The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-09-27
AN ARRANGEMENT.


An ARRANGEMENT.
inst at the present time when men
are coming to the front politically, it
behooves the people when about to
select their public servants to let the
light Of the past be thrown in upon
The present to guide them in such
rejection. A little bit Of history Of
Dottineau county therefore is here
presented with such object in view,
and if in the arraignment of any per.
sons who may be anxious to serve the
dear people, we should seem to appear
too hostile, let it be remembered that
ii Is not ourselves, but their public
record that must condemn them or
approve their efforts if in the right
direction.
When Commissioners Dana and
Mlchie assumed Office they had to
bring order out Of chaos there had
been no settlement with the county
treasurer for thirteen. months. Com
missioner Turner had declared that
the Office Of district attorney did not
exist; he had failed to provide offices
for any of the county officials save the
county clerk he had taken the peo-
pies money and invested it in al old
saloon in defiance of all law he re.
fused to appoint justices ofthe peace,
or constables to fill vacancies: and he
refused the people the right of petit.
tion. McHenry county was indebted
to us in $4,000, which he matte no eft.
fort to collect ; he failed to make any
effort to liquidate the huge debt Of
The county, but issued the county war.
rants without let or h%indrance, as il
they had been so much waste paper
and refused to publish the proceedings
OF the board in the manner required
BY law. When the same Turner took
Office in Jan. 1887, the debt Of the
county was $6,36S.52; when the
county was bonded in May of THU
year it had increased to $4,000 with
all the taxes gathered i'll spent in pay
ing interest on warrants. On Dana
and Niche getting on the board, at
first meeting, all the warrants issued
went to pay debt previously contracted;
at the aext three meetings until the
bonds were issued, there vas 81, 100
spent, leaving Sc, 500 spent by the
Turner party in thirteen months.
What was done with the money ?
There is not an earthly thing to show
for it only the old saloon; he did not
pay the rent only for six months, and
there was no sslary to the district
attorney. During the year he thought
he could bulldose the creditors Of the
county and made a narrow escape Of
Irritating them to bring on suits
against her and an s per cent levy on
the property Of the people for years,
20 pay it, by order Of court ; he ha'
p~ersistently voted against every meas
ure that would benefit the county al
large. outside of his own clique; un.
truthful representations have flowed
from him like water on the characters,
public and private Of those who op
posed his selfish schemes, some o.
which he has had to retract through
TIE newspapers to save himself from
HE meshes Of the law. As q publi
qf6cer 81 the discharge Of his duty
ne baa, shown an inordinate contemp
for IL law of the country, which cal
onlybe accounted for from the fac
that % y public platform three year
ago Be il reported to have said tina
III blood Of = lovaliat that tough
against this country in the war Q
ipdepsndence, ran ID his veins and b
elorl6ed his memory. And now it ]
reported be wants the people to SEN
hin ~ the Legislature.
pleasing contrast to the above
let O lovk for moment how nobl,
~3Es 49,
slur county has been redeemed sine
Nopld 81 legislator va relegate'
s cold shade Of the minority o
psrd ne district attorney hal
e kpowledged and paid AZ *
enavs sx snit be- il this cas'
wssded o6 against tae county
a v bssp opened through q
n 1nseonpied pubic lands il t th
u IN ultimately ~ 4 nv
dolIsrs McHenr,