The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-05-15
SUNDAY NIGHT MUSINGS
By c. T. RAWALT
THOSE COUNTY COMMISSIONER CASES

THOSE COUNTY COMMISSIONER CASES
SINCE the hung jury in the Commissioner cases has
been discharged, some few people advocating the
abandonment Of the action and let them their
terms, the time is short-only months 1t is
taken for granted that that will be the last of them
liticalIy and the view is doubtless correct.
But be it remembered that many other charges hang
over these The grand jury cited instances of
illegal taking of moneys of which has yet been
returned and of which will be returned unless
the order of 1t is clear that action that
end be taken long these remain in Office
and personally select the that them Friends
numerous trials They very ignorant of the expense
element of keeping them in office Also they utterly ig
economies already produced in the operation of
county affairs The auditors just completed their check
and of them let know that the expense of sending
county commissioner to Denver has been reduced 500
by of the agitation 1t send
one of these the Capital. but the trip
costs the county but $780, very appreciable saving Gas
and oils do not nearly much either. Even
repair bills show a marked reduction. The
county has not lost anything yet the attempt dis
cpline derect officials.
At the close of the first trial resulting in conviction,
the motion proposed should have been urged-viz:
Suspension until finally decided Talking with promi
nent business just after the hung jury was dis
charged he made the remark, We'll, 80 out of 36
have decided them guilty" He meant that the Grand
Jury returned the indictments, the first petit jury
brought in verdict for convic ton and the last
stood eight to four for conviction
Much has been made of the fact that the Attorney
Generals Office hand in the last trial The fact is
that the Governor did act till it clear that
further action intended by the local officers We
complaining of District Attorney Burgess. He
helped all he could fair and square and doubtless
would have prosecuted the second time had he not
been discouraged by the manifest sympathy of the BUS1-
NESS MEN of this place with the accused 1t took some
talent identified with the Rotary Club to secure
manifestly proper legal action.
Associated with Mr.. Caldwell, Mr.. Burgess has shown
just the spirit who needed the moral support of
those who should have given it long While not just
germane this article, feel like mentioning his
splendid address the jury in the Sullivan bootegging
case where he mentioned his past friendship with DR.
Sullivan but expressed that where had fined and
other bootleggers he did not how could
avoid convicting this 1t avoided but Attorney
Burgess not the
Newspaper allies of the Commissioners, the men who
feed from their generous hands, have tried to make it
appear Attorney Burgess being charged with de-
reelection The actual fact is that it was
recognized that Mr. Burgess becoming discouraged
He was being besieged with appeals to drop the suits
He doubt if the people really were in SYM
pathy with reforming county affairs He like the
willing faithful but tired horse unable to do anything
without real help and moral encouragement
The County needed the Attorney General and Mr.
Burgess needed him. and he be still valuaby used
until Gunnison county is cleaned