The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-05-25

Continuing. concerning the $780,
900. tho letter says:
Immediately upon this infOrma-
tion becoming known to the Com
missioners they took steps 10 spend
it. They are attempting to give
firm OF architects 3 per cent OF the
cost OF a county Jail, the same be-
ing $1,000 for plans and speoifica-
tions which should be obtained for
not TO exceed 800"
We believe the commissioners are
to be commended for their effort 10
provide county jail and II Is
fortunate that the funds are avail
able In the surplus sinking fund
without making an extra levy neces-
sary. The present jail in the base
ment of the court house Is not sani-
tary and II Is contrary TO law 10
house prisoners In a dark. ill-venti-
lated bastile such as this AS to
the attempt to pay $1,000 for plans
and specifications, this statement is
not true, according to Commissioner
Drum OF this district. Mr.. Drum
says that the $1,000 not only in
cluded plans and specifications but
also covered the cost of superintend-
ing the construction of the building
ana the installing OF the fixtures
which Is not excessive, neither is II
Illegal or unusual to so employ a
supervising architect. When the
county court house was built a
supervising architect was employed
Surely there is no one to question
the wisdom of such AN action, and
Is $1,000 excessive for such plans.
specifications and supervision? We
don't believe It is.
In the Clear creek bridge contro-
yersy the weather was the greatest
offender and time will tell whether
or not the bridge is worth the mon
ey. In the meantime the county L.
protected by an indemnifying bond
for a period OF two years. The fact
that the bridge withstood a recent
flood. the greatest in the history of
Clear creek, is favorable There Is
no question but that a portion of
the cement was frozen. The ques-
tion is, to what extent were the cor.
tractors responsible for the ele-
ments. The frozen portions have
been made good, the bridge looks all
right and will probably prove all
right, in view of the recent flooG
test.
Closing the letter says:
There can be no question bu'
that county funds have been guam
dered with inexcusable reckless
ness"
"The proof of the pudding is in
the eating, likewise the proof OF
such allegations as the above should
| be disclosed by the Inspectors re
port, which has just been filed and
which audit of county affairs was
made at the request of the grand
jury. Such report fails to disclose
any such "ineXcusable recklessness"
What IL does say is this: eve
| found all members of the present
board of county commissioners to
be willing and anxious to conduct
the business of the county i'm the
manner that Is required by the
| statutes governing the commission
er's department and we attribute the
IRREGULARITIES (not Illegal
acts) that have been done during
their term of office more to ig-
norance OF the governing statutes
than to any willful intent to dis
regard them"
We pass the matter, with these
comments. to our readers for their
careful consideration. We are as
much in sympathy as anyone with
) an effort TO secure careful, honest
| and efficient MANAGEMENT of coun-
! ~ affairs but we are not in for
wholesale reflections and insinua-
| tions gainst the honor and integrity
of Courts, newspapers. public Off
| cials and private citizens who may
happen 10 hold an opinion contrary
10 our own. neither are we in fav-
or of eXaggeration and willful mis-
| representations If the County
| Wide Taxpayers Organization", will
| confiue themselves to facts their eff
forts will not smack so much of an
effort TO make the county safe for
| democrats" or perhaps safe for the
| favored few who are, in reality
| the power behind the throne" IL
| IL true that q few names of Republi-
| cans were attached TO the circular
letter but the great majority were
| Democrats, and. we doubt very
much whether. as a rule. Republi-
! cans or Democrats so signing, had
taken the trouble 20 investigate the
/ matter for themselves. OF one thipc
we are sure. II they did not investi,
gate the other charges any more
carefully than they did the charge
that the grand jury report Twas
not published by any newspaper
they signed something not knowinl
whether Il was true or untrue.
Some folk may look upon a news
paper as an inanimate thing, auto
matically issuing itself and 70
which no one in particular is re
sponsible and for that reason the.
can charge Il with duplicity, dis
honesty and graft without fear o
contradiction but so far as Tn
Herald is concerned, your humbl
/ servant is sole custodian of this oil
! craft, personally responsible for al
3 that appears in it, columns, outsid
OF paid advertising, and we al
here to back up what we say and dc
! A reflection, insinuation or misreT
resentation against The Herald is a
| insult TO the editor. IL untrue. an
Y an attack upon our business an