The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-10-25


less than the full amount, allowed
the company Eve per cent besides,
and did not charge II with the pen
atty and interest for the time Smed-
ley used the county's funds. The suit
Of Barley was filed after II was too
late to get It to trial before the cleo
ton. and attorneys for the bonding
company declare there is nothing in
the suit, and question whether it
even ever will be tried.
The receipt given by McCraoken
county to the bonding company, COW
ering the settlement OF Hiram Smed-
ley's alleged shortages, should reflect
much light on the controversy as to
whether or not the compromise,
which Mr.. Barley made with the
company, is in full or only partial,
and Mr.. Barkley should produce a
copy of IL.
If Mr.. Barley had followed the
injunction OF st. Paul to "avoid the
appearance of evil" he would have
spared himself much trouble II he Is
right and the bonding company is
wrong in the contention; for IL must
he kept IN mind. that this Is not a
controversy between Mr.. Barley and
Mr.. Hazelip-for Chen It might be
attributed to pJlltlcs-but between
Mr.. Barley and the bonding COM
pany, which be has sued. The bond
ing compare which gave blanket
bond, GOV ing all possible shortages.
contends that Mr.. Barkley's settle
ment for less than the full amount,
is final, and the receipt will show It.
There are circumstances surround
ing the transaction, of which the
public is bound to take notice. OBJ
viously for the purpose of preventing
state Auditors Agent WE Husbands,
who discovered the shortages, includ-
ing the county's shortage in his suit
for the state, the fiscal court author
lied Mr.. Barley TO SETTLE for the
county. Mark the difference in pro-
cedure between Mr.. Husbands and
Mr.. Barley.
Mr.. Husbands, representing the
state. offered no compromise and ac-
oepted none. HE BROUGHT SUIT
AND AS HE DISCOVERED NEW
DEFALCATIoNs, AMENDED HIS
PETITION.
Mr.. Backley, before an expert had
examined the books, settled with the
company, and. the company says. set.
tied in fun The fiscal court ratified
that settlement. Later Mr.. Barley
instituted suit against the company
to recover the balance, but the suit
was filed too late TO get a trial be
fore the election.
Now, in all fairness to the intelli.
gence of those well advised gentle
men, who manage the bonding com.
parry, We ask an unpreJudieed public
mind, If {. is likely that the bonding
company would make a partial settle
ment with the county. and remain
liable 70. any indefinite amount Il
be determined by subsequent inspec.
ton of the booksg Those bonding
company gentlemen are intelligent
not to say quite nifty at their trade
and while never demurring at the
strict letter Of their Obligation, are
always ready to escape at a less fig
ure, and possessed OF an intimate
knowledge OF a multitude Of ways oil
settling little matters like the Smed.
ley shortage on a mutually agreeable
basis.
Mr.. Barley may have been led
into a trap by the bonding company:
but his political experience has
availed him little, if he did not
realize that settlement out of court
Of public matters IS always attended
with the hazard of misinterpretation
and DEMONSTRATION. Mr.. Barley
may have been too foxy for the bond
ing company and its attorneys; but
in the absence of proof to the con.
trary, W. pin our faith to the
strategy of the bonding company.