The St. Johns herald., 1889-01-03
Paid Up and Quit.

ty School Superintendent, since July 1st, 1887, has unlawfully
 drawn from the school fund of the county more money than he was
 entitled to. Morrison has a license
 to practice law. The statute is as
 plain as language can make it. that
 he was entitled to a salary of $500
 per year as School Superintendent.
 Every tyro in the law knows that
 the legislature which creates an of
 flee can change the salary thereof
 abolish 1t even-if it suits it's ca price to dc so. Morrison knows this, because his office of County
 Judge, into which he was dumped
 by that extraordinary, forced com
 bination of 1886, was abolished,
 wiped out entirely, before he had
 warmed his judicial chair. Yet,
 the only apology he and his friends
 can make for this abuse of official
 power is, well-his ignorance of the
 law.
 Let us test his sincerity by the facts. The Territorial Superinten- dent of Instruction, his official su-
 perior, notified him months ago that
 he was violating the law. If he did
 not know the law, then was the time
 for him to consult some man who did, and find out his rights.
 Then about six weeks since he
 was called on by Qpr District At torney to refund. He boldly as serted on the streets of Winslow, on the day of election, that the Dis trict Attorney dare not sue him for this money which he had taken from the public fund under pre- tended color of right. However, though it required from about No vember 23d up to December Dist, for his friend, E. W. Nelson, to find out what records the District At torney needed to commence the suit, yet, the suit was prepared, an injunction obtained against him and the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, preventing the former from drawing, and the latter from countersigning, any warrant for his salary for this last quarter, and then Morrison, for the first time was taught the law. At the eleventh hOur-while the last sacrement was being administered-just before the bell began to peal forth the glad news to the people of the county that straight Democratic admin istration was to begin, he walks up to the Captains office and settles.
 Such a settlement! Surrenders his warrant for fhG last quarter as County School Superintendent for $75, gives up his salary war rant as Probate Judge for same quarter, $125, and obligates him self in writing to pay the bal ancc, $50, by January 20th, 1889, which settlement, this heartless District Attorney, we think, i'm properly recommended to the Board of Supervisors, and they approved. A man who takes money from the public treasury, should be forced to return money thereto, and interest as well. We have heard there was q criminal statute which covered such cases, but we do not know.
 But better this than nothing, we But what fall, my coun- trymen! The leader, the heart and soul of the peoples party-the chief statesmen in this county of the Republican party, who had the cheek to ask the people of the coun- 5y to make him District Attorney, crowns his official career, by placing upon the public records his ac- Acknowledgement that he has wronged he public schools and will right the wrong by promises in writing. We shall await with anxiety any such disgraceful conduct on the part of any democratic official.