Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-08-06

netted the county the magnificent sum
of $110. Last year, 1909, their cases
produced $574.02 and the year before
by almost superhuman effort they
turned into the treasury the sum of
$1135.69, enough to ransom d king
and to almost pay for one-quarter of
their salaries for that year. They are
rapidly approaching the zero point
which l imagine will arrive about the
18th of next month.
| Now, there may be some so mis-
guided as to believe that this yearly
reduction in revenues may be due to
the fact that there is. no work in their
linz. If this be 50, it would not bee a
half bad plan to send them seeking
work elsewhere. But it is strange
and undeniable fact that in the wears
just mentioned the Sturgis deputies
have turned into the treasury as a re-
suit of their labors the total of $1i,OS6-
6S, or about IA times as much as these
active never sweats'' of Sheriff Hast
ings. More than $4,000 wasted in sal
aries. less than $4,000 to pay the same.
| But the county tire asurer accounts
for it in another way, not even ingen-
ious. Morey places the blame upon
the supreme court. Millett, the watch
dog of the empty vaults, says it is the
fault of the county commissioners.
Now the county commissioners may
or may not be at fault in their esti-
mates. Most reasonable men in the
lights of past events might be inclin-
ed to estimate the receipts from fines
as they did. Doubtless their esti-
mates were based upon the unwar-
ranted presumption that the lazy liq-
uor deputies instead of wearing out
| the chairs in the county buildings
might do some of the work for which
they were appointed. In the light of
the past three or four years they
| should know better. but the majority
of that board are Democrats and there
you are. Intelligence in a Democrat
is official is the exception, not the
rule.
Lack of receipts is not due entirely
to the wilful negligence of the sher-
ifs Office. Here is an Office. since
the fee system was abolished and un-
der Republican administration pro-
duced abundant revenue. Belleau is
now clerk OF courts and has been for
the last three and one half years.
| His predecessor was Reade, present
Republican candidate for the same Of
flee. Somehow, or other, Reade in the
period from Jan. l, '03 to July /, '06,
some three and one-half years. managed
to collect enough fees incident to the
office to enrich tie treasury to the eX-
tent of Si6031l. Mr.. Bclleau came
into office Jan. /. 1907. by one of the
| incNpijcaDle freaks of fortune, and in
a like period of time turned in as his
receipts the amount OF $1957.16. drop
ping off in receipts of some S1700. What
is the occasion for that? We have
Just as many lawyers now as then
Litigation does not seem to wane any.
Is il possible that Mr.. Belleau has col
lecIed the fees of this office and placed
them IN mis- pockets? Or is it possible
that. like, the sheriff. he saw an over
flowing treasury. dsregarded the law.
ignored the collection of fees. and
charged nothing. preferring to in
@ratiate himself with the clients of the
office rather than aid a treasury al
ready groaning with the results of de-
pletion? 5aHM1
Il Another comparison. In Hanson's
time. his last year and a half, he turn
ed into the treasury as the receipts of
his Office, fees to the extent of $2075. SO.
Reade in the same length of time, with
a deduction of naturalization fees,
gave the treasury $191619. What has
Belleau to show for a like perold :?
Ever watchful of the public interests
as all good county Democratic officials
are. Gesirous of not only euualIing but
surprising the records of his predeceS-
sorS, he turns in the sum of $S64.92 an
amount less by SlO41.27 than that re-
ported by Reade S121O41 less than that
returned by Hanson. Why have the re-
ceipts fallen off? Is it possible that Mr..
Relleau has collected them, placed
them in his pocket and refused to turn
them over to the treasurer? Or If he
has not collected them why not Surely
he must have known the condition of
the treasury. Surely he must have
heard it's groanings. Yet there are but
, two conclusions to come to. either Mr..
| Bellecu has collected these fees and
. | appropriated them to himself. or he
has rot done so. Either horn of the de-
lemma is rather precarous one upon
which for him to hang.
Mr. Belleau. your records and those
of the jailer show that you. as bail
. | commissioner. released from Jail dur
ing terms while the court was sitting
10 prisoners at the April term, 1908
three prisoners the following January
term. and five at the September term
next Your records fail to show your
appointment as a special bail commits
, soiuer. Why did you, without license
or authority from the court. release
these criminals. before the court mad
!, opportunity to impose sentence?
You knew you had no right to dc
this 1idn't you? Is it possible that you
ignored the court, fooled the sheriff
and for the sake of the fee in each
case, turned criminals loose that were
awaiting sentence?
Kindly answer these questions and
then I will propose a few more fol
your reply little later in the cam
paign.