Evening journal., 1915-03-22
MONDAY MAR. %. 1915
III IT is TO BE STRIPPED, STRIP IT TO THE
RIFF.

TAI ~ said on Saturday, and We repeat 1t now, that
w if there is to be an investigation of the Levy
Court it should be real and complete in all par
ticulars.
The investigator investigators should hew to the
mark matter where the chips may fall
Whatever of nqusitorial nature may be at
tempted, should be animated by desire to get at the
truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
There should be no covering for the comfort and
protection of any person, no matter how high or how
low he may be.
lt should be a cod-booded. deliberate. systematic
proceeding
Political. commercial and personal malice should
play part in it and political. commercial and
sonal influence should supply protection through
il TO anyone whose name may be brought in as re-
suit of the activities OF the investigators.
IL should be resistless, impartial proceedngso
rosstless, in fact that man group Of men may
stop it to friend swcrve it TO reach
enemy.
We do not say that an investigation is needed in
view of the report that made by the Grantland
commttoe the accuracy OF which never has been
questioned We do say, however that IL invostlsa-
tion is to he made, and II the transaction of the
couniy's business is TO be disturbed by such pro-
ceeding. nothing short of real investigation that
viii bring out all sides Of the questions involved will
satisfy the public.
Any attempt to piilory this or that within
without tho Levy Court tho face OF this
man that within or without that body, will be
resented by everyone
There must be halftold stories and half-bakcd
judgments The public must be made acquainted
with every phase OF every question inquired into re-
sardess of the effect it may have upon members of the
Levy Court and those who have inhuepced them to
perform certain official acts. Nothing short Of thar
will meet with the approval OF the public.
II it be necessary for the good Of the county that it
be revealed what advised the Levy Court Com
missioners establish low tax rate let it be done
~ 10 far tho Tho
proclaim to the public the Of the who in
duced the commissioners to engage in extravagant
pendtures for good roads and other thngs-provison
for which had been made in the budge-after that
low tax had been established, let it be done.
II it be necessary, for the good Of the county, TO
proclaim to the public that when such Influenced
the Levy Court make such expenditures
they knew what the of the county would be
and also that those good roads and other extrava-
gances would result in financial embarrassment to the
county let it be done.
If it be necessary to show that political dstemper.
commercial dissatisfaction growing out of the letting
OF contracts the spending of public funds in given di-
rections and other things equally unworthy underles
much OF the criticism that has been aimed at the Levy
Court let IL be done.
In oTher words strip the situation bare so that all
who Il may understand il is and as self
interested persons it is misinformed
think it is.
Let those who advised the low tax rate and those
who advised the exrayagant expenditures that
the existing financial condition be stood up side by
side that everyone may them and know who
they
Let those who have had axes to grind and who
have been circulating disparagng stories they
not permitted to sharpen them at the county
grindsone be set apart for public inspection and let
their motives and purposes be shown up.
Let those commissioners who have performed their
duties honestly and conscientiously and those who
have failed to do So if there SUCH be placed in two
separate groups, the public may know, beyond all
doubt. who's who and what's what in this Levy Court
controversy.
And, above all else if these things TO be done
lei them be done through nqusitoral agency Of
nnquestioned Official standing and integrity-one Will
power to do what may need to be done and with tn,
honesty to do il thoroughly and impartialy. regard
less Of who may be helped and who may be hurt