Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-09-01
LOCAL CORRESPONDENCE.
\ CauStiC Reply.

TO the MINING JOURNAL.
Last weeks issue of the JOURNAL con-
tanned communication from someone
calling himself Tax Payer i'll which
he complains of some wrong that he
imagines Mayor Crump, Councilman
Morgan and myself have committed i'll
connection with the franchise granted to
the West Virginia Central Gas Com
pany. In fact, he seems to have worked
himself up into such "A frenzicd state of
feeling as To forget at the close what he
had SAID in the beginning of his little
eplStle In one breath he says he does
not impugn the motives or honesty of
those gentlemen, and i'll the next in
sinuates there is something crooked or
undetermined going ON, and demands an
investigation.
fear the trouble with this poor, little,
narrow minded soul is that he has been
imposed upon by some designing fellow
who knew his weakness in matters of
this kind. If he had made inquiry he
could easily have found out that my SON,
Frank, Is associated with me III the Fire
Insurance business, which takes up
about all of his time. Consequently, he
did not seek and would not accept IA
position with the West Virginia. Central
Gas Company, for the reason, as stated,
that he would not have time to attend
to its duties.
have another son who is not regular
ly engaged, and do not hesitate to say
that if | can get IA Job for him with this
Gas Company, or any other company at
IA reasonable salary, | will surely do so,
this without considering for a moment
that the mere fact of my being Clerk to
the Mayor and COuncilmen of Frostburg
would deprive me of the right to look
after the interest of any member of my
family in any honorable way.
AS Clerk my duties are defined by the
Town Code and the instructions received
from my superior officers from time to
time, and | do not intrude upon my SUI
periors by voluntary advice or III any
other way, which statement | have no
doubt they Will suhstantiate.
Mayor Crump informs me that he has
not now and never had any contract or
arrangement directly or indirectly with
this Gas Company.
Therefore, | would advise Tax
PAYER to be more careful III the future
about slandering and trying to lnjure his
felIow-man by publishing broadcast over
the land stuff that he has heard from
some worthless and irresponsible per
sons, or Matched ont of his own imagi-
native brain, or perhaps he may get into
trouble.
do not deny the right of any citizen
or Taxi Payer to criiicise the acts of
public servants, but it should be done i'll
an open and above board manner, and
when there is at least some foundation
for it.
AHd now, in conclusion, Mr.. Editor,
let me say that as "TaX-payer' thinks
there is something crooked and demands
an Investigation, (you know it would
never do for tn" Mayer and Councimen
to investigate themselves | would sug
grst that all of these very suspicious
little souls who are so very much afraid
some of their public servants are crooked
and dishonest, and have some sinister
motive III any and everything they do
If these would all get together, appoint
a committee of investigation and see
that TAX Payer" is made chairman of
that committees, then we will have an
investigation in earnest. No white
washing, but il HOroUgh investigation
such as only brains, money and willing
minds can make, and everybody will be
satisfied when that committee gets
through | will add that will take the
responsibility Of saying that the Mayor
and every member of the Council, as
we'll as the town Clerk, will welcome an
investigation.
There would be another satisfaction
i'll having such an Observation-Disclosures
body would learn who "IaX-paycr' is.
j. S. METZGER,
Town (tl,rIy