The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1904-03-31
Clerks Report Contest.

ueTt HAS Deen COnSlueraDle SUlr
in municipal circles about the pub
lication of the Village Clerks Re-
port.
On Wednesday, February 25th,
1904, the City Clerk, G. R. Mont
gomery, came into our office and
said that the law required the
publication of his annual report
in two newspapers of opposite
politics, and handed US a letter of
instructions to him, from the At.
torney General Of the State to that
effect. He said he wanted us to
publish the report, and he would
place it also with the Journal
Gazette this year, and that next
year he would give it to the other
papers. We said that was satis-
factory, and we published the re-
port, as did the Journal-Gazette
for the opposite politics according
to law.
On the next week there appear
ed in the Hooking Sentinel, Mr..
Green's paper, the Clerks Report,
without authority of the Clerk
whatsoever. At the next council
meeting the bills of the Ohio
Democrat, Journal-Gazette and
Hooking Sentinel were presented,
and laid over until the next meet
ing, and later laid over again, on
the proposition whether or not the
Clerk had full power in the m latter
of publishing his report. The
Acting City Solicitor, Judge
Bright, rendered opinion that the
City Clerk had full power and
authority in the matter. Mr..
Green claimed that he published
the report of the Clerk under
authority of the Council. The
City Solicitors opinion rendered
the Sentinel bill illegal. On Tues
day night of this week, Council
man Moriarty, whom seemed to be
the strong sponsor for Mr.. Green,
worked through the council, Mr..
Shaw and Mr.. Lanning to their
credit voting against it, PROPOSE
tion to cut the Journal Gazette
and Democrat bills 90 per cent,
and give that 20 per cent to Green,
which amounted to $1,000. This
gives to the Democratic side for
publishing Clerks Report $17S.8O,
while to the Republican side but
$1,000. In the face of the law
recognizing both sides equal, this
proposition cannot stand. City
Clerk Montgomery very justly
under his oath refuses to issue an
order to Mr.. Green for 5000,
holding to the proposition that he
never authorized Green to publish
the report, and also that it is not
IN the spirit of the law to pay one
political side $178 80 and to the
other $1,000 for the same publi-
cation. Mr.. Green will mandamus
the Clerk, to try to compel him to
issue the order.
During the contest on Tuesday
night Councilman Moriarty pour
ed In some very strong invectives
concerning the City Clerk and the
newspapers receiving the report
publication. He over reached his
mark little and accused the clerk
of selling his report for money
consideration using the following
language: "We don't want the
Clerk to pay any political debts
with the printing of this town. / |
understand that there has been
some money consideration in the
deal anyhow"
This accusation was certainly |
very strong, and very startling to
those In his hearing. The brand
has been put upon the Clerk as
bribe taker, and upon the news
papers receiving the report, as
bribe-givers. City Clerk Mont
gomery has therefore entered civil
suit against Councilman Moriarty
in the sum Of $4,000 damages for
Glander.
When it comes to accusing people
Of giving and taking biibes in the
distribution Of Official patronage,
it is a serious matter.