The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-04-23
Fort Benton Montana Wednesday, April 23 1884

to appear before the commissioners at
the time such claim is allowed and ap-
peal from such allowance to the district
court. This is one of the projections
against the allowance of unlawful
Claims, and the people ought to under
| stand that they have this right What
| would you think of me if I should ad-
| NIT person to citizenship before he had
| declared his intention, or should do any
otner act not authorized by the law? [
| could not sit on this bench one moment
after it was known that was Judge
that did not regard the law And what
would you think of commissioners who
We're so reckless and careless in the dis
charge of their duties as to allow claims
against the county without first being
authenticated by the oath of the claim
ant, when such Authorization is posi-
lively required as condition precedent
to the allowance of any claim? Is it so
small matter that the peoples money
may be expended without taking the
trouble 10 go through the mere forms of
the law? There will be plenty of claim
ants when their claims are required to
be authenticated by their oaths.
Official integrity and a high sense of
official responsibility is the guardian of
the peoples rights, and of the peoples
money. Ii officers lack such integrity
and responsibility they must be educated
up to it by some process, and if they are
not capable of such education, then the
people must rise in their dignity and
elect other servants who will conscien-
tiously perform their duties.
[ must call your attention to one other
matter. have been informed by very
many careful, well-informed men that
this is packed grand jury, drawn by
the commissioners at the dictation Of the
Benton ring to prevent any indictment
for official misconduct or corruption. If
had suspicion that this was true |
would discharge you at once and select |
another grand jury, as the law gives me |
the power and authority to do. But |
do not believe these imputations. You |
have taken an oath to present no one !
hatred, malice or ill-will, and |
that you will leave no one unpresented |
through fear, favor or affection, or for |
any reward or hope or promise thereof,
and do not believe for moment that |
you will perjure yourselves for the bene
fit of any person or persons. You look |
to me like intelligent, fair-minded men,
and I saa!! not believe to the contrary
until forced to. /
In saying this am not saying or in
that you ought to find any in
dictments, but do say that you ought
and patiently to investigate the
affairs of your county, by the aid Of the
report which shall submit to you, and
that you will arrive at such conclusions
as the evidence before you warrants and
requires.
/ have no interest in this matter other
than to do my duty to the people of this
county. [ do owe them duty, and that
is to see to it that their county is not
bankrupted by dishonest officials, and
in doing this duty I know shall be
ably aided by Col Johnston, who prose
cutes for the people. He and / have
had some experience in this sort of bus
mess, and neither of US will hesitate or
falter moment in doing our whole duty
to this people.
The county Indebtedness is increasing
year by year, and what is there to show
for it? If you find nothing to warrant
Or Justify any indictments in the matter
now submitted to you, still you must
make to the court such report as will |
show how the money of the people has
been expended and the manner in which
the business of the county is being and
has been transacted.