The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-24

In this age Of conflict for supremacy
in the political and financial world.
when men seem To have forgotten. in
their hot pursuit for the almighty dol
lar. the ties. duties and obligations
which they owe TO their fellow men. 1t
is positive pleasure to find a man who
has the moral courage to do his whole
duty regardless Of personal interest.
These thoughts have been cccasioncd
by an inspection Of the report of the
county auditors, which shows that our
county is rapidly getting out of debt
and the fact that the sessions of our
criminal courts during the last two
years have been shortened by about one
half. criminal court this month lasting
but three days. 1t is matter of com
mon knowledge that prior to the elec-
tion of n. l.. Strong to the office Of dis
trict attorney our criminal courts
invariably run about two weeks.
Since his election the business OF the
criminal courts has been largely re-
duced, county taxes were lower last
year than the year before, while the
county commissioners have so far during
his term redeemed $40. 10000 Of county
bonds THE STAR would not be under
stood as saying that Mr.. Strong is en-
titled to all the credit for this splendid
showing, as all the officials having to do
with the county finances are doing we'll,
but we do contend that large portion
of this saving can be credited to the
manner in which he handles the affairs
of his office. But one session of Grim
inal court has lasted two weeks since
his election, which was last December,
when three murder trials were on the
list and two men were convicted Of
manslaughter and one man Of murder
in the first degree, while the average
session since his election has been less
than one week. The splendid ability of
Judge Reed is an important factor in
saving expense by speeding the business
of the court, but if we have been cor
rectly informed the present district
attorney deserves the greater credit for
reducing the expenses OF the criminal
courts by cutting down the number Of
indictments to be passed upon by court
and jury. He has now served three
fourths of his term and has had but Il
few more than one-half the number of
cases that were presented to court dur
ing the same length of time prior to his
election, as shown by the Quarter Ses-
sions docket. The popular opinion is
that the district attorney receives an
nually in fees about 81 10000, but ac-
cording to the commissioners statement
District Attorney Strong in cutting
down the business of the court also cut
down his own fees TO $574.00. This is
one instance where man in public
Office is actually carrying out the pre-
dictions and promises made prior to his
election, and the taxpayer is blind in
deed who cannot see where his interest
lies. THE STAR is not polical paper,
but in view OF the general obligation
resting upon the press to publish what
the people, in their own interest, should
know, we deem it our duty to make
these comments. We frankly acknowl-
edge to friendly interest in Mr..
Strong, growing out OF our acquaint-
ance with him, but we think our judg-
ment is unbiased when we say that the
peOple could not do better than to keep
him in his present Office for another
term. A district attorney will be NOM
mated at the June primary election,
and be elected this coming fall, and
while we are satisfied that it would be
hard to defeat Strong in contest, we
think he should be conceded another
term without opposition.
Five women were elected school