The courier-index., 1920-07-09

| otHeE puipOSeS.
 As an individual, it is my opinion that if sufficient funds are on hand to promptly meet the interest pay ments and retire the bonds when due, there would be mo question raised by any taxpayer, should a part of the surplus be used in mak- ing necessary repairs.
 Yours very truly,
 D. s. PLUMMER, City Attorney. l In addition to the above com munication the Courier-Index is in receipt of a rather caustic contri- button from the Civic Improvement League which we feel sure will be perused with interest by our read CTS. It follows:
 "Gnats and Camels"
 | To the Editor of the Courier-Index 1 The Civic Improvement League is 1 gratified to have the Courier-Index give expression to an attitude of complete sympathy with city off cials, commissioners of improvement districts and civic organizations of , Marianna, in their efforts for the common good, as so vigirously ex- pressed in the opening paragraph of its leading editorial in last weeks paper. A casual reader of the editorial (front page, double col umn) would no doubt confirm the average citizen in his impression of the editors favorable interest in every move that has been forward ed recently by those bodies, civic or official, who are generously credit ed by you with honesty in their pur- pose to make Marianna good town and to keep it clean and sanitary.
 The ease with which you later so quickly forsake this loyal atti- tude in the editorial referred to-, and make of it an opportunity to aiml shaft at the Civic Improve ment League in particular, forces the conclusion that the entire ar ticle might easily have been written to veil your real purpose, and that so far as your professions toward the League are concerned, they are "sicklied OCT with the pale cast of doubt"
 The League is not interested in | the "hysteria of law enforcement" |" that has settled upon us, not being in any way responsible for it, nor has it anything to do with the en- | forcement of ordinances which the city authorities in their best judg- ment have imposed, and which the Courier-Index finds so irksome and unnecessary. The League is there fore moved to inquire what motive impelled the editor to suggest that, Eff an individual perpetuated on his premises such a nuisance and menace to public health as the sew outlet near the L'Anguille river bridge, the Civic League would yank him before the police court, etc. etc." The Civic League is in doubt whether you are at tempting to charge them with an active or passive delinquency. If you mean that we have in the past caused any citizen to be yanked before the police court and "his bank rool generously tapped" we respectfully deny that this is true.
 If you mean to say that 1t IS our duty to have the present foul condition of the public sewer cor rected, we beg again to differ with you. Does the Courier-1ndex can didly think it is within the duty of the Civic League to either examine into or discuss the condition of a clogged sewer with the city council or with other gentlemen who are charged with the responsibility of keeping it open?
 We assume you speak advisedly when you say that this regrettable condition of the sewer has existed for a year, though if mention has ever before been made of the matter in your columns, we have failed to see it. We should think that some of the ardent enthusiasts who ire quently pass that way going to and from our much cherished fishing preserves would have been heard from sooner.
 Is this statement to ridicule the Civic League, coming so glibly from the versatile editor, an effort in thorough sympathy with the city officials, the commissioners of the improvement districts, civic organ izations, etc., who are laboring Tor the common good?
 Pardon our frankness II we say we think not.
 We rather believe, MT. Jackson, that you have adopted this means to criticise the League in retaliation for having been ordered by an of ficer of the city to clean up the premises of the Courier-Index, an occurrence for which we know you held the League responsible, but with which, as a matter of fact, 1t had nothing whatever to do, all statements to the contrary notwith- standing. The officer who acted on the occasion referred to, did so in the regular discharge of his duty, and if the condition of your premises warranted the order, the blame rests with you, if we should venture an opinion.
 The Courier-Index remarks that the "Civic League, strange to say, can keep the police busy chasing down stray piece of paper that