The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-01-19

LILIES AillDlb Ii " ~ 1C1hAS q AHI JA'S No3~ S
far from sustaining our boosted ability for local self
government. II our local Indebtedness increases in
the same ratio as heretofore, the Territory Will not
favorably impress Congress when she applies Tor adj
mission into the Union as a State. This unfortunate
condition Of affairs cannot be attributed TO our present
form of Territorial government, OF the system or ap-
pointments which has grown up under It, about winch
80 much complaint is made, but must be chargeable
to the people of the several counties in their capacity
as citizens. think much of evil in county manage
ment results from the action Of county commissioners
in assuming to exercise legislative functions ID paying
pretended claims against the counties without author
iy of law. TheTerritorial Auditor cannot draw a war
rant for the payment of claims against the Territory
without express authority Of law. Now, why not ap-
ply this provision Of law to county commissioners and
stop a leak which has done much to create the present
Indebtedness? I do not think county commissioners
should be allowed so much discretion, for bad men will
take advantage of it to serve their own purposes and
that of their partisans. IF q discretion is allowed, 8
maximum limit to such discretion should be fixed by
law.
The fees and salaries of district AMI county officers
are far in excess of a reasonable compensation tor the
official services performed, and their reduction should
receive your immediate attention. An examination OF
county records will show that county officers generally
receive salaries far in excess Of any other officers in
the Territory. For example, the county clerks IN some
Of the counties receive more compensation than the
Judges Of the Supreme Court, and in many of the
counties the annual compensation of county treaellrers
is one thousand dollars larger than the salary OF the
Territorial Treasurer. The remedy is in your hands,
and I submit to you whether the substance Of the peo-
pie shall continue to be consumed in the payment of
high salaries. A large local Indebtedness and a high
rate of taxation will deter immigration and seriously
effect every industry of the Territory. The owners of
live stock in many instances have changed their stock
from counties where a high rate Of taxation exists to
those where taxation is less, and this change Will go
on until some Of the counties will have but little live
stock on their tax duplicate. The counties having the
smallest debt and the lowest rate Of taxation will, and
should be, the most prosperous. have always favored
a statute limiting the power of the several counties to
contract a debt beyond q certain amount, and | trust
YOU will concur with me if any new county is organ
lied ct the present session.
In my opinion every public officer should receive a
fixed salary, and the whole system of compensation
by fees should be abolished. The value of the services
of clerks and sherifs can be as easily estimated as can
those Of the Territorial Auditor and Treasure, and
when parties litigant are to be taEed for costs, let 1t
be taxed in favor of the county, and collected from
such party as the court may direct, and under suitable
regulations, paid into the county treasury. The fees
OF clerks and sheriffs heretofore charged against hti-
gants. can by q proper classification be committed to q
fixed sum and be paid into the county treasury On the
certificate of the clerk. / believe this system both
practicable and judicious with respect to all officers
who have heretofore been compensated ia whole Or Id
part by fees.
The officers of the Territory in charge OF its fnan-
ces having discharged their duties with 30 much fdel-
iy and the finances being in such an improved con-
dition, that the Territorial Treasurer was enabled TO
place on the market the I per cent. bonds authorized
by your predecessors at one and 1l-16 per cent. above
par, %redeeming all of the outstanding ten per cent.
bonds, making an annual saving of 81, 100, interest on
the bonded debt. This is a very gratifying showing,
in view of the fact that ten years ago the bonded debt
of the Territory was drawing fifteen per cent per an
mum, and the debt was much larger than at present.
The Territorial debt or the first day OF the present
month was:
Seven per cent. bonds outstanding .........S VI oO0 W
Interest on 1.4oo w
One outstanding warrant 161 90
Total liabilities. j. $l1,OW w
Cash balance in treasury ......-.. o5,ooU uo
Net indebtedness. ......... .szo,l1V 80
The money in the treasury applicable to the re-
demption of the outstanding bonds cannot be appllea
until January 1. A. D. 1883, when the option Of me
holders expires. | therefore recommend that me
Treasurer be authorized to expend SAID money In the
purchase Of outstanding bonds at not exceeding par,
or that he be authorized to safely invest the same IN
Ill the option Of the holders Of the bonds expires. !
do not think ii advisable to divert the money to other
purposes. but to reduce the Territorial levy to two