Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1886-12-25
NOTES
From the PEN of a Commissioner.

From the ZEN OF q C0mmlSSnOnef.
ED. TIMEs:-In reading the report Of the
grand Jury, find that all Of the County
officials are praised for their well.doings
with the exception OF the Commissioners
and the Assessor. 1t seems these officials
have been singled out as having been guilty
OF something terrible, for grand jury com.
posed Of seventeen men, after studious Ia
bors OF four days, at an expense OF $264 to
the county, report that they have found
"mare's nest" In overhauling the Assessor
they do not give facts or figures to show
the public whereby the charges are made.
They wi II tell you that the poll list Of this
county show that about 600 votes were cast
at the late election, and that about S44 poll
taxes were collected. That would leave I46
to be accounted for. Now, had the know
ing one Of the grand jury asked Mr.. Car
ling to explain, he would have told this
story: There are quite number oil voters
in the county who are over 90 years OF age
and do not pay poll tax; add then those
who come into the county by transfer and
voted; then add the certain elias, who never
have a cent to pay anything, let alone pay
ing poll tax, and think you will have the
i46 accounted for. But there seems to be
something behind the Commissioners and the
Assessor in said report. and we take it as il
plainly shows, viz: Personal feeling on the
part Of two members OF the grand jury.
Here we will leave Mr. CARING and turn TO
what interests us most, the cold -blooied
crnsure Of the Commissioners by that august
body. They charge the Commissioners with
"gross extravaganza in furnishing the indi-
gents with all the Injuries obiainable." The
above statement is not true. Ii is fact,
however that in some cases OF sickness, the
indigen,s are furnished with canned peaches,
canned pears, and now and then with can
OF oysters, but assert that such cases only
occur when it comes under the immediate
knowledge Of a Commissioner. When the
bill comes before the Board every item is
scrutanized, and allowed only when vouched
for by some member OF the Board; and here
say that any man who would force upon
an unfortunate sick INDECENT, bacon, potatoes
and corn. bread, with cold water for drink,
when ON a sick bed racking with pain, Is not
a fl man for a Commissioner, nor do think
he ever will be. Such a man is unit 10 live;
unfit to die, and unit 10 be a grand juror,
though he was chairman OF the committee
that made the report in regard 10 the Com
missioners. They find "bills allowed for
road work that do not show where the
work was done" think the Commission
CT who employs person 10 do work on the
road comes very near knowing when said
work was done; and when the bill is allow
ed. the Commi Ssioners know where the work
was done, which, it would seem, is quite
sufficient. They think that 5000 year and
mileage quite enough compensation for the
Commissioners, without making extra charg-
es," la b. Pepper. II Commissioned
gets $50 per month for services on the board
and should pay out SIS per month looking
after the interests OF the county, l suppose
that would be called a fair compensation for
a Commissioner. Ii might do for sail
chairman. but really cannot afford it. The
county does not expect something ior moth
ing, and unless Commissioner received his
expenses for doing such work, do not think
1 would be done. And again, if an expert
had to be employed to look after such mat
ters. the county would have to pay large
amounts for it. Still again, there is nothing
in the laws Of Nevada combining Commits.
sioner to 5000 q year and mileage. There
have been several bills allowed Forbes &
Toby for plank for bridges, culverts, etc.
IL is a wonder the chairman did not Ind
fault and try 10 create feeling that some
thing was wrong because the bills did not
show where each plank was laid and just
how many spikes were driven in each plank.
My idea OF the business Of the grand Jury is
this: They are 10 find or ignore bills pre-
sented to them, charging different persons
with crime, in violation of law, and further,
10 suggest and recommend what may be for
the best interests OF the county. Nothing
OF a blackmailing nature should ever be
embodied in grand jury report. submit
il have done anything in violation Of law,
in Gods name indct me for it. and thereby
give me a chance TO vindicate myself, or
suffer the penalty OF the law. This way OF
doing business, because one happens to be a
chairman Of a committee, to overlook the
doings OF one he does not like. is ali wrong
and shows the enmity he has. have one
question TO ask MIR. Chairman: Had you
been elected, would you, or could you, have
done beiieI2 will now leave the matter
with you for your own reflection.
Respectfully, A. LIrTELL.
Greenfield, Dec. 10Th, 1856.