The Forrest City times., 1888-05-05
FeIy TeSPtCtIuIIys.
 RoBr. K. CRAIG.
EXPLANATION.
To. Tbe Forrest City TIMES.

To. Tbe Forrest City TINES.
 Sir-Since with regard to Commis- sioner's report, you suggest that the commission be endorsed, I hope you have some regard for the right of an official, and will not insist upon con- demnation without a hearing. l hope an honest effort to perform duty will at least secure an opportunity to be heard.
 |. have no objection to urge to the con- missioners, nor would I ask anything at their hands, save an impartial state ment of facts.
 am in the 2Dd item of notice cred ited with the purchase of the old Meth odist Church for court house, thereby saving to the county the future rents etc. This I endorsed as being step in the right direction, but I would not do the 'Levying court" composed of the justices of the county, the injustice to arrogate to myself, that which was done..by them in body and unani- mously. This was their act, and with out a single dissenting voice.
 By the use of the ambiguous expres- sion various and sundry claims the im- precision is conveyed that without re- gard to the interests of the county, claims had been carelessly allowed, and paid without proper vouchers for the same. The proof will not sustain this assertion no claim has been allowed or paid for which there is not on file x voucher.
 \ As to the matter of sheriff's bond, for the recording of which allowed the county to pay; I based my decision up- on the grounds that these bonds are taken for the protection of the county and that the same business prudence which induces every purchaser of a home to record his title thereto for his own protection, caused me to record those bonds, and since the purchaser by law either pays or does not record, l could not see why the county should not pay as does the citizen.
 As to the bridge across Too Nigh creek, MT. Brown, one of the commis- sioners, first called my attention to the necessity which this bridge was to an entire community. There being some time to intervene before court, l went down to the bridge and with the road overseer, made au examination and agreed to pay him forty-five and a half dollars to get the framing and do the work of putting an eighty foot long bridge. which was twelve feet wide and fourteen feet high out of good sound timber. In addition to this 1 furnished lumber for flooring to the amount of twenty dollars. Making the bridges to- tai cost $65, about one half the cost of such bridge under contract.
 This l did because the bridge was in dangerous condition and might have involved the county in suits for dam ages, beside the danger to the travelling public. You refer to the $325 paid for moving the church, this was mat ter as commissioner Pearson knows was arranged by the justices court and, fer which the sum of S350 was appropriated l.. F. Featherston. with the understanding that what was not needed would be covered into the treas ury. He secured it's removal, under pining etc., by Capt. Mcdonald for S325 and covered into the treasury the remaining S25.
 CHILDREss MATTER.
 As an individual, and during vaca- tion. paid for the removal of pau per from the county and during term time made an order, reimbursing my self, without the profit of a single cent.
 As to the amount of bill allowed to L. F. Featherston for trip t0 Little Rock. He went there as my agent from the fact of his having, as a mem her If the Iefrisiafnre baefsfnsa fhnr