The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1922-01-20
ALLEGED CRIMINAL
LIBEL.

LIBEL.
At the instance of William c. Smith
chairman of the Salmon school boar,
and treasurer of the city, the count!
attorney, HI. J. Burleigh, on Monday
swore to 4 complaint against the edi-
tor OF The Recorder charging him
with criminal libel for an editorial
publication contained in the last IS
sue.
ksr. Melvin was out of town until
near evening OF the day, Tut toward
night WAS notified by the sheriff of
his having the warrant in hand, and
upon answering the summons the
next day as required Mr.. Melvin filed
bonds for his appearance TO answer,
with L. Il. Edwards and Emerson Hill,
Salmon bankers, as sareties.
Thus a. II sometimes happens with
the faithful newspaper. using It's best
endeavors 60 protect the public, The
Recorder must defend itself at private
expense when the prosecution is made
n matter Of public expense. We
trust We shall bc able Ia do this.
In this case, IL II be allowed to pro-
coed through the courts, private
grievance IL 10 be vented at the ex-
pense of the taxpayers. Useless
cases OF the same sort, involving all
legged high crimes and misdemeanors,
have been brought and carried
through the processes Of law ~ en0r-
NOUS public costs, which in one in
stance alone amounted 10 approx
nately 81 500 according to figures at
the clerk Office. These were the
a.af. \. a
in which. Il good part of that village
population was hailed to Salmon, when
IL was ascertained that the qarrels
were either fights over backyard
fences or plain charges and counter
charges in alleged Bookkeeping. The
expenses were promptly saddled upon
the treasury. There was no conviction.
We have always contended that
such doings ought not to be allowed
and in the effort to stop them we
have without fear or favor published
the facts bearing upon them.
IL Is in this effort ut securing the
corrective influence Of publicity that
The Recorder demands the full publ
cation of allowances as made by the |
school board and all other public bod !
les using tax money. If that board had |
complied with the law in this respect |
there would not have been permitted |
such a thing as the buying of hun
dreds of tons of coal Illegally, nor
would there be at this time other ir-
regnlarities in respect to this board,
all of which have brought scandal and
reproach upon the good name of the
schools. IL Is unsafe TO place further
trust INTO the hands of the man most
responsible for these conditions, and i
Il was for that reason that the of
tending revelation was made.
But there have been other cases
Wherein a prudent protection calls for
publicity, noatbly wherein the gem
.leman with grievance against
The Recorder tried not once but twice
20 sell his water rights to the city,
which was twice voted down. Incl
lent to this effort on his part there
we're entailed enormous costs, also
'ssddled upon the public. SO it goes.
Il Is not wrong but entirely right to
publish such facts. Wherever they
rave been concealed, as in the case
u school board publications as called
or in the law, We have supplied some
facts. Unfortunately it n
S found impossible TO go fully into
letaiis in these omissions. From
40 faalt Of the clerk OF this board
vere the publications omitted w. w.
simmons IL the clerk OF the board
md has never been directed 70 make
hom public A good many taxpay-
RS have asked, Why this secrecy?
All the facts IL given the light of
hay might explain the necessity for
he fifty per cent tax increase in
ehool taxes.