Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1892-12-16
Unjust Criticism.
MAYviL1r, o., Dec. i3.

&
Ed. GLoBE THE Fossil Journal last
week in cfiticsing the action d the
county court for instructing the SUI
pefvisor Of that district TO collect prop
erty road tax from the citizens Of Fossil,
It's editor evidently acted upon what he
terms current rnmor," instead Of upon
the facts in the case. | will state the
facts, and II The Journal man il not sat-
isfed ! would refer him 10 the road su-
peryisor, also 10 the other members Of
the court.
The facts are that some time before
the order spoken Of Was made, was in
Fossil and the supervisor informed me
that the residents Of Fossil refused to
pay or work their road tax, giving AZ d
reason that they thought they were ex-
empt from road tax outside Of the city
limits, and asked my opinion as TO what
course be should pursue. told him
that the matter had been before the
court some time before; and that TO the
best Of my recollection they were exempt
FROM poll tax, but not from the pay
inent " 4 property road tax. Itold him,
however, that II be desired any instrtic-
ti0ns upon the matter that the proper
way to get il was to apply TO the court,
and not Is any Of the individual mem-
bers thereof. AT the next term of court
there was letter from the supervisor,
asking the courts opinion in the matter.
After careful consideration found that
what ! told him al Fossil wass corrct.
The journal, IN all candor, makes the
statement that at the next session If
the legislature the law win be SO amend
ed that the citizens Of Fossil will be ex-
empt from road tax outside Of the citr
limits" etc. assure them that when
ever they get their incorporation law SO
amended, the county court viii not IN
struct their supervisor to collect road tax
of them. liit had been their intention
to have an exemption clause and II was
omitted, il certainly II no fault Of the
court, but rather that OF the incorpora-
tors. instead.
In reply to the weak, long-winded ar
ticle In the Journal referring b this mat
ter In behalf Of Squire Donaldson (who,
by the way, was Obliged to get some one
else to do his writing win say that it
is simply an efFusion Of niisstatements
throughout, and it il unnecessary to re-
fnte any particular part oft.
The county courts action in the mat
Ter was based upon the law regulating
such matters, as we'll as the opinions Of
several as reliable men and taxpayers as
reside ii the Fossil country, who were
present Mt the trial, out Of which origi-
mated the dispute; and not based. as the
Journal stated for the Squire. upon APP
parent prejudice and falsehood."
This learned Squire sags-through
some one else's writing--that he per-
formed his duty in the case faithfully
and honestly" Perhaps he did. In his
talk through the journal he may have
been faithful enongh; but he did not
do il honestly--in my ease, at least.
As TO the political capital the
Squire speaks Of, au not in need Of
any at the present time, thank you; but
il the aforesaid Squire has any political
capital 70 spare he might divide with the
fellow who does his wriiing--as he will
surely need it ii he gets the position he
is working for, year from next june.
W. ]. EDWARDS.