Gold Hill Daily News

THE STOREY COUNTY IMBROGLIO

The report of the late Grand Jury has been published in all the county papers, either entire or in part, and the nature of the document is familiar by this time to every citizen who takes an interest in the county affairs. If its statements of fact, and its deductions therefrom, are correct, there has been gross mismanagement of the affairs of Storey County, and the taxpayers have been and are being deeply wronged.

The severe character of the report has called forth a response from the County Commissioners, the body in whose hands the management of the county affairs is reposed. The Commissioners defend the course they have pursued, and appear to be still of the opinion that they have acted for the best interests of the county.

The Virginia papers have taken up the cudgels on the side of the Grand Jury, and are unsparing in their condemnation of the Commissioners. We confess to too limited knowledge of the facts in controversy, to justify us in thrusting our oar into the fuss. The Virginia papers have the advantage of ready and convenient access, both to the persons and books of the parties concerned, and as they are at the county seat, where all these matters have transpired, we are perfectly willing to consider it their funeral.

Were we, however, completely posted in all the facts, and able to form a perfectly clear and lucid opinion in the matter, we should, under the present circumstances, abstain from any public expression of such opinion.

The Grand Jury, in their report, requested the District Court to appoint a Committee to more fully examine into and report upon the facts, and suggested the names of three gentlemen as the proper persons to compose such Committee. With this suggestion the Court complied, and that Committee now stands empowered with all the authority that the Court could invest to proceed with their investigation. Having heard no objection offered to that Committee, we presume that there is none. The Committee consented to perform the duties of the position, and will undoubtedly proceed thereto if not obstructed by the officials.

Until their duty is performed, or until such obstructions are offered, we see no particular use of discussing the matter on the outside. It is fair to presume that our contemporaries do not desire to be unjust toward the Commissioners, nor to unnecessarily inflame the public mind. As far as the past is concerned it is a case of "spilt milk," and crying about it won't put it back in the bucket.

If the Committee perform their duty thoroughly, the people will be fully advised in the premises before the next election, and months before the matter can be permanently amended by legislation. Such being the case, would it not be well for our contemporaries to hold their fire until we have a more circumstantial and detailed report from the Committee?