The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1916-06-09
COUNTY COURT DID
AUTHORIZE PAYING
BONDCOMM|SS|ONS
FORMER TRUSTEE A. r. THOMAS
MAKES REPLY TO ALLEGED
BANNER SPECIAL.
M MYSTERY ABOUT THE MATTER
n.cIares That Facts Were Probably
Known to Those Who Inspired Co
vert Attack In the Nashville Paper
.--order Of Court Given.

Former County Trustee A. Elem
Thomas, now engaged in the insur-
.nce business here and who was a
member Of the bond committee that
aoated the $4,000 of bridge and
Court House four per cent bonds in
1909 and about which much has been
said and intimated in the Wilkes
charges, today made the following
nirited reply to the unwarranted in !
sinuations made against him In the
alleged Columbia special to the Nash
vile Banner of Wednesday Mr.. Thorn
Is said:
an a Banner special from Columbia
Of Wednesday, which know was not
sent by the regular correspondent of
that paper who is familiar with the
facts and would not knowingly mis-
represent them as was done in the
special, a grave injustice is done me.
Il Is intimated that as . member of
the bond committee of 1909, which sue
cessfully fioated $175,O00 Of four per
cent bonds and retired that amount
Of six per cent warrants, voted for
the payment of $4,000 commissions
and attorneys fees out Of the county
treasury without any authority from
the county court, the plain inference
being that l violated the law, together
with two colleagues Of that committee,
both of whom are now unhappily dead.
Nov, there is not one word OF truth
in this charge. There has never been
any mystery about the floating Of
these bonds. Everything was done
openly. The newspapers Of Columbia
Of January, 1909, contain full informa-
ton as to the action of the county
court. However, I prefer to 60 to the
official records. The following is an
extract from the order OF the county
court at the January term, 1909, au-
thorising the floating of the bonds:
"On motion, 1t was ordered BY the
court, that the county Judge, the coun-
ty court clerk and the county trustee
be and they are hereby empowered to
float in accordance with the provisions
Of acts of Tenn, Of 1907, Chapter 800,
$4,000 worth Of court house and
bridge bonds to bear 40 interest.
Said committee will float said bonds
upon the best terms obtainable and
that they be empowered to float said
bonds and not to pay more than the
sum Of $4,000 as commissions attcr-
neys' fees and expenses Of floating
said bonds
THE above is taken from the records
Of the county court, Book 81 at page
124. The order was adopted by a vote
Of 16 to 5, the ayes and noes being set
out in detail.
I'm The Herald of that date, appears
a full report of the county court pro-
ceedings. 1t shows how Col. Brown
low, of the Maury National Bank and
COL Hutton, of the Phoenix National
Bank, appeared before the court and
urged the adoption Of the resolution
as good business. The county had
failed after advertising twice to sell
the four per cent bonds at par. The
difference between four per cent and
six per cent on $4,000 is $4,000 per
annum We, Judge Gordon and CT
H. W. Thomas, my colleagues on the
committee, we're anxious to effect this
saving. Acting under the authority Of
the court, above quoted, we accepted
proposition to sell the s175,000 bonds
at par and allow q commission and at
torneys' fees and expense Of $500
and not $4,000. We saved the county
$500 and thought 1t good trade. In
the seven years that have elapsed
since we have saved the county $500
per year in interest, or total Of $24,-
500 From this deduct $4,000, the
commission paid, and we have q net
savings to the taxpayers Of $4,000
and will continue through the life OF
the bonds to save $500 per annum in
interest. have never attempted to
conceal anything, nor has anyone else.
I know and Judge Gordon's friends
know that he always referred with
considerable pride to his part In ioat-
ing the debt. I also know that no
county official Of Maury county ever
received improperly one cent as the
result Of floating said bonds. These
facts are familiar to those who keep
up with the county's business. They
are probably known to the Individual
who inspired the Banners alleged
special.
IF the county court wants an inves-
tigation Of this sale for my part ! shall
he delighted to aid It. Ny services
upon the committee and our success
In floating our honda If 4 per cent