The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1886-04-03

Of the people Of the county on the ques.
tons considered and on the matters SO ur.
gently and intelligently recommended.
To be more positive and present the Court
House proposition as presented by that Ju-
~, after it had duly considered what it was
recommending, wequote from its report:
ave regard our present Jail insecure,
unhealthy, and exceedingly dangerous.
1--WE consider the Jail in its present con.
dit;on at the mercy Of any half dozen men
that might join hands in the spirit Of mob
violence. No officer in charge could resist
them. The ordinary board fence and the
jailor's room can not for moment be con.
sidered any safeguard against such spirit
The only reasonable safety we can claim is
the iron cage, and that is only safe so long
as the spirit of violence is wanting.
"Our present Court House at best can on
ly be regarded as shell and fre-trap The
court room is not a fit place for Judge to
be forced to sit in sessions of one to four
weeks at time, ten hours a day, breathing
the foul air, because there is no possible
and safe way to ventilate the room. The
Grand Jury room is small, not ventilated,
and into this unhealthy room we pack sin
teen Of our citizens and expect them to
perform hard work and hold long-hour
sessions. The Petit Jury has no room at
all, except they occupy the rooms Of
county officers. The same may be said of
every room reserved for the County Treas
urer, Clerk and Probate Judge.
ave therefore strongly recommend that
the County Commissioners do submit the
question Of erecting new Court House
and County Jail combined to the legal
voters Of Beaverhead County, to be voted
upon at as early a Gay as possible
The Board OF County Commissioners at
ameeting held subsequent to the rendering
Of the Grand Jury's report considered the
matter, and the Board, ignoring the recon-
mendation to submit the question to the
legal voters Of the count: at as early day
as possible, Numbered by making an order
Of an indefinite character looking to the
submission of the matter to the voters OF
the county at the next general election,
which takes place in next November. The
error or blunder Of the Board of Commits
sioners consisted in not submitting the
question at special elections as speedily as
possible, III compliance with the Grand
Jury's recommendation. In addition it
would be b'under to submit question
in which purely financial proposition is
involved at a general election. General
elections are political contests-rough and
tumble fights in which persons, parties and
political principles Of partisans are the
controlling factors. Special elections are
ordered and held whenever financial
proposition is to be submitted to the voters
for adoption or rejection. The reason for
making distinction and providing Il spe-
cial election tor settling financial question
is apparent. No proposition involving the
settlement Of a financial problem should
be tackled on as a ''rider" to the political
tickets Of the contending parties as they
are pedd'ed out BY politicians in the differ
ent precincts on general election day.
Nine-tecths ct the intelligent and conser-
vatire taxpayers Of the county, of both
political parties, will readily concede this
point. The position assumed that spe.
cial election would cost a trifle Of money
is too thin to he considered We venture
the assertion that no TAXPAYER, Of the pro-
gressive type, will buck high Or low at the
comparatively insignificant expense Of pay
ing for submitting the Court House prop. |
osition at special election ordered solely
for that purpose. Our Grand Juries are
intelligent bodies Of men and as they come
directly from the people their recommend
ations should be needed By the County
Commissioners. A new Grand Jury will
be called together shortly. It can renew
the recommendation Of the former Grand
Jury BY recommending that the Commits.
sioners appoint another day than general
election day for settling the matter. Such
q course would, no doubt, Be acceptable to
: large majority Of the people Of tile coun. |
y, and the Board Of Commissioners by
receiving fresh reminder could remedy
the matter BY submitting the question at !.
early day as possible.
Lead has not advanced. Silver is quoted