The Paducah evening sun., 1910-03-24

Iup OF the books and the ugnt klnd
OF businesslike economy. So far Mr..
Barkley's record has been Of no con-
sequence, excepting that no one has
accused him of graft
We recall the Smedley affair. AS
county clerk and deputy, Smedley
Systematically looted the county
treasury for ten years. This includ-
ed Mr.. Barkley's term OF four years as
county attorney. W. H. Husbands,
state revenue agent, appointed by
State Auditor James. when the pres
ent state administration entered Of
fee, uncovered the shortage and in
dictments In 20 counts followed the
exposure. Since the peculations had
gone on so long, either unsuspected,
or concealed, we may assume that
the indictments were forced on the
county authorities.
A bonding company furnished a
blanket bond for Smedley, agreeing
TO make good any shortage in his ac-
counts Husbands brought suit for
the state and county, and by order OF
the fiscal court, the county withdrew
from the suit on motion of A. W.
Barkley, then county attorney, whose
statement Is on record in the suit as
follows:-"A. w. Barkley, county at
|torney, was empowered and author
lied by order Of said fiscal court TO
collect said sum OF s1,5S2.50 from
said Hiram Smedley, and said secur-
ity company will pay TO A. w. Bank
ley, county attorney, pursuant TO
the. order of the McCracken county
fiscal court the total amount agreed
upon, s1.5s2.5o. In full of all money
due the county"
That was not the full amount OF
the shortage due the county, and Mr..
Barkley, instead of charging the
surety company interest for the ten
years Smedley had used the coun-
ty's funds, actually allowed II COM
mission for paying what 1t did, and
he and other officials took commits
sions for themselves out Of the 81
$3.50, leaving the county a total OF
about $1,000, though Smedley stole
nearly $4,000 all told. II may be
assumed that the fiscal court with
drew the suit. so that the coun-
ty attorney, instead Of the revenue
agent, should receive the commis-
sion; but why 1t agreed to compro-
mise for less than the thefts with a
bonding company that promised, fora
consideration already paid II, to as
sumo responsibility for all the coun-
ty lost, II for Mr.. Barkley. who
made the agreement, TO explain.
He asserted afterwards that he had
not compromised all the claims,
though the company disputes this,
and he brought suit months later,
Just a few days too late to get the
case tried at the September term,
which was before the election. The
case was continued at the two sue
Jceeding terms, and now a new county
attorney in charge of the case. II
Mr.. Barkley's contention is true that
he did not settle In fun, II Is
worthy OF comment tina. recently the
company settled with the state in
full of the states claim for the same
Transactions. and II Is rather remark
able that the company Is not willing
to make the same terms with the
county.
To County Attorney Sanders Clay.
who is also popular young man. we
suggest that he prosecute the suit for
all he is worth; and falling, as we
verify believe he will fail. TO secure
judgment. he should, IL possible,
bring suit against the county officials.
responsible for the compromise, and
force them TO make restitution to
the county OF the difference between.
what they collected and what the
bond was originally liable for. or ex-
plain why they compromised the
county's claim for less than its face
value with penalty and interest.
Mrs. Caroline Bartlett Crane
came to Paducah at the request of
the state board OF health, and pro-
nounced the county aims house a
dandy as far as expense went in the
erection OF the building, but about
the worst managed Of any institu-
tion of the kind she ever saw. Mag
istrates have gone to Louisville and
found that a much better one Is
kept up with better food for the in
mates at Is cents day per capita
while McCracken county pays so
cents. Not long since 1t was
discovered that a farm hand at the
institution was engaged in the most
horrible acts OF depravity. He was
discharged. but the management of
the institution remains as II was,
the same exorbitant prices are paid.
and the same complaints come from
unfortunate old people, that they can
not eat the food given them, that
they would rather die OF starvation
and exposure on the highway than
remain there. We have published
accounts of aged and infirm in
mates being picked up on the high
ways, where they had fallen ex-
hausted. making their way from the
institution.
We demand OF the county an
I