Semi-weekly herald., 1909-02-08
Barry, the Barrister,
Explains Position

There was a "hurry-up" meeting of
the r. T. club yesterday forenoon
and the gathering was not called this
time by Barry the Barrister. 1t was
by indignant members of the society
who were raging over the announce
ment in the societys organ that all
taxes We're to be collected without re-
gard TO whether they were owed on
realty or personal
Mr.. President" said member
after the meeting had been called to
order, Il want to know what this
means" holding up copy of the so
ciety's organ. ut says here that all
'collectable taxes will be collected
without regard to the rebating resolu-
tion; that the resolution will be either
rescinded or recalled. II this is the
case all our trouble is for naught and
we will be held up to ridicule and
iests of the people. We could stand
this il we escaped payment, but to
bt III Ntu w anu Dt oCOihCu III
the bargain is pretty hard pill"
Barry, the Barrister-"I thought /
had made plain that you were not to
take any notice of what appeared in
trifle unruly at times, but the item to
which you refer was at my dictation,
You see after our last meeting pro
tests came so thick and fast that the
| forced out of business unless our SO
ciety could make up the difference In
| revenue. You know the capacious
nav of the organ. 1t has a never
| ceasing appetite for more dough. AS
we played to the galleries and sus-
ceptible voters last fall, and inconsist-
ency and deception our motto, con-
cluded our only salvation was to fur
ther mislead the gullible, and to this
end l instructed David, the self-right-
eous, to get busy and make 1t appear
that the resolution would be rescind-
ed and that both personal and realty
taxes would be collected. Listen. 1t
| was a great idea. l should have my
salary raised by the board. Now the
facts are that once a resolution rebat-
ing taxes is passed 1t stands as a
matter of law. The resolution rebated
taxes for the year 1901 and prior and
that is on record and any taxpayer
who wants to can fall back on this res.
olution and they will not be compelled
to pay. The best legal advice is to
this effect. Now, listen. l again urge
our members not to get excited over
what they see in the columns of our
organ. Why, it has changed positions
three times regarding the resolution.
First 1t defended the action of the
board in long article written by my
self. Then, after the people began
to get warmed up. the organ said the
| resolution did not include realty Now
the organ comes out and says that
the resolution does not mean anything
and will be rescinded and all back tax.
es collectable collected II this were
true could be made to pay-the treas
urer could place a lien against my
salary. The La Plata Abstract books
are worth $4,000 to 100000 and the
treasurer would only have to say the
word, and the amount due, between
| $500 and $500, would be forthcoming
in the twinkling of an eye. Thus you
note the flexibility of our organ. The
| thing. and say thing knowingly, pos
sesses the virtues of a snake wriggling
out OF its positions. l knew this when
the organ agreed to back our societys
demands. Just think of It.. members
] of the r. 7. club, of the three distinct
positions of the organ and, l must in.
clude myself as the guiding geniuJ,
inside of three weeks. Talk about
| changeable winds. You see / can
change to suit any breeze and the
organ is past master in deception.
But the organ has let up on Ray.
mond. II only called him liar once
this morning." said the man with the
squeaky voice. Il thought you were
going to work the Catholic racket to
fragile, also your allegation that
the Raymonds did not pay any taxes"
Barry. the Barrister-"well, you see,
the attempt to make capital out of
the hospital reacted. and the records
snow that the Raymonds pay upwards
OF 5000 taxes promptly every year,
and this charge fell fiat. About the
only thing we can do is to have the
organ refer to Raymond as an Internal
liar. peon, etc.
But don't you think the people get
tired of such language as daily diet"
remarked one of the members. Liar,
coward, idiot and other uimilar phrases