Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1912-11-21

made and the eight big corporations
have instituted suit against the State
It is hoped that If Mr.. Brandeis, who is
now spoken Of as likely to be mem
Der of President Wilson's cabinet, is
unable to accept employment in de-
tense of the States interest, there will
be employed one or two other counsel,
the best to be had In the United States,
whom Mr.. Brandeis may recommend
to the Acknowledgement to assist in
representing the State.
ability, known loyalty to the cause
and assured freedom from corporation
faint, should be the gauge to govern in
the selection of an attorney to assist
in the defense of the States, and the
interest.
When first l determined to give
myself to this work of compelling ade-
quate taxation Of corporations, knew
they would invoke every power of the
world, the flesh and the devil that
could possibly, by fair means or foul,
be commanded to aid them to prevent
the carrying out of my designs, which
were already part Of the just law Of
the land, and have not been disap-
pointed.
Committee To Assist Lawyers.
For years / have known the public
men of the State and from many
eligible to be chosen for such service
I have thought of some who have
studied these questions and who know
who can be trusted to assist in the
effort to have your counties enjoy
what the law intended, and what the
present State Board of Valuation and
Assessment by its 1912 assessments
has made possible of realization. These
men / am not afraid to trust to act in
an advisory capacity in the premises,
they are and have been prominent in
the affairs of the State. refer to
Governor james B. McCreary, Attor-
ney-G General James Garnett, Hon. Cas-
slus M. Clay, of Bourbon County, and
Hon. James Richardson of Barren
County. would like to be honored by
being on that committee, because OF
my infinite interestein this matter. !
have drawn form Of contract which
| shall read and hand to your Secre.
tary and submit for your considera-
ton. / feel that It's fairness will at
once address itself to your honest in
telligence, and | beg that you return
to your home county and urge upon
the individual members Of your county
fiscal court that it be promptly ex'
ecuted, so that our forces may be en-
listed and organized for this legal bat
tie, the first skirmish Of which must
be fought on the goth day Of the pres
ent month in the Federal Court here
In Frankfort.
Plan for Securing Counsel.
"Thls, of course, only with the un
Outstanding that your fiscal court will
want to make any contract at all fol
special counsel. have never thought
much of this plan for securing the EN-
pIoyment Of the needed special coun
sci In these cases because, at best
when special counsel are employed
and paid, the people bear the expense
and II the counties rather than thu
state employ and pay, II Is only taking
money out Of the left-hand poeke
instead Of the rlaht--the people, In thu
end, have to pay all the expense an,
way. I turned to this plan only when
found or there seemed to be no othe
way to satisfy the Attorney Genera
and to get for the people the neede'
special counsel. The Attorney Genera
himself proposed to me the 20 pc
cent as a fee to be paid by the coun
ties to Mr.. Rich, and said that he woul'
secure the making Of such a contrac
with Mr.. Rich by five counties, ant
named them. When this matter wa
frat proposed to me ! said ! woult
have nothing to do with the matte
unless there was a clause In the cor
tract which would give absolute pro
lection to the people to prevent an
lawyer from being paid an excesslv
fee for the services rendered. haV
labored for months and years TO brln
about the assessment made In 1917
and that without compensation, and
~ becomes any man to say that h
has q greater desire to economlze ]
the Interests OF the people than hav
!. In the form Of contract, shall sui
nit, ! have safeouarded the people b
providing = committee Of shonorabI
men to see to II that no man hav
more than reasonable fee and tina
together with all other expenses I
the counties, to be within the limit 9
the 20 per cent suggested by the A
torney General.
"The eight suits that have bee
brought against the State and couI
ties must be fought through all Fet
erai and State courts and are Of Wit
Importance. They involve for the Stat
sSS2;SS9 and for the counties. citle
and taxing districts sS2S,396. or tots
annually Of s1,2O5,7S5.
II feel that your approval Of tn
form Of contract which / have SUI
mitted win prove your loyalty to yor
constituents and in the end will a
compllsh great and everlasting goo
for your home county people and a
Kentucky.
A saddenIna Picture.
"Behlnd the scenes there 10 a pl
ture that IL saddenlns to me In CO
nsctlon with all this matter. o,
State, the great State Of Kentucky,
rendered lmpotent. because the Go
srnor. the chief executive Of our Stat
and the Attorney General cannot ayr,
- to the need Of the people. n
Governor 10 In favor Of addition
counsel, and the Attorney.oeneral ga.
he has enough, and 10 willing TO aeoe
the responsibility Of this fight, al
carry on these suits with the fore