The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-05-11
Do THEY SEE A NEW lIGHT2
KOOntz, Bsriey. ct al sliad 10 TIE Con-
duet Of Their Political
Followers.
SHAMEFUL PROSTITUTION OF LOCAL
OFFICES.
Pablie Money Used Tor Private EnaE.-
Judges Compensation Doubled and Trsb-
lsd.-Taxpzyers Outraged and Conf
dsnce BetrAysd.-Pariial Record Of the
Diseredited Combine.

gentleman named, with Others from SOM
erset county, attended a political gather
ing in the city Of Philadelphia some ten
weeks sgo at which il was agreed that un-
reienting war should be declared against
alleged corrupt management of Stale and
county offices. w H. Kooniz presided
at the meeting and made vigorous at
tack upon the Republican State Organi-
zation. A call was issued 70 millionaire
John Wanamaker asking him to lead the
dissatisfied hosts to battle against the al
legged e0rruptionists. After mature de-
liberation the Merchant Prince accepted
the call aud has since been going up and
down the State calling upon the people to
overthrow the Republican organization,
which he alleges has been guilty Of all
manner Of corruption, and to deliver the
management of State affairs to gentlemen
TO be dictated by himself and those who
composed the convention which placed
him in nomination.
Il IS only fair that Mr. Wanamaker
should be measured by the same rule as
those who are proclailning that the Re
publican party can only be saved from
utter ruin by placing him and his follow
ers in charge Of State and county affairs.
The attention OF the reader is directed
70 the conditions confronting the Wana-
maker advocates in Somerset county.
Two Of W. H. Kooniz's most devoted
friends and political followers are Asso-
ciate Judges Horner and Black. A glance
at their record shows that they have util-
lied their official positions in order to fat
ten their private purses The eompensa-
tion they have received for their services
is largely in ex cess of the compensation
paid other associate Judges in other eoun-
ties in the State, and in a majority Of in
stances more than double the compensa-
tion received by Associate Judges in
counties having more legal business than
the county of Somerset. Inspection of
the deed records in the office of the Regis
ter and Recorder shows that both Judge
Horner and Judge Black have aeknowl-
edged deeds for which it is fair to pre-
sumo they have charged the State of
Pennsylvania and indirectly the county
$500, whereas a Justice of the Peace
or other officer empo wered to administer
an oath would have performed the same
| service for fifty cents; the Associate Judg-
es have met jointly for the purpose of
discharging prisoner, when the presente
of one of them would have been sufii-
cient; the Associate Judges have contin-
ued Court in session from day to day un-
n nseessarily, charging $40 per aay for their
services but why multiply TIE hort
eomings of officials whose Judicial conduct
has become reproaeh not only to the
people Of Somerset county. but 70 the
State at large.
w. II. Koontz mas been a practicing
attorney for a period of moro than 40
years and no man in the county is better
able to judge than he Of the amount of
labor the law imposes upon Associate
Judges, bat he has stood by and watched
his friend Horner gsbble up $1,000 year
for five years, whereas Hon. O. P. Shaver
discharged similar duties for period of
five years for less than slo0 year, while
Associate Judges Musselman and stuff
received only 500 per year for their ser
vices.
Has Mr.. Koontz's political friendship
for Horner blinded him to that judicial
officers faults. or has he been willing to
remain silent and see the taxpayers i'm
| posed upon in an unprecedented aud
wholly indefensible manner, without
sounding the alarm until Judge Horner
is ready to retire from the bench aud he
himself is a candidate for legislative
honOrs.
Will Messrs. Wanamaker, Ko0ntz, and
Berkey repudiate County Commissioner
Geo. +. Kimmell. who is the Vice Chair
man OF the Republican County Com
mittee organized by Messrs. Berkey,
KoOntz. ct al, only year ago, and who
is one of the warmest advocates and most
loyal followers of their political fortune.
Commissioner Kimmell is boldly ac
cused of having taken 500 Of county
funds on the lfth day of August lSg7, and
on the same day making payment Of
500 on his Somerset property. For near
ly nine months Commissioners kimmell
had this money in his possession before
restoring all that he had misippropriat-
ed to the treasury of the county.
Will Mr.. Koontz. who is the chairman
of the Wanamaker campaign committee
communicate the facts Of Commissioner
! Kimmell's misconduct in Office TO John
Wanamaker that he may hold him up to
public scorn as specimen OF machine
politics? or will he tell the people of Som
erset county, whom he is asking 10 send
him to the legislature for the purpose of
Graduating abuses that are alleged to
have sprung up in the State and counties
that Mr. Kimmell has betrayed the trust
imposed in him by the Republican
voters
Commissioners Clerk John G. Enert
| procured $50 of county funds in July,
1877, and kept possession of it for six
months before returning it to the county
treasury just before the Auditors met in
January, lS9s, for the purpose of andit
| ing the accounts Of the Commissioners
| o1see. Mr.. Emert has been closely iden-
tilted in politics with Messrs. Koontz
and Berl<ey aud is in full sympathy with
the Wauamaker movement II is not
lprobable thas either Kooniz or Berkey
4 will ask for Mr.. Emert's removal from
Office or that they will direct the atten
ton OF the taxpayers OF the county TO
the risk they are running by having him
continued in his present important posi-
ton.
Samuel L. Shober, who has been one of
the leaders of the political combine"
with which Koontz, Berkey, Kimmell,
Emert, Good, Barron, Cook aud Others
are identified, at various times during
his term of Office as County Commission
er secured county funds for his personal
use. He has been accused by the coun-
ty Auditors OF grave irregularities and
misconduct in Office, and has been sur
charged by the Auditors for profligaey.
Have Mossrs. Koontz and Berkey point
ed the righteous filgsr of public honesty
a. Shobor.
When less than year ago it was dis
covered that the Secretary Of the Com
monwealth and other State officials had
given the State Treasurer an inde.n aify-
ing bond for salaries advanced to car
,ain employees of the Legislature. Gov
ernor Hastings promptly asked for
the resignation OF the members OF his
| oil lAi household. who had placed their
names to the bond in order that the
Treasurer might not suffer personal loss
Governor Hastings action was applaud
ed by Koontz and others and it il being
held up by John Wanamaker as an ex-