The Montana post., 1865-07-22
OFFICIAL DELINQUENCY.


pointed by the District Court, ON the recon-
mendation of the Grand Jury, conveyed in
the subioined report, are proceeding with
the investigation with which they are
charged, with much benefit to the public.
In one case, So, ,045 has been paid into the
County Treasury and 1915 into the Terri
toriai Treasury, besides other smaller sums
from different sources, amounting, in the
whole, to between s., 900 and $4,000. This
is as it should be. We much regret the
necessity for such steps; but the morality
of public officers should be beyond reproach.
Discarding all political differences of opin.
ion, or alliance in point of sentiment, we are
determined never to suppress any knowledge
we may obtain Of defalcations like these.
Such acts have the consent of no party.
They are individual wrongs, for which no
one but the perpetrators are or ought to be
held liable. When the commissioners have
concluded their labors and the result is
judicialiy made public, We shall have more
to say on the subject, The Court and the
jury deserve well of the citizens. The fla
grant corruption in Legislative affairs. ami
madverted upon in this paper, last winter,
was equally disgraceful and much more ex-
tensive than these latter 'serrors of account.n
We are happy to know that there are gen.
tlemen in this Territory who, having the
opportunity of enriching themselves at the
public expense, yet present stainless record
for the inspection of their fellow citizens.
Such men We shall feel in conscience bound
to recommend as candidates for Office, no
matter where they hail from; but default
ers of all sorts it will be our duty to dis
countenance. A considerable amount of
malversation of the public funds arises from
carelessneSs and Ignorance but great deal
Is the result OF desire to accumulate pri-
yate fortunes at the public expense. Our
doctrine on these points is simple enough.
Ii 1t be wrong to detraud one citizen, it is
surely Infamous to steal from a whole COM
munity, especially after swearing to do up
rightly and perform faithfully the duties of
office. The political views we have always
held remain unchanged. Weprofess to love
our country. We have worked with those
who chose to lay down their lives for its
salvation from disruption and ruin, and the
object of our hopes being attained, we turn
our attention specially to our domestic
affairs, and whether the subjects of our COM
ments be In high or in low place, we shall
always applaud the faithful, public servant
and expose the wrong doer.
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
TERRITORY OF MONTANA,
County of Madison. s.s.
GRAND JURY Room,
| County OF Madison, June Goth, 1865.
To the Honorable the District Court In and for the
County of Madison, now in session:
The undersigned Grand Jurors of Madison County
Montana Territory, having on their oaths had under
consideration the conduct financially, and financial
relations, OF the following county officers of the
County OF Madison, and Territory aforesaid, viz
= Il i = 8 =
as well as other officers of the County, find that some
of the said officers have illegally and without auy
lawful authority drawn FROM and withheld from the
county treasury, large amounts of money belonging
to said treasury and the people of said County; and
have also, In divers and sundry instances claimed
and exacted as believe from the testimony before
us) from Individual htigants in the Courts of this
Comfy, illegal and eXorbltant fees in the shane of
COSTS that they have abused their positions of trust
as officers to the injury Of and at the expense of the
JnrorS &c Il Go""ty therefore ae, as the Grand
es nt u Ile County, that commission CONSISTING a.
prompt and sahsf P48 GR IL e Be with
view to secure and protect the rights of the peonIo
that the said commission may be immediately an,
pointed, and that 1t be empowered to send for per
sons and papers, In view to full and fair nyestipa
tlon OF the financial affairs of the County which
your Grand Jury represent to be in a most critcaI
and startling condition.
K. M. CAMPBELL Foreman,
JAS. THOMPSON, JR, W, U. CARIg
Ii. C. CRowELL AIEy.Nnrp Rr,,n
THOMAS RISHTON, DANEr w .rrox
": W. LEEca, II l.. II. MAYHER,
W. ~ ROGERS, A. SINGLETON,
H. P. Downs.
The above Report presented on advice of q T
Strickland Special District Attorney.
COMMON ScBooLS.-The near approach Of
The time when We must look about us for
worthy and reliable men to fill the different
offices connected with the civil administra-
ton OF the Territory, makes it necessary to
know, in the first place, all the posts that
are to be filed, and then it becomes our
duty to choose, irrespective of prejudice.
only the men whe can and will conscien-
tiously perform their allotted tasks, with an
eye single to the good of the people A
County Superintendent of Common Schools
Tor each County must be chosen and elected.
who will hold Office for three years. The
other local officers will be elected at school
meetings. We intend publishing the school
law next week, and, in the meantime, we
expect that the County Commissioners will
levy the tax of one mill on the dollar. as
required by law, and that the County Auditor
will return the amount of all fines for the
violation of penal laws of this Territory, as
belonging to the School Fund and also fines
imposed by any law regulating the sale of
liquors, or for the keeping of
,owlIng alleys or billiard saloors. care
ui reading Of the statute is urgently reoues-
ed, and any information or advice required
vii be eheeFfully afforded by the Territorial
superintendent of Public Instruction. J
County Orders cannot be received for !
ehool tax or school monies of any kind.
ooRREsPoNDENTs.-As it is or great i'm
ortanee that all facts connected with the
esources, productions, population, favora-
lie routes for traffic. water in snr;nas on q