The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-03-16

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part Of the community enjoy 8 period Of IN
usual success.
!
The annual statement Of the county fnaa-
ces is presented elsewhere il this issue, and
the result is anything but Q credit to the
county and the officials having their manage
ment. The total net Indebtedness is 1913, 106.-
60. We do not believe in recrinination of
the Il told you So order, but the subject is
too pertinent to the future welfare Of the
county to be ignored. The report it
self is incomplete from want of prop
er classification, and it is impossible to
tell from it with what fund the various ap-
preparations should be classed. The question
of economy in management OF the future OF
our young community must be met, and a
new era established at once, if we Will not
find ourselves hopelessly bankrupt. Amounts
seem TO have been paid regardless OF the ma
alnostseem that the commissioners had allow
ed every bill that was presented almost without
scrutiny and with needless indifference.
The fees for the Sheriff office show the
Q amount Of $$5, 985.45. Much Of
this has been Wastefully expended, in hunting
FOR petty criminals who had gone to various
distant parts Of the country. This figure
shows much Of the true i~nWardness Of the
political situation here, and showed how
necessary was the proposition to reduce the
matter Of sheriH's fees to q question OF salary,
and it also shows the nature Of the opposition
to the bill that was introduced into the Legis-
lature which would have remedied the evil.
The charges were exhorbitant beyond any
necessity whatever. The county cannot af-
ford to pay anything like such an amount for
the transaction of the small business which
Choteau county affords. The probate and
county clerks Office show the same extrava-
gance in management and useless and extor-
tionate charges for insignificant services.
Take the appropriation for the making Of
town site maps. If a liberal bid had been
made by any expert he would have considered
$40 good wages. But the county must pay
$3.50 for the same work So, 1885 was paid
for the services Of clerk and probate judge,
alone, which does not include the recording
fees, which would aggregate at least 70 49,
600. It is nonsense to assume that the ser
vices Of any man for such simple work are
worth any such sum. Choteau county IS
striving to equal the United States govern
ment in the matter Of salaries, which latter
can secure the best skill and brains ID the
county for only a little more than we are
paying for the commonest services, services
which do not begin to equal IN the skill re-
quired by an ordinary mercantile house to I'll
its leading positions, and which are consldera
well requitted with half the sum Of the two
county offices above mentioned have received
for employment which required only a por-
of their time. In addition to this enormous
fee, it must be remembered that Mr. Donnelly
was practicing in the courts, and receiving
fees in the way Of private business, in addi-
ton to his Office fees. a cabinet position I'm
der the government is paid $1,000. And only
five States pay their Governors more than we
have paid for our trivial offices.
1t is time for the people who paythe taxes,
and who last year were called upon to largely
increase their pro rata, to take matters into
their own hands, and send officials to I'LL the
offices who will attend to their business and
look just . little to the interests OF the peo-
pie. Things have gone on in a hap-hazzard,
unbusiness-like way, which it continued will
ruin the whole community and repress the
development Of the county.
Think Of paying $3.50 for publishing q
statement which an ordinary advertiser would
be charged not to exceed $$75, and which
would be considered a fairly liberal price.
We are unable to tell from the report Of
the ACCESSIBILITY or economy Of the hundreds
of accounts drawn, and will presume they
may be Just and fair. but enough is shown to
AWAKEN the people to a sense OF tnelr W
duty. The gentlemen who have received
these enormous salaries cannot be blamed
for taking them. but the system which has
gradually grown up to such dangerous pro-
portions must be destroyed, and it will be de-
stroyed, Notwithstanding the efforts that are
likely to be made with party whips to compel
. continuance Of such ruinous policy.
Choteau county can show nothing com
mensurate, il the way Of Improvement, or
development, with the amount Of its indebt-
edness, which has enormously accumulated
ia spite Of the greatly enhanced assessment
of valuation.