Deming headlight., 1893-08-05
AVOIDING THE ISSUE.

statement Of the HEADLIGHT ~
to the pendency ofa suit before
Judge Seeds involving the ldentl.
cal question nt issue In the suit
now under discussion. The
HEADLIGHT has fully explained
the circumstances connected with
the Judge Seeds matter, aud has
shown that II, In common with al.
most all Of those interested, be.
lleved the matter was to be final.
ly determined before our supreme
court, until the telegram from the
Solicitor General In response TO
inquiry Of Col. Lockhari, brought
the information that the Territory
had decided not to take the mat
ter up. That the Sentinel should
lay 40 much stress upon somes
thing 80 foreign to the present Is.
sue, shows the desperate char.
acter Of Its situation In this argu-
ment.
Judge Fall did not order Col.
Lockhart to turn that money over
to the county. There Ia absolute.
ly no order or judgment on the
merits Of the case, and there can
not be until the pIeadings are set.
tied, and, possibly, o trial had on
issues Of fact, should any arise.
Moreover, II Is not the desire of
Judge Fall, nor ia II to the inter.
est of the many taxpayers TO
whom this money rightfully be.
longs, that II should be turned
over 70 the county, except under
such safeguards as Judge Fall
clearly states that no will put
about II, when o final decision
shall be reached. The real dan
ger involved in tho stand which
the Sentinel takes, is that, If Col.
Lockhart we're to pay over the
money at present, II would be
covered into the treasury, and
the taxpayers TO whom II rightful
" belongs would lose every cent
of it--,just as they have lost the
$4,000 which Grant county hal
already unlawfulIy appropriated
Besides, the county has brought
this suit, has obstinately persisted
In a wrong course to It's own dc
triment, and It is barely possible
that Col. Lockhart, being human
is inclined to teach the Board tina
! bulldozing viii not always win
However this may be and we can
not speak by authority for, at thi
writing, the Col. is absent, In Colo
rac5i, II is quite certain that th'
great body of the Taxpayers, feel
Ing that this money belongs Il
them, rejoice In the present dis
comilture of the Board over thil
suit which the SentiHeI says II hal
won. These taxpayers have mor'
confidence Ia Col. Lockhart thar
they have IN the bankrupt instltu
tion known as Grant county.
In this controversy, the Lords
burg Liberal rises TO suggest that
II the editor Of this paper 'reall,
wanted to have the money turne,
into the county treasury and use,
for county expenses, he shoul,
have used his influence with Col
Lockhart and had him turn thu
money over TO the county treas
ury." But the editor of this pa
per really don't want anything o
the kind. This money belongs 4
the taxpayers from whom II hal
been Illegally taken. The count,
already has $4,000 of such money
which the Commissioners ant
their organ practically admit can
not be paid back. The Board ant
the Treasurer aud that tin box 4
which the last grand Jury repOr
} referred, ehOuld not and will no
! be trusted with any Of tho none,
: now Ia Col. Lockhart's hands, ex
cept under n judgment OF cOur
aifording proper safeguards, ans
insuring final payment OF th'
money to the people 20 whom |
| belongs.
} But the main question at issul
, between the Sentinel aud thl
Headlight Is whether the Board o
Commissioners acted wisely ant
IN the interest of the county whei
i they ordered this suit. AZ IN
D suit has progressed TO q poln
d whero Il is demonstrated that ih
4 county cannot possibly gain bu
must become liable for $1,000
which II unlawlully holds, Il woul
Z seem that the wisdom ofthe Boar
! may fairly be questIonedj while, a
q to the interest Of the county, tha
J. has already by the oxprese term
a OF Judge FalPs ruling, been ~
I versely settled. This queall0
I. aud the other pertinent ones 40
I whether Grant county has glal
y cd the suit, were the only one
D. raised by the HEADLIGHTS recei
l. article. The 6eniinel eiudIoun|
Savoids them 4and whN prudene