The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-10-13
A Big CROWD
GREETS NOMINEES
HAZELIP AND BARKLEY SPEAK
AT MELBER LAST NIGHT.
Hazelip shows the Hasty Settlement
With Smciley Was Costly "a
County.
THE OFFICIALS NEGLECT DUTY

The eyes and ears OF some of the
county officials have been closed to
of McCncken county for many
months. IS a charge made in the de-
bate between Thomas y. Hazelip.
Republican nominee. and County At
torney Alben W. Barkley, Democratic
nominee for county judge at Melber
school house before the largest audi
ence that has been out to hear dis
Icussion OF the issues of the campaign
The hurried settlement OF Smed-
iiey's shortage with the county with
the bonding company without n
Thorough examination into the books
Of Smedley is becoming the leading
issue OF the campaign Mr. Barley
| Is on the defensive and seeks to de-
fend the fiscal court as well as him
self in the settlement, although In
iother issues he Las tossed 1.-The gang
overheard. Mr. Hazelip charges that
the settlement was hurried and that
the receipt covers every dollar de-
faulted by Hiram Smedley for the
county. He says that Mr.. Barley
had reason to suspect that every man
was not honest because there had
been Irregularities in the county
court clerks Office and the sheriff's
office before he went into Office.
Last night the settlement was gone
into thoroughly by both speakers.
The complete story was that In Sep
TENDER. 1908, the revenue agent dis
covered that Smedley had been COL
i Letting money for licenses, and not
issuing any license, and that Revenue
Collector VIII NJ. Husbands diacov-
cred il. He went to Mr.. Smedley,
who pleaded with him not to expose
#, as the Democratic primary was
on and he (Smedley) paid over to
the revenue agent about $3.50 due
on licenses. In the meantime Lou
isville paper had published the fact
that Smedley was not turning all the
money over.
After The election Husbands adver-
tised property on which delinquent
taxes were due for gale. and then re-
ceipts began 10 pour into his hands
Then he Med a suit against Smedley
for money due the state and county
for delinquent taxes and licenses
after he notified the fiscal court verb
ally. County Attorney Barley was
made attorney fo~ enc county in the
prosecution of the suit, and his first
action was to have the suit dismissed
as far as The county was concerned.
Then the settlement was made
with the bonding company for 81
$500, which will cover everything
due the county. Mr. Hazelip said, be-
cause he Announced he had seen the
receipt and had tha opinion OF some
OF the best lawyers Then Mr.. Haze
Zip showed that although the state
rate was lower that Mr.. Husbands
had found over $4,000 due the state
for delinquent taxes. After the hur-
ried settlement was made, Mr.. Haze
lip showed how the 90 per cent pen
atty required By law on all shortages
was not demanded and that the 10
per cent interest due on the whole
amount was not collected by the
county officials. but that they wrote
out a clear receipt for all shortages.
and let the county receive S1.2G6
into the treasury after Mr.. Barley
received his commission of over $500
for collecting II and allowing the
bonding company a commission OF Q
per cent for being so prompt to pay.
BY actual figures Mr.. Hazelip showed
the officials had closed their ewes to
the interests OF the county and had
paid into the county treasury 81 266
when by an exercise of their duty
about $4,000 would have been paid
into the treasury He said the desire
of the bonding company TO settle the
shortage quickly was evidence IL
knew that there we're more funds
due NJ. Barkiey should have been
awake.
In defense TO the claim that moth
ing was known of the further short
ages, Mr.. Hazeiip said Mr.. Barley
had every reason to suspect that the
county was being defrauded and IN
his position as the watch dog" of