The Raymer enterprise., 1912-03-14

double the compensation allowed by
law were among the reasons why
anyone should wish TO commend the nd
ministration of affairs?
We are well aware of the rule of law
cited from the American and English
Enclopedia Of Law. 1t announces a
general rule OF Law. lx reason ia cv-
dent. The hearing before the Grand
Jury is ez parte. only one side being
heard. In fact the defense often pre-
fers not TO be heard, keeping its line Of
defense secret until the time Of actual
trial. However, in most states the
Grand Jury NAY hear the defense and
if they do. they would not be likely to
intict unless there was fairly strong
case made against the accused, snd in
any event there should be prima tacia
case against the accused. While our
system OF law. with its fairnnss to an
accused, adhcrea to the rules Of law as
stated By Mr.. Hoyt. !. does not hedge
newspaper criticism Of public servants
by any such narrow rule. Indeed. it is
often fact that investigation and ac-
t!vity By newspapers in exposing crime
antedates investigation. even by Grand
Juries of some Of the most notorious
cases Of graft and maladmiuistratio
in our country.
In the case Of the affairs Of Weld
county, the Grand jury w1s charged,
as We understand. with inquiring into
the efficiency OF our administration Of
county affairs. They did 50. They in.
dictea three county officers and one ex-
county official. One indictment was
quashed. the statute Of I!mitata,ionS
shielding the accused.
Under another trial was commenced.
Finally guilt was admitted. Il is true
that the man was not a county officer
at the TINE OF conviction. but the ACT
for which he was convicted was com
mitted when he WAS county officer.
Such subterfugc will not Avail. Meth
er will the claim that the indictment Of
Estes made necessary the other indct-
mentS because there was no other
way" appeal to thinking people.
However. We used the term dis
credited which cannot By any manner
he tortured into synonym for crime.
We have eXprasSed no opinion OF the
guilt or innoceRse of the men who are
to stand trial. We hope they are inro-
cent Of crime and will be able to prove
it. But the Grand Jury findings cover
ed other matters besides crimes. In
addition - the indictments returned,
they made a report which was publish.
ed in The Enterprise vf November ed.
Had you been a.carefui reader Of this
paper Bro. iloyt, we feel that YOU
would not have fallen into some errors
you have made.l This report has II
findings. The first five severely con-
dem the methods Of paying bills. the
method OF keeping the books of the
commissioners Office. etc. The cliti-
cism is principally cf the commissioners
and affairs under their immediate con.
tro!. The Sheriff. Judge, and Treasur.
cr are commended. We cann.t under.
stand how any man who had read that
report could vote for resolutions "com.
mending and consgatulatiug" the ad.
ministratiOn without reserve unless he
wished TO discrcLit the work Of the
work Of the Grand Jury.
We feel that we should stand by the
Grand Jury. The Ieas, we can decent.
Iy do is to st least withhold criticism
of them until we know the result Of
trials on indictments found by them.
Mr. Hoyt feels that he cannot sup.
port division because Of the Keota res.
olutions. We did not read them. They
may have been bad, but that is no rea-
son FOR opposing division. II We find
that division would be detrimental TO
this section, we shall oppose it. but we
will not by that act endorse the resolu.
tons defended by Mr. Hoyt
The sources Of our information is en-
drcly from the same political party as
the indicted officials.
Mr, Hoyt comes back % Echools and
refers 70 laws concerning county high
schools, We yield to mai IN our desire
for better schools. II it can he shown
that division will rctard the develop.
ment of our schools for a single day.
then let division wait. but If Weld is
collecting that l.. mill tax which Mr..
Hoyt would have US believe SHALL be
levied. what advantage does this sec.
tlon derive from the mill tax i. paya?
Is there a chidin this section that Is
benefited in any way?
/ Perhaps Weld has no county high
school. II so Mr. Hoyt can doubtless
set US right, being I'M old resident, bu,