereon, Of what is considered as
ssfunding bonds," about forty thousand
dollars Of Lafayette county, and being
as am informed, about one-fourth Of
the residue of the old county debt yet
unadjusted.
l am authorized to submit propos-
ition of compromise of such part OF
said debt as l control, as above, ut
eighty cents on the dollar of the pres
ent amount Of said bonds, coupons,
Judgment and interest thereon, respec-
lively, payable in new bonds properly
issued, or in cash, or bonds and cash,
at the option Of the county, at the date
of adjustment.
wish further to state that PERSONAL
ly, and for my clients, compromise is
desirable, to the end that litigation may
cease. And as the bonds control have
never been questioned as to their vail
dity in the court, and the compromise
will reduce the interest from ten to six
per cent, and believing that the accep-
tance of this proposition will induce
the adjustment of the remaining three
fourths of the county debt to accept
similar terms, l respectfully submit
the same for your consideration at the
meeting OF your committee on Monday
next. Truly, TILToN DAVIS,
Mr.. Blackwell stated that the COM
promise of county bonds was made to
date from January 1st, 1876, and from
that time they bore per cent. interest.
The compromise provided 80 cents for
principal, but this modest request
would add per cent. more from jan
uary 1st, 1876, than had been received
by the holders of nine-tenths of the
county bonds, who have already COM
promised.
Hon. Jos. F. Smith moved that this
meeting reject Mr.. Davis proposition,
and Mr.. Blackwell be instructed
to respectfully notify the gentle
man making it of such rejec-
ton. Mr.. A. ]. Hall seconded the
motion, which was then unanimousl y
adopted by the meeting.
Col. Henry C. Chiles stated that at
the meeting of tho tax-payers'executive
committee which took place on Sep
tember 8, 1888, committee of three
gentlemen was appointed to wait upon
the supreme court of the state of Mis-
souri,, and lay before that body peti-
tions from number of counties of the
state asking for the removal from
his official position of Mr..
Thomas X. Skinker, the reporter
of the court; and that the committee
alluded to was instructed in SO doing
to respectfully urge the reasons which
actuated the people of Lafayette and
so many other counties in the state to
make the request advanced in their pc
titions. Col. Chiles asked if the COM
mittee was prepared to report.
Hon. M. V. l.. McClelland, chair
man of the committee, first read the
following correspondence, which ex-
plains ITSELF
LEXINGTON, Mo-, Oct. 20, 1888.
To the HonorablellThe Supreme
Court of the State of Missouri: The
undersigned having been appointed 8
committee to present in behalf of the
citizens of Lafayette and other counties
of the state to your honorable body, a
petition praying for the removal of the
Hon. Thos. Skinker from the Office Of
reporter, respectfully ask the court te
indicate to them at what time within
the next two weeks it will suit its
convenience to hear such petition.
Very respectfully,
| NJ. ". L. McCLELLAND,
WILLIAM B.!STEELE,
! XENoPHoN RYLAND,
Committee.
JEFFERSON CITY Mo-, Oct. 9th, 1888.
Messrs. McClelland, Steele and Ry-
land, Lexington Mo.-Ge. 'lemen: !
am directed by all the judg>' of the
supreme court to say, in reply to your
letter Of the Goth inst, that if you have
any charges to prefer against the Hon.
Thomas X. Skinker of malfeasance, OR
misfeasance in his Office of reporter
that you can send them to the clerk OF
the supreme court, and if they are o
such character as to call for the inter-
position of the court, they will be Or
dered to be filed, and Mr.. Skinker will
be notified thereof, and required to
answer the same.
Very Respectfully,
| HENRY ". EWING,
Clerk of Supreme Court.
By E. B. EWING, d. G.
Col. McClelland then read in an I'M
pressive manner, receiving the mos
profound attention of his auditors,
THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
Your committee beg leave to submit
the above correspondence the people
Of Lafayette county, in mass meeting
assembled, from whom their appoint
ment to this service was derived.
The application for a hearing, is il
effect denied, decision delivered il
advance of the knowledge of the sub
stance of what might be presented ,anc
the judges of the supreme court ell
folding themselves in juridical dignity
| q ioCioNoIy CohttCSCCHu " AiAoA" "a
through their deputy clerk, that WI
may be permitted to file complaint
against Mr.. Skinker, the reporter o
the court, provided the same are fran
ed with rigid technical formality; an6
provided the allegations step Eot be
yond the arraignment of Mr.. Skinke
for dereliction in the discharge of hi
official duties, the court may accort
consideration to them.
The court cannot be ignorant tina
our complaint against Mr.. Skinker wa
not in the line of inefiiciency rs report
er, and hence the transparent evasion
ofits reply robs it Of even the merit o
a skillful subterfuge.
The citizens of the United States hav,
had abundant cause to know tina
judges, and supreme judges, and thu
judges Of the highest tribunal in the
land are but men, and the curt and Sill.
percilious denial of respectful reques
to be heard i'll the presentation of peti.
tions for the removal of an obnoxious
appointee, and the assumption that he
shall not be displaced until convicted
by tardy legal process of misdemeanol
OF inettciency, is as novel as it is mar.