The new North-west., 1885-11-06
DIRELrCT OFFICIALS.
Report Of the Grand Jury Of Gallatin
County.


GRAND jury Room, BozEMAs, u; T., !
October %, 1885.
To the Hon. John Coburn, Judge Of the First
Judicial District:
We, the grand jurors, in and for Gallatin
county, Territory Of Montana, now in ses-
sion, respectfully submit to your Honor the
following report:
-
We visited the several county offices, and
found the present incumbents attending to
the duties of their offices in an apparently
satisfactory manner. As regards the Treas
urer's Office, we respectfully recommend that
regular cash book be kept and balanced
every night, that the business of the Office
may be more conveniently inspected. (See
w. w. wylie's suggestion regarding the
same)
We have examined the reports of the ex-
perts Messrs. w. w. Wylie and R. H. Craw-
ford, who were appointed by Your Honor at
the last term of District Court, to inquire
into the accounts of certain officials, and
hope said reports will be published for the
information of the citizens who are inter-
ested therein as taxpayers.
From this report it appears that some of
our late county officials have been grossly
negligent, and in many instances have com-
mitted criminal offenses in the discharge OF
their official duties.
The county treasurers have sometimes al
lowed parties to transact business for a brief
period to determine whether they can afford
to pay the licenses required by law. This
conduct is illegal; while this official is re-
sponsible for the amount of the license pay
able by these persons, regardless Of the re-
suit of the business. The practice should be
discontinued. The grand jury respectfully
recommend that the county treasurer be
notified of its action in this respect.
1t is evident that William g. Mckenzie
and Chas. P. Blakeley have collected from
this county, as sheriffs, illegal fees to large
amount.
The amount of overcharges by Mr.. Blake
ley is s1,732S2. The amount of the over
charges by Mr.. Mckenzie, during the last
six months of his term of Office Is s42l .05.
The county commissioners have allowed
the accounts of Mr.. Blakeley, as sheriff,
when they were not made out according to
law end contained many items which should
not have been paid, In the sum of $50, ,46l. .04
We are satisfied that the county commission.
ers acted carelessly in these matters and
should be censured therefor.
1t also appears that Mr. w. F. Sloan, while
county treasurer, failed to collect the per
centage upon delinquent taxes amounting to
81, ,53l75, and the amount Of licenses which
should have been paid to this official, but
was not collected by him, is S3,965.3i. The
expert is of the opinion that these figures
.do not show more than one-half Of the
amount that might be found upon more COM
plete examination"
The fines paid by criminals the past three
years have been paid into the county treas
ury, with the exception of some small
amounts.
The grand jury respectfully recommends
that the reports of the experts be transmit
ted to the county commissioners for their
consideration and that they be, and are
hereby, requested to cause civil and criminal
proceedings to be instituted by the proper
authorities for the purpose of recovering the
sums of money which have been lost to the
county through the acts of omission and
commission on the part of its officers, and to
secure the punishment Of their crimes, If any
have been perpetrated.
We further recommend that the experts
examination be continued to completion
also, that where the county commissioners
find that the time allowed by law, for the
transaction of their business in proper and
careful manner, is insufficient, then they
shall call an extra session and not allow bills
to pass that are neither itemized, certified
nor sworn to.
GEORGE w. FLANDERS,
Foreman Grand Jury