The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1912-11-08

the members that they would do their
duty and be just and fair, and the pub
Tic utilities bill was not passed.
''The existing Board of Valuation and
Assessment based their 1912 assessment
on evidence of the values placed before
them at great length, and l am sure
they have presented what they believe
to be convincing proof, are just and
fair assessments; and of about four
hundred corporations assessed. only
eight have protested in the courts.
''The eight suits that have been
brought against the State may be con-
tested through the Federal and State
courts, and are Of great Importance to
the people and the State treasury.
They involve for the State about four
hundred thousand dollars annually, and
for the county and city taxing districts
about eight hundred thousand dollars
annually, or total of about one million
two hundred thousand dollars.
"When the present administration
came into Office, less than one year ago,
the States Indebtedness was more
than one million dollars. With just
and fair taxation the debt of the State
would soon be extinguished; and / re-
gret that important and powerful cor
porations are resisting the action of
the Board of Valuation and Assessment
and endeavoring to perpetuate taxation
which their own admissions show to be
unjust and unequal.
IF the corporations which have IN
stltuted suits persist in their efforts,
the State of Kentucky and the cause of
the taxpayers should be defended in the
courts by counsel in every way we'll
equipped, and by all the attorneys that
may be needed to meet and cope with
the many able attorneys who instituted
the suits.
Il have perfect confidence in the
ability and known loyalty to the States
interests of Attorney General Garnett
and his three assistants, and also in the
able and well-equipped attorney, Mr..
Rich, who, by request of the Attorney
General, in writing, have employed;
but ! will be pleased to appoint another
attorney, or two others, if the Attorney
General, in writing, should ask me to
do so, as, under the law, i cannot en-
ploy counsel to represent the State
without his request.
Subsection 5 Of sections 1l2-15
(article 2, page 218) of the Kentucky
Statutes provides:
"'The Attorney General and his As
sistants shall attend to all litigation
and business in or out of the State,
required of him or them under this
act, or other existing law or laws
hereinafter enacted. and also any liti-
cation or business that any State Off
Ger may have in connection with or
growing out of his official duty; and
no State officer, board of trustees OF
the head of any department or insti-
tuition of the State shall have au-
thority to employ or to be represented
by any othed counsel or attorney-at-law,
unless an emergency arises, which, in
the opinion of the Attorney General
requires the employment of other
counsel, in order to properly protect
the interest of the Commonwealth, in
which event the Attorney General shall,
in writing. setting forth reasons for
such employment. request the Governor
to employ such additional counsel. 80"
Before such counsel is employed,
his fee and compensation shall be
agreed upon and fixed by written con-
tract by the Governor and said eoun-
sci, subject to the approval of the At
torney General
1T is, therefore. apparent that ]
cannot appoint an attorney to assist
the Attorney General in these suits
until the Attorney General. in writing,
requests me to do so, and also agrees
with me on tho compensation the coun-
sci employed is to receive.
JAMES B. McCREARY.
ATTORNEY GENERALS STAND.
A special from Frankfort to the
Courier Journal Says:-Attorney Gen.
eral Garrett is out of the city and vii.
not return until after the election. but
his attitude before he left waa that he
was fully satisfied that %, additional
council is necessary, sna with the &C
cession of AtteI4aY JohR II. Rich, of
CovingteA who represented the Board
of Valuation and Assessment in max
ing the. franchise assessments, his
force of legal assistance is ample %
the task of looking after the States
interest. inquiries to-day revealed the
fact that all the membesa Of the At
torney Generals fesea are in full &C.
cord with his view, and the emp1ey-
ment of Attorney Rich and the refusal
of otAsT assistance was made after a