Amador ledger., 1902-01-24
COMMUNICATION
JACKSON, January %, 1902.
Editor OF Ledger:-

Eultor OF LEDGER
In the last issue of YOUR paner.
In commenting upon the December fees
OF the different county officials, among
other things you say: THE insignif.
cant showing made by the sheriff;s Of
flee calls for explanation. | do not
know of any one in a better position to
explain any matter pertaining to the
sheriff's office than myself, and | pre-
sumo there is no other person that will
take it upon himself to contradict anv-
thing newspaper may see fit TO saw
about public official. unless the official
sees fit to do so himself. And except
for the fact that your article is mis-
leading, and its general tone will tend
to create false impression in the rela-
ton to the emoluments and conduct of
the sheriff's Office, should keep silent
myself.
In relation to the fees of this Office.
in the first place, six years ago the
legislature, in its wisdom, saw fit to cut
down the fees for the service of papers
in civil actions so they are now cnlv
about one-half what they were when I
first went into the sheriff's Office. In
criminal cases there are no fees CHARGE
able, hence the revenue the county de-
rlves from this source is confined to
civil actions. 1t is we'll known fact
that the sheriff is seldom called unon
to serve papers in civil cases for the
attorneys save money for their clients
by having service made by a citizen.
which the law permits; for instance.
by sending papers to some citizen In
lone or Plymouth to serve, the mile
age OF S3 or $3.50, as the case may be.
Is saved. In the second place, during
the hrst years of my occupancy of the
sherlff S Office the fees collected were
very much more for the reason, at that
time, the lees had not been cut down
and large attachment suits and sales.
where there were large commissions,
such as that of The Amador Gold, The
CLINTON Consolidated, and the Cover
mine were quite frequent. Whereas
now, thank God, such cases are fewand
lar between in Amador county. In re-
gard to foreign fees, which you claim
mas helped to swell the income of this
once, let us have the truth and no
guess work. The law requires me to
keep register of all papers served and
all fees collected by me, which [. have
always done. l tind by reference to
that register, [ have received for SER
'ANS: AO"SS; anu COiuullSSlOnS, III lOf-
eign cases, since the law went into eff
feet, allowing me to retain foreign fees.
the princely sum of S10.17 per month.
Surely the humblest taxpayer of ANA
dor county will not claim that this
munificent monthly income will speedi-
ly make a bloated boud-holder of a
country sheriff, or bankrupt a county.
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, desire to
say that the public is entitled by right.
custom, and law, to a full KNOWLEDGE
OF everything pertaining to the con
duct and management of county af-
fairs, and it is the province and duty of
the county papers to keep the public
correctly informed on these matters,
but l claim that the true facts should
be given, neither extenuated nor en-
larged, and no honest official can Justly
complain of the truth, and in order that
IN the future the exact facts and figures
OF all business, civil or criminal, trans
acted IN the sheriff's Office may be cor
rectly understood, l extend to you and
to every citizen of Amador county
most cordial invitation to come at anv
time that may suit your convenience,
and review the work of the county ex-
pert, fully examine tue books of nv Of
hce, and inquire into all business which
the people are interested, and get the
truth the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth, but don't guess at it.
U. S. GREGORY,
Sheriff.