The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1894-02-09

A Reviewo of Important Topics
of the Day.
THE PRINTING EXPOSURE
Controller Severn and County Commits
sioners Upheld in tho Stand They Took
Against the Advances of the Syndicate
of Priutors-A Big Saving.
speeIal HERAIp correspondenee.

Special HERALD correspondence
PoTTsvILEE, Feb. 81 have gust come
across an opinion that means much to the
poor men who are imprisoned for costs i'm
posed upon them by iuries. 1t has just been
| filed by Judge Clayton, of Delaware county.
1t is based on petition fled on behalf of
citizens praying for the release Of poor
man, who, as prose ecutor in a case, had the
costs imposed upon him, and in default of
payment went to jail. Uuder the Act of
1887 the judge finds that the Court and the
County Commissioners have the power 70
discharge prisoner where they are satisfied
of his insolvency.
County Controller Severn has asserted his
| authority IS such in another direction. He
| to-day notified the Directors of the Poor of
Schuylkill county that under the Controllers
Act they have no authority to advertise for
| or award contracts for supplies that such ad.
vertising and the making of contracts for
| supplies must be done through the Controller
In addition to this, he has motif ed the Direc
| tors that he will not sign warrants for psy
ment of bills for ad vertising, or on contracts
for supplies already awarded.
The newspaper champions of reform (2l in
| this borough have evidently sustained go
Instituted by the Controller and County
Commissioners. The Developments in con
/ nection with the election ballot contract has
created sensation, but at the same time il
has aroused an almost general expression of
confidence in the public officials Interested
The attempt to require the officials to double
the price OF the contract and pay $4,000 for
work which the Allentown people have con-
tracted to perform for 81 COO has aroused a
SDirit of indipup4ioO auq3urt ko
that attempted TO work the scheme and the
threats of suit assinst the Controller and
commissioners for saving the county S6 COO
on the job are ridiculed You may depend
upon it, there win be no suits
When speak of the County Commission
ers refer to only two of them--Allen and
Martin. ! regret to hear that Commissioner
Rentz does not agree with the course his col
leagues have taken in this printing matter.
de says | am informed that contract was
made with the syndicate and as long as they
were willing to waive the 5000 claim and
go ahead with the work on the original offer
of$45O0 it should have been given to it: that
in not giving it the Commissioners and Con
troller are guilty Of a breach of contract.
| think Mr. Rentz is badly of the line.
His Judgment is either at fault or he has al
lowed his feelings over the Allen Martin deal
to influence it,
From what ! know of the transaction
have no hesitaucy in saying that the course
the Controller and Commissioners took was
brilliant business stroke and 4 death blow ia
a gang that has been rs leeohes upon the
county treasury, although at the same time
posing as models Of reform and cry stop thief
whenever any outside the ring attempted to
secure patronage. The action of the svndi
cate was nothing lees than an involuntary
exposure of the dark past and it will require |
an almost superhUman effort to restore public |
confidence in those who were identified with |
the syndicate which as at least one man has |
expressed, was nothing short of ordering the |
county officials to stand and deliver, or 90 |
without ballots for the election. 1t was in |
deed, daring stroke, one that brings with it |
visions of attempted highway robbery of the |
worst kind. 1t has since been said that the /
$4,000 demand was only joke. don't be-
lieve it.
The attempt of the Pottvile Republican to
belittle the candidacy OF Hon Ramsey Potts
will not iniure that gentleman, not in the
face Of the recent hill" exposure at all |
events The same crowd now trying to down
this honorable gentleman tried it before and !
failed ignominiously Had we more men
like Mr. Potts and less Of the regulation
ROSTERS who demand pay for serving their
the country would be better off.
do not wish to be classed rs SLATE" manu-
acturer for the Fourth district. / have no
'hOice and have had 10 inclination TO make
preferences. In all my correspondence to
he HERALD 1 have simply reflected the
entiments OF others, aud before doing go l
ave fist tried 10 satisfy myself that my in.
ormants knew what they were talking
bout.