The Sentinel=record., 1915-03-06
STATEMENT FROM
 GUS BUCHANAN
CRlTlCISES CITY ATTORNEY FOR HIS MANNER OF SETTLING
 CASES.
Editor sentinel-Record

Editor Sentiuel-Record
 In the columns of your paper of the 2d inst, appeared al article which would make me appear in a ridiculous light to those who do not know me, and l ask that you give me an oppor- tunity to right myself before the pub. lie, Had you published the commun cation that seems To have prodded the legal luminary of the city council would have nothing 10 say. for then the citizens and taxpayers would have been truthfully advised og what | termed an "assumption of authority by the city attorney. The following are the facts contained iu the com. muncation:
 We have an ordinance fixing the fees to be charged tor the inspection of all plumbing, and those fees are supposed to be reasonable and not excessive, and are intended to apply to all alike
 Tn this connection l desire to call your attention to what term a usur- patton of authority by the city at toIney.
 While the Moody hotel was being rebuilt he succeeded in having the water turned into his pipes. and after the building was completed he made all connections without securing a permit or clearance from the pumb- ing inspector. and wlen he was called on for the inspection fees he refused 10 pay them He (Moody) was ar- rested for violating the plumbing or dinance, brought into police court and fined $10 He appealed the case to the circuit court, and the case was set for trial but before it was called Nlr. Moody and the city attorney got to- gether and compromised the matter by Moody paying the city $60-just ONE nHIRD OF THE INSPECTION FEES. IT that ordinance is excess we to Mr. Moody. it is excessive to all our citizens, and should be repealed or modified, but before doing so 1 think the city attorney should be re- Qulred to test the matter out in the courts to the supreme court Mr. Moody should be required to pay the $l20 he owes the city or else We should discontinue collecting the ex- cessiye fees.
 A former communication of a like character was addressed to the com- cil by the mayor over his official g, nature more than a month ago, but it would seem that it was Host in the shlftle,' and just previous to the meeting of the council the mayor re- uoested me 10 write him another statement of the facts, and he would give it tc the finance committee.
 Ii was a reflection Oh Leo Me I-aughlin ] will admit. but it was not an unjust one fer he had no more right To settle the matter of tho. e fees with Mr. Moody than ! haye-ard | have none whatever. Moody lad been fined for a violation of the c'tv ordinances, and inc had appealed from the Judgment of the police court as sessiug a fine of Sl0. Mel auqhl.n's S authority extended to the matter Of that fine and no further, and if Mr. .Woody wanted to pay him s60 in set tement of that fine, that was his business The city ce elector is charged with the duty of collecting the clearance fees. and until Mr. Moody pays those fees to the collector and gets his receipt for the same he is subject to arrest every day until he does pay it. | repeat Mclaughlin had authority to -ettle the matter of the judgment of the police court, bat NOT THE MATTER OF THE IN. EPHCTICN FEES UNTIL. HE HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED TO DO SO 'FAISUS IN UNO, FAlSUS IN OM- NIBUlS," FALSE IN ONE THING FALSE IN EVERY THING. Me- Iaushlin had the effrontry to stand there and tell the council that Moody was to pay the costs, when in fact the city paid the costs on a clerk S fee bill approved by him
 He further told them he wanted the matter brought before council: if he was telling the truth why did he not report the matter to them as soon as he made the compromise, Mayor Me Elendon says Mclaughlin saw the other communication and was very much incensed at it. WHY?
 The action of the council in tabliag the communication without any defi- mite action as to the fees due is in keeping with their acts of the past. There can be no doubt but what he is conducting the office to the satisfac. tion of the council, and also cotuct- ing the council to his own satisfac- tion