Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-02-28

the removal Of the county seat, well
saws, at IL OF the utmost Importance
that every voter should seek to get at
the exact facts In the case, and weigh
them we'll"
The exact facts are just what we want.
One fact IL prominent and easily under
stood. The county commissioners have
asked the voters and Taxpayers OF the
county to place 10 their hands the sum
Of $50, 900. Every voter In the county
understands that. But just what VIC
are TO get In return Is not so clear. j
have seen nothing from the commission
ers giving the people to understand
what they propose to build for the
county In return for their money.
IL Is true. certain self-constituted
committees and Interested parties have
given US to understand what they pro-
pose to do and what can be done, but
we have not seen one word as to what
kind of buildings the commissioners pro-
pose to give VA, unless these Interested
parties arc authorized to speak for them.
We are Informed that We are to have q
new set of buildings, but not one word
as to the sire, quality, composition or
capacity Of said buildings.
In the people Of the county blindly
vote the money, they can build just
what they please and no man can say
them nay. 1.-THE money Il granted their
power Is supreme, and from their fiat
there Il no appeal. I do not claim that
they are not men Of good Judgment and
honest purpose, but In the matter OF
county buildings Il IL no better than
that OF the average citizen OF the county.
In many matters the people nave
remedy In an appellate court where the
judgment Of the commissioners Is OFTEN
reversed and overthrown; In this there
Is no appeal, and for that reason the
people should be very careful how they
vote 30 large a sum until they know
definitely what they are to receive In
return.
We now have comfortable buildings,
and before We exchange them for others
at cost Of CSC, 900, II would seem to be
only prudent to know whether the new
are TO be an Improvement on the old or
not. Judge Woodbury. saws he has had
plans presented to him from which he
has made specifications, but he falls to
give US the result Of his labors, neither
does he give US any assurance that the
commissioners are to build according to
bis plans and specifications. IL the
commissioners have furnished Judge
Woodbury. with their plans, II Is only
Just and fair that they should furnish
other citizens Of the county with the
same, aud they can easily do so.
Judge Woodbury. further says that
he has learned for a fact that u
the voters decide not TO locate at South
Paris, the commissioners viii proceed to
erect new building on Paris Hill ut .
cost Of eCOOO or 5000. Does he speak
by authority. How did he get his In
formationf Have the commissioners
coufided the secret plans to Judge
Woodbury. and withheld them from
other citizens who are equally interested
In the questions at issuef The chairman
of the commissioners informs me that
he has heard no such talk by the COM
missioners. And yet this threat ID
repeated over and over again and again
TO bulldoze the voters OF the county, and
as q lash to whip them into the traces.
II has been demonstrated that the old
buildings can be made perfectly safe
and convenient for less than $1,000, and
yet the people are given to understand
that the commissioners threaten that II
they do not vote for change they are
to be punished With several thousand
dollars Of needless expense on the build
ings.
1ne valuable law library that Judge
Woodbury. 10 troubled about Is not the
property Of the county ct all. IL Is the
property Of an association, aud any one
can see by notice over the door that
all persons except lawyers and law
students are excluded from Its precincts,
and no book Is allowed to be taken from
the room. Ii 10 true the county furnish
ed pleasant and commOdious room for
the library and 90 far No have been able
to learn the association Il well satisfied
with It's accommodatiOns-at any rate II
has asked for no change.
Jupge Woodbury. informs Us that the
expenditure Of the 90, 900 Is to be left
to the good Judgment Of the county
ssioners, and not IN that OF archi-
tects and experts. That II Just Whist we
are afraid OF. The commissioners are
not architects or experts, and when we
are gravely Informed that they are to
have no voice In the matter, we want TO
know Just what the commissioners pro-
pose 20 give ~ for our money. IL they
refuse 70 give Us the Information, they
certainly have no cause for complaint II
the people refuse to furnish the funds
II. C. DAVIS.