The Adair County news., 1906-08-08
Gen. Hays Complaint.

| eral indictment against The Democratic
administration, which in excess of irony
he terms machine. There are only two
charges in his Indictment that the statute
of limitation has not run against Even
charge except the one termed ArchitectS
fees and the one termed Salary rebates
is made against the administration whose
| term closed on the first Monday IN JAN
uary, 1904. when the present administra-
ton. of which Mr.. Hays is a member,
assumed control of the affairs Of the
state. In 1903 the nominations for state
officers were made in a primary election,
no principles or policies being enunciateo
In a platform. The manner in which the
affairs of the state were being conduct
ed by the Democratic administration wa.
promulgated as the platform upon which
the campaign of 100 was based, and
every speaker from every platform ex-
tolled in language of burning eloquence
the wisdom, conservatism and economy
that marked the leading characteristics
of that administration. rpol that plea
and upon that platform Mr.. Hays and
the rest of us We're elected by the largest
majority received by state ticket for
nearly a quarter of u century.
! Gen. Hays, equally with other officials
constituting the present state admins
tratiOn, was elected to administer the af-
fairs of the state with double RESPONSE
bility, not only to the Democrats of Ken
lucky, whose representatives they be-
came but to all the people of the state
For myself L have Interpreted that COM
mission from party and people, 10 do
rather than stunning or not doing, and
standing by for the purpose of criticizinG.
1t is Il trite saying that it Is much easier
to be critical than to be correct. Wnlie
not claiming for myself or associates in
fallbility in acts, L do claim Tor them
and myself that in all administrative
duties We have brought to their discharge
the very best judgment ST which We
were capable, and have discharged these
duties with an exc single to the best
interests of the taX-paying public anu
to the glory and renown Of the state
whose agents we are. 1t 5 fair COM
ment on his speech to say that III &C
cusing others who have with as single
minded purpose as he can claim en-
deavored to serve the state he !amely
attempts to excuse himself
These criticisms are mainly directed
to the several heads of public printing
architects fees, increase of tax and eX-
penditures.
with your indulgence, l will briefly
note the criticisms, in the order in which
he has seen proper to speak OF them
Public Printing.
Under the law of the state, public
printing is let to the lowest bidder IN
four separate and distinct classes BIDS
are received upon different classes, and
the question to be first determined by
the Printing Commission determining
the compensation to be paid is as to the
class to which the particular printing be-
longs. In the Teachers Registers and
Trustee Record Books question arose
as to which class that character OF work
belonged. 1t was fully discussed before
the board and afterwards referred 10 the
Hon. Clifton j. Pratt, the then Attorney
General of Kentucky, then and always
regarded as i conscientious and able
lawyer and it was determined by him
as a matter of legal construction. as We'll
as by the board, that said class of work
belonged to the second class and the
work so classified was paid for under the
contract at the contract prices, no more
and no less.
This whcls question was considered
by an investigating committee. appoint
ed by the Senate of Kentucky, which,
after hearing all the evidence, made re-
port completely generating members OF
the board of any unlawful or improper
act fixing the blame upon the terms OF
the law and not in its administration by
members of the board. Senate Journal,
1904. p 1215, etc.
4 And again, whether the work was }
first or second class was the question
. presented in suit filed by Gen. Hays in
: the Fiscal Court of the state. That court
, decided as Attorney General Pratt and
the members of the board mad previously
, decided that the work in question be-
: longed to the second class.
IF Gen. Hays is sincere in his crit
| icism, that the tax-paying public has
been outraged in the particulars stated
by him, it is open to him to carry this
, law question to the Court of Appeals,
which, as 1 am advised, he has not done.
. May I venture layman's opinion that
the people have constituted the courts
, as final arbitrator in matters of legal
: controversies, and that he would better
! try his case before that high tribunal be-
; fore venturing criticism of the acts anC
motives of his fellow members.
State Capitol and Architects Fees.
'T have already referred 70 the work
of the commission in providing a plan
and material that will result in Ken
lucky having a capitol building worthy
of the best aspirations Of her people. AS
read Gen. Hays criticism. it is that
the Capitol Commission is to be CEN
sured because it did not accept the plans
of z. E.. Myers, of Detroit. Mich, at
cost of $4,000, promising n completion of
a capitol at $500 Forty more arch
fleets were in competition. Mr.. Myers
was never before the board Even Gen.
Hays did not vote for his plans, and
what a capitol built upon the plans of
Mr.. Myers would have proved to be, of
course. is a matter of mere conjecture.
; The commissioners We're pleased to re-
gard Kentucky as equal In character and
dignity to any gentleman of the state
or country,and entitled TO the very best ,
result in the matter of constructing its
capitol 1t did not interpret its luties
to mean that it was going about t5 OBJ