The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-13
THE TERRITORIAL OFFICES.

There has been some feeling, well ground
ed, that Helena has had more than It's share
OF the three principal Territorial sfiices-
Auditor, Treasurer and Superintendent OF
Public Instruction. In fact, 1t has had all
these appointees, almost without exception
through long term Of years. The salaries
Of Auditor and Treasurer are each 81 500 per
year, and the School SUPPLEMENTARY is 81,
200 with $500 per annum for expenses.
These are not very large salaries and 1t does
not appear there would be much strife for
them but II Ii understood the Auditorship
under the act Of February IA, 1881, requiring
insurance companies TO make certain ap-
pointments and reports which are to be filed
and recorded with the Auditor, 10 worth
more than double the fixed salary, while the
School SUPPLEMENTARY requires but minor
portion Of the time of the incumbent to be
devoted TO 1t. Therefore, there was some
rivalry for these positions and the point of
Helena having monopelized all of them and
desiring TO continue to do so has been pretty
strongly put to the Governor and In the
press. Especially was there competition for
the Authorship and heavy pressure was
brought for rival candidates. 1t was also
strongly limited that the Democracy expected
ct least one of these offices and that the
Democratic Council would act accordingly.
After the committee appointed by the Leg
islature to examine the Auditor and Treas
urer's books reported they were 40. X" and
the balances on hand as they should be,
Governor Carpenter, in view Of all the cir
cumstances, concluded TO send la the names
OF the incumbents, Woolman, Weston and
hedges, for reappointnent. 1t Is an open
secret and something OF q surprise that the
Auditor was confirmed On first ballot, while
Weston struggled through under difficulties
and Hedges was rejected. We believe this
was entirely owing to the feeling against so
many selections from Helena. 1t was inLi-
mated and anticipated that the Council
would reject all the nominations, In which
event we doubt not the next trio would have
been geographically distributed, and from
the force Of their recommendations II Is
probable George W. Irwin of Butte would
have been appointed Auditor, JunIus G.
Sanders Of Helena Treasurer and Professor
w. w. Wylie Of Bozeman Superintendent Of
Schools. But the fates had not 80 decreed.
James II. Mills Of Deer Lodge for Superin-
tendent, but knowing our own lack of quail
iHcations better than the Governor did, and
better than good friends in the Council who
were kind enough personally to make the
path look fswsry, we felt 1t . duty to ask
the Governor to withdraw our name, and II
was done. We wish to say here that Gov
ernor Ashley dozen or more years ago, I'M
was also kind enough to forward
the writer commission fer the same posi-
ton, and that, too, was declined; so that,
with all gratitude TO those who week after
week notice but ignore the lack of learning
In one who never had opportunity to attend
school but three months after he was twelve
years Of age, we desire 1t understood that
the writer is not In the field for School
Succeeding the with
drawal Of this name, Governor Carpenter on
Wednesday sent In the name Of W. Egbert
Smith Of Butte, . gentleman qualified liz
high degree by character, requirements, q
jealous interest in educational matters and
experience as an educator In various posi-
lions to fulfill its duties for the welfare of
the educational interests of Montana, but he
too was rejected yesterday by vote Of seven
10 five. This, to US, seems inexplicable, I'M
less, Is It came to us In the air, the Council
thinks that gentlemen like Hedges and
Smith are not "modern" enough in their
IDEAS and systems relating to educational
matters. Certainly 1t Is no Disagreement to
Them, nsr Il 1t reasonable to construs Its be-
ing 50 intended, for In character they are
beyond the reach Of that. We trust q less
worthy selection may not be made.