McNairy County independent. (Selmer, McNairy County, Tenn.) 1902-1969, 1915-12-03
One Justice Offers an "Alibi.
SELMER, TENN, Route |.
Nov. 20, 1915.

Nov. 20, 1915.
Editor Independent:
have read the communication,
signed by Hiram Bridges. in your is
sue Of the 26th inst, relative to the
action Of the last term of the Quar-
terly court. AS a member Of said
court, wish to enter my defense and
make a few observations.
First, | wish to say that | have no
defense to offer for the action of a
majority of the court who voted the
extravagant appropriations and also
to raise the taxes. But | want TO say,
and the records will show, that the
appropriation and the tax levy both,
were done over my vote and protest.
The facts are, several Of the JUS
tees came to court at the last ses-
sion to get some bridge appropriat-
ions for their districts.
When the motion for appropriations
was made, each one added his wants
until the amount was considerable,
and it looked very much like what
they CALI in congress Opening pork
barrel" and then several others de-
cided to get in on it und get slice
for their district.
All this was engineered by the man
who, Hiram Bridges says, bosses
the squares" for what reason, | do not
know, unless that SIS check and the
Pullman car and automobile rides
through an Indiana city had some
thing to do with it.
Now as to the trip to buy the iron
bridges, do not know by what auth
ority the deal was made. | am sure
the court did not appoint them, or
authorize them to make the deal, and
had it done so, in my opinion, it would
have been illegal, because the law is
plain and specific as to how the con-
tracts for bridges are to be let, to-wit:
by advertisement by the road commits
sioners and let to the lowest and best
bidder-and not single one of this
self-appointed committee was named
by the court to make the purchases or
the trip.
One other thing | might mention,
that is the refusal of the court to or
der payment for two wooden bridges,
built in the first district, and adver-
tised and let out to the lowest bidder,
by the commissioner, as the law
directs, for no legal reason, and no
reason at all. except the objection by
Hiram Bridges boss of the squares.
Why bis objections, do not know, I'M
less because he did not let the con-
tract
Now, as to the second district
want to say we did not get a dollar.
nor ask for dollar of this last grab
notwithstanding we need bridges, for
the reason | did not think the finances
Of the county would justify us in ask
ing for more, although my colleague,
Esq. Simpson, voted, both for the APP
preparation and the tax raise.
1t was rather funny to see some OF
the members. who had been led into
voting for the appropriation, when
Bridges boss Of the squares" told
them Of the box he had led them into,
that of voting the large appropriate
ions and nothing in sight to pay with,
and the only way out was to raise che
taxes loo on the 500 of taxable
property. And when the boss" made
the motion to raise the taxes, and u Q
"dupes" began to think Of what the
folks back at home would say when
tax paying time came, there was some
head scratching, but they voted AYE"
Now, to conclude, ! want to inquire
from anyone who knows, by what
authority this self-appointed commit
tee made the purchase of the bridges?
If there is to be a mass meeting,
want to knew the date.
Very respectfully,
CHAS. DUNAWAY,
J. P, I'd District.