The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1896-02-25
AFTER BOB.
Bill Taylor Sess Fault in Hocklrgs Prosecutor
Examining Board Ccmplimentod.
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Bill Taylor Secs Fault in Hockirg's Prosecutor
-Bxamining Board Ccmplmentod.
Democratic call. Columbus.
OBJECTS no THE DICTIONARY.
Mr.. Robert f. Price, Prosecuting
Attorney, practically objects TO the
dictionary, when, in his official en-
pacity, lie accepts as correct, the de-
ilnition of the word "detailed," MS
given by Mr.. f. s. Pursell and Cap
tain VIM. M. Bowen, the committee
appointed by the court of Hooking
county to examine andpass upon the
report of the County Commissioners
but objects to its application.
A great many County Commission
ers are confused as to what is meant
by the statute which provides that
they shall make and publish de-
tailed report in writing of their fin
ancial transactions annually.
Messrs. Pursell and Bowen very
properly proceeded to explain what
this expression means, and say,
among other things, in their report:
"Section OF of the Revised Statutes
provides; The County Commission
ers annually, on or before the third
Monday in September, shall make q
detailed report In writing to the
Court of Common Pleas of the coun-
ty, of their financial transactions
during the year next preceding tho
time of making such report, and the
court shall cause the same TO be in-
vestigated and examined by the
prosecuting attorney of the county
together with two suitable persons
appointed by the court etc.
"Your committee, conforming to
the power and authority with which
it is considered it is clothed under
the statute, feels constrained to
question the Judgment of the Com
missioners in condensing, to what
we deem almost an absurd degree,
accounts of financial transactions +,
the particulars of which are of such
public interest, as to require, und or
the statute and manifestly in the
spirit of the Legislature that enacted
it, more comprehensive and detail
ed statement.
"Referring to the definition of
Webster, we find to detail is to relate
particularly to particularize to dis
play minutely, part by part. In his
International we find: "A narrative
which relates minute points: on ac-
count which dwells on particulars
part by part, item by item" The
New Standard (Funk and Wagnalls)
say: Detail, (verb). To relate, re-
port or narrate minutely or distinct
ly; enumerate or specify the partic-
ulars of, as to detail facts of history.
To particularize or enter into detail.
Detail, (noun).-a separately con
sidered particular portion of any
thing, hence any single part or item;
often in the plural or collectively in
the singular, as the details of a re-
port or business contract. A nara
tive account or mode of statement
which gives minute particulars, de-
tailed, particularized and complete 9. '
"There are the plain, ordinary uses
of the word detail. We regard these
definitions as bearing out our con-
structiou of the words of the statute
in reference to the manner in which
the report of the financial transact
tions of the Commissioners should
be made for publication. But there
is stronger arguments than defini-
tions, more potent reasons than are
furnished by dictionaries.
"The object of the statute obvious
ly was to place before the taxpayers
an intelligent and intelligible report
of the uses to which the funds of the
county have been appropriated, to
whom they were paid and the price
of the article purchased. The ten
dency to extravaganza, and in some
cases, laXity of carelessness in the
administration of public affairs
doubtless prompted the Legislature
to seek some means by which the
public might become monitors, and
by that plan insure economy and
care In the discharge of public bust
ness by public servants, who handle
the funds of the people. What plan
could be more effective then, than to
require the publication of the flnan-
cial transactions of County Commits
sioners, in such manner that each
taxpayer might set at his own fire.
side and at his leisure examine the
financial acts that effect him as
contributor to the expenses of his
county"
1t is but seldom that one sees any
thing so sensible on this subject from
one of these committee. They not
only explain the meaning of n "de-
tailed statement" by telling why it
required but for what purpose 1t is
made in the public press. And yet
the prosecuting attorney says over
his signiture that he objects to the
of the definition.
There are some people who think
hat the printing of the detailed
of the County Commits
'ioners and other officers is only in
ended to7enable publishers to steal
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