The bee. (Earlington, Ky.) 1889-19??, 1913-04-04

my article in Tuesdays paper, ! lay
before you the result of my investi.
cation up to date of the manner in
which county funds have been hand
led by certain persons now seeking
your favor. | shall not attack any
candidates private character oil
habit, but will review their official
acts, which bear upon their qualif
cation for the ONCE sought. The
Fiscal AFFAIRS of the county are IN
the hands OF the Fiscal Court, com,
posed OF seven magistrates and the
county Judge, who is the Seed OF the
court. The eounty's money Is paid
out on orders OF this court. In what
say here do not mean to cast any
reflection upon the magistrates, as
I believe they have done what they
believed 70 be right and legal. They
are good, Woodworking farmers not
supposed to be trained In the law,
but have tho right to look to the
County Attorney ard the County
Judge for advice end direction as to
the legality OF claims presented. 1t
is the duty OF the County Judge and
County Attorney to advise the Fiscal
Court, and OF the County Attorney
TO object to the allowance OF all I'M
Just aud Illegally presented claims
against 'he county. II tho Fiscal
Court ollows a claim against tie adj
vlco OF the County Judge OF County
Attorney, either may appeal to the
Circu.: Court and Court of Appeals
from TIE order OF allowance. II tho
County Attorney refuses to appeal
the County Judge may employ law
yers to represent the county in the
appeal. Under the law the County
Judge is very important officer.
The magistrates certainly have a
right to assume that the County
Judge, County Attorney, County
Clerk and Sheriff will not try to pro-
cure the allowance OF an illegal
claim. The County Judge is the
sole presiding Judge OF the county
and Quarterly Court, and has great
power over the rights and property
of your citizens. AS the chief mem
Der OF the Fiscal Court and a min
lister OF justice his influence for
good should be great. He should be
honest, able, impartial and fearless
in the discharge OF his duties.
The County Attorney in addition
to the above named duties. must ad-
wise the county officers and repre-
sent the county In all law suits.
The law provides that the Fiscal
Court shall fix the salaries of the
County Judge and County Attorney
at a reasonable sum. In addition to
these salaries, both OF these officers
receive fees, or percentages OF fines.
The Constitution OF the state-the
foundation of our law-provides
that the compensation Of no county
officer shall be changed after his
election, or during his term Of Office. |
BY law no county money can be
spent except whore expires" authority
Of law is given.
find upon Investigation OF the |
public records Of this county, which |
you all may see, that your County |
Judge, your County Attorney, your
County Clerk, your Sheriff and your
former County Attorney. Mr.. Nor
row, have all received and used for |
their own benefit, money of the coun-
ty illegally, and none OF them have |
ever paid any of this money back to |
the county and no suit has ever been !
filed TO recover any OF It. At the |
general election in November, 1909, !
Judge Bradley was elected County |
Judge, Mr.. Mills, County Clerk, Mr..
Sypert, County Attorney, and Mr..
Stanley, Sheriff. each for a four year
term beginning the first Monday in
January, 1910. On October 10,
1909, the Fiscal Court by order of
record fixed the salary of the Coun-
ty Judge at $3.50 per year for said
term and of the County Attorney
at $3.50 per year for said term.
These officers got The Fiscal
Court to enter an order on December
14th, 1909, setting aside this former
order ard on April 5th, 1910, long
after their election and long after
they had both taken office, they got
the Fiscal Court to enter an order
making the County Judges salary
81, 200 per year and the County At
torney's salary $4,000 per year and
they have drawn the increased sal
aries ever since. The orCer attempt
ing to set aside the first order fixing
the salary was and is void; because
no court has power to sci aside its
final orders and judgments after
the term ct which they are made
has expired, except upon petition
showing fraud, mistake or other
good GAUGE. No petition was ever
All. ..,ANn- nh aAfap, nfad