The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-19
AFFAIRS OF PARK COUNTY
In the Opinion Of the Grand Jury
They Are in Bad Con-
dition.
The Misuse and Reckless Waste
OF County Funds Are
Directly Charged.
The Illegal Purchase of n Poor Farm
Some Question About Lettinga
Printing Contract.


LIVINGSTON April 1S.-ESpecial. For |
the past week the community has been
somewhat excited over the rurnor that the
grand jury was engaged in investigating
the conduct of the county commissioners,
with especial reference to their purchase of
a new poor farm, at what seemed an out
rageous price, and the appropriation Of
money for promoting tho Crow Indian
treaty, which, it is said, was not used for
that purpose. There has been for months
an increasing Dissatisfaction growing out
of the fact that Commissioner VIM.
M. Wright has been absent in California
for some five months, and that Commits
soner George Il. Lamport had removed
from the county without resigning, thus
leaving II. J. Happe in charge. Hence it
was that large crowd was present this af-
ternoon when the grand jury, composed of
Hon. Alfred Myers, foreman, j. H. Lowell,
Thomas Miles, Arthur W. Miles, Charles
Angus, George Il. j. Allen, and H. G.
Davis sent word to Judge Henry that
they were ready to report. Their
report went fully into the various charges
of misconduct, and furnishes q telling COM
mentary upon the conduct of the republi-
can ring that has been running this county
for years. On receiving the report. Judge
Henry thanked the jury in behalf of the
tax payers of Park county, and stated that
he approved of the full and complete inves-
tsgation. He did not care whether the Of
ficials guilty of misappropriatlng the
county funds were democrats or republi-
cans. they should be vigorously dealt with.
Judge Henry further expressed his surprise
that the grand jury had not indicted the
commissioners for their misconduct. The
foreman, Alfred Meyers, stated that they
made the report with the understanding
that criminal proceedings could still be in
stituted. The members of the jury are re-
ceiving on all hands expressions of graft
tude for the manner in which they have
discharged their duty. The following is
the interesting part of the report in full:
| To the Hon. Frank Henry. judge of the
Sixth judicial district, state of Montana;
| We, the grand jury of Park county, beg
leave to report that we have made careful
investigation into all cases brought to our
notice. We find that the county commits
rioners at the December term granted to s..
Deutsch, county clerk, the sum of $500 to
defray current expenses during the ensuing
quarter. Of this sum appropriated for the
above named special purpose, $l25 was
paid to H. j. Hoppe for services in pro-
noting treaty with the Grow Indians.
| There is no voucher to show how this
money was expended and no mention of the
transaction is shown on the records of the
board. The placing of this expenditure
under the head of current expense we hold
to be misleading; at least we believe this
use of the money to be without war
rant of law, and in fact the
money was never used for the purpose
named, and recommend that proper steps
be taken to recover the same. The practice
of the commissioners in granting constant
ly increasing amounts to the county clerk to
defray current expenses for the coming
quarter we believe has tendency to lead to
extravaganza and carelessness.
The purchase of n poor farm and the
letting of printing contract at the last
special meeting of the commissioners ap-
pears to this jury to be inexpedient, and
without warrant OF law, for the following
reasons, viz: The words for the considera-
ton of business in relation to the county
poor are too vague and general in their i'm
port to give due notice that poor farm was
to be bought at this special meeting. The
county being the possessor of one poor
farm could not legally buy another until
required by law. We consider the
price paid was far above any
reasonable valuation. We condemn the
action of the alleged commissioners in ac-
cepting the deed for this property and pay
ing for the same before submitting the said
deed to the county attorney for his opinion
as to the suf1icency of the title which we
deem, after investigation, defective. The
county now has invested in poor farms moi
less than $1,000 and at the same time ii
keeping tho paupers i'll the city of Iivings-
ton in rented house. The call for the
last special meeting contained no notice
whatever that printing contract was to be
let and that subject could not properly be
considered at the meeting. From what
evidence we can obtain the price at which
the contract was LET appears to us largely
in excess of the price that would have
been obtained had due notice been given
and free competition been allowed.
| 1t also appears to this jury that Geo. L.
Lamport having ceased to be an inhabitant
of Park county on or before the 18th day of
September. 1890 in consequence thereof
also ceased to be q county commissioner of
Park county, and that at the special meet
ing of the board on April 4th and 9th. 1891,
there was in fact but one commissioner
p esent. and that ali acts purportinH to be
done at that meeting are not binding on
Park county. We recommend the proper
authorities to take steps to annul the
printing contract entered into at that ses-
sion and to recover all moneys
paid out in the purchasing of a
poor farm, and to protect
tho county in all legal rights that may
have been ieopa1dized by the acts OF the
persons claiming to bo the board of COM
missioners at that time. In view of the
continued absence of VIM. Wright from
Park county and state of Montana, and the
further fact that the affairs of Park county
have seriously suffered by reason
| thereof, and the further fact that
we have evidence showing the fact that Mr..
Wright made the statement public at the
December term, 1890, that he would prob
ably never meet with the board again as a
county commissioners, we recommend that
| proper steps be taken to vacate his Office
and fill the same with duly qualified per-
| son.