Fergus County argus., 1886-11-11
cur COUNTY OFFICERS.

goes into effect December first. From
that date we will be n full fletlsed
county, under n brand new set of oili-
GERS and other requisites OF n county.
We start out under favorable auspi-
ces as regards population, wealth, in
debtelness and good men in office, and
at present there seems no reason why
Fergus should not, from the out set :.
give the her counties of the territory
a close race for the banner To the
most prosperous county in Montana.
so mote it he.
TO secure and maintain this cnviable
position. everything depends upon
the incoming officers, and especially
upon the board of commissioners, who
have almost complete control of the
revenue and expenditures of the
county, and it is our opinion that the
constitution of the board is wise and
judicious. II is made up OF men who
have had wide business experiences,
both public and private. Without
exception they are men OF broad, and
Mt the same time, economical views on
the conduct of business affairs. From
them we feel safe in predictinga course
which shall he happy medium be-
tween reckless ssextravagance on the one
hand aud niggardly parsimoniousness
on the other, in short. just such Il
board as our new county needs. That
this view is sustained by n large ma
jority of the people is evidenced by the
vote on election day. While some
may be disappointed that Mr.. Morse,
or Mr.. Hobson or Mr.. stephens
was not elected, still the voice
of the people has decided. and
it behooves every citizen and tax
payer to lend his individual assist
ance to the board in all matters
wherein he can be OF any service to
them. without which assistance it
cannot he expected that the commits
sioners will be able to do all that they
otherwise might do. Much trouble
and not little dissatisfaction
is always occasioned by the circula-
tion and signing of senseless, or i'll
advised petitions aud remonstrances
to the county commissioners, which
might he obviated by more mature
deliberation. Too often. through
these petitions and renonstrances,
the commissioners are called upon
to decide personal quarrels and
sectional fights. which should never
lie brought to public notice. We
bespcak for the new board n consider
ate cooperation from every tax
payer
But while so much depends upon
the commissioners, not little of our
prosperity as IA county devolves upon
the other officers elected. Extrava-
gance is as sure Il road to bankruptcy
in public as in private affairs. \
mere glance at the published reports
of some Montana counties shows
items OF expenditure mt the instance
of county officers which not only
might. but should beavoided. At any
term of court in any of our counties
criminal eases come up which should
never have proceeded beyond the jus
tice or probate court i'm which they
originated, and many of them should
never have been allowed to enter an.
court. The law makes it the plain
duty of every committing magistrate
to examine into the facts before iss,i
ing "A warrant. of arrest, and II
is as much the duty OF the magistr rat'
and attorney to protect the count!
form needless expense, As it is to So
that the public is protected by the
conviction of criminals. TOO often
our magistrates and county attorney
from IA deliberate determination 10
convict. regardless of justice to th'
defendant, or expense to the county
On the treasurer devolves the im
portant duty OF collecting closely al
the taxes assessed and the license;
due, before they become bad debts
In short, every officer of county an,
township has his important part il
securing for Fergus county prosper
ous future. Though most of the OIL
GERS are young men, we are confident
that they are men of such ability an,
force that every department ofcounty
business will be ably and iudiciousl,
managed. and that the annual balanc,
sheet will be a most creditable one Il
all concerned, aud "a most gratifyin.
one To the taxpayers.